Draw around the internal aperture of the mount to ensure the final piece fits nicely into the frame and sketch in your first layer. This layer will be your most detailed and should have a focal point. In this case, it’s the hare and the moon.

Scan in the drawing and print it onto your first colour. I’m using three neutral tones with the lightest at the front to the darkest at the back to give a sense of depth. If you are using typography, remember to flip your design before you print it. You can just cut directly from your drawing, but it’s always good to keep a copy in case you spill your tea on your cut/rip it/the cat runs away with it. (not pictured)

Once you’ve cut your first layer, take a second piece of paper (which will be the middle ground) and again draw around the internal aperture of the mount. Line up your foreground papercut with this mount line and, using a small amount of low-tack masking tape, secure it in place. (not pictured)

Draw in your middle ground using the foreground layer as a guide, drawing in the main details in the available space that won’t be obscured by the foreground when in situ.

Gently remove the tape and the foreground papercut and complete the parts that the foreground was covering, filling in the gaps in the drawing.

Scan and print onto your second colour and cut it out.

Now you’ll have your foreground papercut and your middle ground papercut layers. Tape both of these together to what will be your background layer, again using the mount as a guide to stick them in the right place and draw in your background layer details. This will be the least detailed piece of the three. Pay attention to any gaps you may have left in the overall composition.

Remove the tape and the papercuts (foreground and middle ground) carefully. Complete the drawing of the background design. Scan, print and cut.
 

Now you have three layers. Place adhesive foam pads (or sticky dots) around the edges on the front of each cut, starting with the background. Be very careful as once they are placed they are difficult to remove.

You can also pop the sticky dots in strategic places around your papercut to ensure it doesn’t sag in the middle. This can be tricky, so you may wish to trim the foam pads down to very small dots for the more delicate parts of your cuts.

The finished layered papercut with the mount placed over the top.

This demonstration is adapted from Paper Panda's Guide to Papercutting

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