KNOW YOUR TOOLS !!!!

Hello!!

Crafting is a beautiful hobby and a crafter is always seen most happy at her craft table !!! Right ?
This is Anita here bringing for you some best tools of the crafting world that take crafting to the next level. It makes this art easy and less stressful and helping you to make your projects perfect.

As we all know that mechanics eases any sort of work so when we involve the perfect or correct tools for our work, what we get is perfect and beautiful projects . Hence tools are very important .

What sort of tools should I buy when I start crafting????
A very important question by all beginners and I too faced this dilemma of what to buy and what not.
Let me tell you, buying tools is a one time investment and so if you think and study your tools before buying, you will thank me.

Before I begin discussing , this post is just a review post and I am sharing my experience with you. No particular brand has paid me for this and I am helping out fellow crafters with know how about some tools available at Crafters Corner.

Crafters Corner has brought for us wonderful tools, gadgets and craft supplies from all over the world and that too at most affordable price.Check them out here

So let me begin with my most favourite tool. I have total of 10 tools and gadgets for me that have been my on my table since many years and I just cannot do without them.

1. SCISSORS---- This scissor is my favourite and although you have the mini version, the original is the best. I am speaking of the TIM HOLTZ SERRATED NON STICK SCISSORS... Once you start working with this, I promise, all other scissors will take a back seat.

Kushgrip Non-Stick Micro Serrated Scissors 7". These scissors are being endorsed by Tim Holtz because of their overall quality, their duo-tipped feature (one serrated blade and one fine point sharp tip blade) for excellent cutting on all types of materials: great for detail cutting. Use at home, office, school, for crafts, scrap booking and other hobby projects. Extra Large soft cushion over-molding plastic handles offers a comfortable grip for hours of use and less fatigue. Non-stick coating means no build up of adhesive. Scissors come with a sheath for blade protection and safe handling.

Check the mini and 9" version also.

2.TRIMMER--THE TONIC STUDIO GUILLOTINE MAXI 12"

This trimmer is the best that I have ever used. Its been with me for almost 6 years and never have I ever faced any problem. It cuts like butter and have always given me the most perfect cutting for all paper types. If you want to invest in a trimmer, then this is the one.

 3.SCOREBOARD--MARTHA STEWART SCORE BOARD

Measure your lines perfectly ....Thats what score boards are for... no hassle of rulers and tilted lines. Just follow the score lines and get perfect measured folds. So make correctly fitted boxes, cards , envelopes and what not. This is a great tool that measures 1/8 and 1/16 and is also useful for making many multi card folds.
Here are some videos that will guide you more about this wonderful tool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wctH4uGFltY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxAW69nH4JA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSXO1sQIIsw--must watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B60tquFUnA4

4. IDEA-OLOGY DESIGN RULER-- this is no ordinary ruler... it has been divided into inches and in 1/4th and has extra special features  

Measuring will become a cakewalk with this ruler.

Some videos to guide you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c3cK18rM-8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_16A-PuJRGE-must watch

5.  RIBBON SPOOLER- Do you have a box full of ribbons all messed up? Ribbon organisation is a big problem with every crafter and we all love to hoard ribbons don't we!!!!

So this ribbon spooler will solve your problem. It rolls your ribbons in tight rolls within minutes and you can easily store them .

watch this video here to see what I mean--

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_fMtqoGzNI

6. GROOVE GOLF TOOL SET--Thats the ultimate tool for Flower making!!!!! Believe me!!!! your flower making will reach to the best levels if you have these tools.

watch this video here --https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHrEugbGCu8

7. CUTTLEBUG METAL ADAPTER PLATE--if you are into die cutting but face problem with intricate dies then here is something that will change your egony to enjoyment. A must have for all crafters who own a big shot or cuttlebug.This metal adapter plate gives that extra shim to your sandwich platforms giving perfect cuts everytime.

8. MISTI CREATIVE CORNERS--do you love stamping and have the MISTI... but still you are fumbling with your stamping capabilities....here is tool that will give you an extra edge while using your MISTI. This simple tool has so many wonderful features that you will be amazed. stamping multiple sentiments in straight lines, quick stamping, precise stamped lines all these is possible in minutes with the MISTI Creative Corners.

Watch my video here----https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PQONiHy1Sc

9. HEAT EMBOSSING TOOL---Another tool or gadget if thats what you call....this one deserves a top place on your craft table. Not only does it emboss over the embossing powders but is very useful for quick drying your projects or steps in flower making saving your time.

Watch this video here--https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-te0zjh7E8

10. DIE CUTTING MACHINES--- An ultimate thing for your craft table. Be it a big shot, or big shot plus, or any electronic machine......you will love this...suit your budget and indulge in this die cutting machine and your scrapbooking or card making.....you will be amazed to see how much you can improve your creative skills with a die cutting machine.

Watch videos here----big shot plus- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGSYk1xuPcE

Big shot--https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8IIPVTQ8wI

There are many more videos on You Tube where you can see and learn about various crafting tools.

