Review: Paper Trimmer or Guillotine?

Being a newbie to crafting can be overwhelming. There are so many essential crafting tools, mediums, and inks to pick from. There are also loads of card stock, embellishments, and adhesives too! One thing is for sure, you'll need a cutting tool to cut your card stock for all the beautiful cards and projects you'll make. Scissors aren't recommended because it's surprisingly difficult to a straight line! You can use a ruler and craft knife to cut your paper, but we recommend picking either a paper trimmer or guillotine to trim your card stock.

So which is better a paper trimmer or a guillotine?

We have a great selection of paper trimmers and guillotines on Craftstash!

Trimmer & Guillotines

Paper trimmers or guillotines are cuttings tools that come with built in measuring guides and grids to trim your paper precisely. There are various sizes (and brands), but generally they cater to either 6 inch or 12 inch card stock. Trimmers and guillotines that cut 12 inch card stock don't have to actually measure 12 inches, so don't be discouraged if you find a trimmer that looks tiny. Chances are it has a collapsible extender that allows you to trim larger pieces. Read the product description to find all the details on what paper sizes your trimmer or guillotine cuts.

What's the difference between a paper trimmer and a guillotine?

The answer is the cutting motion and blade. A paper trimmer has a blade on a track that you slide up and down your paper to trim it. A guillotine has a handle with a blade that moves up and down to cut your paper.

Guillotines tend to be bulkier and heavier because the blade is larger, metallic, and SHARP. They also cut more sheets at a time and you don't need to change the blade as often. They give such a clean cut. However, you need to be very careful because the blade is exposed, unlike a paper trimmer.

A paper trimmer is more versatile in that, not only does it cut paper, most paper trimmers come with a scoring attachment. You can also start cutting your paper at the centre, which you can't do with a guillotine. Paper trimmer blades can get dull very easily and you'll notice you need to change it because the edge of your paper will look frayed and not cut. Also it's easy to snag your paper with a trimmer if your paper is on the thinner side.

Watch the video to see these paper trimmers and guillotines in action! If you're a seasoned crafter, let us know which you have. Most crafters have both or even a whole collection of trimmers!