My Favorite Things

It’s really hard to come up with a limited list of favorite items! There are a lot of products I use, and I love most of them. However, there are definitely a set of products that are my go-to’s.

Stamp Sets
Inks
Paper
Tool Basics
Copic Markers
Dies & Punches
Embellishments
Adhesives

My Favorite Stamp Sets

UPDATE: I am updating my favs in this category because so many of my favorite Stampin’ Up! sets have retired! Boo!! Even so, my favorites tend to change on a regular basis, so I will continue to update this page periodically. Right now, here they are:

• Stampin’ Up!: Fabulous Florets, Papillon Potpourri (with this matching punch), Itty Bitty Banners (with these matching framelits), Thank You Kindly (retired, but still needs to be on this list!), Pleasant Poppies, Netting, En Francais Background, and Woodgrain Background. I also love Fabulous Phrases for sentiments and Notable Alphabet for scrapbooking.
• Hero Arts: Cupcakes Clear Set, Hero Arts Butterflies and Flowers Set with Sizzix Dies, Wildflower Garden, and Everyday Sayings. And, of course, the Traditional Butterfly.
• Penny Black: Posies, Paisley Outline Stamp, Letter Background, and Words Express.
• Impression Obsession Cover-a-Cards: Harlequin and Knit

Did you know that I have made all the stamp sets on my blog searchable? For example, if you enter “fabulous florets” into the search box (located in the right margin), you’ll see a list of my blog posts that use that set.

My Favorite Inks

I do a lot of embossing, so Versamark is probably my top choice here.

For Copics and just plain sentiment stamping, I love Memento. Tuxedo Black and Rich Cocoa are must-haves.

I love Stampin’ Up! colors for their vibrancy. My favorite colors are Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, and Pumpkin Pie.

Who doesn’t love Ranger Distress Inks?? My favorite colors are Broken China, Peeled Paint, Antique Linen, Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door, Picked Raspberry, Dusty Concord, and Walnut Stain.

Finally, I recently discovered how awesome Versafine inks work on polymer clear stamps. An AMAZING crisp, clear image. But beware, as it stays wet for awhile. I use Black Onyx.

So you ask, what about StazOn? I just haven’t used it because you need a special cleaner for it. I never wanted to deal with it. Ha!

My Favorite Paper

It’s really important to use the right paper with the right medium.

For Stampin’ Up! inks, you really need to use Stampin’ Up! cardstock. I buy Whisper White like it’s going out of style. The paper absorbs the ink beautifully – these products were designed to work together. I compared the use of Stampin’ Up! ink on Stampin’ Up! paper and Neenah paper with some photos in THIS POST.

For Copics and colored pencils, I use Neenah Solar White cardstock. The Neenah cardstock really blends the Copics well with not a lot of bleeding. And, for colored pencils, this cardstock allows for a really smooth application. When I use SU cardstock with colored pencils, the color goes on really waxy and don’t blend very well.

As far as colored cardstock goes, I keep Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso and Basic Black on hand. I rarely use other colors. Instead, I will take white and make my own using inks.

I also make sure I have watercolor paper handy. It’s extremely thick and absorbent, so it doesn’t pill up or tear when you apply water to it. This paper is also great for blending Stampin’ Up! markers. And, of course, it’s ideal for using an Aqua Painter.

If you’re a regular blog reader, you know that I am not a fan of patterned paper. I think it’s because I just don’t know what to do with it, lol! I use it occasionally on a card, but I will say that I use it A LOT in my scrapbooking. There’s just no way I am creating my own paper for all those scrap pages!! I purchase a lot of Simply Scrappin’ Kits from Stampin’ Up!. They come with solid paper, patterned paper, and cardstock stickers. With the matching inks that I already have, they are a quick and easy way to get pages done.

My Favorite Tool Basics

As far as the necessities, I prefer these:

• Heat Tool – I have an old Darice heat tool. To be honest, I haven’t tried other heat tools. I’ve had this one for a long time – I bought it about 5 years ago I think. I use it almost every time I make a card, so this one is pretty durable.

• Blender Pens – I love these! There are so many uses. You can use them for blending markers or for picking up ink and coloring. They come in a pack of three, which I bought maybe 5 years ago? I’m still working on my first pack!!

• White Gel Pen. I have used several different brands and the Uniball Signo Broad Tip Pen is the absolute best. It is awesome for faux stitching, dots, and general coloring. I will say, however, that if you plan to use it for handwriting in small print, it might be a little difficult. It has a lot of ink coming through, so fine lines are not what it’s good for.

• For covering a panel of white cardstock with ink, you need an Ink Blending Tool. I have 8 of these with a rack that holds them. I find that 8 is about the minimum you need without having to constantly switch the pads that are adhered with velcro. So, I have one for pinks and reds, one for yellows, one for blues, etc. You can use a sponge for applying ink, but you don’t get the same coverage. I created a video on how to use Stampin’ Up! ink pads with these blending tools (it’s the second video on this page).

