Top 10 Products
 

So I thought that I was fairly knowledgeable on various products and such out there for papercrafting and then I started reading forums here and realized that I have barely scratched the surface! So in my attempt to learn some new things and be able to create some of the awesome projects that I have seen here on SCS (see I've got a little lingo down) I was wondering if everybody could help me out.

What are the top 5 or 10 things you just could not live without? I realize that everyone is going to be different, but I'm hoping it'll just help me along. If you could also include a short explination for anything that isn't obvious I would appreciate it because once again I don't know nearly as much as I thought I did!

Thanks to everyone in advance!

1. Adhesives - ATG Gun (for matting) and Tombow Mono Adhesive (for the smaller stuff and when I need some wiggle room)
2. Cuttlebug and Nestabilities dies
3. Scor-Pal (it's really a leisure product, but I love it)
4. Scissors - Craft and detailing
5. Adhesive gum eraser (small price, but really works to take out messy, accidental lil spots of glue or adhesive)
6. Good lighting
7. A good SLR camera!!
8. Crop o dile

My absolute gotta have list:
1. ATG
2. Silhouette
3. Big Shot
4. Spring loaded scissors
5. Glitter
6. Peachy Keen Stamps
7. ribbon
8. Digital SLR
9. Hot fix rhinestones and wand
10. heat gun

Not in any particular order but definately the ones that i couldn't live without

wow, it will be tough narrowing it down to 10 ~ I love all my supplies!

1. cutterpede cutter
2. SU cardstock & matching inks
3. ATG gun
4. cricut & cricut tool kit w/large spatula tool
5. Sure Cuts a Lot cricut software
6. Scor Pal
7. SU circle punches
8. ScrapRack
9. Crop a Dile
10. Cuttlebug & embossing folders
11. Stamps! (Unity, SU, Gina K, MFT, etc. etc.)
12. Scissors ~ Cutterbee and SU rubber scissors

These are the basic tools for me.

Tonic 12" Guillotine paper trimmer
Cutterpede paper trimmer for the skinny pieces and scoring
SU punches
bone folder
Nestabilities ( I use the Sizzix bigKick)
Crop-a-dile
Cutterbee scissors
Good cardstock and ink (Like SU, Papertrey Ink)
Stampin Scrub and stamp cleaner

Cutter
Good Paper and Inks
Cuttlebug and Embossing Folders
Nestabilities
Copic Markers
ATG Gun
Are my top favorites that I can think of!

SU or Fiskars Paper Cutter
SU matchy matchy things: cardstock, inks, brads etc
SU punches, Marvy Uchida punches
BigShot and tons of dies, embossing folders etc
Adhesive
Spring loaded soft touch micro tip scissors by Fiskars
Prima Flowers for embellishing
A husband who lines your room and closet with shelves for all of your belongings!

Wow, there are quite a few things that I hadn't even thought of that just make sense! Thanks everybody for your thoghts. I have a cricut and was debating on possibly another machine and it looks like maybe I'm going to have to start researching that.

Postmark I would love to have a room lined with shelves. Alas no husband to build it, but I can be patient. ;)

1. Bone folder- for crisp, clean creases in your cards
2. Glitter!!!!!! I love stickles because you don't end up with more on you than your card (but I just got duzzling diamonds tonight and it's so pretty...and all over my face, haha)
3. Punches - they have added so much dimension to my products
4. Pop or glue dots - more dimension
5. Adhesive
6. Cutting products - paper trimmer and paper snips (craft knife is on my wish list too)
7. Versamark ink - for watermarks (especially if I don't have the coordinating ink color) and for embossing
8. Staz-on ink - for watercoloring imagaes and stamping on other surfaces
9. background stamps - they add a lot of interest to your projects
10. blender pens - for coloring in images

This was tough but these are the things that I use on almost EVERY card I make! Good luck and have fun!

Narrowing down to 10 might be hard, as the "tools of the trade" are so fun to collect!
1 Cuttlebug
2 Embossing Folders
3 Nestabilities
4 SU punches
5 Paper cutter
6 clear zeroing ruler
7 tombo adhesives
8 Versamark
9 Clear, gold and black Embossing powder
10 Heat Gun
Also love my Pampered Chef lazy susan for my tools such as some markers, tweezers, scissors, stampamajig, other rulers, paintbrushes, bone folder, etc.
Thinking about getting another one!!

