Welcome! In this installment of In Detail we’ve got a little of this and a little of that. Who would have imagined that since we started the series at the end of 2013 that we’d already be updating recent product info?!
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, the scissors in the In Detail: Essential Tools post have been replaced by the Teflon coated scissors shown here.
Additionally, in the In Detail review of the magnetic platform, I made mention of the Sizzix replacement for the multi-purpose platform. Good news for those of you who have wanted a multi-purpose platform – it’s back! Sizzix has reissued the platform in extended length.
We had great feedback on the In Detail: Essential Tools post and wanted to share the suggestions from the comments.
To begin, it was mentioned that the Tim Holtz Ruler has a line of small holes along one edge through which you can evenly pierce paper using the Tim Holtz Tonic Craft Pick.
Many of you added tools that you considered essential, including the following:
- The Teflon Bone Folder does not leave sheen on cardstock.
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The EK Success Stamp-a-ma-Jig is useful for lining up rubber stamps, both wood-mounted and cling variety.
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Kittie Caracciolo listed the Sizzix Tool Kit inspired by Susan Tierney-Cockburn as an essential. The tools are designed for crafting more realistic flowers with floral die cuts.
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I have the Martha Stewart Scoring Board set up next to my paper cutter. I score my card base just after cutting it. (I didn’t include paper cutters on the tool list. They may be a topic for a future post.) The board is also available in a smaller size with a scoring area of 6 5/8" x 8 1/4".
A future post of In Detail is in the works with a review of adhesives, which were not covered in the In Detail: Essential Tools post.
Finally, we got a question on the Stencils post about using the Crafter’s Workshop blank stencil material to make your own stencil. I have created stencils using Memory Box and Mama Elephant dies using this material. However, there are certain thin dies that are too intricate to cut through the material. If you aren’t able to easily cut heavy cardstock with the die, you probably won’t be able to cut the Crafter’s Workshop material.
Another option for a single-use stencil is cutting one out of cardstock. I recently made a cardstock stencil with the Penny Black Interlocking die through which I applied Distress Inks.
I’m also happy to report that the most recently released Memory Box stencils are thicker than those in the first release.
--Jean
