It goes without saying that your very talented. But I want to thank you for always be so graceful, supportive and encouraging to us all. Videos like this seriers are really priceless. Many people don't know how or where to begin. Although I'm not a newby, I watched this series because it just radiates such kindness in your sharing.
Great advice! I also have heard someone say if you can't think of several ways you would use something, then it's not a good investment for yourself. That's really helped me when I googly eyes over new products! 😄
Justine, a great video for newbies. Unfortunately, I’m one of those who learned the hard way and bought and bought and bought. My goal this year is to shop in my craft room and try to find items I already have to use instead of buying the newest thing. Also, thank you for speaking out about the counterfeit companies. I hope more people stop buying from them and they go out of business.
I totally agree with you Cheryl. I too bought lots and lots of supplies but now vowing to use what I have rather than buy more. I watch different people with different ideas which can all be adapted to the supplies I have. good luck with your card making. I still love doing it but just need to spend less money.
Dear Girl, the "counterfeit manufacturers" will N E V E R go out of business because U.S. companies c o n t r a c t e d with those foreign companies to make the stamps, dies, doodads, and widgets that we all paid big bucks for in the beginning. Now that we all have less disposable income -- or have more "stash" than we have nooks & crannies to store said s t u f f, or time to generate ideas for !! -- a n d can no longer buy with abandon, those foreign companies are using the resources Americans "g a v e" them, to continue their income stream. Eons ago, the Chinese were oh so very aware that to stay profitable, you do it yourself behind c l o s e d d o o r s, and only sell the final product of SILK. It was only by doing so, AND mandating the death penalty for any attempts at usurping, that they stayed in that catbird's seat for as long as they did. It was only after silk worms were smuggled out of China that they lost their niche in that field.
When I was just starting, I asked for stamps and supplies on Freecycle. I received a backpack of 1990s Stampin'Up stamps. From another lady, I received a shoebox of stamps and paper, and we became friends.
Justine, I found you on RUclips recently and am watching all your old videos. I have been making cards for about three years now. It has taken me that long to come to the same conclusions as you. At lot of mistakes, wasted time and money along the way. But I have loved it all. Thank you for being so generous with your time, talent and skills. I love your videos, you are one of the best!
Thank you for another amazing video! However, I am perfectly happy with my homemade stamp positioner, made from a side opening picture frame, magnetic sheet, acrylic replacement “window” and strong magnets.
Thank you for the video Justine!! I would like to second your comment about Wish and Ali Express. Shopping from these companies is not unlike if someone were to go in to a movie theatre, record the movie on their phone and then try to sell it. It’s bootleg product and it is theft. Paying movie ticket prices is definitely more expensive than bootleg, but those ticket prices are how folks get paid. Not just the actors. It helps pay everyone from the crew on the movie to the folks working in that theatre. If that money is stolen from the industry, everyone suffers. The crafting industry is no different. I would rather see you folks buy directly from the manufacturer even if it means they buy less than buy more of a stolen inferior product.
Thank you so much for all that information. I totally agree with you, I always leave items in my cart online and go back to them at another time. I realize that there are things that I can really use and then there are those items that were just "wants".
This was an informative video! I totally agree with your stand about Wish & all those other dollar sites that are stealing & selling. I myself live paycheck to paycheck but still would rather buy good quality items. It's hard to try to make people understand what goes o. Behind the scenes. Tfs & keep your videos coming! ❤😘
Thanks, Justine! I’ve been Card making for about a year, and I am still trying to get the supplies I need. Thus video was SOOO helpful, answered many questions, and addressed my “I want it all” mindset. lol I love your videos and have learned a lot. Thank you again!
I wish I had you about four years ago when I started my journey with heart making and I thought I needed everything Stampin even though I wasn’t a seller or Demonstrator. But I’ve learned and I’ve also learned that I do need to make cards because I need those keep my hands busy, because I’ve lost both my son, and this really does help me and having friends on here helps me thank you.
Wow you covered an immense array of very good information and supplies there Justine. For me, the best advice (all of it was awesome by the way) is to home in on just one thing, like embossing, and learn all about that one subject instead of drowning yourself with TMI. THANKS Justine 👍
Such a great video for beginning stampers. All of us ‘seasoned’ stampers have learned the hard way, especially about quality. Thank you for taking the time to make the video, solid information, Justine.
Excellent video Justine. Great advise for beginners, when I first started I overwhelmed myself with all the unnecessary tools I purchased and never used. Your videos are a breath of fresh air.
Another great video and topics. And you're absolutely right that, as tempting as it is to save a few bucks buying counterfeit products, the health and longevity of the hobby depend on supporting intellectual property rights! There are two different things at play here: manufacturing and the actual creation of designs and content. These bootleg manufacturers will have nothing left to copy and infringe upon if there are no more designers. And I guarantee, they will not create new content as that would require investing in molds, tools and mfg dies, which right now they illegally use others' for which they paid zero. Bravo Justine!
I started making cards in 2001. when I got involved in quilting. I gave all my card making supplies and the tons of wood mounted rubber stamps to a friend. Wow. Things have really changed. We had no die cuts so we had to cut our intricate designs by hand. I’d like to start making cards again. At least I can make them faster!
This was great advice. I wish I had found you channel 6 months ago. I learned the hard way about buying good quality products, especially for things that you will use over and over. I made the mistake of buying an off brand stamp positioner and am now looking for a Misti, which is out of stock everywhere. I did the same with a paper trimmer. And I made the mistake of buying nearly every color of the distress ink cubes. I definitely don't use all of them and tend to go back to the same dozen or so colors regularly. Your advise about getting the refills when you buy ink pads is very smart. You are so practical and I really appreciate your minimalistic approach. This relatively new card maker has learned a lot from you and is grateful to you for sharing your knowledge. Thank you.
Stumbled upon your channel...thank goodness! I'm a new card creator and there's definitely a learning curve and lots of frustration. Really appreciate your tips!
Thank you for sharing the love! I am not a card maker but respect and admire your work. Good crafting tools are important as well as every tool having multi purposes. Limits in space and crowded spaces could limit inspiration too. Keep having fun.
