Did You Know? Fun Facts and Crafty Tips! July 2019 Edition

Hello, friends! Its Nina-Marie here, bringing you the July 2019 edition of our Did You Know series!

If it’s your first time seeing this feature, each month we bring you fun facts, creative tips and even crafty hacks about your favorite supplies and brands; you can then use these awesome tips that you learn in your next crafting projects! Are you ready to learn some fun tricks? Keep on reading!

AVERY ELLE ZIPPER STORAGE POUCHES

Staying organized is such an important part of my crafty-life! When I know where things are, I can create more efficiently… which means I have more fun!

One of my favorite ways to stay organized is to use zippered pouches, like the ones from Avery Elle! These heavy duty mesh pouches are clear, allowing you to see inside (I also like to label mine with my Label Maker). I use them most often for holding all the contents of the latest Simon Says Stamp Card Kits, new products I’ve yet to create with, projects that are not complete… the uses are endless!

WE R MEMORY KEEPERS STICKY PIERCER

If you love sequins and fun embellishments like I do, I can’t tell you how much I have been enjoying the We R Memory Keepers Sticky Piercer tool.

Did you know that this dual-ended tool can be pulled apart to have both a tacky end for picking up those hard-to-hold embellishments, and a piercer for applying them into your adhesive? So handy! 

STUDIO KATIA TRIANGLE TRAY

Speaking of embellishments, I also can’t go without the Studio Katia Triangle Tray! Simply pour your embellishments into the tray for sorting and selecting! When you are done, the convenient triangular shape of this tray puts the sequins back into their original container for super-easy cleanup. No more sequins all over your craft table (or worse, the floor!). 

DISTRESS MICRO GLAZE

There are a lot of uses for this little jar of glaze, but one of my favorites is for protecting envelope art! When we mail our cards, the envelopes brave all of Nature’s elements on their journey from mailbox to mailbox… and if the envelope is decorated, its hard to help but wonder if it will still look beautiful by the time it gets to the recipient.

Did you know that a thin coat of Micro Glaze helps protect your envelope art? It won’t be a permanent seal if your envelope were to fall into a puddle, but from light moisture, dirty fingers and the like, your envelope will fare the elements far better than if left uncoated! I love to apply the glaze with a mini ink blending tool (which happens to fit inside the jar PERFECTLY!).

METAL DIE SNIPS


Sharp edges on a die are painful! For all my multi-die sets, I love to use a pair of metal die snips to trim them apart and cut off the little pieces of steel that may be left behind. Definitely a must-have tool if you love to use dies! 

I hope these tips have helped you learn a few tricks for your upcoming crafting projects… Thanks for tuning in today and spending some time with me!

SUPPLIES

Avery Elle AQUA LARGE Zipper Vinyl…
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Avery Elle AQUA SMALL Zipper Vinyl…
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Avery Elle WHITE SMALL Zipper Vinyl…
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Avery Elle WHITE LARGE Zipper Vinyl…
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We R Memory Keepers STICKY PIERCER…
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Maker’s Movement METAL SNIPPERS mmt208
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Tool Basics FLUSH CUTTERS 4463
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Tim Holtz DISTRESS MICRO GLAZE Ranger…
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Studio Katia TRIANGLE TRAY sk2119
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cardmaking blog grab bag

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  1. I have never given a thought to my envelope art becoming schmeard or washed away. Love the tip for the glaze. Thanks!

  2. I own everything but the pouches and I can vouch for everything. Especially the Micro Glaze, FANTASTIC stuff!! I need to order the pouches because I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with my kits.

  3. Great feature idea. :) That micro-glaze would have come in handy recently. I may need to add that to my next order!

  4. I did not know about the sticky piercer. I will have to check it out. All the other must haves are right on target.

  5. Thanks for the great tips. I see several items that I would love to have. The triangle tray is a must have.

  6. I really need those die snips, you can never get those pokey ends gone. I already follow by email.

    1. I can’t live without my mesh pockets, I origanally was using the Avery Elle, but recent found another brand that’s just as sturdy and costs about 80 cents each. I always make my purchases from all the craft stores, like sss, tonic, scrapbook.com, (you get the idea) I support all our small business’s. Even if the cost is a bit more. I have so many kits that I had just run out of my mesh pockets and it was right when all my kits are starting to roll in (I don’t like to get behind with organizing them right away). So I had to go on Amazon and see if there was something similar I could get fast. I found these SUNEE Plastic Mesh Zip Document Holder, Letter Size Waterproof …, and they are great, and to be honest, 80 cents each is not a bit cheaper, it’s alot cheaper. I think it’s about $13.45 for 18 pockets, and 20 bucks for 30, Free Shipping for Prime Members. I will still buy the bulk of my craft items the way I always go, this was just a thing I needed and was amazed at the price difference. Avery Elle I buy from all the time, all my other pouches are from them. But they are 5.59 each, that’s a big difference that I can’t afford to ignore. It’s almost 105.00 for 18 from them as apposed to 13.00 from sunee. The quality is the exact same. To me, that’s 100.00 I can spend on more crafting things, the storage isn’t as fun to spend my money on than more Stamps dies inks etc. Just wanted to share that in case anyone looking for bulk storage at a great price. Debbie
      In S

  7. Thank you for all of the storage ideas! As my supply stash grows I am having more or more trouble organizing things!

  8. Thanks for all the helpful tips Nina! I use that Ranger Distress Glaze on lots of cards. I love the soft matte finish it gives and it really seems to brighten up the colors.

  9. I see things I am needing I guess I better shop love the tray and glaze tip and attachment tip

  10. Again great tips Nina-Marie, the one about the Micro Glaze I knew because I also uses on art envelopes and it helps realy.
    Thank you so much for todays post, I love this series and have a great weekend.

  11. I have certainly enjoyed this series, and love seeing new-to-me products. I own the metal snips and use them on lots of connected dies. I am looking for a set of metal files that will finish removing those little barbs left behind by the snips. Do you have any idea where I can find a set of files for this purpose? Any help will be appreciated.

  12. Great ideas – I use a number of those tools for beading/jewelry making too – the micro glaze is good for helping seal a patina on metal – I was so happy to see it being used in mixed media and paper crafting too. I absolutely love those triangle trays for small beads like Delicas – so absolutely they make sense for things like microbeads, glitter, sequins, etc. I do love using micro clips for cutting dies – I keep a separate more pristine set for beading wire, and use my used set for snipping dies, and use my needlenosed pliers for helping pull them apart if a bit more precision than my fingers are needed.

  13. Thank you for the glaze idea, I’m always worried that my envelopes arrive as a mush of colours with the recipient wondering why I did a fine art project to the envelope but not the card. Have a good week x

  14. What a great group of very handy products! Need some Distress Micro Glaze & the triangle trays! They’re on my wish list. Thanks

  15. Great bunch of products! The sticky piercer looks like a must have; it’s so hard to pick up some of those little embellies sometimes.

  16. Thanks for the tips. Now I have some additional things I’ll need to order. I love the piercer the zippered bags and the sniper. Awesome!

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