I turn my paper over and the stencil over too and trace around it from the back, that way when you cut it out and you don't cut right on the lines you will never know because when you turn your letter to the right side you have a perfect letter. Hope this makes sense. I somethimes put the letters I cut out onto solid color paper and freehand cut around the letter so I can get a nice border. Rhonda

Wow - I never thought of doing any cutting. Whenever I use them I simply write directly onto the page with a very light pencil mark (to make sure I'll like it), then I go over it again with my good pens. I've never filled inthe letters - I haven't attempted any colored pencils yet so I do'nt know how I'd do with them.

Rhonda, when you cut out the letters, how do you do the tiny centers? Some of them are soooo small. I can't imagine getting them neat.

It just depends on the page I am doing. Sometimes I do my stenciling like Rhonda and trace it on the back of my paper and then cut it out. I have traced it directly onto the page I am doing and then used the colored pencils or markers to fill in the letters. I also use my computer a lot to print out chunky letters. I print out my text on the acid free paper I am using and then cut it out. As for cutting out the small insides of some of the letters, I use an exacto (spelling) knife.

I use tiny stickers for the centers - small flowers, stars, butterflys, etc. I have also used small pieces left on a page of adhesive letters for centers.

Thanks Bonny and Carrie. I never thought of doing that with the centers. I"ll have to give it a try the next time I use my one and only template. :)

To do the tiny center, use a swivel knife. Mount the cutout letters on little blocks of cardstock for a different look, or mat them and cut the mat out around the shape of the letter. I never used to cut out letters, either, until I tried it. It really makes a difference on your pages. Give it a try!!