Top Ten Craft Materials and Tools

A couple of times this week I have come across 'Top Ten' lists on different blogs.  As I have also been helping out at Sticky Tiger Supplies and spending time with all the crafty goodies around, I have decided to do my own top ten of my favourite/most used craft materials and tools.

1.  Distress Ink
I don't suppose it's a surprise to any of my crafty friends that this is number one.  A really versatile ink, it can be  used in so many ways .  Extra juicy which allows easy application to paper, card and photos, giving a vintage feel and not just with brown tones.  I use it on most projects in some way when rubberstamping.

2.  Glossy Accents
Designed to add a glossy finish to images, but I mostly use this as a glue.  Not only will it stick metal and  plastic, it sticks paper to paper really quickly.  Invaluable for making paper flowers.

3.  Ranger Heat Gun
A heat gun is essential for any crafter and as far as I am concerned buying any other brand is a waste of money.  Just buy one of these.  

4.  Crop O Dile
An amazing piece of kit.  Punch holes in practically anything;  mountboard, stampbord, chipboard, leather.....

5.  'Fields of Sky' rubber stamp
One of the first rubber stamps I ever bought and I still use it often.  It doesn't look like much at first glance, but has loads of uses.  Great for adding a touch of ink to projects, works really well with Distress Ink and water.  Mainly I use it with a  shimmery ink, such as Brilliance at Christmas when making my own papers for cards.

6.  Stickles Glitter Glue
The small bottles lasts for ages and less messy than the alternative.  Can be applied precisely or over a whole project for an all over glittery finish. 

 7.  A real bone folder
Unless you are a serious vegetarian, get yourself a real bone folder for cards and bookmaking.  The plastic ones are a poor imitation of the real thing, although bamboo ones are a little better. 

8.  Clear Embossing Enamel
If you only buy one embossing enamel, get clear.  I use pots and pots of this for triple embossing faux ceramic tiles, but it is also great for batik effects, resists and masking.

9.  Pinflair Glue Gel
When all the English 'celebrity' crafters started using Pinflair glue gel it took me a while to try it out.  As an alternative to silicon glue, it beats it hands down as there is no nasty odour.  I am finding I am using it more and more, especially for 3D projects.

10.  Perfect Pearls Mica Powder
If you want mica to create a shimmer on your projects, this is the best formulation.  With binders in the powder it can be used as a paint.   

This proved a lot more difficult than I thought it would!  There are so many great products on the market and there are lots more I couldn't craft without, but I couldn't quite squeeze them all into a top ten. Quickie glue pens, mountboard, alcohol inks, archival ink, Versamark, chalk ink.........