Great video! I love your stance on Wish and Aliexpress. You made a multitude of fantastic points! The question of "is it useful" is CRITICAL! I make cards for 2 churches, family, friends, and the USO. Some snarky sentiments crack me up! I know 1 person that would really enjoy getting them on a card. I don't buy them. I think you missed a great stamp set for new stampers. 2 identical alphabet sets are SO USEFUL! I suggest 2 because if they have capital and lower case letters, you can create almost any sentiment you want. I use this on my stamp platform for basics like Happy Easter, Happy mother's day, and you get the point from there. 2 sets allows you to set it up once without moving a lot of letters. For happy Valentine's day, I choose one of the 3 words to do in all capital letters so I don't have to move the a around. When you are doing 45, that matters
Thanks Justine for this vid!! I really like your tips! Someone was asking about GSM with regards to cardstock, I buy Neenah 110 LB and the GSM is 297. GSM is very important because some papers may say the lb is 110 but the gsm might be less than 297 which means the paper won't be as thick. On Amazon, it does say 297 gsm for the Neenah 110. I really like its bright whiteness too :)
I’m so happy that I found your channel! I’m more of a card maker than a typical scrapbooking person. And I love that you share tips on supplies for beginners. (Well honestly I have a lot of different card(and other craft) supplies) but it’s great to know what’s necessary and really good to have. You’re also awesome at explaining techniques and supplies etc. So you just got a new subscriber all the way from Sweden to your fb, Pinterest, Instagram and blog and of course your RUclips channel. Thank You for all your tips! 🙏🏼💕🙌🏼🌻
Hi. i found that buying the supplies has what has turned into the hobby. i have to stop and use what i have bought already. i enjoy making cards. and experimenting with watercolour and pencil crayons but mostly use copics. i find it soothing to colour. when I go on holidays i just take my bucket of markers and images and colour while im away and then juring the rest of the year try and make cards with them. i sometimes loose my mojo and i think its because i just have too much stuff. im overwhelmed. Your videos are so inspirational and has helped me sooo much. thank you for sharing!!
Hi Justine 👋 great advice u gave to everyone I totally agree with you in all u stated a big 👍up to u Justine I have been crafting for about 12 years now and share what I call my little crafting retreat with my bedroom but I really don't mind as I really love my crafting as I am disabled it gives me an interest and I LOVE IT so I keep smiling and laughing every day 😀 .....love to u Justine x Lin in South Wales uk
Good video Justine!! I have been making cards for a couple of years now and the single most item I wished I had held back on buying was patterned paper. I bought a TON of it, especially on sale. As I developed my card making style, I found that I did not really like cards I made with patterned paper. I like more artistic styles. If I want a patterned background, I like stamping, coloring, painting, stenciling or ink blending it myself. I still have several shelves of magazine holders and plastic scrap booking containers filled with patterned paper and it takes up SO MUCH ROOM in my craft storage. I will find a worthy organization to donate it to, but I wish I had those dollars now to spend on supplies that I truly use. I'm also learning the concept of storing it at the store, rather than in my craft area. When I need it, I will most likely be able to find what I need on sale anyway - no need to impulse buy thinking it will not be there when I want to use it.
Love your videos. Very good advice. I always wait to make a purchase because I don’t want to impulse buy or think I need to have everything the demonstrator has. Improvise and be creative with what you have. I waited and investigated for a year before buying a used Big Shot because I wasn’t sure I would use it enough. Well, I do and it works great. I also mix brands of inks and paper. The recipient of my cards is more interested in the fact that I care enough to hand make a card special to them and couldn’t care less about the brands I used. Keep the vids coming. 🌷
I know that I'm late to the party...but this is such a great and timeless video! Thanks for all of the great tips, advice, etc. And, your voice is beautiful and your smile is contagious!!! Thank you!
Oh wow - be kind to yourself! I see the difference between my first cards and today’s cards. So important - be kind to yourself and don’t take it personally if your card ends up in the garbage.
I have four stamp platforms. Definitely a must have tool. I don't have the MISTI, but I'm very pleased with what I do have. Trimmer is also so needed, but I also got a separate score board, so I don't accidentally cut when I wanted to score (trust me, I'd do it, lol).
So much you share in this video I wish I had known before I invested tons of money in supplies that now just seem to be collecting dust and taking up space. Great video and information!!
God, I LOVE YOU JUSTINE!!! I appreciate these last two videos so very much! Just starting out on my RUclips journey & I have an overage of supplies…like you, I need to go through all of it & de-stash (Kon-Mari this craft room!). I’m learning about setting up a blog, & making my channel more esthetically pleasing…Bless you for doing these videos sweet young lady!!! 🤗🥰💐
Thanks Justine - hi from australia For inspiration I use google images and then search for a specific stamp or die product to see what others have done with it- 100s of ideas right there
Great tips! I have grown my stash by shopping clearance sections and scouring Craigslist and FB Marketplace for people getting rid of their stuff. Many people get heavily into this hobby and then find it's either not for them or they don't have the time for it and wish to unload their stuff. I often find large lots of stuff for great deals. I keep what I want and turn around and sell, donate or trash what I don't.
What a great video! I have been crafting for many many years and wish there were videos such as this back then. I am looking for new inks (besides. My zillion distress inks) and am really happy about your suggestions. Thanks so much for taking the time 💜
I make cards as a hobby, and have learned so much from watching youtube tutorials & blogs. Your video answered many questions that I have only 'wondered' about, so I thank you for the info - it was very interesting. I admire everyone's hard work & input to make things easier & fun for all the rest of us who just want to have fun with paper!
Great video! Can you do a video on, how you do step by step, how you choose your background, how you choose your inks, are you going to emboss, or ink blend, etc. ?
I have a video coming soon about how I go about creating a card but in all honesty, I generally grab the next stamp in my stash, decide which technique I'm going to use and go from there. My process outside of that is always different.
Thanks, Justine, for a wonderful video. I appreciate all that you do and have learned so many techniques from you! It’s nice to see your beautiful face instead of just hands in a video; lol. I’ve been making cards for about three years and yet have so much to learn. It can take hours to come up w/ a design that finally works. So, I wish I saw this video when I was just starting, as I wasted so much money on things I thought I’d absolutely need and invested so unwisely; like a lifetime supply of patterned paper pads that, now, aren’t particularly my style; all because of a sale. Oops! Anyway, thanks for being here to help people like me. No doubt this takes time but thankfully I’m getting better. And, I think you accurately hit on every item one really needs! TFS
Loving this series of live videos. I JUST got my Gemini Jr and wow the hype is real 👌👍 I love it. Oh that tip about impulse shopping I swear sometimes I do an online version of window shopping ie stick it in the cart and don’t check out and I find my hunger to shop is satiated 😄
@@CraftynotShiftyblog I have! I am so used to doing that that I forgot to actually place the order for Consumer Crafts. Thank goodness that my daughter's MANY sticker books came in time for Christmas! I wondered, checked my email, and completed the order
Best video ever, thank you for your validation we don't have to have every full line product to make something satifying. I use a big shot, 9- 10 years, but I love to fussy cut! I appreciate your statement about a beautiful sentiment but reality, how often it would be used...wise woman you are Ms. Justine!! Thank you😊
Stampin’ Up! trimmer truly is the best. Fiskars markings (1/4, 1/2 etc) wear off within two years. Stampin’ Up!’s Stamparatis is the best stamp positioner.
Thanks so much. Very informative for a beginner. I love RUclips but I am overwhelmed by the number of techniques and the number of supplies out there. Good advice to pick a technique and stick to it.
