Since it is still Chinese New Year, I made two quick Chinese New Year paper-cutting decorations with the ScanNCut machine.
With the cutting machine, I can easily repeat the cutting and make more of them. I gave them away to my friends and family members so that they would have nice red paper decorations to symbolize prosperity for their homes, too.
For your convenience, I have included the downloaded files of the Fu (福) and Yang (羊) characters for you in both FCM and JPG files on the tutorial page (Page 2). You may use the FCM files to cut directly, or you may try out the Canvas software to create your own. For those of you who don’t own a cutting machine, you may download the JPG format and manually cut them out with an Exacto knife.
Chinese New Year Paper Cutting
scroll ⬇️ to get the free downloadable template
I received a Brother ScanNCut machine at the end of last year, and it is my most wanted Christmas gift of all. I was so excited, as I had been dreaming of owning an electronic cutting machine for as long as I knew that there was such a handy machine on the market.
The Brother ScanNCut machine comes with a scan feature, which has made crafting even easier and more fun. I have been doing some quick cutting since then (here is an example), and you can use the built-in design that comes with the machine. You can also scan a simple image and cut it out on one machine. Cool!!!
Today, I am doing something more complex by using the online software called “ScanNCut Canvas“. All I need to do is find an image in jpg, load it into the software, and trace it to transform the image into an FCM cutting file! You may find out how to do it in the following YouTube video by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer. She has a lot of ScanNCut video tutorials; be sure to watch her creations.
Besides JPG files, you may also use GIF, PNG, or BMP files of less than 5MB. In addition, ScanNCut Canvas is able to import SVG, DXF, and FCM files of less than 2MB from other cutter machines.
Note: Please use downloaded images with caution and make sure to use only those royalty-free images that are meant for personal and hobby use.
I have created a ScanNCut Crafts board on Pinterest to collect the cut files and images to be used in the future. I will add more as I go. Please follow me on Pinterest to see what I have added to this board and other boards.
In the meantime, I would like to share with you some photos of the home decoration I did for this year’s Chinese New Year. In 2015, it is the year of the Goat according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The Chinese writing for Goat is Yang (羊), and I did a paper cutting of the (羊) calligraphy character beside the word Fu (福). Fu (福) means “fortune” or “good luck”. It is greatly used in the homes of the Chinese since it represents the desire that one’s good luck will be expansive and come in many forms.
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!
WHAT’S NEXT:
- Start crafting and share your completed handmade on Facebook and/or Instagram. Remember to tag us, @craftpassion, so that we are able to see them.
- Pin it to Pinterest for a future To-Do List.
- Share with your DIY groups for a craft-along event.
- Browse more craft ideas to make, particularly for Chinese New Year Crafts.
Chinese New Year Paper Cutting
Today, I am doing something more complex by using the online software called ScanNCut Canvas. All I need to do is find an image in jpg, load it into the software, and trace it to transform the image into an FCM cutting file! You may find how to do it in the following YouTube Video by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer. She has a lot of ScanNCut video tutorials; be sure to watch her creations.
Enjoy making them!
Materials
- Red card stock
Tools
- Brother’s ScanNCut machine
- Fu (福) cutting file
- Yang (羊) cutting file
- Photo frame
Instructions
- Fu (福) Character. Click the following link to download and save the file to a USB thumb drive.
ScanNCut Machine in fcm format.
Manually cut in jpg format.
- Yang Character (羊). Click the following link to download and save the file to a USB thumb drive.
ScanNCut Machine in fcm format.
Manually cut in jpg format.
- a. Switch on the ScanNCut machine. Place the cutting blade with a proper blade setting into the blade holder. Read the instruction manual for the correct setting and testing of the blade.
b. Insert the USB thumb drive that contains the cutting files into the USB socket of the ScanNCut machine.
c. Select the Fu cutting file and load it to the screen, edit the size that fits your paper or to your desired size. Repeat the same to the Yang pattern.
d. Attach the card stock to the mat and load it into the machine. Scan the card stock to get the position displayed on the screen.
e. Check the pattern arrangement so that they fit within the paper.
- Start cutting the pattern once you have made sure everything was set in the proper way.
It may take a few minutes to cut. I always keep an eye on the machine while it is doing the cutting. Remove any small pieces of debris if possible during the cutting, this is to prevent the machine from getting stuck.
- The card stock is still properly stick on the mat after the cutting has finished.
- Use the spatula to assist the peeling of the cut-out.
- The Fu paper cut-out is done and you may use it to make Chinese New Year card or other make it into Chinese New Year decoration ornaments.
- Repeat the same to the Yang Paper cut-out when removing it from the mat.
- Glue the Yang paper cut-out onto a photo frame to make a Chinese New Year decor.
There they are, a Yang and Fu paper cut-out for my Chinese New Year decorations. You may simply adapt the method on page 1 to design the cut for other occasions.
Notes
If you do not have the ScanNCut machine, you may download the JPG format and cut it manually.
Ydit
Tuesday 31st of March 2020
I just received a ScanNCut Machine, can't wait to start creating!!
Jenny W Chan
Wednesday 4th of March 2015
I need to save up to purchase this machine! :O
Craft Passion
Friday 6th of March 2015
Yes, Jenny, you should own one of this machine. Love it so much. I am currently making business call card (name card) using this ScanNCut machine :)
Sharon
Sunday 1st of March 2015
Thank you xx