Are you talking about the Creative Memories PT?? If so, when you line up your picture, you have to hold down the guide thing over the picture so you'll get a tight cut. Also, when I'm lining up the picture, I use the shadow from the blade above to see where I want to cut it. Just make sure you're working in good lighting.

Not sure of any other tips right now - that's all I can think of.

Dear Rita,
I too have the CM personal trimmer, (got it as a gift from a friend) I hate the thing and have used it rarely. If you don't hold down on whatever you are trying to cut with tons of pressure it either leaves fuzzy edges, or the paper moves and cuts sideways. I am thankful I didn't buy it myself, and I DO NOT recommend it, but perhaps I am doing something wrong. Penny

Unlike Penny i LOVE my cm trimmer and have just about worn the thing out mine gives a VERY clean cut. the only thing i dont like about it is the size it is too small to trim whole sheets of paper so i got one from my future mil's office that gives a good cut but you have to really apply the pressure to it. if using the cm one i just make sure that the edge i want left is just to the edge of the thingy that holds the paper down next to the blade because then the blades cuts right beside it hope this helps

When you move the blade to make your cut, do it in one QUICK swipe. Going too slowly messes the pic up.

I have used the CM cutter and love it. I find you get a nicer cut if you push the blade to the left as you cut.

The only problem is the CM cutter I used was my sisters and I can't use it now I am in the states. So I bought a fiskars paper cutter. It seems pretty good but I haven't actually used it yet. I also got it because I will have to take it home at the end of my 12 months and it is smaller and more compact then the CM cutter. It also cuts a larger page and has a smaller grid size(the size of the grid squares on the CM cutter was its only negative, they were just too big)

But if anyone has the fiskars cutter please let me know your feelings on it.

Thank you

Felicity

Penny, your blade may need to be sharpened on your CM cutter. Cut a few pieces of wax paper with it and that should sharpen it right up. And, as Pam and Tracy said, be sure to pull a little to the left and use one quick swipe.

I absolutely HATED the new CM circle/oval cutters until I got more comfortable using them. Now I don't think they're all that bad. I'm glad I gave them a chance. :)

Patti

Hi Ladies ~ Thanks for all the input. I think I goofed in my post. I should have stated that it's a Fiskar's personal trimmer. Sorry about that. I was having the most awful time getting the cuts exactly where I wanted them. I guess I need to tinker around with it some more on some scrap paper, and maybe I'll get it figured out. As far as the cut goes, it makes a very nice cut...I just can't seem to get the cut where I want it. ~ Rita

Dear Ladies,
Thanks for the advice on the CM trimmer I may just have to break the thing back out and give it another try. Rita as to the fiskers trimmer. I love it. I too had trouble lining it up to start with but after I got the hang of it I did pretty good. I must admit that I cheat, I have a industrial paper trimmer at my job and I take most of my paper there and cut up mats, shortcuts, etc. there. It is great and only takes seconds compared to the smaller trimmers. I would suggest anyone that wants to cut a lot of paper in advance (I did this for photo mats, cutting 8 x 11, and 12 x 12 card stock in four pieces for photo mats and some assorted sizes for short cuts.) to check their local school house and see if they have a paper cutter they will let you come in and use. Penny

Rita- I use the Fiskers cutter. Yes, practice makes perfect. I goofed with it at first too. Now I use it and wonder what my problem was in the first place. Practice on junk pics. :o)

Rita,

I have the fiskars personal trimmer the one with the extra measuring arm that swings out, and I love it. And yes practice on scraps first until you get used to it. It's hard to explain the little tricks on how to use it without someone actually showing you. But if you line up your cut with the little notch on the ruler which is where the blade cuts they come out perfect. Maybe you could take your cutter to the scrapbbook store next time you go and they will be more than happy to show you how to use it. I learned to use mine at some of the classes I took at the scrapbook store, that's the only trimmer they use, so they show you all the neat things you can do with it. Now I can cut out frames for my pictures by marking how wide I want the border and lining up the little notch on the orange blade thingy to start the cut from that point. Hope this helps somewhat.

Pam

I agree, the Fiskars trimmer works great. Just use it in one clean motion and not slowly. Precise cuts!