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Post by grammadee on Nov 20, 2016 23:34:56 GMT
Seems we have been buying a lot of new products, lately. Wondering if anyone has any reviews of products or tools they have acquired over the last little while? I will start. Last week I picked up a Memory Box die at the LSS. It looked as if I could use it to show both the trees AND the deer. The owner even suggested that perhaps I could cut it twice, so the deer would be a different colour from the trees. But when I got it home, I realized that it would require way more skill than I have to make it work properly... The die actually cuts only the outline of the trees and a few little bits to give the branches some definition. The deer piece is simply a cutout of the die, but it is smooth and doesn't cut the paper. What to do??? Use the die as a stencil to shade in the deer on top of the trees? Maybe use it with a foam matt in my Vagabond, to have the deer pop up? After being mad, I realized I really do have lots of options. Went through my die stash and found the tiny one from Taylored Expressions, cut it out of gold foiled paper and made it work. Here is my card: (I actually made 6 of these yesterday):  2016 MB & TE card by Gramma Dee, on Flickr Any reviews you would like to add? |
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Post by wendifful on Nov 20, 2016 23:57:47 GMT
I have one that kind of surprised me (because I'm not a Cricut person). I recently tried the new Cricut foil iron on material and loved it! I actually have a Cameo but the foil iron on material was looking so pretty so I figured I'd try it. It cut like a dream in my Cameo! And when I ironed it on, it was very very soft. I had tried the Silhouette iron on glitter material before but the shirt kind of catches on it so it's not ideal. I already made myself one personalized T shirt and bought a bunch more iron on when it was half off at JoAnn to make Christmas presents. Quick tip if anyone wants to try it in their Cameo: you do need to use a mat to cut it. It's not substantial enough to cut like Silhouette media is, it kept curling up on me in the machine. I believe all the Cricut stuff will be half off at JoAnn as well for Black Friday so now would be a perfect time to try it out!
My other recent obsession is the Cosmic Shimmer Sparkle Texture Paste. It's a paste with glitter in it that you can use with your stencils. It is sooooo pretty and shimmery and I pretty much want every color. Unfortunately it is $12.99 for a 50ml jar so it's rather expensive. However, with the white/silver pastes, you can color it using inks or reinkers.
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oaksong
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,164 
Location: LA Suburbia
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Post by oaksong on Nov 21, 2016 0:12:56 GMT
grammadee, I don't blame you for being mad about that die. I can't see a good reason for having it that way. Your card came out really cute anyway. wendifful, good to know about the glittery texture paste. I was going to try adding Stickles to some Ranger Texture Paste. Kristina Werner has an example on her blog, but it's hard to tell from the picture how sparkly it is. One of my new tools is the WRMK framemaker that I showed on the November scrapping thread. It's easy to use and I keep finding ways to use it. I have lots of new Christmas things to try out after going to the Expo and Carson Stamp Show -- Tim Holtz stamps, stencils, Ideology trees and trinkets. I plan to create some mini-mason jar holiday scenes and some small shadow box collages for gifts. It's finally Christmas central in my studio.
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Post by anniefb on Nov 21, 2016 0:27:20 GMT
grammadee I'd be annoyed about that die too. The name/description doesn't make it clear at all. Glad you found a solution!
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oaksong
Drama Llama
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Location: LA Suburbia
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Post by oaksong on Nov 21, 2016 0:35:38 GMT
I also have a review to add for the WRMK Stamp Press. It works well, but I need to figure out how to keep the paper I'm stamping on in place. Washi tape doesn't stick. I can see why the Misti magnet system is good for that reason.
