Frame-able high detail paper cutting artwork of the 'scherenschnitte' style
Instruction
High detail, beautiful papercutting art that you can frame after making. Technique applicable to endless number of designs. Find artwork on Internet or scan from books, apply construction paper to 110lb card stock following instructions, cut, clean, then frame.
This finished artwork was previously posted to https://www.reddit.com/r/xToolOfficial/comments/1golxsf/comment/m0ocjcw/, is being crossposted here based upon feedback, with detailed instructions.
Use Dritz Basting Spray (available in fabric/sewing sections of many stores), a light tack temporary adhesive. Spray a light coat (1 or 2 passes, no more) onto the 110# card stock. Wait 60 seconds. Then affix construction paper. I use an inexpensive Speedball brayer to ensure construction paper is on smoothly and evenly.
Put paper into P2 with the construction paper side up. Align your image to be centered, then cut. Results will be as shown in pictures. Even though the setting is “score” for the laser, it will cut through the thin construction paper. But at the low power setting it will only score the thicker cardstock below. At tight corners the laser may burn through the cardstock a bit. You can use heavier card stock if you want.
110# card stock is about 0.007 inch thick. This is easily found at Walmart, Meijer, etc. There's heavier stuff (150#, I think) that's about 0.012 inch thick available at most office supply places.
This particular picture takes 8 minutes to cut. Credit where credit is due, this image was found at http://freepik.com/.
Now you must remove the bits you don't want to reveal the picture. Tools required here are an X-acto knife or scalpel, and a tweezers, and some tape. Start by removing the outer paper. Pull gently all the way around, working in from the edge towards the design. It will release slowly but cleanly. then work on inside parts starting from larger pieces to smaller pieces. Use the knife only to pick and lift, never to cut. At tighter corners, the tweezers may help.
for the really teeny bits, flick them off with the knife, then wrap a piece of tape sticky side out around your finger and dab all over the design to pick up the loose bits.
This step requires patience, and can take anywhere from 10 minutes to over an hour depending on the complexity of the design you have chosen.
The finished design can go directly against the glass of a photo frame, then pad from behind. The card stock will suffice as matting in many cases, although matting may be used if the picture is significantly smaller than the frame. No doubt you crafty people can cut the matting with the laser, too.