Product Must Haves

For anyone new to the crafting bug, you are probably overwhelmed by all the products out on the market. What do I need? How much is this going to cost me? This is my list of products that I found I cannot live without:

• We R Memory Keepers Crop-A-Dile (watch this how to video on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyHffZ-e0Xc) - all-in-one tool punches and sets eyelets, snaps and so much more! Easily punch through any material, thick or thin, then set eyelets, snaps or any metal embellishment in your project. Ideal for punching paper, leather, plastic, metal, chipboard, acrylic, fabric, wood, poly and much more!
• Provo Craft Silent Setter - allows you to set an eyelet or brad anywhere on your scrapbook page
• Fiskars European Rotary Trimmer
• EK Success Circle & Oval Punches - they have an array of sizes and are great for scrapbooking and card making
• Clear Plastic Ruler - I lose mine often so I keep a stash of a half dozen of these. Buy them when school supplies are on sale from Target, Walmart, Walgreens, or Staples
• Scissors - I have about a half dozen scissors in different sizes that I bought when school supplies where on sale at Target. The small scissors are great for cutting around stamped images or anything that needs detailed cutting.
• Ciao Copic Markers - are the perfect entry level marker that provides great color selection for a lower price. Ciao features a Super Brush nib on one end and a Medium Broad nib on the other. They have an alcohol based ink that is permanent, non-toxic, low odor and acid free. They are guaranteed for color consistency, have a 3-year shelf life, are refillable and the nibs are replaceable.
• Scor-pal - Scor-Pal® creates accurate and precise scores giving you professional looking folds, no more crooked cards. Multiple scores are done in seconds without moving the paper. Perfect for accordion folds, boxes, fancy fold cards and other interesting projects!
• Adhesive - Smart crafters always keep lots of adhesive on hand. Different projects require specific adhesives and it's important to be prepared. My favorites are Herma, Glue Dots, and Tombow
• QuicKutz Revolution & Dies

Wednesday's Challenge #1

I just spent the evening cleaning out my crafting area and found a ton of QuicKutz dies still in their packages. They need to come out of their wrappers and played with so I decided to post a challenge for anyone that wants to join me. I am calling the challenge "dies the limit".

Using any die or dies (pre-cut, QuicKutz, Cricuit, etc) create a layout, paper craft, card, or altered project. The challenge starts Wednesday June 3rd and runs through Wednesday June 10th.

So join in and play along. If you get your page done by Wednesday night, e-mail a picture (jpeg)to me, along with a list of the items used from you supplies stash. I will post all challenges received on Saturday.

To get the challenge rolling, I am posting a paper craft project I completed using DCWV papers, lollipops, straws, floral tape, and QuicKutz Revolution flower dies (REV-0174-S, REV-0172-S, and REV-0175-S).

For the love of crafting

Welcome to my blog! I am starting this blog to share the passion of paper crafting. I have been crafting virtually since birth. My mom would lay out all her left over yarn from knitting, material from sewing, and tons of crafting goodies such as Elmers glue, popsicle sticks, felt, and buttons for my sister and I to get creative. I still remember making Barbie furniture out of cereal boxes covered with wrapping paper. The passion for crafting has now hit another generation. My 6 year old niece comes over often to use my "fancy" scissors, gel pens, water colors, and anything else she finds in my craft room to complete her own special projects.

Over the next few weeks I will begin to post crafting projects, ideas, etc. to share the creativity bug!