When I first started cardmaking I went bonkers and bought all kinds of stuff. Some things took me a long time to figure out how to use and actually turned out to be good products that I still use, such as my heat tool. I didn't really fully understand what it did (stupid me, right?), but it turned out to be a good tool that I still use all the time. However, I bought other things that I still haven't used, such as my light box. I know what it does, and I'm sure it's a great tool...but maybe I didn't really need it. If memory serves, it wasn't very expensive, but that's not the point. Also, a while back, a friend of mine decided to get rid of a bunch of her stuff & I got tons of cardstock, stickers, stamps, flowers, embellishments, tools and other stuff for $100.00. She was actually only going to charge me $80.00 but I insisted on more because I got a trunk full of stuff. What a bargain! I may not use all of it, but I definitely got more than $100.00 worth of stuff.
Oh, and newer crafters should see if they can make certain style cards with basic tools, instead of fancy dies. There was a new interactive style card posted on You Tube today that I think I can make without any special dies. I don't have anything against the company that makes that die set (in fact I like them a lot) and nothing against anyone who prefers to buy that set. However, it looks like something I could make using dies I already have. All I have to do is score it manually rather than having the die score it for me. I can do that on my own & save a ton of money.
Thank you so much for all your tips. Have been doing this for a while but love to hear it from someone else to make sure I am on track. Love your channel.
Justine, super video for new card makers. Almost all the things you recommend are my go to now after 40 years and way to much money Haha! I would add the the brushes on Amazon for makeup are the same as the very expensive ones. Amazon $18.00+ for brushes. Mary Palano gave a tip on alternative to 3m foam tape. Much better price point. Thank you for sharing your talents and helping new crafters-- true crafter shares to spread our craft. By the way, great to see you in videos and my crafty friend you are gorgeous so quit hiding from us Haha!!!
Lol thank you for the suggestions I’ll check them out. Showing my face on screen very much depends on how I’m feeling and anxiety levels but I’m hoping to do more :)
I don't mind buying the brushes cheaper elsewhere, because they are not original creations of Picket Fence. Picket Fence took an existing product and marketed it for ink blending. I bought a set of makeup brushes on Amazon for $8.99 and compared with the one I bought from Picket Fence and they were EXACTLY the same in look, feel and ink application. I DO mind, knock offs of original designs and products, but this is not one of them. That being said, those purchased from Picket Fence may have more of a warranty against breakage or damage.
I won’t buy from Picket Fences after their brush scam, they took a product that existed bought a cheap supply (most likely overseas) slapped their name on it and then charge absolutely exorbitant prices for them. Then they sent them out free to a bunch of card “influencers” and made sure to have them all make a statement about how “they may look like your makeup brushes but they are so different and you really need theirs” baloney, anyone who has tried the two side by side knows this is baloney. I also won’t buy a Misti, I have a Tim Holtz platform - why? Because it is better. Innovation is the key to any industry. My Sweet Petunia chose to flex massive legal muscle (not just with competitors but they have been known to go after little people offering free advice on making your own stamp platforms or Misti “add-ons” that compete with their offering (but I digress). They used their legal muscle to stifle innovation. If someone can take the concept but make it better that’s called innovation. The Misti patent was on a hinged product yet they still chose to go after items without a hinge (like the Tim Holtz product) and Tim Holtz caved, which I wish they hadn’t. The reason they had the ability to flex such legal muscle? - because they charged clearly exorbitant prices on their Misti product. Look at the difference in price to other products that came out, products that were much better made were listed for 1/2 the price of the Misti, which speaks to the gouging MSP chose to do with their product. I’m all for supporting local and small businesses but I am not for companies that price gouge because they feel they have a captive audience or that squash innovation because they are upset they didn’t do better.
I'm a beginner at card making, and I get so overwhelmed with all of the supplies that I'm "supposed" to have, so this video is great to point out I don't need everything (because I can see I will become a craft hoarder if I'm not stopped 😂) thank you for all the advice, maybe one day I'll be as good at this as you ❤️
This is a really good video I wish I'd had access to 25 years ago. The unmounted stamps take up way less room and there are so many lovely sets available these days. I use the "is it useful ?" for everything these days! I am not a fan of Tombow, I would recommend a glue stick over Tombow for any paper application. It ruined a gorgeous baby shower card I made and I was so embarrassed when she opened at her baby shower! I've always said, it's just paper! I am a paper hoarder and I am a list maker who uses both sides of the paper as well (Great Depression teachings my Mom always said: "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without!"
Helpful? That was fantastic advice!! So common sense and set me in the right direction. This expert advice is gonna help me so much! Thank you, Justine
Thank you for your videos. I love them & also the informative ones like this. Since covid, artists & makers like you & Tim Holtz, Wendy Vecchi, Dina Wakely etc have done lots of videos & presentations on RUclips & Facebook to keep us occupied in these isolation times. Thanks to you all. I wish I'd had a video like this before I started buying. Have become much more discerning Since then. Thanks💕
Thank you for sharing your very helpful info , this helps me alot . Looking forward to what I can come up with , and can't wait to see more from you my friend 😊
Just watched & appreciated your input. I am just starting out & very mindful of what to buy as it is SO expensive in RSA. I just want the basics to make cards for thr family & friends. Thank you
Great information Justine. I have so much and I think I actually utilize 25% of what I have, and so much I have never used. I agree with you. Find your thing, and not get caught up trying to do what everyone is doing and buy things you'll never use. Some days I wish I could go back to that he days when I had very little, but I used all of it! Lol
Staples carries a great 110 lb reams in white and ivory. This what I use for my base cards and you can sometimes get them on sale for under $20 Canadian.👍
wow, great video! really informative and sooo true! I've been watching so many tutorials about so many different techniques, ink pads, etc and sometimes I think I'm going crazy....apart from the budget factor of course. Thanks a lot for your valuable input and tips, greetings from Germany!! :-)
Thank you for another video full of helpful advice, Justine! And you did a great job of maintaining your composure and standing up for small stamp companies :) Hugs!
thank you for all the great info - I am just starting out with cardmaking so this video was very helpful.. my biggest problem is deciding which stamps are worth buying - I watch a lot of You Tube videos and love all the wonderful products used and I want them all !! but have a very tiny budget for my hobby...I do have a cricut air and noticed you do too - I would love to see you use it for card making as this would possibly cut back cost on dies... thanks for all your inspiration and love watching your videos
Great honest video Justine! I wished I had some (most 🙄) of your advice when I started down my card making rabbit hole! Lol I really appreciate your honest & toned down response to a viewer's comment about buying from Wish & Alli Express...I know that Alli Express blatantly steals from artist and I'm all about shopping small businesses like Simon Says, Ellen Hutson & so many others. I'm lucky that I have Scrapbook.com locally but I'll occasionally buy on Amazon for my Neenah paper. Thanks for sharing, I've really enjoyed your last few "live" videos! Sorry for the LONG comment 🤦♀️
Hi Justine, I started following your channel, and this post is one I wished I would have found a long time ago. It was very informative and right to the point. Thanks, and keep it coming😊🥰
Thank you for your honesty, I got a explore Air 2 for Christmas 2020 and I found a world of card making that I fell in love with but it is ruining my bank 🤨, I love making cards, I need to learn to find my technique and soon I found it I need to make it profitable, even if I sell one card a week 😁
Justine, thanks so much for your honest opinions on tools and websites. I see all these people hauling from ali express, but most aren't happy so I haven't gone there. I appreciate your insight, now I know. :-)
Great information Justine! Sadly you tube wasn't around when I started card making, so I bought every color, every tool, etc. Now I need to seriously purge.
