| When you are just starting out as a paper crafter and | | | | - A good, all-purpose glue. There are so many |
| perhaps have a limited budget as well, how do you | | | | different glues! If you are scrap booking and want to |
| choose your first card making or scrapbook tools? | | | | keep your albums indefinitely, make sure you choose |
| Often a new paper crafter will have little idea of how | | | | an acid free glue. Otherwise glues can yellow and |
| the tools can be used. It may be that you are starting | | | | harden and let go of the things you want to stay fixed. |
| out without any paper crafting buddies to show you | | | | It can be useful to find a glue that has a nozzle on the |
| the way. | | | | end for accurate placement of it, yet still allows you to |
| Wouldn't it be handy to have an idea of where to | | | | spread it over large surfaces when necessary. |
| start? Wouldn't it be nice to have a list of tools and an | | | | - A self-healing cutting mat. Such a mat cushion your |
| explanation of why they would be useful? | | | | work a little (this is really important in rubber stamping), |
| Every paper crafter takes a different journey. I can | | | | protects your furniture and also allows you to cut into it |
| give you the benefit of my own experience, though | | | | without harming it. This will be important when you |
| my list may do nothing more than help you decide how | | | | decide to cut with a scalpel or other cutting tools, or |
| to alter it to suit your own tool needs. | | | | when you want to emboss or hammer things such as |
| Without further ado, here is my own list of 'essential' | | | | eyelets. It provides a basic working surface that is |
| tools and why I chose them: | | | | very useful and you can take it with you to friend's |
| - A paper guillotine. Most scrapbook paper or card | | | | places when you want to crop together! |
| stock is at least 12" x 12' (30.5 x 30.5cms) in dimension. | | | | - A bone folder. If you want to make nice, sharp |
| I always want to make even and accurate cuts from | | | | creases that will take your projects into a higher |
| this paper, and hand cutting it is nowhere near as | | | | standard, a bone folder is a must. |
| efficient as guillotining it. I got my basic guillotine from a | | | | When you have the basics at your fingertips, you can |
| stationer's store. They are not too costly, take a very | | | | create with more ease and joy. |
| long time to wear out, and I believe they more than | | | | After you have the basic tools and have started to |
| pay for themselves. | | | | use them, you will probably be interested in trying |
| - A variety of good scissors. You will always want to | | | | some of the more advanced paper crafting |
| perform hand cutting of your paper. Sharp, strong | | | | techniques. Often a new technique requires the |
| scissors are a 'must have' for me. I also have different | | | | purchase of a new tool, which can then often be used |
| scissors to cut different materials (such as a pair for | | | | in several more techniques. As you try new ideas, |
| cutting only ribbon, a pair for cutting only paper) but you | | | | consider acquiring the tools that go with them. It will |
| can add these as your craft stash grows. Having | | | | make the growth of your stash more affordable and |
| separate scissors for different mediums means you | | | | before you know it, you will have a well-stocked craft |
| do not dull your scissors as frequently and you always | | | | room, bristling with tools that will inspire your paper |
| get a nice, clean cut. | | | | crafting. |