Do you have an Ikea near you???

I got some nice bookcases from Ikea for $79 each...they had even cheaper ones...actually less than the cost of lumber and supplies for some...mine are in my kitchen so I had to match the decor, but if I had my own room, I would just go with the cheaper stuff. :)

1. Fiskars paper trimmer
2. Stamp-a-ma-jig
3. Stampin' Scrub...best invention EVER!!!
4. Stampin' Up! Background stamps
5. Tombow glue
6. Versamark Pad
7. Stazon Black Ink Pad
8. Aqua painter
9. Stampin' Write Markers
10. SU! dimensionals

Oh, there's so many more, but I should add that my top 10 list is in addition to the basics like SU! cardstock, ink and stamps! LOL

Cher I do have an Ikea, unfortunately I'm currently living with my parents and the space I have for my crafting is very, very limited in a part of our family room. I've got something that will work for now, although I dream of having a room of my own all set up the way I want someday. *sigh*

So a few product questions if somebody doesn't mind. What exactly is the Stamp-a-ma-jig? How are all of these various inks different and how do you use them?

I love:

1) Copic Sketch markers
2) PTI paper, ribbons and matching ink
3) Cuttlebug and embossing folders
4) Nestabilities
5) Good paper cutter
6) heat gun
7) ATG
8) Good detail scissors
9) stickles
10) Scor-Pal

Janet

I have no husband either...so I've just had to put my own stuff up on my walls.....or call my dad, hahaha. Girl power!!!!

I was living with my parents when I started stamping too...I spent way too much on stamping stuff since I didn't have to pay rent...probably why I have to rent and cant buy a house now, hahaha. Have fun with your new hobby! Can't wait to see more creations in your gallery!

Let's see... leaving out the obvious stamps, ink, adhesive, cleaners...

Not necessarily ranked:

1) A GOOD cutter - I love my Fiskars, its arm extends to cut larger sized papers. Make sure you change the blade frequently
2) Pop-Its/SU Dimensionals - I use these on cards CONSTANTLY - they make a card pop, literally and esthetically
3) Cuttlebug - I LOVE this machine and so far I've used it strickly for dry embossing! It really adds so much to a card with minimal work.
4) Embossing folders to accompany #3
5) Stickles - easy way to add sparkle to a card without any fancy or expensive tools
6) Handheld 1/16" punch - the fastest way to set brads that I know of, and I love to embellish cards with brads; I know a lot of people love their Crop-a-dile, for me the handheld punch gets the job done faster and easier
7) Brads, to accompany #6
8) Nesting punches - whether your preference is circles, squares, ovals, etc. It makes it easy to mat images - quickly and perfectly. Introducting some scallop punches in the same shapes to your family can also add some extra flair.
9) Embossing gun - helps to dry some of the inks more quickly and even my husband specifically requests cards for his relatives that have been heat embossed - just makes them look expensive and classier - note: you will need an embossing pad and embossing powder(s) to do this. I use black, silver, gold and clear the most frequently. Scented EPs exist too which can be fun to add to cards as well.
10) Scor Pal - I regret waiting so long to get this! It has enabled me to expand from "cardmaker" to "papercrafter". Now every holiday I can make tons of those adorable nugget boxes Chris Simon gave us the templates for right here on SCS with minimal effort to produce a big impression. And that is just one application of the product. Plus, the little scor tool fits INTO the tool itself, so it doesn't get lost amidst a messy craft table while I am working.

Enjoy! :)

Stampamajig: Basically a T square like tool with a clear sheet. You make sure the clear sheet is in the corner of the SAMJ. Align your stamp in the same corner and stamp once, the image should be on the clear plastic. Move the stamp on the plastic sheet to the desired location on the card. Keep it there and realign the SAMJ so that the plastic is once again in the corner in it's new location. Leave the SAMJ in place but remove the plastic sheet. Ink your stamp and stamp in the corner of the SAMJ. When finished, spray some stamp cleaner on the adhesive sheet to remove image and it is ready to reuse again. If you are stamping on fabric and you need to stamp the same image multiple times to get the image saturated, the SAMJ helps considerably!

