Methods, systems and components for paper trimmers cut paper placed on a planar base using a blade that is moved transversely across the paper. A recessed cutting track containing a desired cutting pattern is inserted into the planar base and a counterpart guide track suspended thereover. A blade assembly is inserted through a channel in the guide track with the cutting blade residing in the counterpart channel in the cutting track. Material to be trimmed is placed between the recessed cutting track and the guide track. As the blade assembly is directed along the length of the counterpart channels, guides on the blade assembly interact with the channel and cause the cutting blade to rotate, cutting along the path of the channel. Desired cuts are made by selecting appropriate interchangeable cutting tracks and counterpart guide tracks.