Today, I’m going to go over some of the most popular paper punches and cutting aids used with party printables.

There are tons and tons of different sizes and brands of punches out there…many of which work great.  The biggest factor in using punches is making sure that you have the right size for the item you are punching. In this post, I’m going to go item through item with recommendations for each…

(**note: Mimi’s Dollhouse 3/4″, 2″ and 4″ circles come in circle shape so purchasing paper punches is not required for assembling printables…it just saves tons of time!!)

3/4″ circles: As far as printing 3/4″ circles goes, whether printing on adhesive paper or matte photo paper, the 3/4″ punch is a huge life saver.  This is my favorite 3/4″ punch EK Success Paper Shapers 3/4-Inch Circle Nesting Punch.  It is easy to use and compact.  One tip I do have with the 3/4″ punch…since it is small and used frequently on adhesive paper, it is important to make sure you wipe it off often so it doesn’t start to stick.

2″ circles: There are two popular options for punching 2″ circles (most commonly used for cupcake toppers).  The first is the standard circle.  This is my favorite 2″ circle punch: Fiskars Squeeze Punch X-Large, Round ‘n Round.  The other option is the 2″ scalloped circle punch, which makes a pretty flower like shape when punched: EK Success Paper Shapers 2-Inch X-Large Scallop Circle Nesting Punch.

4″ circles: I am actually not a fan of ANY of the large circle cutters on the market.  I prefer to cut my 4″ circles by hand.  The biggest issue I have with the large cutter is how difficult they are to align with the center of the circle.  They are however, convenient if you are not a confident cutter or just want to be sure your circle is spot on.  I have tried many, many large circle punches…I think this one is the best: Martha Stewart Crafts Simple Circle Cutter.

Straight line paper cutters like (Fiskars SureCut Recycled Titanium Portable Paper Trimmer, 12- Inch (01-005454)) are also useful if you want a little help cutting banner panels, invitations, etc.

Printable decorations are actually very easy to use and none of the above tools are necessary to have a beautiful and perfectly assembled party…they are just my suggestions to aid the process:)