Dye ink: I use this strictly on paper.

Pigment ink: This is what SU's craft ink is. This is more opaque so you can stamp lighter colors on darker colored cardstock. I use it on fabric. It will fade with time but not complete wash away. I also have not had it run... yet, but I always heat set it. I have heard of people sprinkling clear EP on top fo craft ink and then embossing with a heat gun so that the craft ink + clear EP acts like a colored embossing power.

Chalk ink: I don't use this personally. The mention of "chalk" makes me think of smearing - the last thing I want.

Hybrid ink: a combination of inks. I use Palette Hybrid a lot by Stewart Superior and am very happy with it. I have only used it on paper so far. It is more likely to stain your stamps after cleaning than dye ink, but the idea is to produce beautiful projects, no bonus points are awarded for having the cleanest stamps, right? (I still have to repeat that to myself, LOL)

Alcohol ink: Haven't used it, don't know much about it. Have plenty other products to play with so I never investigated.

Hope that helps!! :)

This is hard, but I will try...Keep in mind I scrapbook and make cards, so some of my tools may be a little more for one or the other. And def not in any particular order...I will try to put things I seems to grab for the most.

1. Corner rounder - i think mine is the EK success one, but a definite for rounding picture corners and even card corners.

2. Sakura gelly roll pens - black, white, brown and the stardust - these write the best in my experience

3. Tombo mono adhesive - permanent roller, i use for everything

4. Cuttlebug - i luv this for embossing and using with the nestabilities dies, mostly for card making

5. Ribbon - any kinds, whatever is on sale..i have a few mason jars color coordinated with ribbon that i wrap around wooden clothespins for easy access and storage.

6. Brads - I mostly use making memories ones..again i have tons of colors

7. Papertrey Ink products - stamps, cardstock, ink - love their products for card making

8. Pefect Layers tool - a kit of rulers and a right angle that make it easy to cut perfect mounting layers for pics and squaring off photos. I got it from QVC a while ago, not sure where it is available now. Used with a kraft knife.

9. 7 Gypsies embellishments - they have great sticks, rub-ons and even stamps which make journaling a lot easier. Their stuff is sorta vintage inspired.

10. buttons - i love buttons, no matter what kind and especially like to use them on anything baby related.

I could def go on...but that is a lot of what i reach for most often. good luck with your study! Although i would advise not just buying everything b/c different things work for different people.

My top 10 are listed on my blog along with explanations. I can't believe that I left the Big Shot off my original list. It is one of my all time favorite tools!!!!!

http://www.stampthings.com/stamp_thi...-ten-must.html

1. Paper Cuter
2. Bone Folder
3. Stamp-a-ma-jig
4. Stampin� Scrub & Stampin� Mist Cleaner
5. Paper Snips
6. Adhesive Remover
7. Crop-A-Dile
8. My Generic Clear Plastic Ruler
9. Cutting Mat
10. Big Shot & Dies

happy creating!

Oooh, this is hard! I'm assuming you have the stamps bit under control!

1. Paper trimmer
2. Detail scissors
3. Scoring tool (I have a Scor-It - love the flexibility to score anywhere)
4. Cuttlebug embossing folders
5. Good ink selection (Adirondack and Distress are my dye-based faves plus Versafine and Stazon to cover most needs)
6. Brayer
7. Bone folder
8. Piercing tool (mine's a map pin - I'm a cheapskate)
9. Stamp positioner*
10. Prismacolor pencils/OMS/stump combo

* as I said, I'm a cheapskate so I didn't want to pay for a Stamp-a-ma-jig! My stamp positioner is made of Lego bricks and I use acetate or vellum for my positioning sheet. Works great and cost me nothing :lol:

1. Good paper cutter - I have the 12inch Tonic

2. Copics

3. Memento Ink pads in black and brown

4. Ribbon, ribbon, ribbon

5. Brads

6. Pop dots

7. Sponges of different textures

8. Stickles

9. Teflon scissors so adhesive doesn't stick

10. Sewing Machine

1. Fiskars paper trimmer
2. paper piercer
3.Cutterbees scissors
4. Epson printer
5. Klic N Kut
6. Big Shot
7.Xyron
8. Cuttlebug folders
9. Prismacolor pencils
10.All my other stuff! :rolleyes:

1. Quickie Glue Pen
2. Two Way Glue Pen SU!
3. Fiskars scissors
4. Glue Dots
5. Sponge Daubers
6. Dimensionals
7. Brilliance Graphite Black ink (I use this a lot with Copic markers)
8. Cuttlebug
9. Punches
10. Embellishments (ribbon, brads, buttons)

Well, I'm gonna have to make a big list of all these suggestions, figure out which ones I'm going to use and go from there I think. And then I just need to get creating!!!

