Crafty folk...

cassandra
Full Member

Posts: 7,656

Crafty folk... Apr 22, 2018 17:52:25 GMT

Quote

Post by cassandra on Apr 22, 2018 17:52:25 GMT

Fellow crafters, just had an interesting conversation with Sam about the usefulness of some craft items. My three big items were all Christmas or Birthday presents from him - the Big Shot, the Silhouette machine and my Carl cutter. I use the Big Shot and the cutter all the time, cannot get my head round the Silhouette so Sam uses it for me when I want something made.
However, were I to have to name the 2 things I use just about daily and cannot do without, they would be the corner punch and the pokey tool.
What are your 'can't do without' tools?

Last Edit: Apr 22, 2018 17:53:02 GMT by cassandra

It's a great pity the right of free speech isn't based on the obligation to say something sensible.

Berry McPaper-cuts
Full Member

Posts: 26,598
Mood: FP Swim

Crafty folk... Apr 22, 2018 21:30:32 GMT

Quote

Post by Berry McPaper-cuts on Apr 22, 2018 21:30:32 GMT

Pokey tool, decent glue and glass mat for can’t do without. I have a Cameo which I love but because it is huge it spends most of it’s life on the shelf. I need dies and embossing folders which I run through my latest most useful die cutting machine , the lithium battery ( and mains ) operated Snap. Used my Christmas dosh to get it on release in January and it’s absolutely brilliant. You can put it just anywhere because it has the lithium battery and because it is powered it is easy to use- of course for bigger dies I have to get my big machine out but that is a rarity. I am bad because I also need flowers, papers and charms. Also need paint, MDF, ribbons, gilding wax,stamps, inks in other words EVERYTHING!

And there in a wood a piggywig stood...

EarlyBird
Full Member

Posts: 6,295

Crafty folk... Apr 24, 2018 17:36:50 GMT

Quote

Post by EarlyBird on Apr 24, 2018 17:36:50 GMT

Probably the things I used to use the most would be my craft knife, metal edged ruler and glass mat. Although I prefer them they are getting harder to use so I have a paper trimmer for most cutting. XCut Express die cutter gets used a lot - manual but takes everything from very thin dies up to the big, original Sizzix ones. I also have the small Diamond Press which is actually much better for small dies than the big machine. Obviously, I have dozens of dies too! Not 'tools' as such but I use an awful lot of that orange-backed tape and cosmic shimmer glue where I need a wet glue. I use quite a bit of gesso, black and white, for my mixed media stuff, chalk paints and, a recent discovery, Pebeo bindex for glueing and sealing the papers. For embellishment, particularly die cuts and embossing folder impressions, I often use Finnabair art alchemy waxes.

I could go on - like FP I need everything!! Every tool I have has its purpose and is really good at what it does. Because I have such problems with my hands I need tools that perform even simple jobs for me so I probably have more than average!

cassandra Full Member Posts: 7,656	Crafty folk... Apr 24, 2018 19:54:06 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by cassandra on Apr 24, 2018 19:54:06 GMT Haha at you two. I do very little mixed media so probably don’t have quite as much stuff. I just found it amusing that my 2 ‘cannot-be-without ‘ tools are the cheapest, and simplest.
	It's a great pity the right of free speech isn't based on the obligation to say something sensible.

Berry McPaper-cuts Full Member Posts: 26,598 Mood: FP Swim	Crafty folk... Apr 24, 2018 21:35:49 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Berry McPaper-cuts on Apr 24, 2018 21:35:49 GMT I like EarlyBird’s style! Have you seen the two Tonic Harrington MDF shelves on Hochanda tonight and tomorrow EB?
	And there in a wood a piggywig stood...

EarlyBird
Full Member

Posts: 6,295

Crafty folk... Apr 25, 2018 7:25:10 GMT

Quote

Post by EarlyBird on Apr 25, 2018 7:25:10 GMT

Are they the ones with the holes for pens? I'm not so keen on them. For a start I don't have that many pens! I prefer more general shelving and besides, I'm running out of space to put any more in! I have four of the Tonic little drawer units from 2 or 3 years ago, a large shelf unit that I did about a year ago and the one I just got for my birthday. I also have my eye on a couple more Stamps Away units. smiley-face-giggle

Then there are the 6 wooden boxes I bought to make jewellery storage, about 3 or 4 other interesting boxes that I am planning on decorating, some magazine storage boxes that are a bit boring and....................

EarlyBird
Full Member

Posts: 6,295

Crafty folk... Apr 25, 2018 7:36:32 GMT

Quote

Post by EarlyBird on Apr 25, 2018 7:36:32 GMT

Apr 24, 2018 19:54:06 GMT cassandra said:

‘cannot-be-without ‘ tools are the cheapest, and simplest

Aside from my craft knife (B&Q 99p!) and ruler, which I struggle to use these days, my most valued item was a cheap pair of small curved blade scissors. The tips had broken off but I used them so much. I still use them occasionally but after a couple of minutes of using them now I lose the feeling in my thumb as they press on already damaged nerves!

Never got to grips with a pokey tool. I prefer the tip of my craft knife for gems, peel offs etc.

Berry McPaper-cuts
Full Member

Posts: 26,598
Mood: FP Swim

Crafty folk... Apr 25, 2018 7:59:03 GMT EarlyBird likes this

Quote

Post by Berry McPaper-cuts on Apr 25, 2018 7:59:03 GMT

Since I bought a cheap pair of curved scissors from Amazon I can actually fussy cut! I have a pack of 3 bling pokey tools from Dawn Bibby - black, pink and purple with a jewel on the opposite end to the pokey bit, still only on the purple one as it’s easy to spot in the jumble on my table. My problem is I am running out of people to give my boxes to as all the females in the family have had a Craft Box which has had the mixed media treatment but as I did the subscription for a year I got 12 boxes. I do keep scraps of plain paper in one and coloured in another, small embossing folders in another but I can’t bear to throw the others out! Treasure tins are easy to recycle for keeping jewellery in. I bought the ‘That’s Crafty ‘ pack of 10 ATC chunkies which are fabulous as you can make a 3D ATCs so easily and experiment on a small scale with MDF techniques. I need to find some small wreath and heart shapes at a good price as when decorated they are great for taking as gifts instead of flowers. I also like adding MDF tags to wrapped up gifts now as they can be kept as well as the present.

And there in a wood a piggywig stood...

EarlyBird Full Member Posts: 6,295	Crafty folk... Apr 25, 2018 17:38:28 GMT Berry McPaper-cuts likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by EarlyBird on Apr 25, 2018 17:38:28 GMT I've just bought some MDF tags. I thought they would make nice little plaques or whatever for door handles, amongst other things!

Quick Links

Post by cassandra on Apr 22, 2018 17:52:25 GMT

Post by Berry McPaper-cuts on Apr 22, 2018 21:30:32 GMT

Post by EarlyBird on Apr 24, 2018 17:36:50 GMT

Post by cassandra on Apr 24, 2018 19:54:06 GMT

Post by Berry McPaper-cuts on Apr 24, 2018 21:35:49 GMT

Post by EarlyBird on Apr 25, 2018 7:25:10 GMT

Post by EarlyBird on Apr 25, 2018 7:36:32 GMT

Post by Berry McPaper-cuts on Apr 25, 2018 7:59:03 GMT

Post by EarlyBird on Apr 25, 2018 17:38:28 GMT