Last week in my Tools of the Trade post I talked about punches but I didn’t talk about Builder Punches. Builder Punches are a type of punch which can punch out multiple shapes that will “build” an image.
In the photo to the left is Stampin’ Up!’s Strawberry Builder Punch. As you can see, it will punch out the strawberry, the top, a leaf and a flower.
If you are simply punching the shapes out of cardstock you may not want to punch them all out at the same time but if you have stamped and colored the images you can easily punch them out at the same time. Of course, there’s a trick…
1. Turn your punch over and punch a template
Builder Punch Template
2. Place the individual stamps in the template with the side that you stamp with down.
3. Press a clear block on the stamps so that they will stick to the block.
4. Stamp (and color) your images.
5. Line up the images in the punch and punch out your shapes.
Using a template makes it very easy to punch out all of the stamped images at the same time when using a Builder Punch. Stampin’ Up! currently offers 9 Builder Punches including two in the January – June Mini Catalog.
Paper Punches are great tools for any craft room. I like punches because you can just grab them and punch out your image. You don’t have to find the dies, get out your die-cutting machine and die cut the image. Punches are nice and easy to use in a class setting too.
Stampin’ Up! carries a variety of different types of punches. You can view all of their punches here in my online store or on pages 165-169 in the Annual Catalog and page 86 of the January – June Mini Catalog.
There are the basic punches that have just one or two simple shapes on them like a circle punch or the Double Oval Punch. These are they type of punches we are most used to seeing and using.
Stampin’ Up!’s Fancy Tag Topper Punch
Tag Topper Punches are exactly what’s in the name. They are punches that only cut the top of the punch along with a small opening for ribbon or twine.
Tag Topper Punches aren’t just for tags though. You can make fun 3D items with them. Here’s an example that I found on pinterest:
Stampin’ Up!’s Lovely Labels Punch
Another type of punch is the Pick A Punch. These are probably the most versatile of the punches. They have slots that fit 3 different widths of cardstock and some of them have two different punches on them! These punches are perfect for sentiments or just to add a decorative edge to a strip of cardstock. With the three different width’s they can accommodate they can fit lots of different types of sentiments.
Stampin’ Up! currently has different punches similar to the one in the photo but they also have a Banner Triple Punch that also can accommodate the three different widths of cardstock.
Next week in my Tools of the Trade post I will share Builder Punches with you along with some tips on using them.