I agree that the wire can fray, but Fiskars has a lifetime warranty on their products and have excellent customer service. Every time I have had an issue with one of their products, they have replaced it.
Another great and informative video. Thanks so much for sharing. Love all of the great tips, which are good reminders for all of us. And I agree with you 100% regarding Wish. Hope others listen to what you said.
Hi hun. Did you know Canada has use metric measure for decades now? So many of us use both because the USA didn’t change to metric. So a cutter with both is awesome! Thanks for this review. Good stuff!
I don’t know anything about Wish, but if they’re like Aliexpress, I totally agree. I cannot support copyright infringement... add to that the inferior quality and it’s just not worth it. I prefer to support original content, even if that means I buy less of it. It’s about smart shopping and helping to support the small businesses... or else, we’ll just end up with mass produced, throwaway products. I prefer to buy quality over quantity, where it matters (stamps, ink, paper, etc). Anyway... the die cutting thing is also on my mind. I invested in a ScanNCut a couple years ago and just love it. However, now I feel like buying any kits with metal dies is a waste, cause I’ll never be able to use the dies. (I’m looking at you, Altenew and Hero Arts! Love those kits, darnit, but I just can’t buy them). Great tips for useful supplies, thanks Justine!
Justine, have to respond to the commenter about Wish, I did not know the truth of their business practices and bought some dies at great price point, long story short for 3 months a die would come in a gray envelope from China, it became a joke as we went to the mailbox--- learning the hard way and will 2nd your info on them-- never will I fall for them again.
Thanks for sharing. The more people know, hopefully is will stop. Of course it’s tempting when you see them but I guarantee the quality is not comparable and even if it works ok you have no idea what it is made out of.
I have an acquaintance with whom I get together to make cards.Over the last several months, she had purchased several items from Aliexpress. She was bragging about how much money she saved on them, so I took a look at them. There were several items for which I had the original item and we did some comparisons. In all cases, the quality of the materials was very poor and the sizes were much smaller than the originals. Most of the 'coordinating dies', did not in fact cut out the stamped image - they were either too big or too small. I got out my computer and we did some 'window shopping' of these items. I was appalled to see that they had stolen the images from either the original companies or card designers designs using the original products and had them shown as example for their knock offs. In some cases, they did not even bother to remove the original companies watermarks. Sure, they list the size measurements on their listing, but even if they turn out to be the size listed, they are not the size used to make the samples shown. I think this bothers me as much as reproducing the stamps and dies - using others original creations to sell products that cannot reproduce them! Plus, she was telling me that some Christmas items she ordered in November, did not arrive till January. I think I have convinced her to stop buying from Aliexpress. As you said Justine, if we don't support the original manufacturers/designers, they will stop designing and then there will be nothing left to knock off. I am very frugal and look for sales on my favorites. It means I often have to wait a bit to get the latest and greatest, but I am OK with that. I'm also trying to purchase stamps and dies that are not 'trendy' that I can use for years to come.
Great video Justine , I enjoyed all of your great advice . I own the Brother Scan and Cut , it works great with solid line stamps but the more delicate lined images like Winnie and Walter or Stacy Yacula Stamps do not work well with this machine . A great pair of Cutter Bee 🐝 scissors will do great when using delicately lined stamps .
Very good advice in this video Justine. I love my SU trimmer but for some reason I am thinking about buying the tonic small guillotine but now I know I actually don't need it. I have the big tonic guillotine for cutting bulk cardstock. I have bought from Ali express but those were things like washi tape, sequins and gems. Those are the sort of things that are hard to come by in online Dutch stores. I'm disabled and don't go to real stores. Besides, we don't have big craft stores in the Netherlands like you in the US. And the shipping costs from the UK and US are horrendous so I can't shop there. I buy a lot from Stampin Up but I don't have my cardstock collection complete. And to be honest it bugs me that SU are discontinuing things all the time or have products which are availlable for only 1 month. It gives you the sense that you are always behind.
I am not a huge fan of guillotine trimmers personally. I understand shipping costs and things, in Canada it’s expensive too and when I lived in Germany it was crazy :)
It goes without saying that your very talented. But I want to thank you for always be so graceful, supportive and encouraging to us all. Videos like this seriers are really priceless. Many people don't know how or where to begin. Although I'm not a newby, I watched this series because it just radiates such kindness in your sharing.
Great advice! I also have heard someone say if you can't think of several ways you would use something, then it's not a good investment for yourself. That's really helped me when I googly eyes over new products! 😄
Rachael B yeah I also have many cute critter stamps that I don’t know how to use 😬
Justine, a great video for newbies. Unfortunately, I’m one of those who learned the hard way and bought and bought and bought. My goal this year is to shop in my craft room and try to find items I already have to use instead of buying the newest thing. Also, thank you for speaking out about the counterfeit companies. I hope more people stop buying from them and they go out of business.
I totally agree with you Cheryl. I too bought lots and lots of supplies but now vowing to use what I have rather than buy more. I watch different people with different ideas which can all be adapted to the supplies I have. good luck with your card making. I still love doing it but just need to spend less money.
Oh that sounds like a great idea. I'm trying to only buy consumerables this year as I have heaps of stamps, dies & inks etc
Me too
Only bad thing I going to end up losing it all and it's worth thousands of dollars
Dear Girl, the "counterfeit manufacturers" will N E V E R go out of business because U.S. companies c o n t r a c t e d with those foreign companies to make the stamps, dies, doodads, and widgets that we all paid big bucks for in the beginning. Now that we all have less disposable income -- or have more "stash" than we have nooks & crannies to store said s t u f f, or time to generate ideas for !! -- a n d can no longer buy with abandon, those foreign companies are using the resources Americans "g a v e" them, to continue their income stream. Eons ago, the Chinese were oh so very aware that to stay profitable, you do it yourself behind c l o s e d d o o r s, and only sell the final product of SILK. It was only by doing so, AND mandating the death penalty for any attempts at usurping, that they stayed in that catbird's seat for as long as they did. It was only after silk worms were smuggled out of China that they lost their niche in that field.
When I was just starting, I asked for stamps and supplies on Freecycle. I received a backpack of 1990s Stampin'Up stamps. From another lady, I received a shoebox of stamps and paper, and we became friends.
Justine, I found you on RUclips recently and am watching all your old videos. I have been making cards for about three years now. It has taken me that long to come to the same conclusions as you. At lot of mistakes, wasted time and money along the way. But I have loved it all. Thank you for being so generous with your time, talent and skills. I love your videos, you are one of the best!
