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I like my T Tiffany organizers also. And my three tiered cart (Michael’s version). But I think my top faves are the stuff I use in most of my projects...
Best:
stamp platform (Misti and SU!)
gemini jr
glass worktop
copics
Fiskars details scissors with spring
Versafine onyx black for sentiments
envelope punch board
(now singing “these are a few of my favorite things...” lol
worst (already sent to bless someone else)
Silhouette
color blending tool with Velcro & pads (both felt and foam); I do much better with brushes
Sometimes I wish I had just my large rubbermaid tote tub filled with the items I like to use the most instead of all the "stuff" I thought I just had to have.
My best buys:
Catherine Pooler ink pads (best out there IMO)
my oxide inks
Copic markers
My Tim Holtz stamp positioner
Any and all stencils (especially layering stencils)
Anything and everything by Concord & 9th
Any and all by The Greetery
Blending brushes
2-step and 3-step stamps
Stickles of all colors
My worst:
Scan & Cut (If I could learn how to use it, I would probably love it but I have searched high and low for easy tutorials and have not found any that I can figure out so I continue to fussy cut my images)
Tim Holtz distress crayons and distress inks (got rid of all)
Gelatos (not for me!)
Kertake Zig markers (never liked them)
Sequins (hardly ever use!)
I agree with the others about the Papered Chef. She also has a Facebook group that has a lot of info for the Scan n Cut. She has videos for the CM model and the newer SDX models. The paid classes are on Udemy. She frequently has sales for 9.99 or 10.99 with is the lowest price that Udemy will allow her to give. She announces them on her Facebook group. Just search for Papered Chef's ScanNCut User Group
I've read good things about the Bearly Art Glue and it's precision tip. Next time I need liquid adhesive, I plan to give it a try.
I just LOVE my newest acquisition. It is a magnifying lamp that clamps onto my desk and easily moves out of the way when not in use. It was $45 at Amazon and well worth the money.
I don't use my Zutter Bind-It-All very often but when I need it, nothing else will do. I've had mine for years and consider it a keeper.
I've read good things about the Bearly Art Glue and it's precision tip. Next time I need liquid adhesive, I plan to give it a try.
just a little info I would have liked to have before I got the Bearly Art Glue - it dries clear but shiny, so it’s noticeable if one moves a die cut word a smidge and the glue smears.
just a little info I would have liked to have before I got the Bearly Art Glue - it dries clear but shiny, so it’s noticeable if one moves a die cut word a smidge and the glue smears.
I have been debating trying Bearly Art glue, thanks for the info.
Have you tried Art Glitter glue. Is it noticeable when dried if the die cut word moves a smidge and smears??
Weighing both glue options. As the SU fine tip glue was advertised as dry's clear but it dries real shinny and I can't get the tip unclogged, I tried everything to unclog it. I feel this was a waist of money.
__________________ The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable. Practice safe eating always use condiments
With those fine tip glue pens I find you have to put the pin back in place if you are not going to use it right away...Like even in a few minutes it can start to set and clog. Since I do that I have had no problems, except the needle will glue into the tip occasionally requiring the help of pliers to get it out. When I am finished crafting for the day I plunge the needle in and out of the tip cleaning in with a cloth each plunge. Or I turn it up and wait for the glue to receded from the tips base, then squeeze the bottle to empty the tip (a waste of that glue generally) until only air is passing through the nozzle and leave it upright.
It has been fun reading what everyone likes and dislikes. Here are a few of mine.
Best:
Connect glue from Gina K
ATG gun
Big Shot
Sizzix Sidekick
Rotary cutter
Crop-a-Dile: it has helped me so much with eyelets
Worst:
Stamp sets where I really only like one stamp
Watercolor pencils and markers: never could get them to look nice
Embossing powders and gun: I can never seem to get it to come out smooth so I don't use them
I'm sure there are more for both lists, but I can't seem to think of any more.
__________________
"The most valuable thing you can make is a mistake--you can't learn anything from being perfect."
Both the Art Glitter Glue and Bearly Art Glue leave visible smudges if not cleaned up immediately. Sometimes even then. I live in a humid environment and tape loses it’s stick after a while. I can repair card later but I also make mini albums. They are much harder to fix later. I do not want either to come apart if I gift them to someone else. Glue seems to be the only answer after using many adhesives.
