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Post by auroraborealis on Mar 31, 2018 16:18:28 GMT
I really love all these ideas! Will come back and reply more individually--I have been looking many of these things up and am really enjoying all these directions with cool things to buy. I hope to buy quite a number of these items, they all sounds really useful, and fun! Thank you all so much for your recommendations and thoughts. I think you saved me a billion hours searching around the web for tools and trying to sort through what I would REALLY use (and keep using!)
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Post by auroraborealis on Apr 6, 2018 0:44:26 GMT
Do you have a manual die cutter? If you don't, I would look into getting one like a Big Shot or Big Kick. Then get some embossing folders, wafer dies and a magnetic platform. The dies I use the most are: Taylored Expressions numbers die set Spellbinders capital letters. Nested circles Nested rectangles If you want to get into card making, the embossed backgrounds really move your cards up a notch. If you want to make Christmas cards, a snowflake embossing folder might be the place to start. You say you are not a stamper, but if you want to use stamps on cards, I would suggest getting one of the platforms so you can position your stamp and then restamp several times until it is dark and perfect. I have the WRMK Precision Press and I like it. I am much happier with my stamping results now than before I got the press. I know inks are not a tool, but if you decide to invest in the new Tim Holtz Oxide inks, you need to also invest in a water spritzer, and probably some ink blending tools. If you don't have a craft matt, that is okay: I use wax paper or transparencies to spread my ink on. I do have an old Cuttlebug die cutter which I have a couple embossing plates for--and a few dies I can run through. Other than the tags die though, I think I have the rest put away--I should dig those out and see what I have for embossing. That might be an angle for me to explore if I try cards. I started looking at the stamp positioners too, and videos so I could get a feel for what I could do with them/ I probably would stamp a lot more if I had one. I certainly don't stamp as much as the images look "weak". Looking at the Tim Holtz 8.5" one! And inks definitely count as a tool in my book! Thank you!
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Post by auroraborealis on Apr 6, 2018 0:46:57 GMT
I also vote for a 36" self-healing mat... it's big enough to put a 2-pg layout on, so the grid on the mat, along with using a ruler, helps to line things up on the pages, and you don't have to worry about getting your table dirty / scratched. I even take it with me to crops. I think this might be the one I have: Fiskars 36x24 cutting mat. I used a coupon at the store, so it wasn't really that bad, price-wise. I ESPECIALLY make sure to take it to crops, since the crops at hotels usually have the tables covered with tablecloths and I can NOT craft on a tablecloth. Just be aware that if you leave it in your car too long (in the sun, or if it's HOT), on top of all your other supplies, it can sort of 'soften' up and get some weird folds / bends in... (ask me how I know, lol!) To counteract that, I lay it out on the sidewalk or asphalt for a while when I get to the hotel, so it will flatten back out. I love this--and actually have a large self healing mat just like you describe! Of course, I tend to "stage" projects on it but it is under there.
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
Jun 26, 2014 14:43:10 GMT
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Post by scrappington on Apr 6, 2018 11:56:50 GMT
my most used tool is my magnetic plate for my bigshot. Not sure how I ever die cut with out it. My quickstic for picking up and placing little pieces. My fine line bottles filled with matte medium My new toy ...slash tool is a mini hand vac. Just had a sequins incident and so happy I bought that . Cleaned everything up really well. I got it as a deal of the day off amazon. Not a great vacuum but it cleans up scrappy messes quite well.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Apr 6, 2018 16:17:29 GMT
mini hand vac. Just had a sequins incident and so happy I bought that . Cleaned everything up really well. I got it as a deal of the day off amazon. Not a great vacuum but it cleans up scrappy messes quite well. this is a really good idea! I am forever trying to pick up the tiny pieces of trimmed-off paper that fall on the floor mat and carpeting around my desk- a mini hand vac to keep in my craft room would be perfect for that, instead of having to pick them up one at a time by hand. (granted, we do have a cordless Dyson, but it's all the way out in the kitchen... lol)
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
Jun 26, 2014 14:43:10 GMT
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Post by scrappington on Apr 6, 2018 16:23:23 GMT
mini hand vac. Just had a sequins incident and so happy I bought that . Cleaned everything up really well. I got it as a deal of the day off amazon. Not a great vacuum but it cleans up scrappy messes quite well. this is a really good idea! I am forever trying to pick up the tiny pieces of trimmed-off paper that fall on the floor mat and carpeting around my desk- a mini hand vac to keep in my craft room would be perfect for that, instead of having to pick them up one at a time by hand. (granted, we do have a cordless Dyson, but it's all the way out in the kitchen... lol) I even have it mounted in my scraproom. I got the idea from Jen McGuire. They are not cheap those vacuums . The one I got was reg $80 on for $30 its a wet / dry vac by Black and Decker. Its ok I would definitely not pay full price for it. But it vacuums up embossing powder, the tape backing. Little bits of paper. Its loud though.
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Post by hockeyfan06 on Apr 6, 2018 18:15:25 GMT
I just bought a 2 new tools within the last week. WRMK washi tape cutter. It cuts all the ends into a fishtale. It will cut paper too! I'm a fishtale cutting fool! lol
The other is a battery operated unit that seals and cuts the ends of ribbon. I think it's by Imaginesse (sp?) It's not bad, sometimes you have to go over the ribbon twice or hold it down longer. I think I need more patience.
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