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Post by nitad on Nov 21, 2016 0:55:36 GMT
grammadee your card is beautiful! How did you do the snowy back & foreground? I would also be annoyed with the die. So is the deer just an embossed shadow on the die cut then? Seems confusing for sure. oaksong let me know if you find a fix I have my name on the wait list at my LSS for the stamp press and I'm looking for that frame maker too but it doesn't seem to be up here yet. Alas, I have no product reviews. I'm saving my money for the WRMK stamp press (hopefully it's worth the wait) and maybe a little shopping with grammadee when she hits BC 
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Post by grammadee on Nov 21, 2016 1:04:44 GMT
grammadee your card is beautiful! How did you do the snowy back & foreground? I would also be annoyed with the die. So is the deer just an embossed shadow on the die cut then? Seems confusing for sure. oaksong let me know if you find a fix I have my name on the wait list at my LSS for the stamp press and I'm looking for that frame maker too but it doesn't seem to be up here yet. Alas, I have no product reviews. I'm saving my money for the WRMK stamp press (hopefully it's worth the wait) and maybe a little shopping with grammadee when she hits BC Really hoping we can coordinate our schedules for that shopping! The background on my card is a piece of Kaisercraft "Glisten" pp. I cut one 12x12 into 6 pieces and used them as backgrounds. For the "snow banks" in front, I cut a 4" square of cs, then ripped it into 2 pieces, inked them with distress ink, and overlapped them. oaksong, I am considering a Misti like tool, too, as a gift for a niece who is a stamper. Any reviews I can get on the most fun for the cash are greatly appreciated. |
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Post by nitad on Nov 21, 2016 17:23:30 GMT
oaksong I was thinking about the stamp press issue. Could you use removable adhesive on the back of you paper and attach it to a larger sheet that is taped down with scotch tape? That's sort of what I do when I run a journalling block through my printer. Or maybe the removable adhesive direct to the press might work? I find washi tape either doesn't want to stick at all or it sticks too well and if I pull it up I takes a slight layer of paper with it. There is also the removable scotch tape.
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Post by woodysbetty on Nov 21, 2016 18:22:27 GMT
Haven't bought anything lately to review but I am loving and hating this thread....
Loving it because I love how you all work around issues...hating it because I would love to live near everyone so we could scrap together!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!
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oaksong
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,164
Location: LA Suburbia
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Jun 27, 2014 6:24:29 GMT
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Post by oaksong on Nov 21, 2016 19:49:21 GMT
oaksong I was thinking about the stamp press issue. Could you use removable adhesive on the back of you paper and attach it to a larger sheet that is taped down with scotch tape? That's sort of what I do when I run a journalling block through my printer. Or maybe the removable adhesive direct to the press might work? I find washi tape either doesn't want to stick at all or it sticks too well and if I pull it up I takes a slight layer of paper with it. There is also the removable scotch tape. Thanks for the idea. I'll give it a try. Maybe painters tape would work, too. I'm also going to look for videos on YouTube, but I haven't taken the time yet. |
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Post by mikklynn on Nov 21, 2016 20:59:47 GMT
I bought a Carl trimmer a few months ago. I am still loving it!
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Nov 21, 2016 21:40:22 GMT
I will paint an entire company here with a very broad brush and then give my opinion on some exceptions.
WRMK. Their tools are rushed and not as well executed as they could be with a little more R&D (maybe even some panels of crafters to review and try out the items so errors can be addressed prior to production...this would also help with innovations that WRMK may not have thought up so they ended up having TWO versions of the envelope punch board because someone figured out how to make bows with the original). I won't buy anything they make until I've seen what other people have said about them...with one category exception. Their handheld punches (like the crop a dile, corner chompers and power punches...not things like the 3x4 round and square punches...blech). They are amazing.
I think because the crop a dile was a prior to AC acquisition endeavor, they did necessary and adequate testing before releasing the punch to the market which made them reliable tools and the technology was easily applied to other tools without much need for further R&D. I have 2 power punches that I absolutely LOVE. The first is the euro punch (it makes retail holes for hanging product). I got it because many of the Thickers that I have had an extra bit of cellophane to hang them from versus the newer ones where the hole is built into the piece of cellophane with the cardboard Thickers logo and product details. I had initially kept them hung up on some ByGel rails from Ikea and the ones with the extra cellophane hung lower than the newer design...the lack of uniformity was incredibly bothersome to me. When that punch came out, I had to have it. It punches great (except through the cellophane, which I expected) and I've never had any problems with it. I still use it here and there. I recently got the green 1/4" hole power punch as well. It's the perfect size to punch holes into photos or memorabilia that you want to put directly into an album...I had previously done what AE suggested and used the crop a dile, but the holes weren't big enough to move pages through an album smoothly (they would constantly catch on the claws of the rings). With that punch, now they do. It cuts through thick materials like butter.
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Post by artisticscrapper on Nov 22, 2016 1:34:53 GMT
Is it just me or do most brands of mist just clog up if you don't use them for a while? I can't think of one I'd give a positive review. I did however fix mine. I pulled off the sprayer, ran a little hot water on it, then used a cake tester to clean the congealed paint out. (I don't know if they still sell testers but it's a long thin unbendable wire).
I just bought the Stampaholic a few weeks ago. It works great. I love that I can re-ink if necessary since the stamps remain in place. However I still use my Fiskars press for large backgrounds as they seem to come out more evenly.
