Die Cutting
Die cutting is a process that allows you to make multiple identical cuts through materials like paper, cardstock, foam or fabric. This process uses specialized equipment called a die cutting machine or press, and a shaped blade called a die.
A Few Things You Can Make
- Greeting cards
- Gift boxes
- Scrapbooking
- Classroom and party decorations
What’s Available?
- Irvington Library & Makerspace Garage carries an Accucut MARK 5 die cutter.
- A collection of compatible dies for you to use during your reservation. You may bring your own dies, but Library Staff will need to review them to be sure they’ll work with our equipment.
What You’ll Need
Materials to cut out: The Library provides a limited amount of paper and cardstock. If you need to cut more than a few pages, please plan on bringing your own materials. Paper and cardstock work well. Very thin felt and foam can work too. We recommend bringing some scrap materials to test with the die cutter if you’re unsure.
Safety Considerations
- The dies contain very sharp blades, which can cut your hands. Be careful when handling them.
- Be sure that the die is placed flat and fully inside the edges of the tray before rolling it through the machine.
- If the die cutting machine becomes jammed or otherwise malfunctions, contact library staff immediately. Do not attempt to remove the jam or repair the machine on your own.
- Members under the age of 10 must have a parent/guardian actively supervising them when using this equipment.
How to Make a Reservation
In order to make a reservation to use any Makerspace equipment, you will need:
- A library card under the name of the person who will be using the equipment
- A signed waiver for the person who will be using the equipment. Anyone under the age of 18 must have a parent/legal guardian sign the waiver on their behalf.
Then, fill out the Makerspace Equipment Interest form to get started.
Where to Find Project Ideas
- Accucut’s Idea Gallery has examples of projects others have completed with Accucut dies.
Additional Resources
- AC Library catalog search for paper crafts.
