5 Amazing Paper Crafting Techniques You Should Know

Paper crafting is a magical art that manages to turn simple scraps of paper into beautiful handmade works. Despite the digitalization of many art forms, paper crafting remains a relevant hobby that people love. After all, there is still a different kind of wonder in being able to hold tangible pieces of art in your hand.

So whether you're a scrapbooker, paper crafter, or card maker, celebrate your craft by growing and improving it!   

Everything You Need to Know About Paper Crafting

In growing your paper crafting skills, there are certain techniques that you should know in order to create beautiful and unique projects. In this blog post, we'll share five amazing paper crafting techniques that you can use to take your crafts to the next level. Are you ready to learn some new skills? Let's get started!

Paper Crafting Tip #1: Die-Cutting and Fussy Cutting

Cutting is an essential skill that many of us are already familiar with, as we use it in our daily lives. However, when it comes to paper crafting, we often encounter two types of cutting: die-cutting and fussy cutting. 

Altenew Mini Blossom Die Cutting Machine

Die cutting is a versatile paper crafting technique that can be used for everything - from creating intricately shaped card designs to unique scrapbook layouts. All you need is a die-cutting machine and some dies, and you're ready to go! 

Using the die cut method, you can produce many cut-out shapes evenly and equally. Die cuts allow for precise and exact measurements, making them perfect for projects requiring repetitive designs and patterns. 

They also ensure that the details of your design are preserved and cut well - even to the most delicate slivers! 

 Easy Die Cutting Tricks for Realistic Flower Cards

On the other hand, fussy cutting involves the cutting that we are all used to - manual! Fussy cutting is excellent for images that have larger surface areas. It's also great for controlling the outline around your cut image - if you want negative spaces around it. 

Die cutting and fussy cutting are two techniques primarily used in all areas of paper crafting - especially when working with scrapbook paper or card stock. You can use these techniques to make beautiful DIY envelopes, planners, stickers, and even custom phone covers.

Paper Crafting Tip #2: Paper Folding and Quilling

Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. Most origami involves folding paper into shapes and objects without the aid of glue, tape, or other adhesives. As another paper crafting technique, it's a delightful way to spend an afternoon and add a personal touch to your cards, scrapbooks, and other paper crafts. 

Pastel Dreams 6 x 6 Paper Pack

Paper origami projects can range from easy to challenging - depending on the complexity of the paper folds that your desired object has! You can make DIY photo frames, Christmas ornaments, or even paper flowers! Whatever project you decide to create, origami is a fun and relaxing way to exercise creativity and discipline in crafting. 

On the other hand, another excellent paper crafting technique to learn is quilling. While origami involves folding paper, quilling is a technique of rolling paper into coils and then shaping them into different designs. This technique results in unique and colorful images such as abstract shapes, flowers, animals, and even portraits.

You can use quilling as embellishments for your cards and scrapbook designs as it's a great way to add a touch of elegance to any project!

Paper Crafting Tip #3: Heat Embossing

Another popular paper crafting technique is heat embossing. Heat embossing is a simple yet effective way to add dimension and interest to your paper crafts. All you need is some embossing powder, a heat gun, and a stamp or stencil. 

 Embossed Acetate Peek-A-Boo Window

When heat embossing, make sure that the ink on the stamped image is still wet before adding your embossing powder. Gently tap the card once or twice to remove any excess powder before curing the image with a heat gun. The result will give you an incredible 3D effect!  

There are many ways to experiment with heat embossing in your projects - whether for greeting cards, decorative notebooks, or even scrapbook covers. The possibilities are endless!

If you want to learn more methods to incorporate heat embossing in your cards, feel free to check out our Impressive Heat Embossing Online Card Making Class.

Paper Crafting Tip #4: Scoring and Folding

Folding and scoring are simple paper crafting techniques that can add a professional touch to your card making projects. Through folding and scoring, you can create crisp, clean lines that will give your cards a polished look. 

Folding is often used in card making to create card bases and envelopes. For most thin materials, you can use your fingers and a ruler to fold and crease easily. 

On the other hand, scoring involves making a crease in the material with an indentation tool. It is reserved for most thicker card stock materials or surface coatings. Scoring is essential when creating a fold that needs to be extra crisp, such as an accordion fold or a box lid.

 Altenew's Crafter's Essential Scoreboard

Scoring is also necessary for any paper craft project requiring painting or inking, as you'll want to avoid cracking along the folds. Altenew's Crafter's Essential Scoreboard makes this process easier, as it is a part bone folder, part stylus device for scoring! It's also equipped with clear printed guidelines to make sure you score your paper in the right place. 

Crafting Made Easy with Scoring Boards

Paper Crafting Tip #5: Layering

If you're looking for a fun and creative way to add interest to your paper crafting projects, layering is another great method to try. With this technique, you can create beautiful dimensions and texture by adding multiple layers of paper, stamps, stencils, dies, or other embellishments. 

To see how this layering technique works with stencils, you can follow how Jenny does it in an episode of her Stylish Card Making Techniques series:

For this tutorial, she showed how to layer the Impressionist Bouquet Layering Stencil - resulting in a stunning floral image with depth! 

 Impressionist Bouquet Layering Stencil Set

So next time you're working on a card or scrapbook layout, think about adding some extra layers - your project will be all the better for it!

Grow as a Crafter With These 5 Paper Crafting Techniques!

That's it for now! We hope you enjoyed this roundup of five excellent paper crafting techniques. You will use these techniques for the entirety of your paper crafting journey, so it is best to learn and master them for your growth as a crafter.

We hope you try them all, and tell us which ones are your favorites. Always remember to have fun, no matter the technique or method!

Be sure to check out our extensive resource on All About Crafting for even more inspiration, tips, and tutorials. Happy crafting!