Thank you for another amazing video! However, I am perfectly happy with my homemade stamp positioner, made from a side opening picture frame, magnetic sheet, acrylic replacement “window” and strong magnets.
Thank you for the video Justine!! I would like to second your comment about Wish and Ali Express. Shopping from these companies is not unlike if someone were to go in to a movie theatre, record the movie on their phone and then try to sell it. It’s bootleg product and it is theft. Paying movie ticket prices is definitely more expensive than bootleg, but those ticket prices are how folks get paid. Not just the actors. It helps pay everyone from the crew on the movie to the folks working in that theatre. If that money is stolen from the industry, everyone suffers. The crafting industry is no different. I would rather see you folks buy directly from the manufacturer even if it means they buy less than buy more of a stolen inferior product.
Thank you so much for all that information. I totally agree with you, I always leave items in my cart online and go back to them at another time. I realize that there are things that I can really use and then there are those items that were just "wants".
This was an informative video! I totally agree with your stand about Wish & all those other dollar sites that are stealing & selling. I myself live paycheck to paycheck but still would rather buy good quality items. It's hard to try to make people understand what goes o. Behind the scenes. Tfs & keep your videos coming! ❤😘
Thanks, Justine! I’ve been Card making for about a year, and I am still trying to get the supplies I need. Thus video was SOOO helpful, answered many questions, and addressed my “I want it all” mindset. lol I love your videos and have learned a lot. Thank you again!
I wish I had you about four years ago when I started my journey with heart making and I thought I needed everything Stampin even though I wasn’t a seller or Demonstrator. But I’ve learned and I’ve also learned that I do need to make cards because I need those keep my hands busy, because I’ve lost both my son, and this really does help me and having friends on here helps me thank you.
Wow you covered an immense array of very good information and supplies there Justine. For me, the best advice (all of it was awesome by the way) is to home in on just one thing, like embossing, and learn all about that one subject instead of drowning yourself with TMI. THANKS Justine 👍
Such a great video for beginning stampers.
All of us ‘seasoned’ stampers have learned the hard way, especially about quality. Thank you for taking the time to make the video, solid information, Justine.
Excellent video Justine. Great advise for beginners, when I first started I overwhelmed myself with all the unnecessary tools I purchased and never used. Your videos are a breath of fresh air.
Another great video and topics. And you're absolutely right that, as tempting as it is to save a few bucks buying counterfeit products, the health and longevity of the hobby depend on supporting intellectual property rights! There are two different things at play here: manufacturing and the actual creation of designs and content. These bootleg manufacturers will have nothing left to copy and infringe upon if there are no more designers. And I guarantee, they will not create new content as that would require investing in molds, tools and mfg dies, which right now they illegally use others' for which they paid zero. Bravo Justine!
I started making cards in 2001. when I got involved in quilting. I gave all my card making supplies and the tons of wood mounted rubber stamps to a friend. Wow. Things have really changed. We had no die cuts so we had to cut our intricate designs by hand. I’d like to start making cards again. At least I can make them faster!
This was great advice. I wish I had found you channel 6 months ago. I learned the hard way about buying good quality products, especially for things that you will use over and over. I made the mistake of buying an off brand stamp positioner and am now looking for a Misti, which is out of stock everywhere. I did the same with a paper trimmer. And I made the mistake of buying nearly every color of the distress ink cubes. I definitely don't use all of them and tend to go back to the same dozen or so colors regularly. Your advise about getting the refills when you buy ink pads is very smart. You are so practical and I really appreciate your minimalistic approach. This relatively new card maker has learned a lot from you and is grateful to you for sharing your knowledge. Thank you.
Stumbled upon your channel...thank goodness! I'm a new card creator and there's definitely a learning curve and lots of frustration. Really appreciate your tips!
Thank you for sharing the love! I am not a card maker but respect and admire your work. Good crafting tools are important as well as every tool having multi purposes. Limits in space and crowded spaces could limit inspiration too. Keep having fun.
Great video! I love your stance on Wish and Aliexpress.
You made a multitude of fantastic points! The question of "is it useful" is CRITICAL! I make cards for 2 churches, family, friends, and the USO. Some snarky sentiments crack me up! I know 1 person that would really enjoy getting them on a card. I don't buy them.
I think you missed a great stamp set for new stampers. 2 identical alphabet sets are SO USEFUL! I suggest 2 because if they have capital and lower case letters, you can create almost any sentiment you want. I use this on my stamp platform for basics like Happy Easter, Happy mother's day, and you get the point from there. 2 sets allows you to set it up once without moving a lot of letters. For happy Valentine's day, I choose one of the 3 words to do in all capital letters so I don't have to move the a around. When you are doing 45, that matters
I was going to suggest those but I find lining them up to be a massive pain lol!
@@justinehovey I physically see on an angle and have cerebral palsy. I have given up on lining things up straight.
Thanks Justine for this vid!! I really like your tips! Someone was asking about GSM with regards to cardstock, I buy Neenah 110 LB and the GSM is 297. GSM is very important because some papers may say the lb is 110 but the gsm might be less than 297 which means the paper won't be as thick. On Amazon, it does say 297 gsm for the Neenah 110. I really like its bright whiteness too :)
You're so REAL, I loved this video.
Thank you so much for this video! I’ve been searching and none of them were as informative as yours! I appreciate you!
I’m so happy that I found your channel! I’m more of a card maker than a typical scrapbooking person. And I love that you share tips on supplies for beginners. (Well honestly I have a lot of different card(and other craft) supplies) but it’s great to know what’s necessary and really good to have.
You’re also awesome at explaining techniques and supplies etc.
So you just got a new subscriber all the way from Sweden to your fb, Pinterest, Instagram and blog and of course your RUclips channel.
Thank You for all your tips! 🙏🏼💕🙌🏼🌻
Thanks so much and I’m super happy you’re enjoying my content. Most of my content can be found here :)
Hi. i found that buying the supplies has what has turned into the hobby. i have to stop and use what i have bought already. i enjoy making cards. and experimenting with watercolour and pencil crayons but mostly use copics. i find it soothing to colour. when I go on holidays i just take my bucket of markers and images and colour while im away and then juring the rest of the year try and make cards with them. i sometimes loose my mojo and i think its because i just have too much stuff. im overwhelmed. Your videos are so inspirational and has helped me sooo much. thank you for sharing!!
Thanks for watching. Looks like you found your what you love :)
Thanks Justine! I've enjoyed these last few videos of seeing YOU and having you share what ideas you have! Lots of great information for sure!
Hi Justine 👋 great advice u gave to everyone I totally agree with you in all u stated a big 👍up to u Justine I have been crafting for about 12 years now and share what I call my little crafting retreat with my bedroom but I really don't mind as I really love my crafting as I am disabled it gives me an interest and I LOVE IT so I keep smiling and laughing every day 😀 .....love to u Justine x Lin in South Wales uk
Most of my life I've shared my bedroom with my supplies. Once with the living room. It is what it is but I don't mind one bit.
