My Supplies...
Stamps
First the one thing included in every card... My stamps!
I have a massive collection of Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps which has probably doubled since I joined the Design Team, but even before that it's been my favourite brand.
I have a massive collection of Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps which has probably doubled since I joined the Design Team, but even before that it's been my favourite brand.
Since I am in the Netherlands purchasing stamps from the US is very expensive I either have to place small orders which I can't do for the shipping costs, or I place a bigger one to get worth out of the shipping and pay lots of import taxes etc. Kraftin' Kimmie stamps is a small Canadian store and the shipping is much more reasonable and also much faster (1 week opposed to 3 from USA).
So the American brands I buy through European retailers if I can. I have a couple of Newton's Nook, Whimsy Stamps(wee stamps), C.C. Designs and the Greeting Farm stamps though the last one I have not been able to get for a long time in Europe.
My latest find is Clearly Besotted a UK brand with super cute stamps!
Most of my stamps I colour in with my copics. Copics are alcohol based markers with brush nibs which helps the colors blend beautifully. They come in 3 types classic, sketch and ciao. I do not use the classic because they don't have the brush nib, so I won't mention those after this.
The sketch and ciao can be easily used together they use the exact same ink.
The ciao being a little smaller(less ink), which is why they are cheaper and they have a round barrel, they also have a smaller range of colours. Sketch has all the colours, has the number on the caps and has an oval barrel which holds really nice. Both are refillable with copics various ink refills and there are replacement nibs.
I use perfect colouring paper with my copics
Zigmarkers
I am loving the watercolour markers called Zig clean color real brush markers. It is so fun to blend them with water, to get the watercolour looks but less mess then with watercolours. Also you need less markers to create blends then with your copics!
I am loving the watercolour markers called Zig clean color real brush markers. It is so fun to blend them with water, to get the watercolour looks but less mess then with watercolours. Also you need less markers to create blends then with your copics!
I use Florence intense white 200 gsm watercolor paper by Vaessen Creative with my zig markers.
Pencils
Once in while I'll colour and image on kraft with my pencils. I only have a handful of colours. I use the Faber Castell Polychromo Pencils and for my White the Derwent coloursoft.
I use neenah desert storm kraft with my pencils
Watercolours
I only started using watercolours in November 2018, I am very new at them but I love them for smaller images and making backgrounds. I recently got my first set of Daniel Smith watercolour tubes. Before that I used paint dots from a sample card and some older paints my grandpa had.
I use crafters companion Watercolour cardstock with my watercolours.
Inks
For all those mediums I only use one Ink to stamp my images with:
Krafty Kolours Hybrid Inks by Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, I mostly use the Wicked Black but for no-line colouring I use Totally Taupe.
I have their full range of inks and they are my go to for making backgrounds by ink blending and using stencils.
Picture full range of inks (with exception of cool cantaloupe) per nov 2021
Stencils and pastes
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps also has a fabulous stencil line. Other brands I use sometimes are echo park, studio light, tim holtz. I also use templates for shaped card bases those are made by a dutch company Dutch Doobadoo.
Besides inks I also like to use Nuvo Embelishment Mousse, Bo Bunny glitter paste, and texture paste that I colour with the ink refils.
Other products
I've also been playing a little with alcohol inks on yupo. Using the Ranger inks and Copic various ink.
My favourite patterned paper is Doodlebug but if I like the colours and prints I'll buy any brand.
Crafting on a budget!
I know craft supplies aren't cheap but if you buy from the true designers and shops you get a durable good quality product you can use for a long time. Some brands are cheaper then others but on average they are similar in cost.
My tips for shopping craft supplies on a budget:
Take advantage of the SALES!! most stamp companies have those regularly!
There are so many Challenges out there on FB and on the blogs, most of those have prices that include $ coupons that you can spend in their shop! The winners are often picked randomly so do not worry about skill level!
Enter in give aways! Specially NEW RELEASE giveaways are amazing!
If you don't have the money to buy the newest release just wait a little while and these awesome design will become sale products to! Just be patient!
Why not to buy knock-offs:
There is a lot of talk about the Chinese sites that sell a lot of stolen stamp and die designs. The most common argument from people that buy here is "but I have a budget I cant afford it otherwise". I have some questions for you.
Do you love that there is such a wide variety of stamps available?
Do you want stores and designers to keep bringing new designs to you?
Do you know how much time goes in sketching, digitally drawing and perfecting a stamp set?
Do you think it's fair that people just take those designs and start selling them as their own without the designer seeing a penny for it?
Do you understand that this is a very painful experience, to have the work they put their hearts and souls into stolen?
Do you understand that affected designers stop designing, close stores, have to find other jobs because off the cheap knockoff sellers and buyers?
I hope answering these made you think about where you buy!
Crafting on a budget!
I know craft supplies aren't cheap but if you buy from the true designers and shops you get a durable good quality product you can use for a long time. Some brands are cheaper then others but on average they are similar in cost.
My tips for shopping craft supplies on a budget:
Take advantage of the SALES!! most stamp companies have those regularly!
There are so many Challenges out there on FB and on the blogs, most of those have prices that include $ coupons that you can spend in their shop! The winners are often picked randomly so do not worry about skill level!
Enter in give aways! Specially NEW RELEASE giveaways are amazing!
If you don't have the money to buy the newest release just wait a little while and these awesome design will become sale products to! Just be patient!
Why not to buy knock-offs:
There is a lot of talk about the Chinese sites that sell a lot of stolen stamp and die designs. The most common argument from people that buy here is "but I have a budget I cant afford it otherwise". I have some questions for you.
Do you love that there is such a wide variety of stamps available?
Do you want stores and designers to keep bringing new designs to you?
Do you know how much time goes in sketching, digitally drawing and perfecting a stamp set?
Do you think it's fair that people just take those designs and start selling them as their own without the designer seeing a penny for it?
Do you understand that this is a very painful experience, to have the work they put their hearts and souls into stolen?
Do you understand that affected designers stop designing, close stores, have to find other jobs because off the cheap knockoff sellers and buyers?
I hope answering these made you think about where you buy!
And I hope you will support the designers and crafts shops.
***
Sabrina
Comments
Post a Comment