These tools above are a part of my daily crafting routine and I love each one of them. Invest in them and I promise you will thank me .....

Invest in the best tools at Crafters Corner

So leave your comments and all queries here

Happy Crafting!!!!

All about flower making-tools and techniques with Anita Kejriwal

Hello dear friends,

This is Anita here . I hope you all are having a super crafty time and shopping fun at Crafters Corner.

As you all know that flower making is my forte and I keep it above all . Its like a passion for me and I just forget the whole world when I am making flowers. I am so deeply involved in its creations , that I feel no other art gives me so much peace as flower making.

I have been making flowers since many years and over the time, my floral art has evolved and matured. All thanks to the beautiful products from all over the world now available at Crafters Corner. I actually owe my creative success a lot to Crafters Corner because it has given me the best brands to work with.

Many a times I have been asked several questions relating to floral art. This is going to be one long post with lot of discussions and pictures so please patient!!!

Let me see each one of them and answer for you.

Q. What paper or card stock is best for flower making?
A. I like card stock that are smooth and thick between 250 gsm to 285 gsm. Dress My Craft floral oriental papers and Exotica papers are ideal for flower making. They are in fact the best that I have used so far giving sturdy realistic flowers.

Q. Which inks should we use for colouring flowers?
A. It all depends on what technique you are using. If you are misting the flowers lightly with water , then distress inks and Memento inks but if you are soaking the petals in water then, waterproof inks like Archival or Color Box. You can use water colour, re inkers etc to colour your flowers.

  Color Box Inks

Archival Inks

Q. What do I use to apply inks ?
A. You can use sponge daubers or foam applicators to apply inks.

Q. Why do we spritz or soak the die cuts in water to make flowers?
A. Soaking the flowers in water or misting them with water, breaks the grains of the paper, making the surface soft and pliable . Hence embossing and shaping becomes very easy and also gives a realistic natural look to flowers. Mister bottles for Rangers are a good buy.

Q. What are the tools required for flower making?
A. The basic tools are embossing ball tools, fine stylus, good pair of sharp pointed scissors, embossing foam pad, tweezers. Apart from these, wires, pollens, thread, applicators and sponge daubers for applying inks. Dress My Craft Groove Golf tools are a complete and ideal for embossing flowers.

 Groove Golf tool set

Martha Stewart Embossing Stylus set

Q. What type of scissors should I use for flower making?

A. Always go for scissors that are light in weight and pointed to allow you go deep in the edges of petals.

Q. Which Glue is best for flower making?
A. Select a glue that is very thick, fast drying and holds the petals well. Aleene's fast grab tacky glue is the ultimate so far . For assembling on projects, silicon glue or hot glue is apt.

Q. How to buy inks shades for flowers?
A. Choose the base colour and then go for a medium or dark shade of that colour. For example in green shade, I would choose, Archival Fern Green and Library Green, In pinks-Magenta hue, Pink Peony and Plum.

Q. What type of centres should I use for flowers?
A. Study the real flower and see the nature of its centre. Based on that you can add pollens, prills for realistic look and pearls etc for dressy look. You can add flower soft to get natural look for flowers.

Q. How do I add shine to my flowers?
A. Apply glossy accents or crackle paint for the shine. You can add sparkling dust, sugar powder etc.

 Sparkling dust

Frosted Sugar Powder

Q. How can I get beautiful realistic flowers?
A. By patience and dedication. Treat each flower with love. Try to study the actual flower before making the paper one. Do not hurry. Make each petal with utmost attention and care.

Q. On what type of surface do I emboss my flowers?
A. You can use embossing foam pads to emboss flowers. The surface should not be very soft neither very hard. Various options are available at Crafters Corner.

Mini Molding pad

Q. What type of dies I should use to make flowers?

A. Crafters Corner has a huge range of flower making dies. You can choose according to your need and budget. Brands like Heartfelt Creations, Elizabeth Craft Designs, Spellbinders, Joy Craft etc are all wonderful for flower making.

Q. What are the other things required for flower making?

A. You will need, strong thread for tying the pollens, floral green wires, floral tape etc.

Q. How should I protect my flowers from dust etc?

A. You should keep your cards in plastic pouches or boxes. Wiping with thin cloth very delicately helps in cleaning flowers.

And now for the finale'. here is the live video that I did on flower making.You missed a few points. No worries!!! Everything is here.

Just Click on the link to take you to the video.

https://www.facebook.com/anita.kejriwal/videos/10211976722521499/

Some Eye Candy flowers for you.

Products from Crafters Corner

Flower making dies-Heartfelt Creations, Elizabeth Craft Designs, Spellbinders, Joy craft

Dress My Craft Groove Golf tools

Archival inks

Colorbox ink pads

Sponge daubers

Flower making pad

Aleene's tacky glue

Scissors

Prills

flower soft

Glossy Accents

Dress my craft glitters

Mister bottle

So I hope I have covered all the questions regarding flower making. But still there may be many queries. So ask me here and I will surely try to answer them. I hope you enjoyed this post.

Do visit the Crafters Corner store for all your crafting solutions.