Studio Monday with Nina-Marie: 10 Crafty Must-Haves!
Hello everyone, Nina-Marie here with you on this fabulous Monday! In our world of crafts, we have so many products coming out every month; sometimes it seems hard to decide what exactly one should pick up next!
A few months ago I did a top-10 crafty must-haves post that you all really enjoyed and found helpful. So today I am rounding up 10 more top picks that I think are true must-haves in any craft room!
The first crafty must-have on my list is a microfiber cloth. In the past, I used old rags that I had laying around. But when I switched to microfiber cloths I immediately noticed the difference they made! No longer did I have lint stuck to stamps whenever I dried them off. With cotton rags, I always found that little pieces of lint would be left behind. I also find microfiber cloths hold up much better to constant use.
Embossing powder is something I use all the time; but it can sometimes be time consuming to try to carefully pour out powder from the little jars onto a project – and THEN have to funnel it back into the jar. For all my most-reached-for powders, I use Sistema plastic containers. These are small, lockable containers, so you never have to worry about the embossing powder spilling out.
The containers we carry at Simon Says Stamp also feature a little spoon that allows you to easily scoop the powder right from the container onto your project. And, because of the wide open mouth of the container, as you sprinkle powder onto your project over the container, there is nothing to clean up because the powder simply falls back inside! These are so convenient!
Stamp care is so important; having a “dirty” stamp never bodes well for your project. Whenever I finish a project, or I’m changing stamp colors often during the creating process, I scrub my stamps well with Simon’s stamp cleaner. I spray the cleaner into my Hero Arts Scrubber Pad, but you could spray into a rag instead if you don’t have the scrubber.
The cleaner is formulated to be gentle on clear stamps (other cleaners, especially those made for rubber stamps, are not recommended to be used on clear stamps). I love the results I get with this cleaner; it even helps take away a little of the staining that certain inks can cause.
I don’t know about you, but I find having good quality black pens handy is invaluable. I reach for my Sakura Micron pens most often because they are waterproof, chemical resistant, quick drying and bleed proof. These are all important qualities to look for in a pen because this means you can use it on virtually any card and not have to worry about your pen lines having adverse reactions to other mediums.
These pens are also useful for touching up black stamped images or filling in any areas that may not have stamped correctly. The Micron pens come in a variety of point sizes, so you are always sure to have one that works for whatever you need.
5. COUSIN’S TOOL BASICS FLUSH CUTTERS
Most die sets we purchase come attached together by small threads of steel that need to be cut apart so that the dies are no longer attached. The majority of wire cutters however are not small enough at the tip to get in between the dies to trim these threads. When I came across the Tool Basics flush trimmers from Cousin about a year ago, I was completely thrilled! Meant for cutting delicate jewelry, these have a fine tip that fit in between dies perfectly. Since getting these, I’ve never had an issue with getting my dies apart!
Paper trimmers are a must-have for any papercrafter! I have a few different trimmers in my studio that I use for certain things. The one that is extremely crucial for me is the mini Tonic trimmer. I use this for trimming small pieces, such as overhang paper on A2 cards, sentiment strips, etc.
This trimmer doesn’t take up much room on my desk; as I create I don’t have to worry about clearing space for it. It also tucks away into my Ikea Raskog cart perfectly, which is where I store many of my most-used tools. I really recommend having a paper trimmer like this handy for all those little cutting jobs that don’t require big trimmers.
As many of you know, I am a big watercolor fan. This was the medium I first started off with when I began my crafting journey in 2007. For watercoloring, I often reach for Simon’s medium or small watercolor brush. I find these perfect for coloring in almost any stamped image.
These of course can be filled with water, but I don’t always keep them filled.
When I want to control how much water I am using, I dip the bristles into a jar of water just like a regular paint brush. Other times I do fill them with water; again, it all depends on how much water I want in my coloring. These brushes are also great for portable painting!
8. FABER CASTELL COLLAPABLE WATER CUP
Speaking of watercolor, my go-to container for holding water is the Faber Castell collapsible water cup. Not only is this cup super stylish with it’s scalloped edges and green color, its also extremely functional. The scalloped edges are great for balancing a brush on – or for pushing the bristles against to squeeze out extra water.
The cup can be used either collapsed or open. I find the collapsed size perfect for when I just need a small amount of water, and the opened size for larger amounts of water. This is also another great on-the-go product because of its small size.
My next recommendation is a must-have tool for any MISTI user! The MISTI Mouse Pad inserts are an alternative insert to the black foam piece that comes with the MISTI or the grid paper inserts.
