Shop Scissors Blog

Pink/Purple Titanium Straight Shears

A personal favorite just rolled into Shopscissors: and it comes with bold inspiring color. The 8” Pink/Purple Titanium Straight Shears sport blades three times harder than steel and a personality that is twice as awesome. No more traditional oranges or reds, this grip will make you feel confident and fun as you cut anything from paper, herbs, or even fabric.  These purple scissors are so tough, they are packed with a lifetime warranty, guaranteed to keep you crafting longer, and better. For more information visit ShopScissors.com.

Kleen Earth Shears: Giving Back One Snip at a Time

 Every year humanity raises the bar in giving back to the environment. In honor of Earth day every person should do a little to help this planet- it is the only home we have after all. Here are some methods that you could incorporate everyday that would help reduce our carbon footprint.

• Add a low flow faucet aerator to all showers and sinks: this could save 33 million gallons of water a year (and an obvious perk is your water pressure feels stronger)
• Walk or Ride your Bike everywhere you can. The store, to work, to class, even to friends houses on the weekends. Doing this reduces emissions and saves you money on gas.
• Use Recyclable Shopping Bags contrary to popular belief (and advertising) plastic bags are not biodegradable and cannot be properly recycled. Use cloth bags or don't accept a bag at all if your purchase can be carried by hand
• Recycle Everything, Buy Everything Recycled if we utilize this motto with every aspect of our lives, this world will look a little brighter every year.
• Purchase Kleen Earth Shears which are made with 70% recycled content, 30% post consumer content and come with a 10 year warranty. If everyone bought one pair or these, our landfills would reduce in size drastically every year.

It's our planet so let's take care of it. What are you going to do to ensure a greener Earth?

5 things to do when you're snowed in

Everyone north, south, east and west has seen their fair share of wild weather this winter season - and it's not over yet.

As the south gets blasted with wintry mix (6 inches of snow is like 6 feet for someone who never sees it) they'll be plenty of school and work closings.

So what do you do with all of that extra time? We've got our Top 5 things to do with the family when you're snowed in.

1) Just because the holidays are over doesn't mean you can't decorate! The simplest blizzard craft? White paper and scissors. We're talking about making paper snowflakes, of course.

2) Fireless smores - Have a fondue pot? Actually, you don't even need one. Melt some chocolate in a bowl, dip the grahams in the chocolate and toast up some marshmallows for some nontraditional smores.

3) Build a fortress ... inside - Create your own winter wonderland (without the biting cold) inside from blankets and chairs and whatever furniture floats your boat.

4) Movie Night - Whether you're streaming Netflix or tapping into your own DVD collection, being snowed in is the perfect time to have a movie party. Make some hot chocolate, grab some blankets and you're good to go.

5) Story and Playtime - Being snowed in can be a rare time when both parents and kids have off during the week. Why not act out your favorite book. You can create crazy costumes from clothing you already have. Mom's costume jewelry goes a long way for a princess!

Make a statement with peanut butter and jelly Halloween costume

A Halloween costume so cute you'll want to eat it up!

This PB&J costume - brought to us by Kaboodle.com - is our costume of the week because it's one of the most unique creations we've seen in a while.

Here's what you'll need:

• Two square pieces of 1 ½" foam, approximately 22" x 22"
• 1 yard fuzzy peanut butter colored fabric
• 1 roll purple cellophane
• 1 package purple or blue tissue paper
• Brown magic marker
• Scissors
• Purple shirt
• Fun tights
• 1 can spray adhesive (recommended: 3M Super 77 Multipurpose Adhesive)
• Hot glue gun or foam glue (stickier than white glue)

Directions:

1. Use a bowl as a guide to trace rounded corners on the foam and create the shape of a piece of bread.  Color around the outside edge of both pieces with magic marker to create the crust. 

To make the "jelly":

1. Glue three large squares of tissue paper to cellophane.  Leave enough room on the cellophane to fold it over and glue to the tissue paper, leaving no plain tissue paper is visible. 
2. Wrinkle up the cellophane and tissue to create a jelly-like texture.  
3. Use foam glue to attach the "jelly" around the outside edge of the first piece of "bread."  Leave enough cellophane and tissue to allow the "jelly" to ooze out over the top of the "bread." 

