Memory Keeping Q&A | Product Questions

I'd like to start off the Memory Keeping Q&A series with a look at questions related to specific products. Thanks again for asking!

GO-TO PRODUCTS


WENDY | I’d love to see more detailed pictures of what’s on your desk at the moment (ex. products you reach for most often and or your most recent go to favourites).

AE | Here's a look at what my desk looked like last week. When I'm in the middle of a bunch of projects I tend to leave myself just a little "working space" with the rest of the area taken over by product. It's a little bit cleaner today, but some of the same things are still there. I've got a page set up here on my site called "Ali Recommends" - it can be found under the About Ali tab along the top. That page lists my basic supplies - the ones I use consistently - like my paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, etc.

Lately I've been doing a bunch of paper layouts again (hoping to share soon) and have been buying new supplies from Two Peas and Scrapbook.com.

From the photo above here's a few things I've been using and loving:



  1. Maya Road Kraft Shipping Tags | I pretty much just love tags. Always have.


  2. Avery Manila Shipping Tags | A couple of these came in my Studio Calico kit last month (I'm a subscriber) but I also usually just buy them at an office supply store.

  3. Life Stuff | Obviously this is not a product you can go out and buy but it's what I really love to incorporate into my pages. Project Life has been great for this but I've also continued to use papers, etc in my other layouts. Check your kids backpack, their bedroom, grab your shopping list or your to-do list and use those sorts of things to tell your story.


  4. Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher | Still use it all the time.


  5. Tim Holtz Scissors | I just used these the other day to cut some metal-rimmed circle tags in half. Awesome scissors.


Some other new things I've ordered recently that I'm excited to use include:

  1. Great little tags from Bananafish Studio (looks like she has a shop update coming on the 6th). Most of the ones I grabbed are sold out - I especially liked the Ledger Cards With Faux Label.


  2. We Are Memory Keepers Sew Easy Stitch Piercer Tool with this attachment | I haven't tried it yet but it looks totally cool and it's on my desk just waiting for some action.


  3. Hero Arts Word Pops Cling Stamps | Just looked cool.

  4. After chatting with Ronda about these cool templates/stencils (not digital) from Crafter's Workshop I knew they'd be something I'd like to check out. Definitely excited about this clock and these circles. Fun video available here with Julie Fei-Fan Balzer demoing these stencils (she's inspiring).



STAMPS


ALICIA | I bought the See and Stamp Jumbo upper and lowercase set because I really like the font and how you use them in your LOs. But I realise they seem pretty big and in some of your LOs they dont seem so big at all. Did you use the See and Stamp Upper and Lower case (not the jumbo ones?) Perhaps I can let my 2 sons play and stamp all they want with the jumbo ones LoL!

AE | I didn't even know there was a jumbo set! I think I need those now too. The ones I use currently are the See and Stamp Uppercase Alphabet Stamps and Educational Insights See and Stamp Transparent Stamps - Lowercase. The uppercase are blue and the lower are red. Love those stamps.


SILHOUETTE


PIEK | Do you ever use your Silhouette in your projects?

AE | I don't - yet. I've actually got a new one coming my way and I'm excited to try it out. I got one when they first came out and at that time there were extra steps involved to make them compatible with Mac computers. Now that they've worked that all out I'm excited to test it out. I'd like to investigate using my word art and play around with that a bunch more. Look for a giveaway coming soon.


TYPEWRITER


SAMANTHA | I love when you use your typewriter for layouts and am interested in getting one. Does yours work well, does it ever need repairs, and do you have to replace your ribbon often?

AE | I love my typewriter. If I remember correctly I found this one at an estate sale. It works great, has not needed any repairs and I've needed to replace the ribbon once. I think it's a really fun tool to have as part of my team of tools. Mine has had a ton of little fingers messing around with it and it's still going strong.

SHELIA | I’ve been meaning to ask about the typwriter too. My mom has a suitcase style 1960s typewriter that she has kept for sentimental reasons and is just sitting in her basement. You’ve inspired me to see if I can store/use it but am wondering where you get ribbon these days. Do you have a source you’d recommend?