1) My Cutterpede paper cutter
2) My Cutterbee scissors
3) Good, heavy cardstock
4) Adhesives -ATG gun/tape, Scotch Quick Dry for liquid, Crystal Effects or similar
5) Scor-Pal
6) Good quality inks
7) Copic Sketch markers
8) Good clear ruler with metal edge
9) Bind it All
10) A die-cut machine for your embossing folders and Nesties(I still have my old Zipe' Mate but since it's been discontinued, I'll need to get another because I won't be able to replace my cutting plates-- not sure if I want Big Shot or Cuttlebug)

I'll assume you have stamps, stamp cleaners, acrylic blocks, trimmer, and adhesives.

1. Several black inks (VersaFine, Memento, Brilliance)
2. Several Distress inks (Black Soot, Antique Paper, Tea Dye, Walnut Stain)
3. Stamp-A-Ma-Jig
4. Clear Quilting Ruler
5. Colorants (Prismacolor Pencils, Watercolor Pencils, Copic/Prismacolor Markers, Chalks, H2Os)
6. Adhesive Remover
7. Edge Distresser
8. Sanding Block
9. Exacto
10. Die Cut machine (Big Shot), Dies, and Embossing Folders

1. ATG
2. Black ink
3. primas pencils with mineral oil
4. blender pen
5. 12" trimmer
6. 6"trimmer
7. fine tip scissors
8. patterened paper
9. solid cardstock
10 Klic-n Kut

Oh lets see....

1. ATG
2. Tonic guillatine cutter
3. Markers - all kinds
4. Wizard die cutting machine
5. Locktite super glue gel - for embellishments etc...
6. Wishblade electronic die cut machine
7. Rhinestones!!!!
8. Visa card


Holly

This same poll was done back in July (can't find the post right now), but I complied it I think there were about three pages of responses (if I remember correctly). Anyway, I posted it on my blog (July 13, 200 post), but here is the copy paste of what I complied...

1. Paper trimmer - Most responses recommended a guillotine type cutter (106959, $45.95) and following close behind was a personal paper cutter (104152, $24.95) that could handle paper up to 12" X 12".
2. Paper Snips (103579, $9.95)- The most recommended type of scissors were paper snips. Paper snips are small, thin bladed scissors with a sharp pointed tip. They are great for cutting even in the tiniest of areas.
3. Bone Folder (102300, $6.95)- Bone folders are used to score paper and make crisp folds.
4. Paper Piercer (found in the Crafter's Tool Kit 104310, $39.95) - This tool is a long narrow shaft with a needle-type tip. It is used to pierce holes in your paper to make borders and decorative shapes. It can also be used to poke holes for brads and to help poke ribbon through holes.
5. Ruler (103158, $9.95) - A clear ruler was highly recommended. It could be used to center images, as well as, to ummm measure!
6. Mat Pack (105826, $9.95) - Used in conjunction with the Paper Piercer. There is a template to guide you in perfect paper piercing. Also included are a foam mat and a self healing cutting mat.
7. Crop-A-Dile (108362, $29.95) - A very easy to use tool that punches through chipboard, tin and multiple paper layers with great ease! It is used to set eyelets in all sizes.
8. Punches (pg 180-181 of the Spring Summer 08 Catalog) - Punches are used to punch out shapes. The most popular types of punches mentioned were circle punches in various sizes and corner punches including the corner rounder and ticker punch. Punches add just the right amount of layering and dimension to any paper craft project.
9. Heat Tool (100005, $26.95) - Used with embossing powders, Heat & Stick Powder and to heat-set pigment inks.
10. Stampin' Scrub (102642, $14.95) & Stampin' Mist (102394, $3.95) - A total must have! Used to clean and condition your stamps. Helps to have nice crisp clear stamped images and also conditions the rubber for long stamp life. You can't have one without the other.

