There are many decorative scissors and punches out on the market right now. You can add a special edge to your photo mat, add some cute punches as inexpensive embellishments, and many other fun things on your scrapbooking pages.

Decorative scissors come in many patterns and designs, from a simple waved edge, to a more elaborate laced edge. You can cut borders, photo mats, and even your picture with the scissors. I don't tend to like to cut my photo's with funky edges unless I have a duplicate of the photo. One of a kind older photos are better left intact.

I have noticed that my decorative scissors (I use the Fiskar's brand) all have different colored handles. I have memorized which color goes with which cut, and it makes it much easier to find the right scissors.

Another good trick with the scissors is to use aluminum foil when they get dull. Simply cut through the foil several times, and your scissors are sharpened.

If you don't have a corner rounder, the Fiskar's Seagull patterned scissors work well if you center the scissors right on the corner, then cut ... ta-da! A great use for the scissors. (If you don't have the scissors, use large toe nail clippers to cut your corners.....it works great!)

Remember to use your decorative scissors only for paper, pictures and cardstock. Fabric will dull them quickly, and wire will ruin them.

Punches are a great tool as well. I like to buy my large punches at my local craft store when I get their 40% or 50% off coupons, and that makes them an inexpensive investment for my scrapbooking that really pays off.

I love the large square punch to use in many different ways. It is a great tool to make windows on cards you make, or on your scrapbook pages. I can add an embellishment in the window, or put a rubber stamped image inside. I also like to use the squares that I punch to center letters for titles, to add with a puff dot for dimension to a page, or to line the bottom of the page for a fun, geometrical border.

If you have a hard time matching a specific color in a photo you are creating a scrapbook page with, pick up some paint sample cards at your nearest hardware store. Punch some great images from these and you can match your picture perfectly, as they have hundreds of colors!

There are many small containers to store your punches in. Try used medicine bottles, or film canisters. Adhere a sample of the punch on the container lid for easy finding.

Many other punch shapes are great to add to your scrapbook pages. Try using raindrops in a circle pattern around a circle punch for wonderful flowers. The daisies can also double as snowflakes on some pages. Remember to use the punches, as well as the punches out silhouettes for your scrapping fun.

Here are some punch care tips. If your punch is sticking, try punching through waxed paper, it should help. You can also use the aluminum foil to sharpen your punches like you do on your scissors. Simply punch through the aluminum foil several times ... hmmm could you use the foil punches to add to a scrapbook page? Another tip is to put your punches in the freezer for 20 minutes as this will make them easier to use again.