CHRISTINE | I scored an old typewriter–where do you get ribbon, or how do you ink yours? This one has a ribbon, but it is dry, and when I tried stamp ink. it didn’t work. Thanks!

AE | I think when I first went looking for ribbon I just googled Smith Corona Typewriter Ribbon. I ended up ordering through FJAproducts.com and they were fine. Also, just wanted to mention that the one I have was originally in a suitcase too - I just took it out so I could display it in my office (which is how things actually get used around here too).


SEWING MACHINE


TINA LEE | How do you like your Brother sewing machine? You mentioned ordering one like Mary Ann Moss’ from Dispatch from LA.

AE | I'm loving that machine - it was a great recommendation from Mary Ann. It's simple and easy to use and goes through paper, photos and other layers just fine. In the past I'd been using my Mom's Singer from the 1970's - that worked just fine too (it's just taking a little break). After signing up for and watching Mary Ann's videos in her Remains of the Day class (totally recommended) I was sold on the machine and how she uses it for "gorilla sewing" - lots of free-form lines, circles, etc. Love that look.

PENS


SUSAN | Wondering what pens you use to write on photos and if they are archival safe—or if that matters anymore??

AE | Most of the time I use archival pens. American Crafts Precision Pens (especially in .03) have long been a favorite. In my Project Life album I tend to grab whatever pen is closest to my album - that's usually a Uni-Ball Vision Elite or a Sharpie. I also just recieved and am testing out some of the Copic Multiliner pens.


This post is part of a 2011 Memory Keeping Q&A series. Additional posts in this series will be listed below as they are posted. Past Q&A posts are available via the Category Archives here.

Products | Photos | Inspiration | Motivation & Time

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43 thoughts

  1. dawn says…
    05/05/2011

    I love reading all this, what fun stuff you have to play with.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Wendy says…
    05/05/2011

    Thanks so much for answering my question ... Love the pics of your desk - could you be convinced to make this a regular post?
    Wendy

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      05/05/2011

      Love that idea Wendy - I'll try to remember to get it into a regular rotation. Feel free to remind me too :).

  3. Vickie says…
    05/05/2011

    Very fun and informative. Thanks.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. adelina says…
    05/05/2011

    thanks! I love this information. It's so helpful for those of us just starting out.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Melissa says…
    05/05/2011

    The Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher has been a favorite tool of mine since I first got it. I LOOK FOR REASONS to use that baby; it's awesome, especially with ephemera! Glad to see I'm in good company. LOL

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. christen says…
    05/05/2011

    this was really fun! thanks.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. sarah says…
    05/05/2011

    ali, you will LOVE the silhouette! it would be awesome if you came up with shapes/phrases to sell in the silhouette store (hint, hint) ;)

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. sarah says…
      05/06/2011

      sounds great, i hope that you do!

    2. Ali says…
      05/06/2011

      Morning Sarah - most likely if i do them they will be available through Designer Digitals :).

  8. Taraleigh Gray says…
    05/06/2011

    Thank you for sharing so much with your readers! It can't be easy to do all the wonderful things that you do! I am forever grateful!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Miss Sarah says…
    05/06/2011

    Thanks for your post! Is it too cheeky if I ask another question? I missed the deadline for the last Q&A post. Do you use archival mist or other preservation mist on newspapers, tags etc that you collect from daily life in your LO's or project life? I haven't used it before and am wondering if it's a good idea.

    Reply 3 Replies
    1. Miss Sarah says…
      05/15/2011

      Thanks Melissa and Ali :)

    2. Ali says…
      05/06/2011

      That's totally fine :). In the past I've used Archival Mist but for the most part I just stick stuff in and move on...I think it's most important if the newspaper/other non-archival paper is right next to a photo.