Watching your videos from Sydney, Australia and I have now subscribed, love your down-to-earth style and tips, thank you.
Good video Justine!! I have been making cards for a couple of years now and the single most item I wished I had held back on buying was patterned paper. I bought a TON of it, especially on sale. As I developed my card making style, I found that I did not really like cards I made with patterned paper. I like more artistic styles. If I want a patterned background, I like stamping, coloring, painting, stenciling or ink blending it myself. I still have several shelves of magazine holders and plastic scrap booking containers filled with patterned paper and it takes up SO MUCH ROOM in my craft storage. I will find a worthy organization to donate it to, but I wish I had those dollars now to spend on supplies that I truly use. I'm also learning the concept of storing it at the store, rather than in my craft area. When I need it, I will most likely be able to find what I need on sale anyway - no need to impulse buy thinking it will not be there when I want to use it.
I remember purging all that paper and I’ve never looked back!
I'm sorry that you went through this too. I didn't buy as much as you described, but I like the style that you said you make.
These last 2 videos of a more pragmatic view are terrific. Thank you! Janie
Love your videos. Very good advice. I always wait to make a purchase because I don’t want to impulse buy or think I need to have everything the demonstrator has. Improvise and be creative with what you have. I waited and investigated for a year before buying a used Big Shot because I wasn’t sure I would use it enough. Well, I do and it works great. I also mix brands of inks and paper. The recipient of my cards is more interested in the fact that I care enough to hand make a card special to them and couldn’t care less about the brands I used. Keep the vids coming. 🌷
I know that I'm late to the party...but this is such a great and timeless video! Thanks for all of the great tips, advice, etc. And, your voice is beautiful and your smile is contagious!!! Thank you!
Thank you so much for pointing out the stores that are counterfeiting stamps!! Intellectual property is so hard to protect. Thank you!!
Fabulous video. I wholeheartedly agree on your stance on companies who make counterfeit products. Thanks, Jeannine
Oh wow - be kind to yourself! I see the difference between my first cards and today’s cards. So important - be kind to yourself and don’t take it personally if your card ends up in the garbage.
I have four stamp platforms. Definitely a must have tool. I don't have the MISTI, but I'm very pleased with what I do have. Trimmer is also so needed, but I also got a separate score board, so I don't accidentally cut when I wanted to score (trust me, I'd do it, lol).
Oh YA!! H A V E DONE IT!! ( )
So much you share in this video I wish I had known before I invested tons of money in supplies that now just seem to be collecting dust and taking up space. Great video and information!!
Thx Justine!! Thx for speaking the truth. I was instinctively resistant to those 2 outlets. Now I get it. Tons of great, helpful advice.
God, I LOVE YOU JUSTINE!!! I appreciate these last two videos so very much! Just starting out on my RUclips journey & I have an overage of supplies…like you, I need to go through all of it & de-stash (Kon-Mari this craft room!). I’m learning about setting up a blog, & making my channel more esthetically pleasing…Bless you for doing these videos sweet young lady!!! 🤗🥰💐
Thanks for watching :)
Thanks Justine - hi from australia
For inspiration I use google images and then search for a specific stamp or die product to see what others have done with it- 100s of ideas right there
So true!
Great tips! I have grown my stash by shopping clearance sections and scouring Craigslist and FB Marketplace for people getting rid of their stuff. Many people get heavily into this hobby and then find it's either not for them or they don't have the time for it and wish to unload their stuff. I often find large lots of stuff for great deals. I keep what I want and turn around and sell, donate or trash what I don't.
Great idea! Especially with everyone doing the KonMari thing I'm sure you'd find lots!
Amanda Bartholomew I have a few friends who, after finding out what I do, offer stuff to me!! It’s great!!
I TOTALLY agree with you Justine about the copycats!
What a great video! I have been crafting for many many years and wish there were videos such as this back then. I am looking for new inks (besides.
My zillion distress inks) and am really happy about your suggestions. Thanks so much for taking the time 💜
Thanks so much for this video I am a beginner card maker & you have just saved me so much money 😀
I make cards as a hobby, and have learned so much from watching youtube tutorials & blogs. Your video answered many questions that I have only 'wondered' about, so I thank you for the info - it was very interesting. I admire everyone's hard work & input to make things easier & fun for all the rest of us who just want to have fun with paper!
Thank you Justine. Just started card making. Really appreciate your tutorials. Your soo professional n informative. Una Hogan. 🇮🇪👏👏👏👏👏👏
Great video! Can you do a video on, how you do step by step, how you choose your background, how you choose your inks, are you going to emboss, or ink blend, etc. ?
I have a video coming soon about how I go about creating a card but in all honesty, I generally grab the next stamp in my stash, decide which technique I'm going to use and go from there. My process outside of that is always different.
Thanks, Justine, for a wonderful video. I appreciate all that you do and have learned so many techniques from you! It’s nice to see your beautiful face instead of just hands in a video; lol. I’ve been making cards for about three years and yet have so much to learn. It can take hours to come up w/ a design that finally works. So, I wish I saw this video when I was just starting, as I wasted so much money on things I thought I’d absolutely need and invested so unwisely; like a lifetime supply of patterned paper pads that, now, aren’t particularly my style; all because of a sale. Oops! Anyway, thanks for being here to help people like me. No doubt this takes time but thankfully I’m getting better. And, I think you accurately hit on every item one really needs! TFS
Thanks for sharing :)
Bula Ck! You could give away those paper pads you don't like😊!
Loving this series of live videos. I JUST got my Gemini Jr and wow the hype is real 👌👍 I love it. Oh that tip about impulse shopping I swear sometimes I do an online version of window shopping ie stick it in the cart and don’t check out and I find my hunger to shop is satiated 😄
I do this daily lol
I do this!
Jess do you ever wonder why stuff hasn’t turned up yet
@@CraftynotShiftyblog I have! I am so used to doing that that I forgot to actually place the order for Consumer Crafts. Thank goodness that my daughter's MANY sticker books came in time for Christmas! I wondered, checked my email, and completed the order
One of my favorite percs of online shopping! I can window shop all over the place and my body isn't in pain the next day!
Best video ever, thank you for your validation we don't have to have every full line product to make something satifying. I use a big shot, 9- 10 years, but I love to fussy cut! I appreciate your statement about a beautiful sentiment but reality, how often it would be used...wise woman you are Ms. Justine!! Thank you😊
You are so pretty, and I appreciate you "telling it like it is". Keep up the great work!
Stampin’ Up! trimmer truly is the best. Fiskars markings (1/4, 1/2 etc) wear off within two years.
Stampin’ Up!’s Stamparatis is the best stamp positioner.
Hi Justine.Appreciate your insightful & insider tips for all across the board; newbies, and the advanced.You make a difference! Blessings, Mary💜
Thanks so much. Very informative for a beginner. I love RUclips but I am overwhelmed by the number of techniques and the number of supplies out there. Good advice to pick a technique and stick to it.
