Using Materials

• Additives

  • Additives are an important addition to paper as a material.
  • Without additives, we are left with materials in a less enhanced state.
• CMC

  • CMC (Carboxymethyl cellulose) is an additive used to aid in the bonding of fibres.
  • Soda ash is added to ensure that the strong bast fibres remain which occurs due to the non-cellulose parts being dissolved.
• Scissors

  • Scissors offer a simple way of cutting straight and curved lines on thin card and paper.
• Stanley knives

  • Stanley knives are used to allow for cutting of boards and some thin sheet materials.
• Surgical scalpels


  • Surgical scalpels can cut very precise shapes but they are very sharp.
• Circle cutters


  • Circle cutters offer a similar blade but can cut accurate circles using the diameter.
• Perforation cutters

  • We can use perforation techniques to partially crease the paper or card using a perforation cutter.
• Guillotines and paper trimmers

  • Lastly, guillotines and paper trimmers can cut large sheets of paper or card.