    3. Melissa says…
      05/06/2011

      Sarah, you didn't ask me (I'm not Ali) but since there is a REPLY option I'm going to try to help you out. :)
      I'd consider using Archival Mist on things like newspapers that you're worried may fade (or better yet, make a copy or a scan), but unless ephemera has important information and isn't going to come into contact with photos I'd not waste Mist on that. JMHO, but will look forward to AE's opinion, too. :)

  10. Emily says…
    05/06/2011

    Super helpful and as always, inspiring with what you incorporate into your projects. We used to have 2 huge suitcase typewriters and regretfully I think we got rid of them because they were in the way. Probably ended up at the Goodwill! =(

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Alicia Koh says…
    05/06/2011

    Hi, thanks for sharing. Now I've got to ship that stamp set in from US...:-)

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Amy says…
    05/06/2011

    Ali, could you tell us how you store/organize your supplies? That one is never easy for me. For ex. where do you keep all of your tags and how do you catagorize them, etc.?

    Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      05/06/2011

      Big post on that coming soon as part of this series.

  13. Leora Henkin says…
    05/06/2011

    Thanks Ali! Can't wait to hear what you think of the Copic pens.

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. rhonda says…
    05/06/2011

    Thanks so much for this Ali! I would really like to know how you store your stamps esp. clear ones, mine just sit in buckets and I need a better solution!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      05/06/2011

      Hi Rhonda - I've got a post on supply organization coming soon :).

  15. Lisa W. says…
    05/06/2011

    Oh this is SO nice of you to take the time and do. Thank you very much for all this info!!! Happy Mothers Day Ali!!!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. denise says…
    05/06/2011

    i want to know what you do with the hammer on your desktop? could it perhaps be a paper weight? lol. never a bad tool to keep handy.

    i love your q & a's...i too would love one on how you organize your "stuff".

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      05/06/2011

      I think the hammer was there because I was hanging some things on the wall :). I've got another big organization post coming soon - stay tuned!

  17. Pam says…
    05/06/2011

    Thsanks for all of this information. I've been wanting a typewriter & sewing machine forever. You're the best, Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Judy Webb says…
    05/06/2011

    Loving these Q & A. so is Scrapbook.com. LOL

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Wendy says…
    05/06/2011

    Hi Ali! I love it when you do these Q&A posts. Thanks so much for the work you put into them. I have a question about how you use your typewriter. I have a slightly older version of your Smith-Corona and I've had a heck of a time using it to type on cardstock -- the roller doesn't seem to grip the paper and pull it through. Do you have any tricks for typing on cardstock? Or do you just use regular typing paper? Thanks!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      05/06/2011

      Hi Wendy - I haven't had any issues with it not gripping paper. I use it on Bazzill textured cardstock most of the time (the paper in there now was one of the kids playing). Sometimes I don manually pull it through (once it gets going) - that's usually because it's not even and I need to pull up one side or the other to make it even.

  20. Denise says…
    05/06/2011

    Ali - thanks for mentioning the sew easy. I have always wanted to stitch on a scrap book page and now I will be able to. I am so excited to get my order. Always love your ideals thanks for sharing

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. milkcan says…
    05/06/2011

    Thanks for the mention, Ali! I always find you enormously inspiring! :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. ale says…
    05/07/2011

    already loving this Q&A.
    thanks for sharing, ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Cynthia says…
    05/07/2011

    Thanks for all the information Ali! I am going to carefully peruse (I do have some of the same stuff which I love) and glean some good reasons for shopping! lol!

    Have a great Mother's day btw!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Laura says…
    05/09/2011

    Sorry to ask here, I hope you don't mind answering...
    Don't you use a digital tablet to create your fonts and digital designs? Do you scan it?

    Thank you for sharing! I love your art!

    Laura.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      05/09/2011

      Hi Laura - I've got a post on digital stuff coming soon - but yes, I do have a Wacom tablet. I use that and I also hand-write some things and scan - they each have their own look.

  25. megan P says…
    05/09/2011

    I have a typewriter too, and i have purchased ribbon at staples it's in the isle with the calculators, and other ribbons for other printing machines, (not printer ink) if that makes sense. You just need to know what brand your typewriter is, and maybe the model too. They're fairly cheap too!
    Hope this helps, i'm sure a lot of office supplies carry it, you just have to ask!

    Megan

    Reply 0 Replies

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