I ran some searches recently on 'Must Have Tools' for papercrafting. I thought reading the opinions of other crafters would be insightful- who knows? Maybe I'm missing out on something amazing! Unfortunately, the quality of the blogs returned were...disappointing. There were tons of must-have or favorite-thing lists, but each list suffered the same flaw. The lists were of general categories, rather than specific products. Adhesive is a must-have item for papercrafting? Really? This is my surprised face. Everyone uses adhesive...but adhesive is personal stuff! There are more opinions about the best papercraft adhesives than about climate control, so why don't these must-have lists tell me what brand of adhesive is the best? Don't even get me started on people who just list 'cardstock' either.
Well. Cast no stones, she who has not also tried to blog on the topic! Here are items I always have on-hand for crafting, and would recommend to anyone, whether a beginner or advanced practitioner, to add to their collection.
* Fiskars 12" Portable Rotary Paper Trimmer. This tool has been my go-to slicing machine for more than ten years. My model is older than the one pictured, but all the good bits are still in place. I don't have space for a full 12x12 base (though I lust for one) so I went with this trimmer as the best compromise of all my desires. Rotary cutting is my go-to for strait, crisp lines through almost any medium. I cut paper, metal, fabric, chipboard, canvas, and plastic with this baby, and then it folds up neatly into my drawer for storage. The blades and cutting mat are replaceable, easy to find, and reasonably priced. I can switch out the blade to different edges, and even though I rarely use the feature, I'm glad to know I have the option. The platform is sturdy enough not to wobble around, and best of all...the 4 1/4" mark is on the platform when the base is completely closed, which means I don't have to open it up for basic cardmaking! Win, win, win.
* Cutter Bee Scissors. There are a lot of good, beefy scissors out there (and the Tonic Micro brand was a close runner up for this slot) but again and again, I go back to my Cutter Bees. The handle is super comfy to work with, and the blades handle precision cutting or general trimming smoothly on all of my mixed media surfaces. Sharp enough to trim button backs, fabrics, canvas, aluminum cans, chipboard, etc. These are not a stick-free surface (like the Tonics) but they clean up easily with some rubbing alcohol, and they're more comfortable to hold. They also have a protective case, which makes them easier to transport. I have one pair for sewing and one pair for crafting. My set is about eight years old and is still sharp, with clean, nick-free blades.
* Ranger Inkssentials Reusable Nonstick Craft Sheet. Maybe there are other brands that are just as good, but I haven't found one yet. Measuring a beastly 14"x18", this craft mat lives over my magnetic cutting surface (see #5) for almost all of my projects. Whether working with the marvelous distress techniques of Tim Holtz, painting with water colors, or just using messy liquid glues, this is my go-to cover for multimedia crafting. Double sided and heat resistant, I appreciate not having to change work surfaces frequently during the finishing process for my crafts. The mat is durable (I just replaced mine after five years of hard use), cleans easily in the sink with soap and water, and rolls up for easy, space-efficient storage. The craft sheet is not a cutting surface though, and you'll need to replace your mat if you cut or punch on it.
* Tombo Mono Adhesive - Permanent. Yard-for-yard the most cost effective adhesive on the market, Tombo Mono Perm is my favorite papercraft sticker-on-er. The Tombo runner works on paper and lightweight multimedia elements. The runner is precise and easy to use, and I rarely have waste created by poor application. The runners are refillable, and usually last me about a year of hard use before they're too junky. I could clean the dispenser, but they're so inexpensive, it is easier to just replace them periodically. I order my Tombo in bulk direct from the manufacturer, and I love it for cardcrafting. The dispenser travels well, because there's a nifty little flap to protect the runner on to tip. This is not the adhesive for thick and heavy elements, but it is perfect for 90% of my needs.
* Making Memories Magnetic Cutting Mat. Now a discontinued product, MM was the first to execute this go-to concept. My mat measures 24x24 with a perfect square grid marked in 1/8" increments across the entire worksurface. It comes with a ruler and a set of magnets to hold things in place. I use this as the base of my worksurface, and cover it with the Craft Sheet when not cutting. (Those nifty magnets help hold the craft sheet in place, as well as whatever else I'm working on!) The mat puts up with a lot of abuse- punching, drilling, cutting, scoring, piercing, sanding, hammering, distressing- you name it. I've linked to the We R Memory Keepers version, which looks pretty good for an alternative.
* Martha Stewart Crafts Score Board. I love nice, crisp, straight lines for folding. I love perfect triangles. I love gift boxes. This product enables all of these things. The worksurface is large enough to score an entire 12x12 sheet of paper or cardstock, and the included angler makes crafting boxes a breeze. It comes with a bone folder and has a handy reference sheet for calculating sizes for folding when creating custom boxes and envelopes. The surface is sturdy, the grooves are well cut and easily marked. I did mark the bottom of my common grooves with a marker, as I do find the board to be a bit too large to work on cards with, and I have a Making Memories bone folder that I use to actually burnish along the folds with, as the included scoring tool is too sharp to burnish with. I'd use a coupon to buy this puppy on sale, too- as long as you buy it.
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