Three Things: Personal Favorites
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In going back over some of my past layouts recently I noticed a few product trends that are used over and over again. We all have them - things we stock up on, things we can't seem to make something without. There are certain products I go through phases with (like the scallop punch I keep using recently), but these products don't seem to phase out, just in.
American Crafts Precision Pens : These pens have been my favorite since I first started using them. My pen tip preference is .03. I have branched out a bit and now use some fine-tip Slick Writers (love the red - used in the layout below) in addition to the Precision Pens. They remain top of my list for craft pens.
Tim Holtz Retractable Craft Pick : This is a tool that was recently added to my supplies and I find myself using it all the time for punching holes for the silver mini brads I tend to favor. In the past I used the old metal paper piercer from Making Memories - it's now used on a regular basis to unclog my bottle of Glossy Accents.
American Crafts Thickers : Letter stickers have been a go-to product since I first started scrapbooking in late 2002. I remember loving some vellum letter stickers from Mrs. Grossman's (see the blast from the past layout below), a black font from Sharon Sonneff's Sonnets line, and another one from Liz-something (I can't remember the actual brand name). I used those three over & over again. For the last couple years the letter stickers that I grab most often are Thickers from American Crafts. I especially love these (Subway) and these (Rockabye). They are great for titles and for initials. FYI : Thickers are the "deal of the day" today at Peachy Cheap. A great assortment of different fonts at a really great price. Check them out here.
Here's a couple layouts using American Crafts Thickers and Precision Pens/Slick Writers:
From Studio A : Creating Keepsakes January 2009
From Studio A : Creating Keepsakes October 2008
And a classic from March 2003 just for fun (I am pretty sure this was a Becky Higgins sketch - hence the tilted photo - I don't normally tilt much):
What are three things you use over and over?
[ Three Things is a weekly product series : check out the archives here. ]
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87 comments
My 3 favorites right now are:
Thickers (I love them & can't get enough)
Scallop border punch with the apron lace one a close 2nd
Sassafras Lass papers (I'm into layering embellishments right now & I seem to use to every little bit of the sheet of paper.)
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I am so close to you in the things I use all the time. My paper piercer works on almost every layout, and like yours it's become my glossy accents/diamond glaze tool as well. Maybe I should think about getting the one you showed as an exclusive paper piercer.
I love Thickers, but I admit they come second to my very favorite...I still love those basic Creative Memories letters with the classic font. They have the perfect two sizes and I use them on almost every layout.
I also use pens on every layout but I've never tried size.03 and I I've never found one I'm perfectly happy with. I don't think I've tried that line of AC pens you showed...may have to try that one out, too.
I love it when you show layouts on the 3 Things day. Thanks for doing it when you can. And yes, that older one looks more like a BH layout than a classic Ali one. =)
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I love seeing the progression of your layouts. Sometimes I'm tempted to "redo" my old layouts, but I always stop myself...it's neat to see growth as an artist. I use the AC pens now, too, and love them. I don't use letter stickers much, as they're always running out of the letters I need. Instead I use my letter stamps and inks. Much better for me!
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i love thickers! thanks so much for the link to peachy deals. just placed my order =)
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Hey, Ali, I would love to see you do something on all the diff. types of metal pieces you like to use and who makes them. You often use metal that I've never seen (although I think you used Tim Holtz's spinners recently and those have been a favorite of mine for the past year).
Anyway, I'm always wondering where you find your metal and what it is. Thanks!
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Mine would be zig millennium pen .03 black, a corner rounder, and bling!!!
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I tend to use die cut letters (Quickutz),3D embellishments - usually simple, and I like to use ink.
It's so interesting to see how our styles change through the years!
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A Zig pen, a scallop circle punch, and lately my 2 Martha Stewart butterfly punches.
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My 3 favs also include alphabet stickers... I use them on just about every layout! I also seem to be hand journaling a lot, so my gel pen is always on hand. The other one would be patterned paper... I use this a lot more than cardstock... maybe just because I have a bigger pile of it!
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Great suggestion :)
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The three things I use the most are my paper cutter, glue, and punches. Thanks!
Michele Bailey
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My Basic Grey rub-on tool
My Dot-n-roller (thanks for turning me onto that. I love it!)
My ZIG double sided .5/1.2 writer in black. It is the best pen I have found for writing on Bazzill's textured cardstock.
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Thanks for the Peachy Cheap heads up!! I had to run and get mine b4 they were all gone...especially since you mentioned it, I'm sure they'll sell out in a heart beat! I have never tried Thickers and this is the perfect opportunity to!
That paper piercer looks awesome. My daughter broke my last one that was on a wooden handle (brand?). She stuck it all the way into the fabric in our kitchen chair and then it snapped off. I've missed it dearly
:(
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Oh my 3 fave items I've been using right now are a
scallop circle punch (Martha Stewart)
ribbon/lace (any kind or type)
flowers (usually Prima)
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Look at little Simon! What a cutie!
brads
ribbon
patterned paper
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I have a set of zig millenium pens in various sizes that I always use. I also use stamps and opaque gel pens (on darker paper). Amazingly, I don't have a paper piercer and I really like the idea of a retractable one. Thank you for sharing!
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ooh, i too am a huge Thickers fan. i think i use them on practically every layout or mini i do. my other 2 necessities are Zig's Millenium pens (my fav are the .005 for detailed doodling and .03 for writing/journaling) and my pink paislee vintage pop stamps, which i got in a kit from SIStv last year. oh, and i have to throw in Staz-on ink in charcoal grey, for when i'm using my pink paislee stamps :)
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The 3 things I used ALL the time:)
Zip Dry Glue
American Crafts Precision pens - LOVE THEM
Stickles!!!
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I wasn't aware of PeachyCheap.com thanks for the link. My 3 things are my Signo uni-ball white pen, American Crafts slick writers and my cutter bee scissors.
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I am also a huge fan of precision pens and Thickers (any alphabet stamp or sticker really). The products I seem to use the most are ink for the edges of my pages, patterned paper and Bazzill cardstock, and arrows.
Love the old LO from 2003...it's always fun to see how people's styles and pages evolve over time! :)
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