Category: Laser cutting

General lasercutting news and information. Laser-cut products and projects.

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Lockdown Papercutting Project Day 57: Bumpy Border

bumpy border with horizontal scalpel - Kay Vincent LaserSister

Bumpy Border #637

“Bumpy Border” is from the ongoing papercutting project that I’ve been doing. (Basically I’m trying to work my way through all of the designs in the “922 Decorative Vector Ornaments” book by Dover Books.)

Today’s design is number 637 in the book:

bumpy border papercut - square with scalpel - Kay Vincent LaserSister

Closer up:

bumpy border papercut - close up - Kay Vincent LaserSister

This one is not the most interesting of all the designs in the book. In fact, it’s so boring that I only cut a shortened version of the (very repetitive) design. I knew that if I had the skills to cut 15 of those little bumps at the top, then I would have the skills to cut 150 (etc…).

The other thing about this piece was that I made a mistake and accidentally ripped a piece of it. Ooops.

I can’t even remember what I was listening to while I was cutting the piece. On the other hand at least it didn’t take long to cut, so I was able to move onto the next piece very quickly. And strangely enough, I think I can actually see myself using this design in future projects precisly because it’s so boring and straightforward.

Any comments? You can chip in via the comments page, or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

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Lockdown Papercutting Project Day 56: Spotted Leaf

spotted leaf papercut - horizontal with scalpel - Kay Vincent LaserSister

Spotted Leaf #638

This “Spotted Leaf” design is from the ongoing papercutting project that I’ve been doing. (Basically I’m trying to work my way through all of the designs in the “922 Decorative Vector Ornaments” book by Dover Books.)

This week’s design is number 638 in the book.

spotted leaf papercut - square with scalpel - Kay Vincent LaserSister

Closer up:

spotted leaf papercut - close up - Kay Vincent LaserSister

This one looks a bit lumpy up close. I seem to have forgotten my recent-ish revelation that I can go back and neaten up the papercutting before I actually take the photo. Plus, the tiny size of the leaf makes any imperfections more obvious. All the same, I really like this one.

It was really really hard to cut out the teeny tiny holes. I needed to use a completely new blade so that there was less chance of ripping the paper. I also needed to wear some reading glasses. The leaf is so small that I can’t even focus on it properly most of the time anyway, so there is no chance that I’d be able to see it in enough detail to cut the holes out.

Now I’ve been listening to the audiobook of The Academy by FD Lee. It’s the sequel to The Fairy’s Tale, which I really enjoyed. Today I’ve also been watching a bit more of Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD.

Any comments? You can chip in via the comments page, or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

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Lockdown Papercutting Project Day 55: Shaded Leaf

shaded leaf papercut - horizontal with scalpel - Kay Vincent LaserSister

Shaded Leaf #640

This “Shaded Leaf” design is from my ongoing papercutting project (trying to work my way through all 922 designs in the “922 Decorative Vector Ornaments” book).

Today’s design is number 640 in the book.

shaded leaf papercut - square with scalpel - Kay Vincent LaserSister

Closer up:

shaded leaf papercut - close up - Kay Vincent LaserSister

This one is cute. I liked cutting it and I could definitely see myself using it in a ‘real’ project. Yet again it’s got a bit of an Art Nouveau them to it, which I find very attractive. And I liked cutting the teeny tiny shaded lines on the leaf, and the the curvy stalk bits of it. It also didn’t take too long to cut. I wonder if I’ve been ‘cherry picking’ the small designs though, and will end up with a disproportionate number of really big designs at the end of the project? Hope not!

In the background today I’ve been watching Marvel’s Agents of Shield on Amazon Prime. But oh dear, all six of the first six series will cease to be available on Amazon Prime in 6 days’ time. We’ll just have to get to the end of Series 3 and then wait for it to come back, one day.

Any comments? You can chip in via the comments page, or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

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Lockdown Papercutting Project Day 54: Oval Flower

oval flower papercut - horizontal with scalpel - Kay Vincent LaserSister

Oval Flower #643

This design is from an ongoing papercutting project that I’ve been doing. (I’m trying to work my way through all of the designs in the “922 Decorative Vector Ornaments” book by Dover Books.) Today’s “Oval Flower” design is number 643 in the book.

As always I’m running out of titles for all of the flowers and leaves that appear in the designs, so that’s how I’ve ended up with this title.

oval flower papercut - square with scalpel - Kay Vincent LaserSister

Closer up:

oval flower papercut - close up - Kay Vincent LaserSister

I particularly enjoyed cutting this one. it was a real challenge to cut the tiny thin slivers and lines from the paper. I’m reaching the stage in this project where I’m actually starting to feel way more confident in my papercutting skills. I hardly ever accidentally over-cut or tear bits of paper these days, no matter how intricate the design.

