Saturday, December 30, 2006

Getting more bang for your buck

When looking at the tools I've purchased I think the best buys I've made, the ones that I use alot are as follows:
THE SCRAPMISERS TOPS TEN LIST OF TOOLS:
1. Craft knife (this gets alot of use, especially when I'm cutting chipboard off old notebooks etc and only cost $2.00)
2. The Friskars cutting system (I got a Circle, Diamond, Rectangle, Alphabet and Numbers templates witht the cutting blade and self healing cutting mat for $49.99 and I use this all the time, especially for titles)
3. Making Memories Alphabet Stamps (This was around $24.99 but is well worth it cause you can use paint or ink on these stamps to create some great titles)
4. Heidi Swapp edge distresser (This was $2.00 and even though I've only had it a few days I can see lots of layouts getting this treatment)
5. Creative Memories Wave Cutter (This is a fabulous cutter, it creates a really clean cut line very easily. It is a little more expensive than other cheaper brands at $34.00 but it lasts alot longer!)
6. Set of Inks and Frame Stamps (There is no name brand on this set, but it was a great christmas gift and cost $24.99 from a department store so great value for money. The kit comes with three shades of blue, three shades of green, two shapes of pink, one purple, one yellow, one orange, one black, two shades of brown and one red. The stamps that came in this kit are also very versatile with two different frame sizes two corners and a variety of stamps for making cards like: "Congratulations" and "Just married" etc)
7. Alco Paper Trimmer (This set came with a wavy, straight, fold line, and skip line and only cost $18.99)
8. Alco 40 piece punch set (This set is fantastic and is how I make most of my own embellishments as there is at least one punch for every occaision I've needed and in some cases two or three. This cost $49.99 from the department store and as it's all on a "Lazy Susan" type carosel function is easy to store and find all my punches)
9. Xyron Create a Sticker (I love this! It's very easy to use and comes with replacement cartidges. At $14.95 this is a well priced tool. I use mine mostly for adhering ribbon and chipboard to my layouts.)
10. Staedtler triplus fineliner 12 piece set. (This is one of those tools I don't know what I did without! The set of twelve fineliner pens come in every colour required for my layouts and the fine line means any journalling I do is neat and tidy and easy to read. I've also done some doodling and the odd title using my stencils. At $12.95 from a local department store I definitely think this was a worthwhile purchase!)

Please not this is only my list of favourite tools and shouldn't be viewed as a must have list. I have several other tools that I love that I haven't mentioned here because they don't get as much use such as my: PaperScissorsRock Mini Punch Set, Fiskars Shapeboss Embossing System, The Five Mile Press Lettering Book, Chatterbox Doodle
Genie #72935 - Breezy, Fiskars Texture Plates II (Assortment Pack of 12 including Free Texturing Tool), Making Memories Liquid Acrylics, Hand Inspired Scrapbooking 36 piece mini alphabet punch set with gun, RoyalCoat Dimensional Magic.