I wanted to start of 2019 with a post about my all-time must-have items for paper crafting! These are items I use on the daily in my crafting- cards, scrapbooking or home decor- these are ALWAYS close by!

Versamat

I have not one, but two of these on my desk surface at all times. They allow me to measure and line up elements of my pages or cards with ease. They also are cushioned on the back, an aspect that makes them vital for crafting- especially if I am working on a plastic table and not a solid wood surface. I only need one for cardmaking but two are best for scrapbooking two-page layouts.

Memory Protectors

These may seem an odd choice but I promise you they are not. Close to my Heart makes the BEST memory protectors. They have a sturdy feel and will not tear – no matter how many times your books are looked at and enjoyed. They will also protect those beautiful pages you have made. I prefer the side load (we also offer top load which is more traditional). The side load prevents anything from getting in the top- it would be very difficult for anything to sneak in through the inside edge of a protector.  I have visions of my kids spilling something on the shelf where my books are kept and that seeping into the top of my albums- side load ensures this nightmare never occurs!

Are you a fan of strap-hinge albums? These have a big fan base. Did you know that we offer memory protectors for these albums as well?  Same CTMH quality but designed to work with the leading strap-hinge albums- try them, I guarantee you will LOVE them!

Duck Adhesive

I have written about this before in an earlier article on adhesives. This is my GO TO, never disappoint, hold forever, adhesive. In most situations, I prefer a tape adhesive and this one holds really well. They are not refillable (I do wish they were) but the hold is what keeps me coming back time and time again. I do not want to flip through an album year down the road and find all the pictures have slid off the page- these projects need to last and this adhesive will ensure that they do.

Bonding Memories

There are times that a good wet adhesive is required. I keep a broad tip and fine tip bonding memories glue pen for those occasions. Small strips of paper. A paper that will require a LOT of glue. Certain embellishments work well with this glue as well- I find that vellum, in particular, does not show this adhesive as much as it will show others. This glue also has a ‘dual’ purpose. Applied blue it will hold long term, allowed to dry until it is clear then it acts as a non-permanent adhesive- a great option when you are not sure about placement on a page or require a mask when stamping.

Foam Tape

If you have not tried out foam tape you are missing out! This adds a ‘lift’ to elements of your project- something that allows you to add layers and lots of fun. I rarely have a project that I do not use foam tape with. We offer two varieties- tape and dots (personally I use the tape as I can cut it to the size I prefer). It also comes in two thicknesses- thin and regular. This allows you to create more than one layer. If you like the look of foam but don’t want your pages to be too thick- then use the thin tape and save on space. The options with this are endless!

All of my top 5 ‘must-have’ items can be purchased in my shop.

Do you currently use any of these items?

What are your top ‘must-have’ items for paper crafting? Tell me in the comments!

Until we craft again, The Brae-er