......such VALUABLE information! NO ONE wants to waste money on inferior products!
When I first started cardmaking I went bonkers and bought all kinds of stuff. Some things took me a long time to figure out how to use and actually turned out to be good products that I still use, such as my heat tool. I didn't really fully understand what it did (stupid me, right?), but it turned out to be a good tool that I still use all the time. However, I bought other things that I still haven't used, such as my light box. I know what it does, and I'm sure it's a great tool...but maybe I didn't really need it. If memory serves, it wasn't very expensive, but that's not the point. Also, a while back, a friend of mine decided to get rid of a bunch of her stuff & I got tons of cardstock, stickers, stamps, flowers, embellishments, tools and other stuff for $100.00. She was actually only going to charge me $80.00 but I insisted on more because I got a trunk full of stuff. What a bargain! I may not use all of it, but I definitely got more than $100.00 worth of stuff.
Oh, and newer crafters should see if they can make certain style cards with basic tools, instead of fancy dies. There was a new interactive style card posted on You Tube today that I think I can make without any special dies. I don't have anything against the company that makes that die set (in fact I like them a lot) and nothing against anyone who prefers to buy that set. However, it looks like something I could make using dies I already have. All I have to do is score it manually rather than having the die score it for me. I can do that on my own & save a ton of money.
So true!
Old Island Stamp Company make beautiful rubber stamps, reasonably priced. They are a west coast Canadian company and have impeccable customer service.
Ps.... I appreciate you taking the time to address these issues. Thank you!
Thank you so much for all your tips. Have been doing this for a while but love to hear it from someone else to make sure I am on track. Love your channel.
Justine, super video for new card makers. Almost all the things you recommend are my go to now after 40 years and way to much money Haha! I would add the the brushes on Amazon for makeup are the same as the very expensive ones. Amazon $18.00+ for brushes. Mary Palano gave a tip on alternative to 3m foam tape. Much better price point. Thank you for sharing your talents and helping new crafters-- true crafter shares to spread our craft. By the way, great to see you in videos and my crafty friend you are gorgeous so quit hiding from us Haha!!!
Lol thank you for the suggestions I’ll check them out. Showing my face on screen very much depends on how I’m feeling and anxiety levels but I’m hoping to do more :)
I don't mind buying the brushes cheaper elsewhere, because they are not original creations of Picket Fence. Picket Fence took an existing product and marketed it for ink blending. I bought a set of makeup brushes on Amazon for $8.99 and compared with the one I bought from Picket Fence and they were EXACTLY the same in look, feel and ink application. I DO mind, knock offs of original designs and products, but this is not one of them. That being said, those purchased from Picket Fence may have more of a warranty against breakage or damage.
@@lisastewart6373 My thoughts exactly!
I won’t buy from Picket Fences after their brush scam, they took a product that existed bought a cheap supply (most likely overseas) slapped their name on it and then charge absolutely exorbitant prices for them. Then they sent them out free to a bunch of card “influencers” and made sure to have them all make a statement about how “they may look like your makeup brushes but they are so different and you really need theirs” baloney, anyone who has tried the two side by side knows this is baloney. I also won’t buy a Misti, I have a Tim Holtz platform - why? Because it is better. Innovation is the key to any industry. My Sweet Petunia chose to flex massive legal muscle (not just with competitors but they have been known to go after little people offering free advice on making your own stamp platforms or Misti “add-ons” that compete with their offering (but I digress). They used their legal muscle to stifle innovation. If someone can take the concept but make it better that’s called innovation. The Misti patent was on a hinged product yet they still chose to go after items without a hinge (like the Tim Holtz product) and Tim Holtz caved, which I wish they hadn’t. The reason they had the ability to flex such legal muscle? - because they charged clearly exorbitant prices on their Misti product. Look at the difference in price to other products that came out, products that were much better made were listed for 1/2 the price of the Misti, which speaks to the gouging MSP chose to do with their product. I’m all for supporting local and small businesses but I am not for companies that price gouge because they feel they have a captive audience or that squash innovation because they are upset they didn’t do better.
I'm a beginner at card making, and I get so overwhelmed with all of the supplies that I'm "supposed" to have, so this video is great to point out I don't need everything (because I can see I will become a craft hoarder if I'm not stopped 😂) thank you for all the advice, maybe one day I'll be as good at this as you ❤️
This is a really good video I wish I'd had access to 25 years ago. The unmounted stamps take up way less room and there are so many lovely sets available these days. I use the "is it useful ?" for everything these days!
I am not a fan of Tombow, I would recommend a glue stick over Tombow for any paper application. It ruined a gorgeous baby shower card I made and I was so embarrassed when she opened at her baby shower!
I've always said, it's just paper! I am a paper hoarder and I am a list maker who uses both sides of the paper as well (Great Depression teachings my Mom always said: "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without!"
Thanks for this lesson. I learned a lot and ordered some things based on your recommendations!
Helpful? That was fantastic advice!! So common sense and set me in the right direction. This expert advice is gonna help me so much! Thank you, Justine
Thank you for your videos. I love them & also the informative ones like this. Since covid, artists & makers like you & Tim Holtz, Wendy Vecchi, Dina Wakely etc have done lots of videos & presentations on RUclips & Facebook to keep us occupied in these isolation times. Thanks to you all. I wish I'd had a video like this before I started buying. Have become much more discerning Since then. Thanks💕
Thank you for sharing your very helpful info , this helps me alot . Looking forward to what I can come up with , and can't wait to see more from you my friend 😊
Thank you Justine for being honest. Your viewers do appreciate your opinion.
Just watched & appreciated your input. I am just starting out & very mindful of what to buy as it is SO expensive in RSA. I just want the basics to make cards for thr family & friends. Thank you
Great information Justine. I have so much and I think I actually utilize 25% of what I have, and so much I have never used. I agree with you. Find your thing, and not get caught up trying to do what everyone is doing and buy things you'll never use. Some days I wish I could go back to that he days when I had very little, but I used all of it! Lol
If anyone is interested the 110lb card stock equates to a 297gms acording to Amazon UK.
Thanks for that!
I’m new to card making and I have to say your information was very helpful. Thanks for all the tips I’ll enjoy more videos from you in the future.
Staples carries a great 110 lb reams in white and ivory. This what I use for my base cards and you can sometimes get them on sale for under $20 Canadian.👍
wow, great video! really informative and sooo true! I've been watching so many tutorials about so many different techniques, ink pads, etc and sometimes I think I'm going crazy....apart from the budget factor of course. Thanks a lot for your valuable input and tips, greetings from Germany!! :-)
Thank you for another video full of helpful advice, Justine! And you did a great job of maintaining your composure and standing up for small stamp companies :) Hugs!