To make the "peanut butter":

1. Place the second piece of foam "bread" on a table.  Lay the brown fuzzy fabric right side up over the foam so the one yard length is across the top edge of the bread.  To give the peanut butter some shape, stuff tissue paper inside fabric and roll the fabric around the tissue paper and glue it to itself with spray adhesive. Fold the fabric edges under in folds and clumps along the top and sides of the "bread;" use spray adhesive to glue it in place. (Note: Super 77 is VERY sticky – work in small areas at a time, lifting the fabric, spraying and pressing it back in place on the foam.)  On bottom edge of fabric, cut off excess, fold under and glue raw edge out of sight.  
2. Cut holes for head and arms; glue raw edges out of sight. 

To put the sandwich together:

1. On jelly side, spray adhesive on exposed foam in between jelly on edges. Turn foam over and press onto "peanut butter" side.  
2. Dress your child in a purple shirt and dark pants or fun tights, and then slip the sandwich over your child's head.

 

Feature Friday: Kleen Earth Eco-friendly Scissors

We're excited to introduce new products that are better for our Earth including the Kleen Earth straight handle scissors.

About Kleen Earth Scissors:

Westcott's Kleen Earth products and packaging are made using recycled material making them eco-friendly.  Backed with a 10 year warranty and stainless steel blades, you know you are receiving a product that will live up to your expectations.

• Product & packaging made from recycled materials
• Sharp, lightweight, & comfortable
• Corrosion resistant, stainless steel blades
• 10 year warranty

Halloween craft of the week: Pumpkin Light Catchers

It's officially fall - what better time to ramp up your Halloween party plans? This week, we're featuring pumpkin light catchers as seen on MarthaStewart.com.

Did you know? The carved lantern didn't become associated with Halloween until 1866.

What you'll Need: 

- Scissors

- Pumpkin Template

- Black Construction Paper

- Tape

How To:

1. Print our pumpkin and face Templates, enlarging or reducing designs as desired.

2. Choose a face, and cut out features; tape to black construction paper that's larger than the pumpkin. Cut out features from black sheet.

 

3. Remove template. Place pumpkin on top of black paper; hold both up to the light so the face is visible through the pumpkin. Maneuver papers until placement of features is correct on pumpkin. Glue papers together, and cut around pumpkin edges through both layers. The pumpkin's expression will show up when it is backlit by the sun, a lamp, or the light from a candle in a tall glass holder.

 

 

Scissors, you've come a long way

Aren't you glad scissors look a little more user friendly today? The artifacts pictured left are from 7th to 9th century China. 

Today there are tons of scissors for even more specific needs - from paramedic shears to spring-assisted scissors for arthritis sufferers. 

Let's take a look at how it all began...

• Scissors were invented in 1500 BC in Egypt
• The earliest scissors were of the 'spring scissor' type comprising two bronze blades connected at the handles by a thin, curved strip of bronze. This strip served to bring the blades together when squeezed and to pull them apart when released.
• Pivoted scissors were not manufactured in large numbers until 1761

Father's Day Features: Easy grip spring-assisted scissors

Just because your Dad "officially" retired a few years ago, doesn't mean he has given up projects he loves. In fact, many American adults 55 and older are taking advantage of their "Golden Years" to test out new, more fulfilling career paths. 

As you think of some thoughtful ways to help your Dad get set up in his new home office, check out these spring assisted scissors. Arthritis affects majority of people over 55 years old. While many manual tasks become more difficult, using scissors doesn't have to be. 

Spring Assisted shears help arthritis sufferers and other manually challenged users. Spring mechanism allows blade to open without effort. Soft rubberized contoured handle for added comfort.

Did you Know? May is Arthritis awareness month. To learn more, please click here.

Super Value: Straight handle scissors 2-pack

8" Straight Handle Scissors

Westcott all purpose, 2 pack, 8" straight handle scissors

• 2 pairs of straight handle 8" scissors
• Durable stainless steel blades; corrosion resistant for longer blade life
• Individually hand tested
• Left or right handed
• For use in office and home
• 5 year warranty

Spotlight On: Featherlite Shears

Superlight, stainless steel shears on a dime. How could you ask for more?

8 1/2" Featherlite Shears are good, budget-priced stainless steel shears for all-around office, shop, floral work. 

• Very light weight scissors (feather-lite) - only 2oz
• Orange handles
• Great economy scissors

Manufacturer: Clauss