As for the design itself, it looks a bit ‘wavery’, but it’s all deliberate. So I don’t find it super-pleasing to the eye, but with a few tweaks I think I could use it in another project one day. It looks like it would go very nicely in a papercut alphabet – e.g. in a hole of a lower-case ‘g’.

In the meantime I’m still listening to the audiobook version of The Fairy’s Tale by FD Lee. In fact I’m enjoying it so much that I might buy the actual print version of it.

Any comments? You can chip in via the comments page, or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

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A Perfect Christmas Family Gift

lasercut wooden family tree

(Feel free to skip reading this post if you aren’t interested in my laser-cut products and services, because that’s basically what this post is about. The basic suggestion is that the perfect Christmas family gift is one that I’ve made with my laser cutter…)

Apparently the December 2020 issue of Family Tree Magazine should be available for uploading and reading today. I already have a subscription to it via my local library, but I’ll be interested in this particular issue because it contains my first-ever advert in a magazine.

screenshot of family tree magazine on my e-reader

The issue includes a picture of what could be the perfect Christmas family gift…a personalised bauble:

family tree magazine Christmas edition advert for LaserSister - lasercut Christmas tree bauble

OK – I probably should have put one of my family tree artworks in the ad instead of the bauble design (what with it being the “Family Tree” magazine), but

  1. I wanted to be friendly and wish the magazine a merry Christmas, seeing as it’s their December issue, and
  2. My family trees are bigger and more expensive than the baubles, so maybe fewer people would be interested in them.

So if you’re reading this post because you saw my ad in Family Tree Magazine, then welcome! Here is a picture of a Christmas tree ornament that could (literally) have your name on it:

personalised laser cut Christmas tree bauble

This is one of my family tree artworks in comparison:

lasercut wooden family tree

My Etsy shops:

I’m currently in the process of moving from my old ‘PolymerKay’ Etsy shop to my new ‘LaserSister’ Etsy shop. However, the personalised baubles should hopefully be available from both shops by the time you read this.

The shops contain a range of baubles; from pre-made letters to completely personalised messages.

…so in answer to the question of how to make a perfect Christmas gift for the family? Basically just visit one of the shops above, make an order including the family name, and I do the rest. Easy!

Do you have an idea for a personalised artwork that is a bit more ambitious? If so, please feel free to contact me, and I’ll be happy to discuss it with you.

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Lockdown Papercutting Project Day 53: Curled Leaf

papercut 645 curled leaf - horizontal - LaserSister - KayVincent

Curled Leaf #645

This “Curled Leaf” design is from my ongoing papercutting challenge. (I’m trying to work my way through all of the designs in the “922 Decorative Vector Ornaments” book by Dover Books, but during the Covid19 Lockdown I’ve been adapting and cutting 100 papercuts in 100 days…)

Today’s design is number 645 in the book.

papercut 645 curled leaf - vertical pinterest - LaserSister - KayVincent

Closer up:

papercut 645 curled leaf - square - LaserSister - KayVincent

I like this one. It was fairly quick to cut because it’s so small, and I enjoy the way the end of the leaf curls around, and the swirly vine thing that it’s attached to.

I can definitely see myself using this motif in a future project. It looks like it would work very well in the border of a larger design.

While cutting this one I was listening to a library audiobook, The Fairy’s Tale, by F.D. Lee. I’m quite enjoying it, which is a nice surprise. This year I’ve already listened to all of the books that I actively wanted to listen to, and am now down to trawling through the remaining books and just hoping that they’re not going to be awful. And this one definitely isn’t awful.

Any comments? You can chip in via the comments page, or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

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Lockdown Papercutting Project Day 52: Scrawny Flower

papercut 648 scrawny flower - horizontal - LaserSister - KayVincent

Scrawny Flower #648

This is from an ongoing papercutting project that I’ve been doing. (Basically I’m trying to work my way through all of the designs in the “922 Decorative Vector Ornaments” book by Dover Books.) Today’s design is number 648 in the book. And yes, I have officially run out of creative names for these designs. Hence “Scrawny flower”. This one in particular is a bit of a puzzle – it’s got a fairly pretty leaf with some nice tendrils around it, but the flower itself is a bit … myeh.

papercut 648 scrawny flower - vertical pinterest - LaserSister - KayVincent

Closer up:

papercut 648 scrawny flower - square - LaserSister - KayVincent

I’m not sure I’ll use this design again, but I must admit that I do like the curly vine-tendril element.

