Over at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge (February 13, 2017), the challenge is to use our favorite tool(s). They ask "What is YOUR favorite crafting tool? Is it a Paper Distresser, a Fuse Tool, a Heat Tool, Die Cutting Machine? We would love to know what is your ‘go to’ tool!"
Well, my go-to tool is my collection of craft knives, my self-healing cutting mat and an acrylic ruler:
Well, my go-to tool is my collection of craft knives, my self-healing cutting mat and an acrylic ruler:
It is hard to see in the above photo but the ruler has a lip which hooks over the edge of my cutting mat, allowing me to keep it straight and aligned with the lines on the mat. The knives are similar, although my favorite is the second from the right --- it's the easiest to grip with the gnarled areas on the handle.
I use this group of tools on nearly every project I make, from cutting layers for matting backgrounds to fussy cutting images that have no coordinating dies to less craft-oriented tasks like prying open my Archival "Jet Black" ink pad (which has issues) or picking up small gems for placement (I'm all thumbs when it comes to itty bitty embellishments).
Why don't I use a guillotine cutter or die sets to make mats? I just don't have as good fortune with them as I do with my ruler and knife... I can cut to 1/8 of an inch with this set-up with pretty good accuracy and trim down a piece easily when it doesn't "quite" fit.
And as for fussy cutting, I find I have more control over corners and curves with the knife than with any of the scissors I own.
Anyway, there you have it --- my go-to tool(s)!
For my project for this challenge, I used the craft knife and ruler for all the layers:
I use this group of tools on nearly every project I make, from cutting layers for matting backgrounds to fussy cutting images that have no coordinating dies to less craft-oriented tasks like prying open my Archival "Jet Black" ink pad (which has issues) or picking up small gems for placement (I'm all thumbs when it comes to itty bitty embellishments).
Why don't I use a guillotine cutter or die sets to make mats? I just don't have as good fortune with them as I do with my ruler and knife... I can cut to 1/8 of an inch with this set-up with pretty good accuracy and trim down a piece easily when it doesn't "quite" fit.
And as for fussy cutting, I find I have more control over corners and curves with the knife than with any of the scissors I own.
Anyway, there you have it --- my go-to tool(s)!
For my project for this challenge, I used the craft knife and ruler for all the layers:
and my craft knife to fussy-cut the stamped/heat embossed image which backs the sentiment:
The only "cutting" not using a craft knife on this card was a die-cut machine and wafer thin die for the sentiment.
I went totally clean and simple to create this card:
I went totally clean and simple to create this card:
Products used in the making of this card were:
- Stamps: Stampers Anonymous "Brushtrokes" (CMS 293)
- Dies: Sizzix Thinlits "friendship words - script" (660225)
- Inks: Color Box "Frost White"
- Embossing Powder: Top Boss "white regular"
- Papers: Paper Studion value pack notecards "white" and "Gold Ore Metallic" paper (457770); scraps of red, metallic gold and black card
- Adhesives: Xyron 500 sticker marker; Viva Las Vega "Miracle Tape"
RSS Feed
