In 1980, at an in-service staff meeting of the Framingham Public School art department, teaches discussed strategies for improving our students' gross and fine motor control. We decided to concentrate on cutting skills. One teacher brought a slim green volume of paper cuts in Polish. It outlined all the different forms of cuts traditionally done in Poland. They are cut with hand-forged sheep shears. Each area of Poland produces a unique design.

Although we know that paper cuts were done over 3000 years ago in China with bronze scissors very like the tool I use to cut my work, my present works stem from that 1980 in-service meeting. My students and I began to make paper cuts of all kinds: multi-colored, layered flowers and birds, trees of life forms, and snowflakes! My goodness, did we make snowflakes! Other people, seeing some snowflakes I made with cats and horses, began to ask me to make them for special presents.

We then studied a wider range of paper cuts in my classes. We found out that paper cuts are done all around the world, on most continents; anywhere paper is a common material. Knives and scissors are used. Many cuts tell stories, while others are purely decorative. With this “simple” craft my students traveled the world and then produced wonderfully delightful work.