Moms of little ones always have their diaper bag filled with necessary items and a few favorite tricks. Diapers, wipes, bottles and a change of clothes are necessary. A favorite toy, a set of noisy keys, a music box or a special blankie are life saving tricks. Traveling on a plane with kids requires a bag of tricks to keep them amused on the way. Recently, on a trip with two 6 year olds, I packed fruit snacks, crayons, sketch books, card games, books, electronic games and when all else fails- assorted Jelly Bellies. You would be amazed how long they can spend sorting out the colors and guessing the flavors! We even drew and colored each flavor on paper.
I also have a bag of tricks for my Inspiration and Pro machines. Of course, there are the necessary items such as extra mats, blades and the Chizzel scraper that I always keep on hand. In addition, there are the other items that come from my Pazzles bag of tricks. Even when I travel with my cutter, I take them along with me.
At the top of the list is my roll of blue painter’s tape. (I have to thank Mary Kerr for turning me on to this!) I absolutely cannot be without it. This tape is great for holding down chipboard when cutting. It seems like chipboard can shift a bit on the mat especially if it is not the full 12” x 12” size. A strip of blue tape along the edges will solve the problem very nicely. It does not remove any adhesive from the mat when you lift it up unlike other tapes might do. Have you ever had a piece of paper that wants to curl up on the edges causing it to get caught under the blade? Hold that curl down with blue painter’s tape. I can get just one or two more uses out of a worn out mat by taping down my paper with my blue tape. At times I need to cut something that just won’t stick to the mat very well, maybe it has a lot of fibers to it or it is too slick, like some acrylics. Then I whip out my blue painters tape to hold it down. I usually have a strip or two stuck on my table for handy use (or re-use). I use my blue tape so much that I often wear it around my wrist like a bracelet!
Let’s dig deeper into my trick bag. I like to keep binder clips and paper clips in various sizes nearby. I use these to help hold together the sides of a dimensional project while the glue dries. I also use paper clips to hold things together temporarily while I get an idea of how the finished project will look. When you are designing a box or other dimensional project it is good to make sure the edges line up and paper clips are a big help.
The Inspiration is such a beautiful looking machine and I like to keep mine clean. So, I keep some cleaning wipes nearby. These are also good for cleaning up glue smears or chalk residue on my table (or hands.) Creating can be so messy!! To clean up glue gunk on the Inspiration I also use Un Du on a cotton swab. The little packaged alcohol pads are a nice alternative when you are traveling since they are so packable.
I also keep a nail file with my other tools. I like the wide flat kinds that the manicurists use at salons. It is great for sanding away a little paper chad or feathering from the edges of a cut piece.
I like to keep a white erase pen on hand. It is great for rubbing off glue residue from paper or removing chalk that has gotten on the wrong spot. If you can find the erase pens that have a really small tip, they are my favorite because they can get in really tight places.
And last but not least, I keep the Inspiration tool kit close at hand. If you don’t have one, you should consider getting this great butterfly shaped case. It holds several tools that I don’t like to be without. I cannot tell you how many times I have hunted all over for a ruler and ended up trying to use the edge of my mat to measure something. Now the ruler is tucked securely in the tool kit. I also use the ruler as a large scraper for my mat. It works great when my mat is covered with lots of little left over pieces of paper. I can clean them off with just a few strokes using the ruler. The needle pointed pick tool is wonderful for assisting with lifting off a delicate project or just getting under the edge of the paper. (That is especially nice if you have acrylic fingernails!) Sometimes I don’t have the pressure adjusted correctly and my project is not quite cut all the way through. In the past, I tended to just go ahead and gently tear the project away hoping it would come out cleanly. Usually I would get a lot of feathering as I separated the paper. Now, I use the pick tool’s needle tip to score along the cutting line and finish the cut cleanly thereby saving the project.
Now that I have shared what I have in my bag of tricks, I would love to know….what is in yours?
First and foremost are my reading glasses, for up close work. I have a pair on every work space. Second,my tweezers! They are my most important tool for use with my Pazzle. I agree with using Un Du for the sticky stuff, plus it does not ruin acrylic nails! But, I never go anywhere without my diaper wipes. My mats have lasted much longer since I started wiping them down at the end of the day.
I keep Cutter Glide in my tool kit, and apply it to the tips of my new blades before I use them the first time. This helps my blades last longer, and they cut through my paper more smoothly. I also keep my wide applicator bottle of Zig 2 way Glue in in my tool kit to provide added stick to my used mats when I don’t have another one handy, and my paper is sliding around during cuts. I let it dry, and the mat is usually good to use again long enough for me to get another mat ordered.
I have a whole toolbox full of things I can’t live without! My “kit” includes my chalks, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, a glue eraser, a 5″ Fiskars scissors, Hermafix tabs, mini glue dots, my huge set of colored pens, a mechanical pencil and a 12″ ruler. I must have at least 18 or so 12″ rulers all over my studio because it seems I can never find one when I need one RIGHT NOW, LOL! I think I use these things on just about every project I make.
First off, I have to say, “Where’s the BLUE TAPE?” LOL. I miss seeing you with that ‘fashion accessory’ at the shows.
I have been looking at what everyone has put down and realized why I get along so well with Mary…we use the SAME tool kit….and Mary ONLY 18 rulers??? come on, you know it is at least 30..*grin
Seriously though, reading glasses have become a must, my fluid chalks, adhesives, chizzlers, mat scrapers, scissors, QuickStik, extra mats, blades and of course, the computer…