• For inking edges in a very small and subtle way, I use sponge daubers. These little finger-fitting ink applicators allow you to be very precise in your ink application. They are great for small things like leaves, owls, and just when you want a fine edge of color. As with the ink blending tools, I have one for each color family. They come in a package of 12 for $10.95.

• I get so many questions about my Ranger craft sheet. It is awesome and completely indestructible. I heat emboss on it, ink on it, glue on it, you name it. All it takes is a little wipe with a cloth and it’s back to its original condition. One thing though – if you wrap a present on your craft sheet, a scissor will cut it right in half!!

• I have two paper piercers. One I use for poking holes in paper, like on this card and this card. The other one I use for picking up small things. I found that if I dip it into some glue, little pieces of paper, such as owl eyes and little hearts will stick to it. I also use it for picking up pearls and gems. I’m sure you’ve also seen me use it for dying string! I’m telling you, it’s one of the most versatile items I own!

• Of course, a big-time necessity is a paper trimmer. I’ve been through all kinds – plain blades, rotary blades, choppers, etc. It’s weird how so many of them just don’t cut a straight line! (Um, or maybe it’s user error!). I’ve been using the Cutterpede for a long time and am very happy with it.

• Another absolute necessity for stamping wood-block mounted stamps is a stamp-a-ma-jig. It’s a little right-angle tool that helps you line up your stamps so that your image come out exactly perfectly. I use it pretty much anytime I’m working with a wood block stamp.

• Another multi-purpose product is Eclipse Masking Tape. I use it mostly for masking, but I also use it to hold my die in place when running it through my big shot. I purchase mine in a tall roll, but now they only sell it in sheets. It’s reusable! So, mine is lasting a very long time. I’ll use a piece several times before retiring it to the trash.

• Finally, I love my Sizzix Big Shot. I started with a Cricut machine. Then I moved to a Silhouette. But honestly, the Sizzix is just so simple. No cartridge and keypad, no pressure dials, no sticky sheet that moves, etc. Granted, it’s not nearly as flexible and you can’t cut all different sizes, but sometimes less is more.

My Favorite Copic Colors

With 346 colors, how can you choose? I seem to gravitate to some of the same ones over and over:
Red – R27, R29
Pink – R81, R83, R85
Blue – B21, B24, B26
Blue/Green – BG11, BG72, BG75
Green – YG17, YG23, YG25
Yellow – Y11, Y15
Brown – E13, E21, E25, E27, E34
Cool Gray – C1, C4
Warm Gray – W1, W3
I wrote a short post on getting started with Copics. I also created a beginner’s tutorial. I have all sketch markers. You can buy the markers for $5.24 each at Dick Blick. Ellen Hutson sells them for $6 per marker (they also sell lots of other crafty goodies to add to your order, including Neenah Cardstock, my staple for card-making. If you click from here, I get a small commission on sales at both sites.

My Favorite Dies and Punches

I love to use Spellbinders Labels dies. My favorites are Labels Seven, Labels Eleven, and Labels Fourteen.

Stampin’ Up! sells some Sizzix dies that are made exclusively for Stampin’ Up!. I love the Top Note Die, the Beautiful Wings Embosslit, and the Lots of Tags Die Set. I also like the new Apothecary Accents Framelits and matching Paper-Piercing Template Pack.

As far as punches go, it’s no secret that I love the Owl Punch. I also use the Modern Label Punch, and the Decorative Label Punch a lot for sentiments. The new Elegant Butterfly Punch is awesome.

My Favorite Embellishments

I really don’t use a lot of embellishments on my cards. I definitely use a lot of string. I love Stampin’ Up! Linen Thread, which matches pretty much anything. I also love plain white bakers twine, which you can dye with ink and water to match your card. A lot more economical than buying string in every color!

I will occasionally use pearls. I have this pearl set by Stampin’ Up! that is awesome because it has a ton of every size. None of this “3 of this size, 3 of that size”.

I have recently discovered that you can color clear rhinestones with Copic markers. Instantly, you have any color gem you need! Love that. And this set of clear rhinestones from Stampin Up!, again, like the pearls, has a ton of every size.

Probably the only other thing I use consistently is Ranger Stickles Glitter Glue. So clean and easy.

My Favorite Adhesives

There’s nothing cool about this category, so it’s last, lol! I use my ATG gun for adhering big items, like full size card panels. For small things, thin things, and string, I use the Stampin’ Up! Two-Way Glue Pen. This glue pen is so easy and it sticks fast – no waiting and holding.

For popping up card pieces like flowers and little animals, I use Stampin’ Up! Dimensionals. And for super-stick, I use mini glue dots. You can roll them into a ball or into a snake – and it ain’t coming off. You’ll find them under every butterfly I put on my cards.

Okay, I think that covers it. Wow, that’s a lot of stuff! Questions? See the Ask Me! page.