I find that i get "glue trails" when I used liquid adhesives on larger pieces of cardstock. The only I get around this is to smear it with my finger after I lay it down, so I only use it on very thick paper where the trail won't show. Any tips on how to avoid the "trails"? I have used Connect and Lawn Fawn glue and Art Glitter glue, with similar results for both kinds of glue.
I use Fabri Tac to make my cards. It does leave trails and sometimes oozes out of the sides. I use one of those handy adhesive gummy erasers and it works like a charm. I bought mine from Stampin Up but have seen them at Hobby Lobby in the art supplies section.
I think the Dollar Tree stores that carry the Crafter’s Square products might have the adhesive erasers. They’re definitely on dollar tree.com but the minimum to order is 4.
My Worst Choices Stamp Scrubber in a case: I bought an inexpensive one, and I think it's too small. Stampin' Up has one that is bigger by two inches that I think would work much better. I find I can't be bothered to bring out the Scrubber to use it. It's quicker and easier to use a damp cloth, and if there is ink in deep crevasses, I use a soft wet brush. Cling adhesive (strips) from Stampin' Up: ("Convert your clear-mount stamps to cling") For me, there was too much fussy cutting and waste involved in shaping straight strips to curved stamp images. Additionally, I found that while the adhesive worked for a temporary cling on clear blocks or in the Stamparatus, they didn't cling when stored longer term in my Stampin' Up cases. Disappointing.
My Best Stamparatus: Love, love, love it! Everyone needs a stamping platform. I don't know how I used to manage without it.
Watercolour Pencils: I'm very basic when it comes to using the pencils, but I enjoy colouring stamped images, I like the way the colour strokes can be smoothed out with a damp brush. It's also easy to get a watercolour-look background. In addition,I don't have to worry about markers going dry or ink leakage.
I'm having a lot of fun with Brushos. I was cautious about that purchase, but no regrets.
I'm going to put in a vote for Distress Oxides as well. I'm really Interested to see that some people regret them - and curious what didn't work well.
I'm rambling a bit, but it's like that with the reviews I find on Amazon. Some people love an item, others hate the very same thing.
I'm finally using my Arteza brush markers and I like them for coloring.
The Frugal Crafter on Youtube has a good marker review video if interested, https://youtu.be/hwa4JlxUMBg
I love reading what everyone finds to be their best and worst purchases. Here are mine:
BEST: MISTI - original and memory sizes - My cards look so much better now with stamping accuracy. CuterPillar Pro - the best and most accurate cutter I've ever had and I've had quite a few. Scor-Pal - again accuracy is the key word here - for creasing and folding and my card. CuttleBug - I've had it since it first came out and it still works just fine, though I have been thinking
about getting a new machine that has at least a 6" mouth, maybe wider. COPICS - I'm still learning to use them for best results but the cards I've made since I purchased
them show a marked improvement over the years, IMHO. Prismacolor Pencils - love them. It's what I started out coloring with but I need to use them more
often. Crop-A-Dile - Hole Punch/Eyelet Setter and the Corner Rounder - very handy tools Angora water colors - inexpensive but good for my level of expertise - which is none. Sargent Art- Square Chalk Pastels - works a charm with an alligator clip and a cotton ball (like you
would use for a bunny's tail). Daylight Desk Lamp with magnifier and adjustable arm - love it! ATG714 - glue gun, Xyron - glue machine and Tombow Multi Liquid glue all work perfectly for me
All my dies from PTI, The Greetery, Memory Box and many others - love them all! Judikins Translucent Gold embossing powder - I never have bumpy embossing with this powder.
WORST: Watercolor pencils - nothing wrong with them, just not for me. Ribbon - way too much and never use it. Kool Tak Layers Plus - never got the hang of it. Zutter Bind-It-All - I've only used it a couple of times so it doesn't warrant taking up space in my
limited craft space...
I'm sure I have more that I'm not remembering but these are most of them.
I use Fabri Tac to make my cards. It does leave trails and sometimes oozes out of the sides. I use one of those handy adhesive gummy erasers and it works like a charm. I bought mine from Stampin Up but have seen them at Hobby Lobby in the art supplies section.
Dollar Tree sometimes has them now, the gummy erasers. They've been getting a lot of pretty good quality craft supplies lately.
