Kyleigh's Papercuts

If you're wondering where the Family Trees have gone, they now have a dedicated page - www.notonthehighstreet.com/eticuts

Make Awards 'Handmade Product of the Year 2012' Finalist

My name is Kyleigh and I have always had a bit of a head for lyrics, a love of typography and a bit of a nerdy fixation about cutting intricate things with a scalpel. So when I made my first ever papercut for my husband for Valentines Day 2010 it was a fusion of all these things that I love.

It was my eureka moment.

Since then I have designed and hand cut hundreds of papercuts for people wanting everything from famous quotes and beautiful song lyrics, to 'Mr & Mrs' names for happy wedding days to fresh new baby names. All embellished with so many different things - jam jars, cupcakes, cats, pheasants, bikes, glasses, rainbows, stars, ballet shoes... you get the idea!

In November 2011 I designed my first family tree papercut which have proved very popular indeed. I was delighted to be a finalist at the Make Awards with my Personalised Family Tree Papercut nominated for Handmade Product of the Year 2012.

I have a professional background in print and digital design. I worked in the industry designing for print and web for many well-known brands for 16 years. I now happily create papercuts from my cosy studio in the garden full time - well, as much time as I can fit around two teenage daughters and a 11 month old baby girl! Oh it's all go round here!

My papercuts are all original. I design them myself, then I carefully hand cut them or have a limited number lasercut. Each commission is different, unique and as personal as the song, lyric or sentiment is to you or your loved ones. I frame them using beautiful glass aperture frames, meaning the papercut itself is sandwiched between two sheets of glass with a frame surrounding the glass. This has the added bonus of going with any decor, and they cast beautiful shadows in the right light. The frames are locally made for me here in Dorset by master framers and they are chunky enough to freestand on a shelf, mantlepiece or windowsill.

I truly enjoy creating my papercuts, I enjoy the emergence of the design piece by piece. It's almost like being a sculptor or an archaeologist... cutting away until you reveal something beautiful.