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The working day / 2 min read

A little paper project.

A few pages to trim and gather.

A little paper project. On a light wooden desk, a silver X-ACTO knife rests across the front of a gray-green cutting mat. A black Swingline stapler sits at right. Folded cream pages and a small paper stack sit at left beside two narrow offcuts. Ad appears at the upper right. Real product photos with an AI-generated setting.

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Sizes & buying notes ↓

Older knife and stapler models are pictured. Check the model and contents. Knife search results include loose blades.

Product photographs by Evan-Amos (public domain). Edited for Handy Finds Club. Photo credits & licenses

The products in this guide

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Trim the paper pages

X-ACTO craft knife options

Craft knife options to consider for trimming the pages of a small paper project.

Broad craft-knife search, not an exact photo match or a verified #2 result. Other brands, replacement blades and sets appear. Check X-ACTO, a complete knife versus blades, the selected model and contents.

See options on Amazon

Search results: check the model, size and seller.

Details & buying notes
  • The current X-ACTO hobby-knife range lists #2 Knife and #2 ZSeries Knife separately.
  • The source identifies the older knife as using #2 blades; its exact handle model and retail set are unverified.
  • Keep the cutting tool you already own if it suits your paper and task.
Compare the current X-ACTO knife range

Keep the pages together

Swingline desktop stapler options

A desktop stapler option for gathering a few paper pages into a small booklet or packet.

Older model unknown. Current Standard / 545 S7054501 has a different shape. Search results may include other models or supplies. Check paper capacity, staple fit, reach and package contents.

See options on Amazon

Search results: check the model, size and seller.

Details & buying notes
  • Swingline currently lists the black Standard / 545 desktop stapler, SKU S7054501, with a rounded design.
  • The older photographed stapler has a textured top and rear ribs; its exact model is unverified.
  • Use your existing stapler or a paper clip if it already keeps your pages together.
Check the current Swingline Standard / 545

By Handy Finds Club · November 4, 2026
Research-based recommendations. Our approach.

Make room for a small booklet

A few folded pages can be the start of a little booklet or paper mock-up. Lay them out on a cutting mat, decide on the page order, and trim the paper as needed. Keep the loose pages together for the next step. Start with tools you already own; these are options if something is missing.

A knife for shaping paper

An X-ACTO hobby knife is one option for trimming paper shapes. The current manufacturer range lists the #2 Knife and #2 ZSeries Knife separately. Blick also lists a current #2 Knife in the US. Choose the knife and blade for your material, and check the selected version.

The older knife in the photo uses a #2 blade, but that number does not establish its handle model or retail set. The current #2 range is a related option, not a verified exact match. The photo does not establish current blade coatings, spare blades or package contents.

Keep the pages together

A desktop stapler is one option for fastening a small stack of paper pages. Swingline currently lists the black Standard / 545 desktop stapler, SKU S7054501. Check the chosen model’s paper capacity, staple requirements and reach for the way you want to assemble your pages.

The older black Swingline shown has a textured top and horizontal ribs at the back. Its exact model is unknown. The current Standard / 545 has a different, rounded design; its specifications and package contents should not be assumed to apply to the photographed stapler.

Choose only what is missing

Keep a knife or stapler you already have if it suits the task. You do not need both to begin every paper project. The cutting mat and paper props in this scene are not included products.

Amazon links are paid searches for related current options, not exact matches to the older photographs. Results may include other models, brands, blades and sets; check the selected listing. Manufacturer links are ordinary links. These are research-based suggestions, not hands-on tests. Prices, stock and delivery to a US address have not been verified. Sources checked November 5, 2026, Japan time.

Sources & further details

Manufacturer links show current specifications, variants, and availability. Check those details before ordering.

Photo sources and image provenance

Knife: X-Acto-knife.jpg by Evan-Amos, via Wikimedia Commons, September 5, 2010. Public domain.

Stapler: Swingline-stapler.jpg by Evan-Amos, via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. The adopted image was uploaded November 21, 2011; its camera metadata records November 7, 2011. The source description retains the earlier August 27, 2010 date.

Both source pages carry the photographer’s worldwide public-domain dedication and permission for any purpose where that dedication is not legally possible. No endorsement by Evan-Amos, X-ACTO or Swingline is implied.

Changes: the knife photo was color-managed from its embedded sRGB profile and the stapler photo from Adobe RGB into sRGB. Both products were isolated from the white backgrounds, cropped and resized proportionally. The knife’s separate spare blade was excluded. The photographed product shapes, markings and colors were retained. Separate contact and cast shadows were added beneath the tools. The product photos were combined with an AI-generated desk, cutting mat, folded pages, paper stack and offcuts. Social versions add Inter text. The products were not generated by AI; this is a styled scene, not a hands-on test.

View the full-resolution scene.

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