Caly Person

Hello! Welcome to my page on Favorite Craft Supplies! There are SOOO many options out there. When I started in June 2014, I was so overwhelmed by so many choices. It’s taken me a while to learn what’s the best to use and when. It’s all a matter preference – but I’m going to list below what my favorite items are!

BLACK INK:

There are lots of all-purpose black inks. I’ve been loving all the new hybrid black inks (Hero Arts Intens-ified Black, Simon Says Stamp Intens-ified Black, My Favorite Things Hybrid Black, Gina K. Designs Amalgam Black).

When I watercolor and emboss with the intent to have black lines, I use Versafine Onyx Black ink with clear embossing powder (black powder is messy).  You can also stamp this ink and not emboss if you want to for watercoloring.  Versafine Onyx Black ink is also very crisp.  It is a pigmented ink – so it also can smear.  You can dry it by waiting…or heat-setting it. I love any hybrid light brown ink for no-line coloring, but Antique Linen Distress ink also works great!

Staz-On Ink is permanent and is great on surfaces like acetate or other non-paper surfaces – it’s fast drying and will not smear once it’s stamped.

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink SSS

SSS Intense Black Ink SSS

VersaFine Clair Nocturne SSS

Stazon Jet Black Ink SSS

EMBOSSING :

The only one you’ll ever need is Versamark – need I say more? The only exception as I mentioned above is if you want a black embossed image – I would use Versafine Onyx Black Ink with clear embossing powder.

You’ll want an anti-static tool to keep stray powders at bay…and also…a good Heat Tool. There are so many great ones, but I love my Wagner heat tool.

Regarding powders – I believe the essentials are CLEAR, WHITE OPAGUE, SILVER and GOLD. My clear and white are Recollections brand from Michael’s – it’s what I started out using. But I think WOW is great brand and have it in silver and gold. I have not ventured out to use colored embossing powders – I don’t think I need it for basic embossing for outlined images and sentiments.

Versamark Ink SSS

TRHD Embossing Powder Tool SSS

Wagner Heat Tool SSS

WHITE and WATER COLOR PAPER:

My go-to papers are:

WHITE CARDSTOCK FOR GENERAL USE:

Hammermill Color Copy Digital Cover 100 lb Paper – this ranks the top for me because its use is just like Neenah Solar White 80 lbs. Don’t worry about the weight – because density in the cardstock (GSM or grams per square meter) is more important. The GSM of Hammermill cardstock is 216 gsm, comparable to that of Neenah 80 lb cardstock which is 217 gsm (Neenah 110 lb is 297 gsm).

Hammermill 110 lbs 216 gsm
Neenah 80 lbs 217 gsm
Neenah 110 lbs 297 gsm

So why do I like this paper more than Neenah? It’s affordable AND it’s smoother paper. If you know my style – you’ll know that I love to ink-blend. The smoother paper surface is great for ink-blending. For this particular reason, it may seem that Copics don’t blend into the paper as easily, but you really need to give it a tad bit more time to blend and I’ve gotten used to that.

WATERCOLOR PAPER:

Canson XL Watercolor Paper – This is what I chose when I first started buying and it really works well for simple watercoloring.

Arches Cold Pressed Watercolor Paper – This paper is expensive, but it’s amazing if you have a true love for watercolor and do it often. It absorbs water so well and doesn’t warp like with Canson XL Watercolor Paper.

Bristol Smooth or Bristol Vellum – This paper is great for watercolor markers like Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers or Arteza Real Brush Markers. They absorb the ink, but allow moisture so you can “paint” before it dries on the paper. Vellum has a tad more “tooth” or texture than Smooth (hardly noticeable). Smooth is sworn by many cardmakers for ink-blending also.

CARDBASES:

Recollections 110lbs – I initially purchased this not knowing how great it would be as card bases. I started using it because other crafters are using Neenah 110lbs. Since they’re the same weight – why not?! I find it unnecessary to buy expensive paper to use as a card base. There is no different in the whiteness between this and the Neenah Solar White or SU Whisper White cardstock.

