I am one of those scrappers who thinks I have to have all the tools. There are definitely those I can not scrap without, but others have found their way into drawers and I've even forgotten how to use them - sad, huh? Well today I want to share a few of my favorite things and all of them are just things from around the house. I'll show you what they are first and then I'll explain. I'm sure you're using some of these ideas already, but just in case . . .
Let's begin with the skewer ( or you could use a round chopstick): great for rolling flower petals to add dimension. The emery board will sand down those rough edges when your trimmer blade is dull and it is also great for distressing - cheap too! I use the large push pin as a piercing tool. I keep it in the cork - great for keeping in my crop tool kit. Wax paper and foil - must haves for your punches. Just punch the wax paper when your punch starts to stick. Punch the foil to sharpen them. A dryer sheet is great to remove the static from your cardstock before you apply embossing powder or glitter. I use baggies to put all the materials I need to assemble a card or a set of cards when going to a crop. I put in my precut papers and then add the embellishments, stamps, ink, etc. After my projects are finished, I carry them safely home in the baggie. That black object is the foam piece that brad sets often come on. After the brads are removed, I used the foam piece for paper piercing. It's so easy to keep in your drawer or toss in your tool bag. And finally, a pearl-head straight pin. I keep one right on my craft table (actually pinned to the liner of the basket that holds my ATG guns). I use it to unclog Stickles, to remove glitter or stickles or glossy accents that ran over on my projects, and to pick up tiny pieces I need on my project. So there you have them - handy dandy tools that you probably already have around your home.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs and Happy Crafting,
Larelyn
Thanks for sharing. I like tools and gadgets too but definitely like it best if it can be done with something already sitting around the house.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing I do is have a 'garbage bowl.' We always have a garbage bowl on the kitchen counter for produce scraps so we can later put them in the compost pile. The garbage bowl has carried over to my craft work space. It is small and handy. When I am done for the night I just empty it into the garbage can. :)
AWESOME tips. I love the "tools" you can find all over your house. I am going to do the push pin in cork! Genius!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great idea. I use the wax paper on my nesties but my punches could use a little waxing. Love the ideas.
ReplyDeleteI like Jen's bowl idea too.
An emery board?!?!?! AAAACK, what an amazing idea!!!! I have been eyeballing a craft sander for weeks trying to convince myself to just break down and buy it and I have 20+ of those little emery boards sitting around never used. BRILLIANT!
ReplyDeleteHey L.,
ReplyDeleteLove your tips as usual! This page is a keeper for my favorites file for sure! I always have a pushpin that I carry around, but lose it constantly so the cork is a much smarter, safer idea! I always forget about the foil and wax paper too. Thanks for all the great tips again!
XO ~ Amy Jo (FCCB Coordinator)
Awesome tips Larelyn!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great tool tips. I love re-purposing of items. I keep baby wipes handy for quick glue spill clean ups, cleaning stamps and wiping off my cutting mats.
ReplyDelete