I also,got some of the new Tim Holtz distress grit paste at the rubber stamp convention a week ago. I tried it out with a couple of my stencils and I
like the look. That shimmer sparkle paste sounds interesting. I need to check that out.
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craftymom101
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,621
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Post by craftymom101 on Nov 22, 2016 2:02:52 GMT
What a fun thread! I love the idea of reviewing products.
Here are a few things I've purchased recently, or used for the first time recently:
Hero Arts Layering Stamps, Dies, and Inks
I purchased the Color Layering Goldfish, Color Layering Butterflies, and my mom purchased the Flamingo set (with inks) for me.
Pros: I love two-step (or three-step) stamping so these sets were a lot of fun to play with. The matching dies make quick work of stamping and cutting, and I love the detail of the stamps, especially the fish and flamingo.
Cons: The inks to match the Flamingo set aren't my favorite. The colors don't match the colors on the back of the stamp set packaging, and they stamp blotchy and uneven. Also, the little fish eye and mouth are hard to line up.
Overall, I'm super pleased with these sets and highly recommend them. I picked up the butterfly and fish sets from Amazon for about 30% off.
Studio Calico November Main Kit and DK
I have been a SC subscriber for years, and I've always liked the SC esthetic. However, this is the first year that I've not been thrilled with a lot of the kits. More specifically, several items in a lot of kits have been unusable to me. I don't mind if an item here or there won't work for me... that's the risk you take when you subscribe to a kit club. But this year, a lot of kits have felt disjointed to me, and some of the big ticket items just don't work for my style. The black and white water color alpha from the Pool Party scrapbook kit comes to mind. Such a cool concept... if the letters had been in different colors to match the kit! Black and white just looked drab and boring. Also, the big chipboard squares in the Jolly Holiday scrapbook kit look like a printing error to me. What is with the haphazard words scattered on the chipboard pieces!? Ugh.
Anyway, the November kits. The papers are a lot of fun and I really like the blue floral pattern and the yellow DOCUMENT paper. The stamp is definitely usable, as are the acrylic pieces and plastic words. I have all the SC pigment inks, so I sold the one that came with my kit, and I really don't get the die cuts or the doubles of vellum quotes. I'm also on the fence about the pink alpha. I'm super bummed that I received the same die cuts and plastic words in both kits, but I love the star sequins and hearts in the DK kit. I've had my kits about a week and have already made one layout with it. Hopefully I can knock out a couple more before the December kits are released. Overall, I would give this kit a "C" grade. Average.
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Post by jstblondie on Nov 22, 2016 3:46:13 GMT
Seems we have been buying a lot of new products, lately. Wondering if anyone has any reviews of products or tools they have acquired over the last little while? I will start. Last week I picked up a Memory Box die at the LSS. It looked as if I could use it to show both the trees AND the deer. The owner even suggested that perhaps I could cut it twice, so the deer would be a different colour from the trees. But when I got it home, I realized that it would require way more skill than I have to make it work properly... The die actually cuts only the outline of the trees and a few little bits to give the branches some definition. The deer piece is simply a cutout of the die, but it is smooth and doesn't cut the paper. What to do??? Use the die as a stencil to shade in the deer on top of the trees? Maybe use it with a foam matt in my Vagabond, to have the deer pop up? After being mad, I realized I really do have lots of options. Went through my die stash and found the tiny one from Taylored Expressions, cut it out of gold foiled paper and made it work. Here is my card: (I actually made 6 of these yesterday): 2016 MB & TE card by Gramma Dee, on Flickr Any reviews you would like to add? Pretty card |
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dald222
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,602
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Post by dald222 on Nov 25, 2016 9:50:46 GMT
well scrapbook.com has reviews for every item in their store by the people who bought them or have them already |
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
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Post by scrappington on Nov 26, 2016 14:38:39 GMT
WRMK stamp press. A friend of mine just bought one. Made an adjustment for clear stamps but cutting a piece of fun foam to fit inside the stamping area. Stamps great without it for cling stamps but she was find it challenging to stamp clear stamps. The MISTI and the Stampaholic have the foam. But for price point on the WRMK one vs the original brands think it's the better deal.
