Shop Scissors Blog

Can wallpaper bounce back from its 'design don't' past?

When you hear wallpaper, what comes to mind? Aunt Joan's hideous florals plastered in a dining room? A crazy pattern of red roosters invading a kitchen? Uncle Jesse's pink bunny bedroom wallpaper from Full House?

Wallpaper has received a bad rap over the years, but taking the plunge with paper doesn't have to mean design suicide for your home. Actually, wallpaper and it's less scary wall decal counterparts are showing up from dorm rooms to dining rooms.

The committment phobe: If the thought of being stuck with one pattern for more than a year sends chills down your spine, you should try a temporary wall decor fix: the wall decal. Wall decals (or Wall Tattoos) can give a room and updated look without the long-term repercussions of wallpaper. Our design inspiration board features a palm tree motif by Surface Collective.

The design diva: If you know what you like and aren't  afraid to stick with it, you're ready for the real deal. Wallpaper today comes in unexpected color combos (think the pink and orange number by Marcel Wanders on our inspiration board) and classic-chic patterns such as damask.

Tips and Tricks

• Use paper shears to create the extra long, precision cuts you need to hand your new wallpaper
• Remember that painted walls need to be smoothed. This means scraping away any bumps and smoothing with sandpaper
• Use special markings for strips that go under windows or doorways
• Use a utility knife to trim away any excess paper

Clockwise from top: Wall Tattoo from Surface Collective; Frames Wallpaper by Taylor & Wood; Rose Wallpaper by Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway; Alice Wallpaper by Marcel Wanders; Viva wallpaper by Barbara Hulanicki; Damask Wallpaper available at Creative Wall Coverings.

Safety scissors for lefty kids

School isn't as far away as you think. While it might be time for roasting marshmallows at summer camp, it's also never too early to think about back to school.

Left-handed children deserve their own quality back to school supplies. This includes blunt-tipped children's scissors for lefty learners.

Product Details:

• Specially designed for a child's hand
• blunt tip
• stainless steel blades
• 10-year warranty

 

Featured Product Monday: Paramedic Shears

Patients rely on paramedics to act swiftly during their time of need. Paramedic shears help medical professionals do their jobs.

This week, we're highlighting Paramedic shears as trusty tools of the trade. What features make these shears so reliable and allow paramedics to work with safety and skill?

• The shears are manufactured with an extra large lower handle
• Shears have an extra strong safety lower tip
• Hot forged from cutlery-grade steel
• Extra high leverage for cutting dense materials
• Wider, thicker blades prevent spreading at tips

Cruise into summer with crafts for the kids

Transform your kitchen, living room or playroom into an under water wonderland by making this cute paper plate porthole we found on Kaboose.com.

Materials:

• 2 paper plates
• Silver craft paint (recommended: Rich Art Tempera Metallic Washable Paint in Metallic Silver, available at Michaels)
• 8 pieces of ring shaped cereal
• Fish-shaped crackers
• Silk plant leaves
• Sea shells (recommended: Value Pack Sea Shells, available at Michaels)
• Sand
• White craft glue
• Blue cellophane
• Wax paper
• Scissors (Check out Pointed Tip Children's Scissors)

Directions:

1. Take both paper plates and set them on the table. One should be right side up and the other should be upside down.
2. On the plate that is right side up, draw your sea floor about 1/3 up the center of the plate.
3. Line the floor area with white glue, use an old paintbrush or your finger to spread the glue out evenly.
4. Cover the wet glue with sand and set aside to dry.
5. On the upside down plate, draw a circle where you will cut out your porthole in the center of the plate.
6. Glue ring shaped cereal pieces around the circle; these are the bolts on the porthole. Let dry.
7. Paint the cereal pieces and the paper plate from the outer edge to your penciled lines. Don’t worry about painting over the lines a little, as you will be cutting it out. Set aside to dry.
8. Take the paper plate with the sand on it and hold it over a sheet of wax paper. Turn the plate sideways and gently tap it to loosen any excess sand. The sand should end up on the wax paper and you can save that for another project.
9. Glue sea life onto the plate with the sand floor. Glue on shells, silk leaves, and fish shaped crackers. Let dry.
10. Take the silver painted plate and cut out the center circle to create your porthole window. Place it gently over the top of the other plate to see if you are happy with its size and viewing area. Increase size of the hole if you like.
11. Turn silver plate upside down.
12. Cut a piece of blue cellophane large enough to cover the hole on the plate and glue in place. Let dry.
13. Place porthole plate over the top of the sea life plate and glue together. Let dry.
14. You can add a hanger to the project if you like, simply glue some string or yarn between the two plates at the top during step 13.

Embroidery scissors with a little something special

Giving standard embroidery scissors as part of a gift might be...how do we say this delicately...blah. But if you gift scissors with a touch of something special, your sewing enthusiast friend of family member will be impressed.

Clauss Gold Stork Embroidery Scissors are as classy as they are functional. The scissors features gold-plated shanks and bows crafted from fine grade cutlery steel.

Why are they perfect for embroidery? The thin, needle-sharp points allow delicate cutting and trimming without damaging material. Use for monogram work, applique, or trimming intricate embroidery.

Product Details:

• Stainless Steel
• 3.5" Pointed
• Stork bows
• Gold

Featured Product: EZ Open Scissors and Box Opener

We love a multi-use tool just as much as the next guy. That's why we're featuring EZ open scissors that are twice as nice.

Product Description:

E-Z Open box opener stainless steel shears provide you with a durable pair of scissors and a safe way to open boxes, cartons, and shipping packages. The box-cutting blade extends from the handle only when you need it for injury-free cutting.

• Unique trigger release extends box-cutting blade retracts when pressure is released
• Corrosion-resistant stainless steel blades
• Manufacturer’s Limited 10-year Warranty 
• For left-or right-hand use
• 8" Length 3-1/4" Cut