My Favorite Crafty Things 2017 — Tools

Hi! It’s time for more of My Favorite Crafty Things 2017. Today is all about tools… including stamping, die cutting, and more.

If you haven’t checked out THIS video about this series, please do so – it explains a lot.

I have lots to share today, including giveaways (see below) and store discounts. Who doesn’t love a crafty deal!?

  • Ellen Hutson is offering 10% off your order! Use the code “JensFaves17” through 12/13/17 when shopping HERE.
    (Valid on in-stock merchandise only. Excludes BCRF Fundraiser set and Mama Elephant releases within the last 90 days. Not valid on previous purchases and cannot be combined with other offers.)
  • Simon Says Stamp is offering my readers $10 off purchases of $75 or more during 12/11/17 to 12/18/17! Use the code “JENFAVES” when shopping HERE.
    (Note the dates. Valid on in-stock merchandise only. Not valid on previous purchases and cannot be combined with other offers.)
  • Gina K. Designs is offering a FREE stamp set to my viewers!! Shop HERE.
    (Good for orders over $50 – just add “JENNIFER” into the instruction box at checkout.)

Let’s talk crafty tools…

[Warning: This video is VERY long. You can instead just check out the products below. All products are linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails. Affiliate links may be used. To watch the video in HD on YouTube, click HERE.]

If you are interested in any products, click on one of the store icons under the product images.

BASIC TOOLS

Here are some tools that are essentials or very helpful when cardmaking:

Penblades
[ SSS | ELH ]
Tim Holtz Tonic Mini Snips
[ SSS | ELH ]
Fiskars Titanium Micro Tip Scissors
[ SSS | ELH ]
T-Ruler
[ SSS ]
Large Black Work Surface
[ AMZUS ]
Tonic Easy Clean Mat
[ SSS ]
Cutting Board
[ AMZUS ]
Scor Buddy
[ ELH | SSS ]
Teflon Bone Folder
[ SSS | ELH ]
Micropore Tape
[ SSS | AMZUS ]
Tombow Monosand Eraser
[ SSS ]
Adhesive Eraser
[ SSS ]
Hero Arts Heat Gun
[ SSS | ELH | HA ]
Embossing Magic Powder Bag
[ SSS | ELH ]
Coffee Filters
[ SSS ]
Swiffer Dusting Cloths
[ SSS | AMZUS ]
Microfiber Cloth
[ SSS | AMZUS ]
Handvac
[ AMZUS ]
Handvac Option 2
[ AMZUS ]
Jewel Picker
[ SSS | ELH ]
Bead Tray
[ SSS ]
Tim Holtz Sprayer
[ SSS | ELH ]
Ink Blending Tool
[ SSS | ELH ]
Ink Blending Tool Replacement Foam
[ SSS | ELH ]
Tonic Blending Sponges
[ SSS ]
Full Sticky Post It Notes
[ SSS | AMZUS ]
Post It Tape
[ SSS ]
Avery Removable Ahdesive Sheets
[ AMZUS ]
Tim Holtz Trimmer
[ SSS | ELH ]
Fiskars Premium Cut Line Trimmer
[ SSS ]
Fiskars Reinforced Paper Trimmer
[ SSS | ELH ]
Carl Heavy Duty Rotary Trimmer
[ SSS | AMZUS ]

STAMPING TOOLS

Here are the tools I find most helpful when stamping…

MISTI Stamping Tool
[ SSS | ELH | MSW ]
MISTI Mouse Pad Insert
[ SSS | ELH ]
MISTI Mouse Pad Insert
[ MSW ]
MISTI Bar Magnet
[ SSS | ELH | MSW ]
MISTI Stickers
[ SSS | MSW ]
MISTI Creative Corners
[ SSS | ELH | MSW ]
Gina K Longer Acrylic Block
[ GNK ]
Catherine Pooler Acrylic Blocks
[ CTH ]
Studio Katia Round Acrylic Block
[ SHR ]
Simon Says Stamp Acrylic Blocks
[ SSS ]
Hero Arts Ultra Clean
[ SSS | ELH | HA ]
Lawn Fawn Stamp Shammy
[ SSS | ELH | LWN ]
Salt Box for Shammy
[ AMZUS ]
Salt Cellar for Shammy
[ AMZUS ]
Kirklands Baby Wipes
[ AMZUS ]
Microfiber Cloth
[ SSS | AMZUS ]

DIE CUTTING TOOLS

I use die cutting as much as I use stamping on my cards. Here are some helpful tools to consider…

Sizzix Big Shot Express
[ SSS ]
Sizzix Cutting Plates
[ SSS ]
Memory Box Metal Adapter Plate
[ SSS ]
Spellbinders Embossing Mat
[ SSS ]
Gemini Die Cutting Machine
[ SSS ]
Spellbinders Platinum 6 Die Cut Machine
[ SSS | AMZUS ]
Tim Holtz Sidekick Die Cutting Machine
[ SSS | AMZUS ]
Tim Holtz Craft Pick
[ SSS | ELH ]
Flush Wire Cutters
[ SSS ]
Your Next Die Wire Cutters
[ SSS ]
Handvac
[ AMZUS ]
Handvac Option 2
[ AMZUS ]
Micropore Tape
[ SSS | AMZUS ]

GIFT GUIDE

This list of Favorite Crafty Things makes a great gift guide for holiday shopping. Just forward on this link or print the page and circle what you are interested in. Don’t forget the discount codes above, too!