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Post by grammadee on Nov 26, 2016 20:08:30 GMT
WRMK stamp press. A friend of mine just bought one. Made an adjustment for clear stamps but cutting a piece of fun foam to fit inside the stamping area. Stamps great without it for cling stamps but she was find it challenging to stamp clear stamps. The MISTI and the Stampaholic have the foam. But for price point on the WRMK one vs the original brands think it's the better deal. Good to know. I want to get a press for someone for a Christmas gift. Does Michaels' carry the WRMK one? |
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Nov 28, 2016 1:56:26 GMT
WRMK stamp press. A friend of mine just bought one. Made an adjustment for clear stamps but cutting a piece of fun foam to fit inside the stamping area. Stamps great without it for cling stamps but she was find it challenging to stamp clear stamps. The MISTI and the Stampaholic have the foam. But for price point on the WRMK one vs the original brands think it's the better deal. I bought the Misti last year and love it but it was pricey and I really hate the color. I kind of want to get the Hampton Arts one because it is teal and for the lower price, I can almost justify buying it. I am willing to bet the warranty and willingness to replace one if it fails would be better with HA seeing as they are a larger company. As someone who loves stamps but struggles with good images, I am thankful for the mainstream innovation of a better stamping tool and am happy for a more price effective competitor who would have the means to not limit a warranty to just a few months (i.e. truly backs their products). |
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Post by nitad on Nov 28, 2016 4:56:58 GMT
grammadee []Good to know. I want to get a press for someone for a Christmas gift. Does Michaels' carry the WRMK one? [/quote] I haven't seen one at Michaels yet. I have my name on a wait list at a LSS. They are supposed to arrive in December so I have my fingers crossed. I'm a bit worried about the paper staying put but I think I can probably work around that. I like that with the WRMK you can stamp on a 12x12. Edit...sorry I'm using my phone and the quote option didn't work quite right for me.
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Post by LisaDV on Nov 28, 2016 14:43:08 GMT
One of my new tools is the WRMK framemaker that I showed on the November scrapping thread. It's easy to use and I keep finding ways to use it. I put this on my list after hearing you talk about it in another thread. Is it just me or do most brands of mist just clog up if you don't use them for a while? I can't think of one I'd give a positive review. I did however fix mine. I pulled off the sprayer, ran a little hot water on it, then used a cake tester to clean the congealed paint out. (I don't know if they still sell testers but it's a long thin unbendable wire). I've not had that problem with my Lindy Stamp Gang Flat Fabios or Dylusionals, but they don't have the mica powder in them to make them shiny. I think it's the mica that clogs them. I still love my fuse tool. I know it's not new. It does take some practice and I'm not perfect yet, but I really love all of the fun things you can do with it. I'm going to make bookmarks next month with it. As well as some shaker shapes at the new year. |
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Deleted
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May 3, 2024 3:03:31 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2016 14:00:52 GMT
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Post by grammadee on Nov 29, 2016 15:28:09 GMT
Would love to see a review of THAT, @zingermack! Where are you ordering it from?
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Deleted
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May 3, 2024 3:03:31 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2016 15:32:10 GMT
Would love to see a review of THAT, @zingermack ! Where are you ordering it from? From the Hallmark link in the post. I haven't ordered from them before, so, if others have, and have advice/input that would be great! |
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Deleted
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May 3, 2024 3:03:31 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2016 16:37:02 GMT
Would love to see a review of THAT, @zingermack ! Where are you ordering it from? From the Hallmark link in the post. I haven't ordered from them before, so, if others have, and have advice/input that would be great! Now you have me looking at the HA stamp tool! It looks exactly like the Stampaholic. I think the only difference, other than price, is that the Stampaholic has an etched grid on the acrylic. It's definitely not worth another 25 bucks though. I have heard only good things about ordering from Hallmark. (The shipping is high on the tool though!) |
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oaksong
Drama Llama
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Location: LA Suburbia
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Post by oaksong on Nov 29, 2016 17:15:36 GMT
I recently ordered from Hallmark, and the service was great.
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Nov 29, 2016 17:27:30 GMT
Would love to see a review of THAT, @zingermack ! Where are you ordering it from? From the Hallmark link in the post. I haven't ordered from them before, so, if others have, and have advice/input that would be great! ACOT has it, too. |
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Post by grammadee on Nov 29, 2016 18:04:31 GMT
I WANT this! Do you think if I order from one of these sites the package will arrive in rural Canada in time to give it as a Christmas gift???
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Post by LisaDV on Nov 30, 2016 14:53:52 GMT
@zingermack, thanks for letting us know about this. I had the WRMK on my Christmas wish list. Hoping DH hasn't bought it since reading this thread, but this one has the magnets so might be a better option.
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