I hope to get some stamping time in later today!

This question comes from Sarah Vrolyk:

My question: what are your top five absolute neccessities when you are stamping?

Okay, just five? Yikes, Sarah! Making me think really hard on this one. Here we go:

1. The Cutting Mat from SU! I always have this under my stamping area. I stamp at one of those plastic tables that we picked up at Sam’s Club. They have a bumpy/rough suface and tend to give a little. So this really helps give me a sturdy stamping surface.

2. Grid Paper, also from SU! I have to have this! I put a sheet right over my Cutting Mat everytime I stamp. I know that you can find plain paper this size, but I really need the grid marks and measurements on the sides. I use this as a guide for when I’m cutting a matt, and to help me when I’m writing down measurements for a template.

3. Palette Noir Black ink pad. I tend to be all about this ink pad lately for stamping my images. It’s not as “goopy” as StazOn. You can use it on more than paper sufaces and it dries quickly. It doesn’t feather or bleed when I’m watercoloring or using Prismacolors with Gamsol. I also like the way it fits in my hand. This ink pad doesn’t leave my stamping table, I always have it within reach. You can find it at My Favorite Things, under Products/Ink It Up. Just scroll down a bit.

*right about now I’m stressing out! I only have two more spots left!*

4. Tabletop Paper Cutter from SU! I know that for some it’s a rather pricey paper cutter, but I absolutely LOVE it! It’s taken me a while to find a paper cutter I’m happy with, and I learned that the guillotine style cutters are better for me. I also love how the handle and the paper extender are detachable and can be stored underneath so you can take it with you to crops!

5. I’m going to cheat a little on this one and say a good pair of scissors! I use my Paper Snips from SU! all the time, along with various sizes of scallop scissors. I used to be all about the decorative scissors, but now I find that I prefer the look of scalloped edges. However, I would like a good pair of pinked scissors for paper. There is NO WAY I’m using the ones my Mother-in-Law gave me on anything but fabric!

So there you go! It was stressful to narrow it down to five things that you really do use every time you stamp. A few of the items I mentioned are investment pieces. They cost a little more, but will be totally worth it in the long run! In the paper crafting hobby, a lot can be said for good cutting tools and work surfaces!

Be sure to send me your address, Sarah, and thanks for the question!