This week's tutorial Tuesday is going to focus on 'fussy cutting'. This is the term used to refer to the technique of cutting out selected areas of a design. You can use it to remove a flower or image from a patterned piece of paper, or to layer up part of a design by cutting out repeating sections to create a decoupage.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IllwkzwJ8FMgJWzhhoVV6qqS1UF3apW68uLepzXxVYJ8QdKYp-Y90YFNPA6W-g6DwmfBjI0_JjE-23q-OXRbUaTdgPlR0ZijP2P9yqE3ip2di7PkzTN_2RubC3T4MFgnU_8uVVm0E5s/s1600/110_4259.JPG) |
example paper |
The key to fussy cutting is choosing the right resource. You need to pick a paper with enough individual designs on it to make it worth cutting up. This paper is a good example of a good one to use, as it has lots of flowers you might want to use in a more simple or layered design. I like to start at the edge and work my way into the paper, being careful not to cut through any usable pieces.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNEHzYwJ6WUVZL_P6ROlslAZTZ4bJ0PMG4yh8UosBXWGKDobmEx6pyG8GwNXGBpiq7ybztwgYKXAZ83MrqOCrjhWTDYXTSqtXGQ90xI1DFGBI1KCzPCk4jAV0AWS3neJzaL3ZCctxIDE/s1600/110_4264.JPG) |
fussy cut pieces and the paper remaining |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8He76BkaNLq4YtS16Z5Wa5kAN16dcXBy-X34xuOMQoRH-C72-N4ZnMMRnOe-msfVYvj5AvrANYgA9JX1fDntBL9wqCmA3lQTdadjQnTDfT9AXuXvDSwPt7Kxt9wAREiGsPT7OvQermHU/s1600/110_4262.JPG) |
fussy cut flower and flower in the paper, (before and after) |
To fussy cut the paper, simply follow the outline of the image, cutting it with some fine, sharp paper scissors or a scalpel. You can then remove the cut out piece from the page and use it in your design.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzIEllmZKigtk0ZiZnYBwxyx4OCRoL-UxoyZZ7V3gMS6uY6AE-_Z9YI4ddZooKEopEzsjKH5nDNM0srY3gKQK6p0C42tmLl4yPxxq3FHRPjKoPl6-2MoMQGOqukWJFBVa96_1JNZSn1o/s1600/110_4266.JPG) |
a card created with the fussy cut flowers. |
You can see how you can create a completely different look from a piece of paper using the fussy cutting technique. by removing the background, I have created a clean and simple look using these bold flowers on a card blank, with the edges simply inked and a stamped message to finish off.
Mx