Hammermill Color Copy Digital Cover 100lb SSS	Neenah Solar White 80 lb SSS	Arches Cold Pressed Watercolor Pad 140 lb SSS	Canson XL WaterColor Paper Pad SSS
Strathmore Bristol Smooth SSS	SSS Vellum 40 lbs SSS

COLOR MEDIUMS AND COLORING TOOLS:

Copics are my color medium of choice. I’m most comfortable using them over other mediums and always reach for them. I have friends who use Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers exclusively and make amazing cards. Stick with what you’re comfortable with and don’t feel like you need to do something else if it works for you! This is a hobby and you should be happy doing it…not frustrated. As with all things, practice makes better :).

I prefer an actual watercolor brush over waterbrushes because it gives me more control. My favorite brushes are the Silver Velvet brushes – the bristles are soft and hold water well and I use them often.

I have found that if I’m not wateroloring with Daniel Smith paints, I love to watercolor with Tombow Dual Brush Pens, Zig Clean Color and Karin Markers.

Copic Sketch Markers SSS	Daniel Smith Watercolors SSS	Silver Brush Black Velvet Brushes SSS
Zig Clean Color Real Brush SSS	Tombow Dual Brush Pens SSS	Karin Brush Markers 60 ct SSS

TOOLS:

I don’t use fancy scissors – my husband got me some Scotch Titanium scissors from Costco and they work great for any type of cutting.

This part was hard for me to narrow down. For precision cutting, I love my cutter bee scissors.

The MISTI is an amazing tool – it’s a stamp positioner, stamp mount, a stamper’s saving grace. I LOVE IT.  I have both the Mini and the Standard size but I find that I use the Mini more.  If you had to choose between the two, I recommend the standard size – as you can stamp off the panel and do other techniques with more space.

The teflon bone folder is something I would’ve never missed until I got it. It scores and folds creases with so much ease and is a 2-in-1 tool. It costs a bit more, but I think it’s worth it if you don’t already have a good scoring tool and bone folder.

White Foam will add dimension to your work without it getting destroyed in the mail. Don’t believe me? Watch Jennifer McGuire’s video here.

To clean my stamps, if I’m using a lot of stamps and don’t want to waste a bunch of baby wipes, I like to use an Absorber.  It comes in a big sheet and you can cut it down to whatever size you like.  Lawn Fawn has a product called a stamp shammy which is made of the same product and comes in one size.  The Absorber also comes in a variety of colors ;).

I cannot live without a label maker. I have OCD…I literally label anything and everything. This Brother Label maker is the BOMB.

Brother Label Maker SSS	MSP Mini MISTI SSS	MSP MISTI SSS	Teflon Bone Folder SSS
LF Stamp Shammy SSS

ADHESIVES:

There are SOOO many types of adhesives available! These are my choices – so please use what works for you.

Double-sided foam tape is great for adding dimension to small pieces, big pieces, entire card layers – it’s up to you how much you want to use.

My ATG gun is my favorite for adhering card layers to card bases. It’s strong and you get good bang for your buck.

Glossy Accents is great as a glue! Some people use Glossy Accents as a glue exclusively!

Post-it tape is great for temporary use to hold down dies for cutting, paper on paper and other uses. I like to use it for masking too!

The Distress Collage Medium is very strong and is great for small embellishments (I love using them for die cuts and sequins). It dries matte and is not sticky once it dries.

I want to mention that there are lots of other great liquid and dry adhesives out there! Just adding the SSS Craft Tacky Glue and the Gina K Designs Dot Tape Runners as alternatives :).

Double Sided Foam Tape SSS	SSS Dot Runner & Refills SSS	Glossy Accents SSS	Post It Tape SSS	SSS Craft Tacky Glue SSS
BA Precision Craft Glue 2oz SSS	GKD Dot Tape Runner SSS

Phew! I’ve been wanting to do this for a while. I hope that it’s helpful. I know it’s a lot, they’re all great tools to have. There are a few items above that are more luxury than they are necessities, but I’m glad to have them and I KNOW that you won’t regret buying any of them.

Happy Crafting, Everyone!