On a previous blog post you graciously asked questions about me & my art. I am still going through them and putting posts together. I lumped them into categories that made sense to me so i could answer them easier. Today's post is about products. Since there were lots of questions, i decided to break it up into two parts. Keep in mind these are my personal taste in products.
What is your favorite ink to use?
Stamp inks: The majority of my inks are from Ranger Ink. I love the distress inks with Walnut Stain as my all time favorite. It reminds me of Walnut Ink (which i still have in my arsenal). My favorite waterproof inks are Archival Ink (especially Jet Black) again by Ranger. I also have some dye & pigment inks in my stash. I love the Jenni Bowlin line too, especially Lemon Drops. I have different inks for different applications too. You have to remember the surface & application.
Spray Inks: I love spray inks. LOVE them. i have lots & lots of them. I love Maya Road Maya Mists for their colors. I can get saturated or dilute them for more subtle colors. I love that i can choose metallic or non-metallic. Some of my favorite colors are Lime Metallic, Turquoise Metallic, Sunflower, or Dragon fruit Pink. The non-metallics also heat set so i can dye fabric with them. Ranger's Color Wash are also a favorite. I love the deep saturated colors. You can also dye fabric with these, a definite plus in my book. My favorite Color Wash Spray inks are Wild Plum and Stream. Dylusions from Ranger are a recent addition to my mist collection. They are different from all the rest and i find the color fascinating. Love the BRIGHT colors. Bubblegum or Fresh Lime if you made me pick just two.
What would you suggest for a beginner as a set of basic supplies to have?
Scrapbooking: Scissors. My favorites are Tim Holtz scissors by Tonic. They cut like butter. A cutting implement. For me my favorite is a cutting mat & craft knife. It's all about what you are comfortable with using so if that isn't comfortable for you, go for a trimmer. I like ones that have rotary cutters because the blades last longer and there is less tearing. Plus i feel you get a smoother cut. I also like the guillotine types of cutters. Adhesives. I use Helmar craft glue as my liquid adhesive and Scotch Adhesive Dot Roller. I also use Ranger Glossy Accents, especially for clear items and metals. Those are the basics. With that you can cut patterned paper to create lots of embellishments. The next step is up to you & what appeals to you. I would go for a paper piecer and edge distresser but that's me. I also like to use punches and paint brushes. I say gravitate towards the things you like.
How do you decide which products to purchase and which ones to leave on the shelf?
Hard question. I usually go to shop with a purpose but that doesn't mean i don't like to browse. However having that purpose does keeps me focused. Mostly. I can look at a product and be completely memorized by it, that "I really want it" feeling. But i have learned to stop and think "what would i use it on? Could it be used on multiple projects." Sometimes i even walk away and see if i stop thinking about it. If i don't, it goes in my basket. If i can really think of lots of uses for it, i purchase it. If not, it stays on the shelf destined for someone else.
What type of pens and markers do you like to use?
Pens. I love a good black pen. My favorite fine pen is a Uni-ball Vision Roller. It's so smooth and waterproof after it dries. It's a pigment based ink that is archival quality. I always have at least 3 in the house, that's how obsessive i am about this pen. I also use Staedtler Lumocolor Pens (sizes M & B). Waterproof is a big thing for me, especially with paints & spray inks. Markers. I have lots of Copic Markers, the sketch are my favorite. I keep adding more to my collection. I fully admit i need to practice more with these to use them to their full potential. I also have quite a few Ranger Distress Markers. I like how watercolor like these can be. I have just started to play around with these but loving the results.
I would love to know where you get yours stamps from - do you have a favorite place? Do you stick to one place or just search around and buy randomly?
I do design work for two stamp companies, Purple Onion Designs and Antiquated Collection by Lisa Pace, so i get lots of awesome stamps from them. The others that i purchase, i do so randomly. I love funky designs, great backgrounds, and lots of label stamps. I admit too that i haven't met a butterfly stamp i didn't like. I like clean crisp images so i really have to trust & try out brands. I do shop online at Simon Says Stamps. Ton of selections here. I mostly gravitate towards rubber stamp images.
