DIY Cookie Cutters

It's time to get creative and make your own cookie cutters!

This is a fantastic way to create your own shape without having to cut templates over and over again.  Personally - I've never cut a template, but I can imagine that it would be tedious.  I'd rather make a cutter if I ever plan on using that shape ever again.

I was working on one of these last night and I kinda cut my fingertip off.  I urge you to use safety.  (Basically, don't try to reshape your cutters with a serrated knife at full force, without gloves on.)

Step 1: Tools for the job.

You will need:

Crop-a-dile.  It's a crafting thing for scrap booking.  Use a 40 or 50% off coupon!  
Scrap booking grommits, any color.  I used 1/8".
Sheet metal, aluminum, from Home Depot.  Make sure it's not too thick to shape!
Tin Snips.  I got a set of 3 at Home Depot for $10.  Super great/cheap.
GLOVES.  Yeah.  You will get snips of metal stuck in your skin when cutting, if not carefully watching for splinters sticking out.

Comments

[WickedSpindle]

Excellent, not I can make the cutters that I can never find!! Thanks!

[r_harris2]

That's quite a collection of custom cutters. I have only made one or two cutters. I used plumber's strap for the cutter (see http://www.beam-wiki.org/wiki/Plumber%27s_Strap for a picture and description). It's already in strips and no sharp edges. It is galvanized steel, so there are a few disadvantages. It will rust if you let it sit around wet. It is steel, so it is harder to punch. On the other hand, it already has holes punched and you might find grommets or rivets that fit them without alteration. Galvanized also solders well, and that's how I did mine. I overlapped the ends, clamped with a pair of vice-grip pliers, and soldered them together with lead-free solder.

Like your strips, plumber's strap can be bent with your fingers, using a pair of pliers, the edge of the table, etc for forming shapes.

[Penolopy Bulnick]

Awesome! Now I should make a leaf cutter and make my cookies again :)

[kristylynn84]

no way! lol. it's much simpler to do what you did :D

[shazni]

I've done this...but I cut my stripes then fold it in half length wise ( so no sharp edge at the top and very safe )and then shape it...to shape it ...nail a board with the design and pass the aluminum sheet in the shape. It would be great if you can add this step to your tutorial...just my suggestion...I love most of your stuff :-)

[kristylynn84]

yep! i actually mentioned this in one of the steps. but i wouldn't recommend folding the metal in half because that would be with the use of machinery or someone reaaalllly strong. this metal is tough! i can understand doing that with the foil pans from the dollar store, but this is a different material. :)