Three Things: Personal Favorites

Threethings

In going back over some of my past layouts recently I noticed a few product trends that are used over and over again. We all have them - things we stock up on, things we can't seem to make something without. There are certain products I go through phases with (like the scallop punch I keep using recently), but these products don't seem to phase out, just in.

American Crafts Precision Pens : These pens have been my favorite since I first started using them. My pen tip preference is .03. I have branched out a bit and now use some fine-tip Slick Writers (love the red - used in the layout below) in addition to the Precision Pens. They remain top of my list for craft pens.

Tim Holtz Retractable Craft Pick : This is a tool that was recently added to my supplies and I find myself using it all the time for punching holes for the silver mini brads I tend to favor. In the past I used the old metal paper piercer from Making Memories - it's now used on a regular basis to unclog my bottle of Glossy Accents.

American Crafts Thickers : Letter stickers have been a go-to product since I first started scrapbooking in late 2002. I remember loving some vellum letter stickers from Mrs. Grossman's (see the blast from the past layout below), a black font from Sharon Sonneff's Sonnets line, and another one from Liz-something (I can't remember the actual brand name). I used those three over & over again. For the last couple years the letter stickers that I grab most often are Thickers from American Crafts. I especially love these (Subway) and these (Rockabye). They are great for titles and for initials. FYI : Thickers are the "deal of the day" today at Peachy Cheap. A great assortment of different fonts at a really great price. Check them out here

Here's a couple layouts using American Crafts Thickers and Precision Pens/Slick Writers:

Play 

From Studio A : Creating Keepsakes January 2009

Wellhellomonday 

From Studio A : Creating Keepsakes October 2008

And a classic from March 2003 just for fun (I am pretty sure this was a Becky Higgins sketch - hence the tilted photo - I don't normally tilt much):

126443-3 

What are three things you use over and over?

Dottedline

[ Three Things is a weekly product series : check out the archives here. ]

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87 thoughts

  1. HeatherC says…
    04/07/2009

    I am with you on the Thickers --- love them! I also love my Creative Memories tape runner and my Cricut -- I love how I can taylor my lettering specifically to my page in size, style and color.

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  2. Lynsey says…
    04/07/2009

    Precision Pens, AC letter stickers (love Roosevelt and Milan as well as Thickers), and my corner rounders.

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  3. Moira says…
    04/07/2009

    Yep, it's all about the Thickers for me. Also love Slickwriters/Sigmo Uniball for white. And foam tape for mounting things with a little dimension. Layouts just don't seem complete without one of these things on them!

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  4. Katie says…
    04/07/2009

    Thanks so much for the Peachy Cheap link. That's a great price on Thickers, even with the high shipping cost. I am in a Thickers frenzy right now...can't get enough of them.
    My other #1 item is that Making Memories paper piercer. I use it every single time I scrap -- and like you, it's often to unclog my glue bottle!

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  5. Bonnie says…
    04/07/2009

    Love seeing your "Classic" layout and Simon too(he was so little...sweet).

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  6. alexandra says…
    04/07/2009

    I'll have to try the American Crafts Pens - I'm always searching for the right pen - amazing how the pen affects the flow of my writing!
    Love 'Thickers' too - will keep my eyes open for 'subway' and 'rockabye' next time I'm shopping - they're fun!

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  7. Nikki Love says…
    04/07/2009

    thanks for the heads-up on the thickers! Just placed my order for them :D

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  8. Wisneski says…
    04/07/2009

    I need to find the precision pens. And thanks for the "deal of the day"!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Em says…
    04/07/2009

    I constantly use a zig millenium pen (in black), bazzill cardstock (black and kraft most often, but also red, various blues, pink and white), and chipboard letters (always a mishmash of various fonts and sizes)

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  10. Karen Kennedy says…
    04/07/2009

