Three Things: Personal Favorites

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. ]