Wednesday, October 26, 2011

The many uses of the X-Acto Knife ~

I was contacted by X-Acto to use their knives and to post the ways I used them.  I started by putting away my scissors and just pretending they did not exist.  I treated the X-Acto knife like my scissors.  What I found was the X-Acto knife does everything that scissors do and more.  Let me show you~


This is a classic cut~using the outside of the image to get the shape of the paper.


Cutting all the way around the image with the X-Acto Retract-A-Blade knife gave me a perfect fit for the inside mat of this tin.


By doing this standard outside cut, made me wonder ~ how about an inside cut.  Will the X-Acto knife cut better than scissors if I need to cut a mat or a frame for a scrapbook page.  Let's see~


I started with a 12 X 12 piece of cardstock weight paper and cut in one inch, so it would make the paper a 11 X11 frame. I started an inch from the top and went all around the 4 sides.



What I found out were the corners were precise and clean~again prefect!!!!  I used the X-Acto Designer Series Gripster craft knife for this demonstration.


This is my, over 20 years, X-Acto knife. You can see it has seen some, major crafty days.  I took the new X-Acto retract-a-blade knife and scrapped my old knife and made it like new again.  I even sharpened the blade with the new knife by scraping the two together. 


Here she is all spit and polished!!!!


This was a fun project and the objective for me was ~ will an X-Acto knife cut duct tape in tight spots?  It did~  I even tried the reverse of the chipboard letter.  Cutting the shape from the empty chipboard space.  The X-Acto knife did not disappoint me~ cut clean even in the tight spots!!!


I used the X-Acto knife to help me add some mini letter stickers to a scrapbook page.  I lined the letters on the blade of the knife and put them down ~ when I didn't get it straight I used the blade to pick up the letter and re-position it. 


X-Acto has also provided me with two prize packs to be given away on my blog~the packet includes:
* Retract-a-Blade knife
* Designer Series Gripster craft knife
* Self-healing mat
Leave me a comment on this thread and tell me what you use your X-Acto knife for. Re-post on FB or Twitter and I will add your name in twice.   I will pick two winners in a few days!!! Please make sure I have a way to contact you.:):)  Thanks for stopping by and see ya soon!!!

35 comments:

  1. I love to use my x-acto knife to cut out my images and clean the edges of my glass tiles when I'm making my glass tile pendants. Perfect every time! Will post on FB - sure would love a new knife even though the one I have is OLD and still works like a gem. Thanks Connie!!
    byshawnarae.blogspot.com
    byshawnarae@gmail.com

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  2. Great post! I use my craft knife to pick up small stickers all the time!

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  3. OMGosh what timing! I need a knife that can cut through foam board...this might be the answer! LOL!! I went through two NEW cutters and both broke?! I'm still without a shadow box and a knife, and a table full of foam board :(

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  4. Cool project Connie. I love cutting out alphabets using my x-acto knife.

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  5. bwahahahaha. me and exacto knife. it just boggles the mind. I'm so glad you're talented!

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  6. i use my craft knife to set my alpha stickers and for cutting our intricate pieces. Great post!

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  7. i use my exacto knife with my perfect layers to get that perfect mat

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  8. great ideas once again..never thought of using it to set my alphas but makes great sense...i use mine to cut the foam boards all the time...works like a charm and i'd love to win one of those knives..put me in twice cuz i'm postin on FB...

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  9. I loveeeeeeee what you have done with the x-acto knife! I have one... but I actually usse my Fiskar's finger fitting knife more...I have more control with it, since I have no feeling in my right hand (except for one finger)... it's safer for me to use too! lol! :):):):):):):):):)

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  10. Love how much fun you have had with this experiment. I too use my old exacto all the time. I dont think I could scrap without it. I have bought a few new ones over the years, but I akways go back to my "old faithful"- can't wait to follow your lead and clean mine all up too. Thanks for the tutorial!

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  11. Isn't the designer knife really cool? Do not include me in the giveaway. Always fun Connie.

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  12. I would like to use it to cut frames and images for cards. It would be helpful for the tight spots & places difficult for scissors.

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  13. I posted on FB about your giveaway.

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  14. Wow these knives are neat. I would love to add them to my card making supplies.

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  15. thank you for all of the great tips, connie! i don't use my xacto nearly as much as i should.

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  16. Connie...this is awesome!!!! Wonderful post. I would use it to alter the altoids boxes I have sitting at home. I could've used one of these to cut the foam board for my daughters Halloween costume. Thanks for the chance!

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  17. Very informative-I have never thought to use an Xacto knife with my scrapping, but you sure make it look easy here! :)

    LA

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  18. Great post today!!! I love my craft knife...don't know if it's xacto though. I mostly use it to cut designs out of paper. Would love to win your giveaway!!! :)

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  19. I'm a huge fussy cutter and the only way I can get really precise, is by using a craft knife.It gets in every little nook and cranny. Gotta love X-acto!!!

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  20. I love my x-acto knife and especially use it to cut out my stamped and colored images, especially the tiny parts!
    I have an age old one, too *lol* but since I'm living in Germany I won't participate in the winning game.. but good luck to all other ladies and I will share this on my FB page, although! :)

    Sylvia xx

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  21. I often use mine to cut out what the die cut machine should have and didn't. I also use it for frames quite often.

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  22. Super great demo - my Exacto broke, and I need a new one. It's so frustrating when i go to use it, and it's not there. Gotta get one. Thanks again for following me, and I'm followin you here.
    Blessings,
    Karen
    karen-mycuprunnethover.blogspot.com

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  23. GReat ways to use the x-acto knives. Thanks for sharing. Best Wishes Lucinda

    lucindascherer@gmail.com

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  24. love my x-acto but don't use it enough when I need to. Gotta remember it.

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  25. I should remember it more often for those close cuts. Thanks for the reminder. Love the Duct tape idea, thanks.

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  26. Great ideas for the X-acto knife! I have one I have used for years, but I can always upgrade!

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  27. Love what you did with the alpha letters and the duct tape-cute!

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  28. I lost my x-acto knife somewhere in the last 2 weeks. Suspect that I left it laying somewhere. I'm lost without it. I use it to clean up die cuts and make the edges clean.

    Cheers...Tam
    gladfam@msn.com

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  29. You sure know your way around an X-acto knife! Lots of good ideas!

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  30. I love how you have used your cool x-acto knife.
    I could sure do with one of these...thanks for the chance to win one!
    I have also shared the link on face book. :)

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  31. Believe it or not Connie, I've NEVER used an Exacto knife!! But it sounds like I need one :)

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  32. I do a lot of fussy cutting, so a great & sharp craft knife is a must!!! Thanks for the great giveaway :)

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  34. I use my x-acto knife for cutting things out of patterned paper. It's so much easier to lay the paper on a glass mat and cut!
    I have to admit, mine looks like yours though, and isn't too pretty anymore lol. It works perfectly though!
    (don't enter me in the giveaway, I wouldn't trade my old worn x-acto for anything!)

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  35. How ironic that the subject is your LOVE for your X-acto knife!!!!! I think you can see by the # of responses that X-acto knives are a STAPLE that we cannot do without when it comes to our projects!!!!!
    You have a GREAT blog!!!!!!

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Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment on my blog. It means so much to me to know what you think. If you leave a question I will do my best to answer it and will post it in the same thread. <3 cm