I have a few more days of My Favorite Crafty Things 2017. You can keep up to date on all the topics HERE… and for my lists from 2016, click HERE.

GIVEAWAYS

Throughout this series, I will have prizes!

Today I have a $50 gift certificate to Simon Says Stamp!

For your chance to win a giveaway, leave a comment below by 11:59pmEST on 12/15/17 telling me what crafty tool you could not craft without. (To leave a comment, scroll down to the bottom of this post on my blog and click the green “leave a comment” button. The winner’s name will be randomly selected, emailed and posted on my “Winners page” after the giveaway closes. International folks are eligible, too! Prizes are personally donated.)

See you soon!

[Please note that I purchased most of the products in this post personally, but not all. Regardless, the decision to include them in this list was my own. I truly like these products and companies. For more info, visit HERE. If you have questions, please email me.]


Leave a Comment

492 thoughts on “My Favorite Crafty Things 2017 — Tools”

  1. Pam G. says:

    Thanks for a very informative video. I find I’m doing more and more die cutting, so my Sizzix machine is always out on my desktop. Love, love my MISTI, though there are times I wish I had the full-sized one. But it’s such a comfort to know you always get a good image. I know everyone stores things differently, but I have a system for storing my dies by categories in Artbin cases with magnetic sheets, and it makes finding what I’m looking for much less of a game of hide’n’seek than it used to be!

  2. Jennifer Spitzer says:

    My Ott Light is a must in my craft room. I have a floor model and a table top version which I can bring with me to a crop or retreat.

  3. Camille says:

    I love my misti, however, I am now looking at the TH trimmer. Thanks for
    Putting together a great series

  4. Martha Aschenbrenner says:

    I could not craft without my Big Shot.

  5. Hi Jen ~
    Thank you so much for another great video and for sharing your tips and tricks with us…you are a STAR!
    I couldn’t craft without my Teflon Bone Folder…it’s the best thing since sliced bread!

  6. Jennifer Gallagher says:

    Great video! I received the Misti last year as a Christmas and cant imagine stamping without it

  7. Lisa Smith says:

    Thank you for another amazingly informative video. I just love that you are so willing to share and teach. I could not live without my Misti it is has changed stamping for me.

  8. Wow! That’s a super informative video – all in one place!! Thanks so much for compiling all of these for us! My fav that I can’t craft without would be my scissors and MS score board! 🙂

  9. Jackie says:

    Jennifer!! You have the best videos!! You inspire my craftiness always!

  10. Beth Bo. says:

    I could not live without my Stampin’ Up paper trimmer!

  11. Laurie Susen says:

    Thank you for your take on all of these tools. I find them very helpful. I learn something every time I watch.

  12. Cynthia Cole says:

    I couldn’t craft without my bigshot.

  13. There are so many great tools that get used a lot of the time but I would have to say the one that I could not do without is my little old Cuttlebug. I have had it forever and it gets used on just about every card I make. Cheers.

  14. Patt H. says:

    Oh, Jennifer, that is such a hard question! There are so many tools that I use every day. I would have to say my paper trimmer is the one I would miss the most. I know I couldn’t cut things very straight without it.😊 Loved the great video!

  15. Rissa says:

    This is an awesome video! I have bought many of my craft tools based on your recommendations so I appreciate your candor and honesty! I could not live without the Misti. I bought one not long after they came out when they were $80 and then turned around and bought one for my craft buddy as well. It has made stamping so easy and gives me time to focus on my coloring or other techniques vs stamping and re-stamping trying to get the desired result. It is far and away the best tool I own.

  16. Diane says:

    By all means, the misti platform.

  17. Rosy Newlun says:

    Fiskar’s Paper Trimmer!

  18. Lauryne says:

    I love my Big Shot, stamp shammy and Mono sand eraser. Thank you so much for your awesome video!

  19. Patricia H says:

    Your videos are so wonderful, Jennifer. And you certainly cover all the bases! That’s what I love. Always find some new tips along the way too.

    My favorite crafting tool is my Cuttlebug. It’s just great and has been with me from the beginning! Also love the Misti, and my Fiskers trimmer.

  20. Krissie says:

    Just need my Fiskars paper trimmer for all my projects.

  21. Caly Person says:

    Couldn’t live without the MISTI. Hands down the tool I value most!

  22. Patty says:

    I always love your videos! But one thing that I use all the time is my tape runner. Easy to use and a must for all my creations.

  23. Ann says:

    I really like using microtape for holding down my dies in my machine. Otherwise, the dies shift all over. Thanks for sharing your suggestions.

  24. Camilla C says:

    I can’t imagine crafting without the stamping platform!

  25. Pat from sd says:

    I have a lot of favorite must have tools, but I think I use my Fiskars paper trimmer and Teflon bone folder on every project. Thanks again for sharing and for a chance to win.

