What do you use the bone folder for?

[Kimberly0618]

I've always been a crafter, did folk art painting for years, now scrapbooking and cardmaking are what take up hours of my time! Anyways I've seen these bone folders for years and wondered what they're for. They're certainly not cheap and I have no clue what to do with them. Recently I read somewhere that someone worked the edges of their cardstock with it (to give it that worn look). Anything you can tell me about this tool would be appreciated! If it's worth it, well then I should have it - right?? ;)

[GWTW Junkie]

I thought that too, and now I absolutely can't live without it. I have THREE!!! Id do use the potato peeler style of distressing the edges of cardstock, but I also use it for the suede technique, and of course it's most everyday use for making perfect, flat folds in cardstock. I'd say it is a must with SU's lovely, heavy cardstock. If you use cheapo CS you probably can do just as well with your finger, but for the heavier-weight stuff a bone folder is awesome.
Let's see, I also use it to score stuff, to dip embossing powder and glitter out of the containers, and to hold back my hair when I'm stamping : ) HTH!

[GWTW Junkie]

PS--I would get the SU bone folder, BTW.... the ones that are sold in some craft stores are actually so thin they are flexible, which is NOT a good quality in a bone folder. Sometimes they're not even bone. SU's are solid actual cow bone and are nice and thick. I don't know why it works, but it does!

[BasketMom]

I got my bone folder at Hobby Lobby for $2.99 and it's VERY sturdy and hard - you can feel the items through the cellophane to tell if it's decent or not.

[camsmom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GWTW Junkie

PS--I would get the SU bone folder, BTW.... the ones that are sold in some craft stores are actually so thin they are flexible, which is NOT a good quality in a bone folder. Sometimes they're not even bone. SU's are solid actual cow bone and are nice and thick. I don't know why it works, but it does!

I also like the SU size. Occasionally I use someone else's and it is so long it is cumbersome.

I use mine to also create a line if I am going to tear and I want a little help to get it to go in the direction I want. I score first and then rip.

I do not have a scoring blade on my cutter, so I use the wheel guide and the bone folder to create scored edges for projects.

[degrffn]

I used to think I didn't need one either. I finally bought one (had a wild hair or something) and found out I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IT! I misplaced it and went on ahead and ordered another right away b/c I missed it so much.
I mostly use it instead of a scoring blade - it doesn't cut the paper like my scoring blade used to and slides right down inside the track nice and straight.

[ClaudiafromGermany]

i never had one and started to use and loved it. a few days later i must have throw the bonefolder by accident i the garbage with the scrappaper. i went the very next day and got an other one. there are differences in quality my first one was michaels and liked it better was expensiver as the one from joanns i have right now.

i use mine to score paper.

we learned how to make this
Gallery at Splitcoaststampers
at a workshop. you use the bonefolder to mark the lines where to fold and than to give the paper a crisp fold.

[Kimberly0618]

Thanks ladies for all your helpful suggestions.... now I have another question - what is the potatoe peeler distressing method?? You got my attention with that one!

[colincary]

I also use mine when I use background stamps. Ink up your background and lay your cardstock on top of the stamp and then take the bone folder and rub over the cardstock to get go image.