Slightly OT, but not really...

[DisneyBarlans]

I use both horizontal & vertical...and I've always cut mine in 4's. With the patterned paper you get 2 H mats & 2 V mats, and I usually give people one of each. I try to do the same as Hope with embellishments-make them where they'll work either way, or put them on loosely so they can be moved around.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

I use both and make both. I try very hard to make the embellishment able to work for both. I figure, even if the paper is going the "wrong" way, it won't be so noticeable once the photo is one it.
When I can't make the embellishment be multi-directional, I try to make one of each for the set.

I always think of Susan when I make mats. That poor girl must think I cyber stalk her. But I try to be sure that she can use my mats. If she can use them, then everyone should be able to.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Alright--I feel silly, I never thought about making more cuts in the paper. Here's a photo of what I think Erin was saying:

As you can all see I can't draw a straight line, but, I think this is the right idea

yep that's exactly it. And the center of the leftovers can be trimmed to make a journal box. I also use the strips to cut into journal strips. I used that in one of my AK complete pages swaps.

I did! A loooooonnngg time ago. BAMB was in on that tutotrial too. I thought there was a link to it somewhere.

I can't find it!! I thought it was in the scrapbooking FAQ but it's not there.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Oh and as for mats, you get what you get unless it is a specific printed pattern that would look funny if it were sideways.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

I use a rotary blade sliding cutter - a Fiskars I think. Anyway, on the cutting bar I have marked where the blade handle will be when I cut 4-1/4. This way I don't have to mark up my paper. I just extend it a little when making the bigger cuts. Reminds me, I need to re-ink the mark.

 

[wdwmickey]

I use a rotary blade sliding cutter - a Fiskars I think. Anyway, on the cutting bar I have marked where the blade handle will be when I cut 4-1/4. This way I don't have to mark up my paper. I just extend it a little when making the bigger cuts. Reminds me, I need to re-ink the mark.

That is an excellent idea I'll go do that right now!

 

[Disney_rider]

WOOOOOOOW and here I was letting my cricut do it all the time.This helps out a ton
I make both H and V and I take both kinds of pics.

 

[mycutiepatooties]

When I make mats for swaps, I try to do one of each, or embellish them in a way that works both ways.

I am a landscape girl, but am trying harder to do more portrait

I do this too!

 

[Mischief_Managed]

Sorry to have started a thread and then disappeared - it's been a busy last few days.

I'm happy someone posted the directions for getting 4 mats out of one piece of paper. I read it on here years ago, and it was a money saver for me too.

Almost all of my character photos are vertical -- my kids are tiny. If I didn't turn the camera I would havea photo of my kids' heads and Goofy's stomach Plus I like to see the whole character in the photo.

Me too! Every character photo I have is vertical. But after doing a few swaps on here, I take two photos with the characters now - one vertical and one horizontal, so I could use a swap photo mat, just in case.

But it's good to hear about the "detachable" embellishments for people to change as needed, I'll have to do that next time too.

 

[MazdaUK]

But after doing a few swaps on here, I take two photos with the characters now - one vertical and one horizontal, so I could use a swap photo mat, just in case.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who specially taks photos to use swap stuff