Any comments? You can chip in via the comments page, or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

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Lockdown Papercutting Project Day 51: Oranges And Leaves

papercut 650 oranges and leaves - horizontal - LaserSister - KayVincent

Oranges and Leaves #650

This “Oranges and Leaves” design is from an ongoing papercutting project that I’ve been doing. (Basically I’m trying to work my way through all of the designs in the “922 Decorative Vector Ornaments” book by Dover Books.)

Today’s design is number 650 in the book.

papercut 650 oranges and leaves - vertical pinterest - LaserSister - KayVincent

Now that I look at it, I think I should probably have rotated it 90 degrees anti-clockwise, (so that it would make the top right element of a design, rather than the bottom left as I’ve currently shown it). And I’m also thinking that the fruits might be apples instead of oranges. Double oops!

Closer up:

papercut 650 oranges and leaves - square close up - LaserSister - KayVincent

Anyway, this is another design motif that I find particularly pleasing, so I think I will almost certainly use it in a future project.

As for the actual cutting skills, I’m fairly happy with the outcome. It’s a very forgiving design anyway because there aren’t any thin straight lines and because it’s asymmetrical, but all the same I’m pleased with the curves that I managed to cut.

In the background I was listening to The Story Studio podcast. It’s one of my top 5 writing podcasts to listen to. Probably a bit sweary for some people, but has given me some great writing ‘mindset’ tips over the last few years.

Any comments? You can chip in via the comments page, or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

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Lockdown Papercutting Project Day 50: Flower Hair Woman

papercut 654 flower hair woman - horizontal - LaserSister - KayVincent

Flower Hair Woman #654

This “Flower Hair Woman” design is from my ongoing papercutting challenge. (Basically I’m trying to work my way through all of the designs in the “922 Decorative Vector Ornaments” book by Dover Books.)

Today’s design is number 654 in the book (but I’m not cutting them in any particular order). But…

… it’s the 50th cut in my 100-day lockdown papercutting project. Half way!

papercut 654 flower hair woman - vertical pinterest - LaserSister - KayVincent

Closer up:

papercut 654 flower hair woman - horizontal - LaserSister - KayVincent

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, faces are tricky to adapt for papercutting, because you need to find ways to link the eyes, eyebrows, nose and mouth to the rest of the design so they don’t fall off and disappear. Also compared with yesterday, this one feels a bit more forced and a bit less natural in the way I’ve linked some of the elements. I’ve had to drag the wavy hair a long way across the face so that the lips can link onto something, and the line of the nose has extended into the eyebrow so it has turned into a giant big conk.

I do like the individual elements though – especially the eyes – and so I think that with just a bit of a tweak to the nose I would use this design again one day.

Any comments? You can chip in via the comments page, or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

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Lockdown Papercutting Project Day 49: Deco Rose Woman

papercut 659 deco rose woman - horizontal - LaserSister - KayVincent

Deco Rose Woman #659

“Deco Rose Woman” is from an ongoing papercutting project that I’ve been doing. (Basically I’m trying to work my way through all of the designs in the “922 Decorative Vector Ornaments” book by Dover Books.) Today’s design is number 659 in the book:

papercut 659 deco rose woman - vertical pinterest - LaserSister - KayVincent

Closer up:

papercut 659 deco rose woman - square - LaserSister - KayVincent

For once it should be fairly obvious how I’ve chosen the title for this design. It’s a woman with an Art Deco style rose in her hair. Easy!

And since there’s already a face deliberately included in the design, my eyes aren’t trying to trick me into seeing other little faces in the design (like they were in yesterday’s design and also this one).

I loved cutting this one, but especially adapting it. Faces are often really hard to adapt into realistic-looking papercutting designs. After all, how do you link people’s eyes, noses and mouths etc., without making the linking-pieces seem really ‘forced’? But in this case the design was very forgiving, because the nostril just hooks onto the rest of the nose, and the eyebrow and eye extend fairly naturally into the hair.

The expression on her face is a bit dour, so I’m not sure what I could use this particular design for. But if I adapted the expression a bit then it might work in a general illustration that required a woman’s face in it.

Today while creating this post I’ve been having a bit of a 1980s flashback, by listening to some of John Denver’s greatest hits.

Any comments on today’s post or design? You can chip in via the comments page, or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.