Lol a topic that infuriated me but I tried to stay calm 😂
thank you for all the great info - I am just starting out with cardmaking so this video was very helpful.. my biggest problem is deciding which stamps are worth buying - I watch a lot of You Tube videos and love all the wonderful products used and I want them all !! but have a very tiny budget for my hobby...I do have a cricut air and noticed you do too - I would love to see you use it for card making as this would possibly cut back cost on dies... thanks for all your inspiration and love watching your videos
I’m still getting used to my Cricut so I won’t be showing videos any time soon but you will see some upcoming stuff when the foil quill is released :)
Great advice and tips Justine. Love your videos and your inspiration.
Great honest video Justine! I wished I had some (most 🙄) of your advice when I started down my card making rabbit hole! Lol I really appreciate your honest & toned down response to a viewer's comment about buying from Wish & Alli Express...I know that Alli Express blatantly steals from artist and I'm all about shopping small businesses like Simon Says, Ellen Hutson & so many others. I'm lucky that I have Scrapbook.com locally but I'll occasionally buy on Amazon for my Neenah paper. Thanks for sharing, I've really enjoyed your last few "live" videos! Sorry for the LONG comment 🤦♀️
Thanks for commenting! I love reading them!
Hi Justine, I started following your channel, and this post is one I wished I would have found a long time ago. It was very informative and right to the point. Thanks, and keep it coming😊🥰
Thank you for your honesty, I got a explore Air 2 for Christmas 2020 and I found a world of card making that I fell in love with but it is ruining my bank 🤨, I love making cards, I need to learn to find my technique and soon I found it I need to make it profitable, even if I sell one card a week 😁
Justine, thanks so much for your honest opinions on tools and websites. I see all these people hauling from ali express, but most aren't happy so I haven't gone there. I appreciate your insight, now I know. :-)
Thank you! I will keep you around!😛
I wish I saw this when you posted it 4 yrs ago. Great for beginners
This was awesome! Also, the big roll of foam tape is available at Staples!
Great information Justine! Sadly you tube wasn't around when I started card making, so I bought every color, every tool, etc. Now I need to seriously purge.
Thank you so much for making this video! 💖 Great advice and tips. I completely agree about Wish and Ali Express.
Great video, Justine. That squeaky clean liquid dispenser, we used to use those dispense bottles for nail polish remover, when I used to do nails
True! I knew I have seen those before somewhere!
Extremely thankful for this video Justine!! Now I know that I do NOT have to have everything!
I’m new to your channel and I have to say, I think you’re absolutely awesome!
Well thank you and welcome!
So glad I found your videos. I like your down to earth style.
Very informative and helpful video.
I loved the Fiscars with the wire, but you are right...the wire frays. I threw it in the trash
I agree that the wire can fray, but Fiskars has a lifetime warranty on their products and have excellent customer service. Every time I have had an issue with one of their products, they have replaced it.
Thank you just found the video. It really full of information thank you. It has really help
Hello Justine, I found your video insightful. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Always appreciated. Have a fantastic day!
Another great and informative video. Thanks so much for sharing. Love all of the great tips, which are good reminders for all of us. And I agree with you 100% regarding Wish. Hope others listen to what you said.
Hi hun. Did you know Canada has use metric measure for decades now? So many of us use both because the USA didn’t change to metric. So a cutter with both is awesome! Thanks for this review. Good stuff!
I am Canadian so I do know that. 😊
I don’t know anything about Wish, but if they’re like Aliexpress, I totally agree. I cannot support copyright infringement... add to that the inferior quality and it’s just not worth it. I prefer to support original content, even if that means I buy less of it. It’s about smart shopping and helping to support the small businesses... or else, we’ll just end up with mass produced, throwaway products. I prefer to buy quality over quantity, where it matters (stamps, ink, paper, etc). Anyway... the die cutting thing is also on my mind. I invested in a ScanNCut a couple years ago and just love it. However, now I feel like buying any kits with metal dies is a waste, cause I’ll never be able to use the dies. (I’m looking at you, Altenew and Hero Arts! Love those kits, darnit, but I just can’t buy them). Great tips for useful supplies, thanks Justine!
Thanks, Marnie.
Justine, have to respond to the commenter about Wish, I did not know the truth of their business practices and bought some dies at great price point, long story short for 3 months a die would come in a gray envelope from China, it became a joke as we went to the mailbox--- learning the hard way and will 2nd your info on them-- never will I fall for them again.
Thanks for sharing. The more people know, hopefully is will stop. Of course it’s tempting when you see them but I guarantee the quality is not comparable and even if it works ok you have no idea what it is made out of.
I have an acquaintance with whom I get together to make cards.Over the last several months, she had purchased several items from Aliexpress. She was bragging about how much money she saved on them, so I took a look at them. There were several items for which I had the original item and we did some comparisons. In all cases, the quality of the materials was very poor and the sizes were much smaller than the originals. Most of the 'coordinating dies', did not in fact cut out the stamped image - they were either too big or too small. I got out my computer and we did some 'window shopping' of these items. I was appalled to see that they had stolen the images from either the original companies or card designers designs using the original products and had them shown as example for their knock offs. In some cases, they did not even bother to remove the original companies watermarks. Sure, they list the size measurements on their listing, but even if they turn out to be the size listed, they are not the size used to make the samples shown. I think this bothers me as much as reproducing the stamps and dies - using others original creations to sell products that cannot reproduce them! Plus, she was telling me that some Christmas items she ordered in November, did not arrive till January. I think I have convinced her to stop buying from Aliexpress. As you said Justine, if we don't support the original manufacturers/designers, they will stop designing and then there will be nothing left to knock off. I am very frugal and look for sales on my favorites. It means I often have to wait a bit to get the latest and greatest, but I am OK with that. I'm also trying to purchase stamps and dies that are not 'trendy' that I can use for years to come.
We as crafters must get and stay imformed on the products and sources to keep the imposter at bay or better yet out of business.
Great video Justine , I enjoyed all of your great advice . I own the Brother Scan and Cut , it works great with solid line stamps but the more delicate lined images like Winnie and Walter or Stacy Yacula Stamps do not work well with this machine . A great pair of Cutter Bee 🐝 scissors will do great when using delicately lined stamps .
Very good advice in this video Justine. I love my SU trimmer but for some reason I am thinking about buying the tonic small guillotine but now I know I actually don't need it. I have the big tonic guillotine for cutting bulk cardstock.
I have bought from Ali express but those were things like washi tape, sequins and gems. Those are the sort of things that are hard to come by in online Dutch stores. I'm disabled and don't go to real stores. Besides, we don't have big craft stores in the Netherlands like you in the US. And the shipping costs from the UK and US are horrendous so I can't shop there. I buy a lot from Stampin Up but I don't have my cardstock collection complete.
And to be honest it bugs me that SU are discontinuing things all the time or have products which are availlable for only 1 month. It gives you the sense that you are always behind.
I am not a huge fan of guillotine trimmers personally. I understand shipping costs and things, in Canada it’s expensive too and when I lived in Germany it was crazy :)
Thanks Justine. Very informative video and I enjoy your style of cardmaking.