Paper Panda's Guide to Papercutting - Two Free Templates

Perhaps you are one of the more than 260,000 followers of Paper Panda Papercuts on Facebook. If so, you're already well-acquainted with the friendly, personable posts written by paper cut artist Louise Denham - aka one half of the Paper Panda Etsy shop duo. She and her husband Ryan have built a strong art business by combining his talent for design and photography, and hers for cutting paper and teaching with a folksy charm - they're a dynamic force in the paper cutting world.

Paper Panda's Guide to Papercutting - Cover Image

Louise recently released her second papercutting book for Search Press, Paper Panda's Guide to Papercutting - Paper Panda & Friends. Her conversational, yet informative voice will lead you through the ins and outs of creating paper cut art pieces that can proudly be given as gifts... if you can bear to part with them!

Paper Panda papercutting
Louise Denham

Geared to beginners and to those who are looking to improve their paper cutting skills, chapters include Tools and Materials, Getting Started, Techniques, Design and Inspiration, Creating a Design, and Projects, along with helpful sections on adding dimension by layering, making infills, cutting curves, lettering, working with positive and negative images, finishing, and framing. Even copyright is addressed.

Papercutting Essentials

In addition to five of her own paper cuttings, there are template designs - five each - by equally talented paper cutters, Sarah Trumbauer, Louise Dyer, and Suzy Taylor. Full templates printed on high-quality art paper can be cut from the book and reproduced as many times as you wish.

 Papercutting Non-Essentials

You'll read about what inspired the designs and learn from tips and step-by-step photographs provided by all of the designers. For information and advice on beginning paper cutting, click on each of the three informative page spreads you see here, as shared from the book by Search Press, to more easily read the text.

Papercutting Paper Guide

Search Press has also shared two tattoo-inspired templates from the book for use by All Things Paper readers. Sky Pirates and Refuse to Sink were designed by Louise Dyer.

Papercutting Template - Sky Pirates
Sky Pirates

This design was inspired by my mum; we call her the magpie, as she is attracted to anything that shines. This design is a tricky one and I would suggest that you attempt it when you have had some practice at cutting paper. Don’t be afraid, though. Approach it with confidence; it is, after all, only paper. 
 
I cut this piece as shown in black poster paper (see Paper Panda’s tips for cutting with poster paper on page 14). It’s only 100gsm, which makes it a very thin and delicate paper to work with. It is white on one side for printing or drawing your design, and black on the finished side. You can get it in a matt finish (my favourite) or in pearl, which gives a nice shimmer. Black paper can be tricky to begin with, but with practice can yield wonderful results. 
 
 I like to tape my design onto my self-healing cutting mat using low-tack masking tape; this prevents any accidental tears or catching. This is my personal preference, but find a way that works for you. If you tape it down to your mat like this, turn your mat to cut rather than the papercut itself. -- Louise Dyer

Tattoo-inspired Papercutting Template - Refuse to Sink
Refuse to Sink


This design is heavily influenced by my love of tattoos. Swallows are historically used in tattoos for sailors, each swallow representing 5,000 nautical miles of sailing experience; the most experienced sailors would have two swallows. Swallows are also home birds; they return to the same location year after year to mate, nest and rest, and for this reason were used to ensure a sailor would return to his home safely. 

I have cut this design in black poster paper as with my previous designs, but it would also look fantastic cut in white, perhaps backed in sea blues. The positive message given by this design makes it a great gift. -- Louise Dyer

To obtain the templates, click on the black and white images above. You will be taken to Flickr where you can click the download arrow located in the lower right corner of the page's black section. Save to your computer and print after referring to Louise's tips on paper choices above.

Papercutting template - Refuse to Sink

And now the U.S. and Canada giveaway! (ENDED) Three winners will each receive a copy of Paper Panda's Guide to Papercutting directly from Search Press USA.

Papercutting Template, Sky Pirates

To enter on this blog post, simply leave a comment. Note that Blogger does not allow me to see the email address you type into the form with your name, so you must include an email address within your comment in order to be contacted if you win. If spam is a concern, type your address like this: janedoe at gmail dot com

Papercut sun from Paper Panda's Guide to Papercutting by Paper Panda & Friends

You may also enter on Instagram as long as your account is not set to private. Enter at one or both places by the end of Saturday, August 5, 2017. Three winners will be chosen at random and announced on this post and on the Instagram giveaway photo as soon as they have been notified. Good luck!

Congratulations to Jonnie, shockingsilk and omiyage_ca. Stay tuned for another giveaway (international) that's coming up soon!
 
 
 
All Things Paper is an Amazon and Etsy affiliate.


Ann Martin
Ann Martin

This is a short biography of the post author and you can replace it with your own biography.

