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Post by riversong1963 on Aug 31, 2017 2:47:22 GMT
Martha Stewart punch, that is. I've had to throw another one away. I'm tired of the frustration and wasted papers due to sticking and jamming. I've tried all the remedies: waxed paper, aluminum foil, slamming on the floor, etc. I've ruined enough projects. One by one, my punches are giving out. This makes number 3, and another one is on its last leg. I know nothing lasts forever, but I paid a lot of money for these, and I don't feel that I've gotten my money's worth. It's very disappointing.
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nicolep
Drama Llama
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Jan 26, 2016 16:10:43 GMT
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Post by nicolep on Aug 31, 2017 2:53:09 GMT
That is a bummer and you're right...punches are not cheap!
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Post by crazy4scraps on Aug 31, 2017 3:12:24 GMT
I just saw a whole table full of Martha Stewart punches on clearance for cheap at JoAnn's. They also had a ton of Spellbinders dies (including smaller sized nested styles) on the clearance table too.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Aug 31, 2017 3:14:48 GMT
Bummer. Sorry it broke.
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Post by grammadee on Aug 31, 2017 3:18:07 GMT
That's too bad. I finally unjammed the heart punch that I had abandoned awhile ago with pp stuck in it. I hope I remember to cut some wax paper or something before I use it again.
My LSS lady was telling me that Martha Stewart is no longer making punches, so if you want one of hers, better grab it in one of those sales.
I have a bunch of punches, but the ones I use the most and that I hope will last a long time are the scalloped border punches. Most of the shapes can be easily cut with dies.
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Post by riversong1963 on Aug 31, 2017 3:25:05 GMT
Thanks, Peas, for the commiseration and suggestions. I'm buying dies now instead of punches, and I'm using my Cricut and Silhouette also to cut strips with borders. More time-consuming than punches, but punches take up a lot of room.
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Deleted
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May 12, 2024 2:23:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2017 7:27:46 GMT
Do you think punches are on their way out? I know there was a thread a couple of weeks ago about using old tools. One of our girls wrote border punches are on their way out. I was like is there something new? I never got a chance to ask. What is new? riversong1963 I am sorry your punch broke. I always feel sick when that happens. Those babies are expensive. Then I get attached to one. Plus, I do dollhouse miniatures so losing a punch is a double kick. I lost my scale tool.
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Post by pas2 on Aug 31, 2017 10:06:57 GMT
You're not the only one that's loosing punches. It seems every time I've pulled one out to use it has broken in some way. Guess that's another reason to justify all those Aliexpress die purchases.
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Post by riversong1963 on Aug 31, 2017 11:10:32 GMT
I think punches are on their way out, yes. I won't buy dies from Ali Express, though. Too many shady practices. Not judging those who buy from them; it's a personal choice. (I was in a discussion about this on another board and was told not to participate in the thread any longer and keep my opinions to myself, so I'm hesitant to go into details here.)
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Post by mikklynn on Aug 31, 2017 12:34:23 GMT
I like my basic punches - circles, scallops, and edges. I've had really great luck with EK Success punches.
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msliz
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Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
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Post by msliz on Aug 31, 2017 13:58:20 GMT
I won't buy dies from Ali Express, though. Too many shady practices. Not judging those who buy from them; it's a personal choice. (I was in a discussion about this on another board and was told not to participate in the thread any longer and keep my opinions to myself, so I'm hesitant to go into details here.) Aw, come on. Spill. You know we love drama! What's the board that was mean to you?
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Post by lisacharlotte on Aug 31, 2017 17:33:44 GMT
I had a MS ⭐️ punch that was the type you could punch anywhere on the page. It just suddenly stopped working (the springs must have gotten messed up). So frustrating. I still like punches. Quicker than find a die and pulling out my big shot.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Aug 31, 2017 17:48:22 GMT
that is frustrating! I got rid of most of my Fiskar's border punches (they were just too difficult to align properly for me) and don't buy many 'shape' punches unless they're basic type ones that I know I'll get lots of use out of. I have my original CM shape punches from oh, 15-20 years ago, now, and they still work pretty good. CM is making new punches now, both shape punches and border punches-- they also have a border 'system' that makes it impossible to mis-align the punch when you're punching a 12-inch border.
They're heavy-duty, and also kind of heavy. I think that's the trade-off... either they have to be heavier to be good quality, or the company uses lighter / cheaper plastic, etc. and they don't last as long.
(I still love my punches, even though I have a Silhouette... there's just something satisfying about the *snick* sound and the action as a punch cuts through the paper, I think, lol.)
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Post by papersilly on Aug 31, 2017 18:00:29 GMT
what a timely thread because i just threw out #2 a couple of days ago. it was a punch-around-the-page one. the corner punch. it started sticking. i found a great youtube video that showed me how to take it apart and unstick it. after that, i discovered it was just too dull to cut through anymore. this was one of the first around the page punches i ever bought and i used it a lot. after i pitched the corner stamp, i put the other punch that went with it into the donate pile.
here's the funny thing---i saw a bunch of this punch at Marshalls a few months ago selling for $9.99 for the set. i laughed because i paid so much for mine and still had my set at home. i only wished it was another design i didn't already own because the price was at Marshalls was great.