So there are the top ten tools! The must haves for any paper crafter. Here are a few honorable mentions (following close behind the top ten):

• Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049, $11.95) - A stamp positioner used for precise stamp alignment every time!
• Hobby Blade (102449, $4.50) & Cutting Mat (101087, $15.95) - The hobby blade is an extra sharp knife used for precise cutting where scissors just won't work. The cutting mat is a self healing mat used to protect your work surface when using a hobby blade.
• Stamping Sponges (101610, $3.50) - A great way to apply ink to larger areas. Used for a softer, more subtle application.
• Edge Distresser (found in the Cutter Kit 106958, $16.95) - A great tool used to distress the edges for your paper for a but more texture to your project.

1. Cutter with scoring blade
2. good scissors
3. Cuttlebug (with nesties and folders)
4. Metal ruler with inches and cm
5. Black Ink
6. Acrylic Block
7. Paper and stamps
8. cutting mat
9. Craft Knife
10. Rhinestones (loving them at the mo)

In no particular order:

1. Tonic guillotine paper cutter
2. Perfect layers tool
3. Tweezers
4. Paper piercer
5. Craft knife
6. Detail scissors
7. ATG - glue stick, mono multi, etc.
8. Clear Embossing powder and heat tool
9. Nestabilities
10. Stardust gel pen

and lots of embellishments!!!

1. Paper piercer and mat pack
2. Paper cutter
3. Adhesives & Dimensionals
4. Cuttlebug w/ embossing folders & Nestabilities
5. A good black ink...I use Palette Noir everyday!
6. Good, sharp scissors...to use for ribbon ONLY!
7. Ribbon...I prefer May Arts brand
8. Copic markers
9. Designer papers...I like SU and Basic Grey
10. Glitter!

In no particular order:

1. Personal trimmer--I swear by Creative Memories.
2. Bone folder--have been wanting a teflon one.
3. Ott light--to see true colors--use a 40% off coupon at Micheals or Joanne's for this.
4. Tombow Mono-Multi (White bottle with green caps)-use a coupon at JoAnne's for this.
5. Cutterbee sissors--WalMart has the best price.
6. Zots 3 D (pop up) glue dots--add dimension and really sticky stuff!
7. Glue Dots Vellum - the only true no see adhesive I have found.
8. Heat gun for embossing--I emboss everything baby!
9. Red sticky tape-love this stuff
10. Crop-a-dile and Creative Memories' circle cutter system and good rolling tote and SU! watercolor markers and chalk and white Signo pen and Pampered Chef storage thing on a lazy susan and my Cuttlebug.

Like the way I squished everything else into #10? Hee hee.

Tammy

bump

My Top 10 things are:
1. Fiskar cutter
2. Tombow adhesive
3. SU Punches
4. SU Cardstock
5. Crop-a-dile
6. SU sissors
7. SU watercolor crayons
8. SU markers
9. 3D Stickers
10. Background paper

What is Sure Cuts a Lot cricut software?

I wanted a list for myself and thought I would share.

I compliled a list of the items listed up through post #38. I deleted a lot of the the duplicates but some I wasn't sure if they were dups so I left them in. Also, I left some of the comments. Please forgive if your comment didn't make it to the list.

anyway, hope it helps - Have a great day

Opps I forgot to add my favs (excluding stamps & paper)

ATG Gun
Red sticky tape
Clear rulers
Tweezers
Score It - love this and a must have for paper crafting
Tombow Adhesive (embellishments)
SAMJ
Archival Black Ink
Bone Folder (I use a teflon pot scrubber)
Stickles
Versamark Pad
Big Shot (select dies that can be used a lot like flowers, tages, windows, embossing folders and nesties)
Scissors (butterbee snips and large, Tim Holtz for ribbon, SU! for rubber)
Lights - good & bright
Paper Trimmer (Tonic guillitone and still looking for a great trimmer)
Prisma Pencils (gamsol or OMS, and blending stumps)
Inks (select the colors used most often and a variety of types like Stazon, Brilliance, Ancient Page, Adirondak, Encore, and of couse SU!)
Craft Mat and good knife
Markers (SU!, Marvy, and Sticker Markers from Whispers)
Corner rounder punches