Corner rounders and matting comparisons

Do you pay attention to the smallest details?  Do you want to add some elegance to your matting?  In almost every case, matted photos make a scrapbook look more finished.  You can of course cut straight mats, but mats with round corners give a different look - just make sure to round the corners of your photo too!  Here is a "How To" on corner rounders and why I have two different corner rounders with four different sizes.

The arrows point to the size markers on these We R Memory Keepers corner rounders.  The yellow one has 1/8" and 3/8" sizes and the green one has 1/4" and 1/2" sizes.  (BTW - always mark your tools with your initials if you attend crops or classes, so you go home with what you came with!  I use a Sharpie.)

Open the wings on the corner rounder and slide your material into the cutter.  These corner rounders cut through chipboard easily!  They also cut acrylic, felt, foil and stacks of card stock.

You have two choices when making multiple mats for your photos.  You can use the same size corner rounder on all the pieces.  If you only own one size corner rounder this is what you will get when you make multiple mats.  I think it is a casual, fun look.

For a more elegant look, I use staggered sizes.  The mats and photo nest into each other and it is a prettier profile.  Even if you have one corner rounder with two sizes, like the 1/4" and 1/2" model, the extra bit of effort to round the corners with the two sizes will give you a great result.  I usually plan on 1/8" border for each color of mat I create, although occasionally I go much larger for a bold statement.  For a 4x6 photo that I just couldn't bear to trim, the first mat would be 4 1/4" x 6 1/4", the second mat would be 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" and the third mat would be 4 3/4" x 6 3/4".

While these corner rounders are more expensive than some on the market, they cut through so much more and will last a long time.  Mine have been used by people in my classes for over three years and still cut wonderfully.  Like any paper punch, periodically punch or cut some aluminum foil to sharpen the edges.

An investment in good tools will improve your crafting experience - and don't you deserve the best?