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Post by anniefb on Aug 31, 2017 18:40:26 GMT
I only have about 5 punches left - circles of various sizes and a couple of other shapes. Sometimes they're quicker than using dies or my Cameo.
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Post by Linda on Aug 31, 2017 19:01:18 GMT
I only have about 5 punches left - circles of various sizes and a couple of other shapes. Sometimes they're quicker than using dies or my Cameo. I only have 2 - a big dragonfly punch that I actually use surprisingly often and a 2" circle punch. I find, in general, they are too expensive and too space-consuming for me and I get frustrated when they stick
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Deleted
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May 12, 2024 2:23:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2017 19:06:02 GMT
Did you try putting it in the freezer?
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Aug 31, 2017 19:32:48 GMT
what will the freezer do for a punch?
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Post by steakgoddess on Aug 31, 2017 19:57:43 GMT
I have three EK Success border punches that have died on me. They won't do what they are supposed to do--punch through a piece of paper.
I haven't been able to toss them because I think someone is going to cone up with a solution besides wax paper and aluminum foil. 🤣
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Post by riversong1963 on Aug 31, 2017 21:51:42 GMT
Did you try putting it in the freezer? Yes, I've tried everything. And I want to be able to just pick them up and use them. I don't want to wait for them to freeze every time I want to use them.
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Post by riversong1963 on Aug 31, 2017 21:57:28 GMT
I won't buy dies from Ali Express, though. Too many shady practices. Not judging those who buy from them; it's a personal choice. (I was in a discussion about this on another board and was told not to participate in the thread any longer and keep my opinions to myself, so I'm hesitant to go into details here.) Aw, come on. Spill. You know we love drama! What's the board that was mean to you? Nah. I try to avoid drama whenever I can. Still loving my circle punches, and I have a feeling that I'm going to be purging a lot of my other punches. I'll probably just keep the ones that I use a lot. I'm running out of room, and I need to be even more ruthless than I have been in the past. Do you think there would be any interest if I posted them here in the Buy/Sell forum?
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Deleted
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May 12, 2024 2:23:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2017 5:44:26 GMT
riversong1963 I haven't bought a die from AliExpress either. I buy mine from Ebay. I only bought one item from Ali and that was a roll of Alice in Wonderland washi tape. I had to have it. I think Ali is so confusing for me to use. I am sure it is super easy for most people. Hugs to whoever told you too keep your opinions to yourself. Boo to those people. I am sure they want the world to hear their opinions though. You have great opinions. Punches- I keep seeing new punches made. My DH just surprised me with a pretty one that is a feather and arrow. I am trying to buy more dies. I hate it when my punches break. I work with a lot of vintage and delicate ephemera. I don't like to put those things through my Cameo or Cricut. What has everyone been using for borders? Is there a new way to do borders.
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Post by riversong1963 on Sept 1, 2017 14:19:34 GMT
riversong1963 I haven't bought a die from AliExpress either. I buy mine from Ebay. I only bought one item from Ali and that was a roll of Alice in Wonderland washi tape. I had to have it. I think Ali is so confusing for me to use. I am sure it is super easy for most people. Hugs to whoever told you too keep your opinions to yourself. Boo to those people. I am sure they want the world to hear their opinions though. You have great opinions. Punches- I keep seeing new punches made. My DH just surprised me with a pretty one that is a feather and arrow. I am trying to buy more dies. I hate it when my punches break. I work with a lot of vintage and delicate ephemera. I don't like to put those things through my Cameo or Cricut. What has everyone been using for borders? Is there a new way to do borders. Aww, thank you. There are some really nice border dies on the market. I still have some border punches that I love.
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GiantsFan
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Post by GiantsFan on Sept 1, 2017 15:16:38 GMT
I'm doing a purge in my room and tested out my punches. I couldn't get some of them (Fiskars) to even punch through printer paper. I rarely use punches anymore, so I'm going to ditch them. I don't have room to store items that aren't useful. And riversong1963 - I also won't knowing buy from Ali. Just my personal moral dilemma. I want the stamps and dies cheaper but I also want to support the original company so they continue to design and make items, so I just wait for sales or coupons. (but I'm not judging those who do buy from them)
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Post by anonrefugee on Sept 1, 2017 20:47:20 GMT
My first thought reading your thread was what company bit the dust?
How sad is it that the first three I thought of were already gone?
I need to check my punches now!
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Post by crazy4scraps on Sept 1, 2017 23:34:23 GMT
I purged probably 3/4 of my punches a few years ago because I knew I wouldn't use them anymore. I don't miss them. I kept my whole set of Paperkins doll punches though because they're cute and I thought DD might like using them for something. I use my circle and square punches quite a bit.
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Post by artisticscrapper on Sept 2, 2017 21:05:54 GMT
A lot of those Martha Stewart punches were crap. I had 2 that died and one I got tired of having to use a toothpick on to clear out paper particles every time I used it. The award for suckiest punch ever is the Martha Stewart punch all over the page stars design. You have to be Supergirl on steroids to get it to punch. I googled it and people were saying how they'd lay their paper on the floor and step on the punch to get it to work.
I've gotten rid of most of my punches since dies will do the same thing and they're easier to store, not to mention more lightweight. I still have some of my border punches. I use them for giving mats and layering pieces interesting edges.
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