  26. M Lugo says:

    My must have are the fiskars paper trimmer, my big shot express, baby wipes. 3″ acrylic block and fiskars scissors (I dont have rhe mini snips yet)

    Thanks Jennifer for your honest opinion about the products. 🙂

  27. Kathy Baids says:

    I love the Border Maker tool from Youngevity’s Our Memories for Life brand. Interchangeable cartridges make it so versatile! Easy to use too.

  28. Kelly Fusco says:

    I buy pretty much everything you recommend as long as im able. That being said I have 80% of this list. What I can not do without is my bigshot die cutter. I love that its fast and easy. Also the fiskars scissors, the t-ruler and stamp positioner! Must haves and cant do without! I need that tombow sand eraser though, soon! And thank you Jennifer for taking the time to do this and demonstrating them!

  29. FeM says:

    I definitely get better results with the MISTI. Thanks for sharing your favorite things.

  30. krisrenee says:

    I love the micropur tape. I find it useful for very many things. Thanks for introducing me to it

  31. Linda says:

    My MISTI and my Big Shot for sure!! Thanks so much for all of the terrific informative videos!! = )

  32. starspry says:

    I love the stamp shammy! So easy to clean stamps and continue creating cards. Thanks for sharing all of these great tools 🙂

  33. Noreen says:

    Big Shot and Tonic Paper Cutter. Thanks for all your tool ideas!

  34. Sandy Small says:

    I removed the scented powder from the EK success powder tool and replaced it with cornstarch, and I like it much better.

  35. Sheri Elmont says:

    I have too many tools I use all the time, but the MISTI has made it all so much easier. Thanks for all the enabling.

    1. Linda Parker says:

      Ditto!

  36. Deepa Lakshman says:

    For me, the Fiskars paper trimmer and Cuttlebug machine are indispensable. I can’t do anything without them.

  37. Susan Berry says:

    I have too many tools I can’t do without. I think my paper trimmer would come in first. Without it I would not have any straight cuts and would have a lot of scrapped paper. 2nd would be my inks. If I can’t find the color of cardstock or design I want, out come the inks to create what I want.

  38. NinaS says:

    Misti is my must have tool. I didn’t know there are misti creative corners. Its going on my Santa wish list.

  39. Susanti Hidayat says:

    Definitely MIsti platform and Fiskar paper trimmer:)

  40. Karen Rice says:

    I could not live without my ATG tape gun. I also couldn’t get on without my Sizzix Big Shot. LOVE THOSE TOOLS!

  41. Memoriesbymanda says:

    This year I got an ATG gun – love it! I also love my stamp shammy (but I’m often too lazy to get up and get it wet ready to use!)

  42. The Misti for sure. It is life changing!

  43. kshuster says:

    Jennifer,
    Thank you once again for a very comprehensive and informative video!
    Do you know, will the Spellbinders Platinum 6 accommodate the magnetic platform that I currently use in my Big Kick? It would be wonderful to gain some extra space on my work surface (being as this machine has a smaller foot print and folds up!).
    Happy holidays to you & your beautiful family!
    Karen

  44. Shawn Wenrich says:

    Another awesome post thank you for doing these, I truly look forward to them every year! The Misti is the tool I could not craft without. I’m a perfectionist and it has saved me so much frustration! I even remove my block Stamps so that I can use the rubber portion in the Misti, lol.

  45. Yan says:

    Hi Jennifer,
    My must-have crafty tool is the MISTI! As a teacher, I prepare little treat bags for my students and MISTI is a time-saver!
    Happy holidays to you and your family!
    Cheers,
    Yan

  46. Peggy Lee says:

    Thanks Jennifer for a great video..
    Hands down…..the Misti is my most used tool.

  47. Emma Finlay says:

    A good craft knife and ruler.

  48. BentheDK says:

    There’s more than one tool I can’t live without. But since I got it this year the one that has a permanent spot next to my left hand is the Tim Holtz Tonic guillotine trimmer that you show in your video. It’s handy because of the small size and it cuts to perfection everytime – any errors are mine!
    I also can’t live without my DIY stamping tool – I call it “Stamp it”. The MISTI is just too expensive for me.

  49. srishti says:

    Hi, thank u soo much for doing such great videos i am ur greatest fan u introduced me to cardmaking u are my role model. And i m serious, i eagerly wait for ur video’s . As far as crafting tools are concerned i am just a beginner plus where i live these crafting tools are not available and i order online then shipping kills me, anyhow i m gradually expanding my collection but THANK YOU SOO MUCH for introducing me to this art
    Lots of love ,admiration and respect
    Srishti

  50. Deb9426 says:

    Jennifer, before buying the Gemini when it becomes available I was wondering does it take embossing folders? Read the write up and it looks like it does but I want to be 100% sure. I have a habit of buying something and then realizing that it wasn’t exactly what I thought it was. Thanks and love the video series. Have learned so much.

    1. Mike Ditz says:

      It’s supposed to take them. But I haven’t done it yet.

      Mike for Jen

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