    Hi Ali!
    I just got hooked onto Thickers and I love them! I also love the white signo uniball pen to write directly on pictures and lately I am really enjoying the Sharpie Fine Tip Pen for journaling.
    I love your blast from the past LO with Simon! I can see he has always been a cutie pie!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Maureen F says…
    04/07/2009

    Thickers are also one of my FAVORITES, my ATG gun and my corner rounder - (such a little tool that makes a big impact sometimes)

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  12. {vicki} says…
    04/07/2009

    My three go to's
    zig millennium pen .05 black
    creative memories cutting system
    alphabet stamps (I use several different sizes and fonts)

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. anna says…
    04/07/2009

    brads, rub ons & ribbon.
    now that i acutally have some letter stickers, {and i also love the thickers}, i want to add those to my list. :)
    a

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  14. mary rogers says…
    04/07/2009

    since I have gone digital I find myself needed to add to every layout: stitches of some sort, texture brushes and ledger/journaling grids..I find that my layout is not complete until I have added these.
    hope you are well ali : )
    thinking of you!

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  15. mrsgeek says…
    04/07/2009

    I too love Thickers. I also love the little alphabet stickers from Making Memories along with my QuicKutz.

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  16. Samara Link says…
    04/07/2009

    Those Thickers are great. And thanks for the tip on the pens. I really struggle with journaling pens and have yet to find any I actually like. I'm going to pick these us this week.

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Amanda N. says…
    04/07/2009

    My 3 go-to products are:
    -Fiskars Scalloped Border Punch
    -Making Memories Mini Alphas
    -Ribbon
    I actually have been avoiding Thickers until yesterday because I knew once I started using them, I wouldn't stop! :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Andi M says…
    04/07/2009

    Two of my 3 go-to products are the same as yours. I use Thickers on nearly every layout, the American Crafts precision pen in size 3, and mini Glue Dots.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Kim Ket. says…
    04/07/2009

    Thank you so much for the heads up on the Thickers deal. I just went and purchased 2 grab bags....that's 8 Thickers! Yippee!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Shelley says…
    04/07/2009

    I love my Zig Millenium pens, AC letter stickers and all sorts of rub ons.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Ginny C. says…
    04/07/2009

    My 3 favorites right now are:
    Thickers (I love them & can't get enough)
    Scallop border punch with the apron lace one a close 2nd
    Sassafras Lass papers (I'm into layering embellishments right now & I seem to use to every little bit of the sheet of paper.)

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  22. Noell Hyman says…
    04/07/2009

    I am so close to you in the things I use all the time. My paper piercer works on almost every layout, and like yours it's become my glossy accents/diamond glaze tool as well. Maybe I should think about getting the one you showed as an exclusive paper piercer.
    I love Thickers, but I admit they come second to my very favorite...I still love those basic Creative Memories letters with the classic font. They have the perfect two sizes and I use them on almost every layout.
    I also use pens on every layout but I've never tried size.03 and I I've never found one I'm perfectly happy with. I don't think I've tried that line of AC pens you showed...may have to try that one out, too.
    I love it when you show layouts on the 3 Things day. Thanks for doing it when you can. And yes, that older one looks more like a BH layout than a classic Ali one. =)

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  23. Linn Woodard says…
    04/07/2009

    I love seeing the progression of your layouts. Sometimes I'm tempted to "redo" my old layouts, but I always stop myself...it's neat to see growth as an artist. I use the AC pens now, too, and love them. I don't use letter stickers much, as they're always running out of the letters I need. Instead I use my letter stamps and inks. Much better for me!

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  24. jenn vb says…
    04/07/2009

    i love thickers! thanks so much for the link to peachy deals. just placed my order =)

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Noell Hyman says…
    04/07/2009

    Hey, Ali, I would love to see you do something on all the diff. types of metal pieces you like to use and who makes them. You often use metal that I've never seen (although I think you used Tim Holtz's spinners recently and those have been a favorite of mine for the past year).
    Anyway, I'm always wondering where you find your metal and what it is. Thanks!

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