Comments

  1. I'd love to try papercutting - this book sounds great!

    mmeblue at gmail dot com

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  2. This is beautiful. I've had an interest in paper cutting for a long while and just didn't know how to get started. Glad I found the Paper Panda!! Thank you for a giveaway also! rocknutzaz at yahoo dot com.

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  3. Goirgeous stuff, I'd love to try this!

    mrsdog at hotmail dot com

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  4. Those look wonderful.

    joshthefreeman at gmail

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  5. This looks awesome! So much inspiration!

    dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. I love all things paper, and I am an avid paper cutter.

    Dlagrave at live dot com

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  7. What beautiful designs!!! I would be so delighted to give them a try!

    Missysailer@Yahoo.com

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  8. beautiful work! marthamozingo at gmail dot com

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  9. Paper Panda designs the best papercuts! slkunze at gmail dot com Thank you for the giveaway!

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  10. Such a timeless, beautiful art! I cannot imagine how many blades you must get through in a week! 😉😊 And thank you for the template freebies.
    shockinglackofsilk at gmail dot com

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  11. thanks for the give away--
    an_ephemerist at yahoo dot com

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  12. This looks like a fantastic book full of inspiring patterns.

    rsgrandinetti at yahoo dot com

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  13. The detail is astounding. Beautiful work. Thanks for the giveaway.

    ksukeena at yahoo dot com

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  14. These cuttings are beautiful! I need more practice, for sure.
    Skhermens67@gmail.com

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  15. I'd love this book -- jacquilynne@gmail.com

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  16. How cool. I would love to try this. jgbaswell@hotmail.com

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  17. Wow - these are just gorgeous! I would love to try it but am not sure I could ever create anything so beautiful!

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  18. Would love this to add to my collection of papercutting books. throckpl at gmail dot com

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  19. This looks like a terrific book. Please enter me in the drawing. cyoshi5909 at aol dot com

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  20. ooooh! I am super interested in papercutting. I enrolled in a papercutting course at my arts college, but had to drop it after the first class due to an overloaded schedule. :/ But, sometimes self-teaching with some guides and helpful tips can be really satisfying as well. I would love to get a chance to read this book. :)
    kira.lantz at gmail dot com

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  21. I'm a huge fan of Paper Panda, such amazing talent and so brilliant to share that with the world and inspire others to just give it a try.
    Whenmoometboo@gmail.com

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  22. The book is so inspiring! I'd love to try papercutting. Ann dot ost at geemail dot com

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  23. Oh yes please, have tried very basic papercutting previously, this would help boost my confidence. karencookeno4 at hotmail dot com

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  24. Would love to win your book. I already have one of them.
    Barbara
    bruno@westnet.com.au

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  25. How exciting! I would love to receive a copy.
    Morrishnatandy at gmail dot com
    Many thanks
    Natalie

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  26. Oohhh I'd love this book amandajevans1@hotmail.com

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  27. This looks so fascinating!! I'd love to give it a try!! Thanks for the opportunity!! mainebrown76@roadrunner.com
    Cheryl Brown

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  28. Awesome! Would love this to sharpen my skills!
    Jennaisastorm at gmail dot com
    Thank you for your generosity!

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  29. Thank you for sharing your artwork and knowledge with us! Please enter me in the draw

    mel_lobo_76 at yahoo dot com

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  30. Ooh, so pretty! Thanks for the giveaway! n dot serene at gmail dot com

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  31. Love papercutting but have drifted from it recently. Would love to get this to reinspire myself!
    Please enter me in the draw :) name is Nicole Ainsworth :)
    nicole_marie_06 at hotmail dot co dot uk

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  32. I love your work. I need to sit down and do some cutting.
    Shajjacs@gmail.com

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  33. I have done some simple papercutting before but never anything this grand. I would love to see the designs in the book. I bet they are fabulous!!

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  34. Looks like a fun book, please enter me in the contest emagliacane at gmail dot com

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  35. I'm ready to give this a try. I had a visitor from Denmark whho had paper cutting BEAUTIFUL designs made there.

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  36. Ann, you find the most amazing paper crafts.
    Thank you for the templates Paper Panda's ;-)
    I can't wait to try them.
    XO April
    sistika @ gmail dot com

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  37. I love paper cutting and your designs are very beautiful and intricate! ginjor0831@yahoo.com

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  38. Beautiful work, great resource.. Huge fan of paper cutting and always looking to improve! Thanks for the templates and for coordinating this giveaway! pkukovica@sympatico.ca

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  39. Beautiful patterns....would love to learn to papercut with this book. janelampkin at hotmail dot com

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  40. How lovely!
    rebekah dot diehl at gmail dot com

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  41. Thanks for your entries and papercutting enthusiasm! The giveaway has ended.

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  42. This book has some beautiful things to cut as shown by the samples. Would love to add it to my collection and I'd even try an easy one or two.

    Thanks.

    Vwinstead@tampabay.rr.com


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