What makes this Mouse Pad insert so convenient is that it combines the functionality of both the foam pad and the grid paper into one with an extra bonus; it’s a cleanable surface. The Mouse Pad inserts have a plastic coating that allows ink to be cleaned off easily. Plus, with the grid printed underneath the coating, you still have the advantage of being able to precisely line up your paper inside the MISTI. And the thickness is exactly the same as the original black foam insert. I use these Mouse Pad inserts inside both my Mini and Original sized MISTIs all the time.
10. TIM HOLTZ DISTRESS SPRAYER
The tenth and final crafty must-have for today is Tim Holtz Distress Sprayer. Though I have tried other spray bottles in the past, I find I use this sprayer exclusively. Here are a few reasons why:
- For one, it is larger than most bottles on the market, so I don’t have to refill it as often
- The spray mechanism also is lockable, so you never have to worry about spraying water accidentally
- And finally, this bottle can produce two different spray types. If you squeeze the trigger completely, you get a even mist of water. But if you spray halfway, you get perfect drops of water to create that popular splatter effect!
I love using all of these products I’ve shared here today. I hope that this list will help you to discover some new tools that you can add to your crafting stash too!
Thanks for stopping by and visiting with me today; I will be back again next week with a new Studio Monday video!
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Been crafting for over 10 years and there’s always something more I want. Collapseable water cups and embossing powder containers. Sure wish I knew the new $5 code! Hint hint
And when you think you got all you wanted ..there is always something new! ;)
Thanks for this list! :)
I love the collapsible water cup. I do not have one and I think I would find it handy.
The collapsible cup might need to go on my wish list! Thanks Nina Marie!
Love all these ideas! Thanks!
Great tools ideas! I only have a few of these but will look into adding the rest to my craft supplies!
Great article. I love how you explain WHY you like these items.
Thanks for the info on your must have list of products. I was especially interested in the new insert for the Misti.
Not sure I would call all of these very necessary, but a few if these items (or their equivalents) surely do come handy! ?
Awesome list! I have them all in my stash too :) . This is a great post for people starting out and wanting to know the best items to start with. Thanks for sharing .
That tonic trimmer is my favourite!
All great tools to have! I’m so glad you love Sistema products. They are a New Zealand company and are made here!
I love the collapsible water cup! My hubby, who watercolours, probably could use one too.
Yep! Definitely must-have items! ? *runs to computer to order some* lol
Thanks for showing us these – and explaining why they are favorites.
It’s always great to hear about products that other crafters find indispensable. Thanks for highlighting these products, Nina.
I definitely need those tiny cutters for dies! Thanks much :)
The day has finally come. I have everything on the list. Of course that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t find anything to buy at SSS…lol!
Oh, I too love to have a smaller trimmer that fits on my desk and is handy for trimming up card bases and cutting simple shapes. My larger one is great for 12×12 papers but I usually make cards so don’t really need the big one all the time.
I love lists like this – it’s so good to see other crafters “go to” products.
Love and have many of those items – LOVE the micron pens, the Systema containers, and my Distress sprayer!
Great list, I have most items, one I didn’t not have and didn’t even think of was the microfiber cloth. Great idea!
I have some of these but others I do not, I love all the tips you expert crafters give us new crafters. Thanks keep them coming
Great tips Nina! I’ll add the snips to my wish list. The points left on dies not cut apart properly are always stabbing my fingers.
Thanks for all the tips on these great crafty products!
Great tips and suggestions
Thanks for making this list. I like to read what others use,
Faber castell water cup looks really handy!
Awesome list! Some things I already have, and others I have to purchase. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the great suggestions.
I appreciate the blog posts on items new or classic that other artists use in their studios. I don’t get out much, and these posts are so helpful to me in learning about new tools and products, and getting the most from ones I already have. Thank you for another great help!
I love seeing lists like this. It helps me learn about new products that I may not have considered.
Thanks for the ideas – there are a couple of things on this list that I don’t have…yet!
i have most of these ;-) I don;t have the room for those big embossing containers, so I keep them in their original pots
Great suggestions. I haven’t seen a collapsable cup like that. Love it!
Thanks for this list. There are a couple on here I’ve never seen, and I’m still trying to figure out my water brush!
Thanks for this list. There are several things that I will be purchasing and several that I already have. Thanks for sharing.
Linda D.
I think I need that mini trimmer and collapsible water cup! Great ideas!!
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Great tips, I’ve never seen a collapsible water cup before!
Thanks for the tips! Love watching you doing your techniques, keep me coming!
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