Knives & Mats
A craft knife is an essential - yet thankfully inexpensive - part of a crafter's tool kit. It is handy for cutting paper and cardstock and trimming peel-off stickers, ribbons and fibres. To get a good, clean cut always change your blade regularly. Some knives are disposable; the blade cannot be changed and you simply throw the whole knife away when it is blunt. The most cost-effective and environmentally-friendly knives are those which have replaceable blades.
Protective Cutting Mats
When using a craft knife, a self-healing mat is important to protect your work surface and aids the cutting process by giving you a solid base to work on. Self-healing simply means that when the knife digs in, the surface closes together rather than leaving an open cut.