ScanNCut: Use Up Scraps With the Baseball Field Method
March 15, 2022
The ScanNCut is a mega scrap busting machine! Because of the built-in scanner, I'm able to save and use all of my little scraps of paper, fabric, vinyl, and other materials. One of the techniques that I go back to time after time is "the baseball field method."
What's that you ask?
Well, I'd be delighted to tell you!
The baseball field method is a simple technique that allows you to maximize your time and effort. In essentials, I take different colors/patterns of the same material and place them onto my cutting mat spread apart -- like bases on a baseball field. Then I use the built-in scanner and the Background Scan function -- available with every model of ScanNCut -- to scan in those scraps. Once I can see them on the LCD screen, all I have to do is drag the cut pieces onto the scraps and press GO. As you will see in the video, it means that in less than a minute all of my pieces are cut and I've used up my leftover scraps. Win-win!
Here is the notebook that I made in the video:
And here are a few other projects where I used the baseball field method:
As you can see, it's a technique that works with paper, fabric, felt, vinyl, and more!
A few things to remember:
- Everything on the mat must be the same material -- just different in color or pattern. For paper or fabric that means the same weight. For example, you can't cut copy paper and scrapbook paper at the same time. Everything has to be the same material.
- Items should not overlap. Each scrap you place on the mat should be completely stuck down to the mat and not overlapping any other item.
- You are smart. The machine is dumb. After you scan in your material, you need to drag the pieces to where you want them. The machine cannot actually "see" the material and place the pieces for you.
I hope you found these tips useful. Have fun with your ScanNCut!
Thanks for stopping by!
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P.S. I am a paid spokesperson for the Brother ScanNCut. It is a machine that I love and use. All projects and opinions are my own. ScanNCut Club is not affiliated with Brother in any way.
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