Hello crafty friends. You know the saying 'everything is easier when you have the right tools?'. Well that applies to card making too, and one of my most common 'go-to' tools is a paper punch. Punches are quick and easy to use, yet small so they are easy to store and don't take up too much room on your craft desk. They are also a great alternative to die cutting when you are going away on a craft weekend or crafting in a caravan. Stampin' Up! has a great range of really great quality punches, so today I wanted to tell you about my top 5 picks for punches for card makers. These are my most used and most versatile punches I seem to use all the time. In a couple of instances I couldn't split between two punch types so I have a couple with two choices.
1. Large Circle Punches
Circle punches are a must for cardmakers. I particularly like the large ones because you can use them to cut out a stamped images,or add some elements with patterned paper, or visually break up the rectangle shapes on a card. They are also great to cut a circle window for a shaker card. My favourite in this category is our biggest circle punch, the 2 & 1/4" Circle Punch.
2. Banners or Lovely Label Pick a Punch
These two punches are a really versatile pick, as they allow you to cut sentiment labels in 3 widths, any length you choose, and you can select one of two different ends for the labels. So in effect you cut cut 6 different sentiment labels of any length from each punch. We have two in this cataegory, so adding one of these punches to your cardmaking supplies will really add versatility for sentiments.
This first one has two different decorative ends, and is called the Lovely Labels Pick a Punch.
The second one in this category has banner ends (both inward facing and outward facing) and is called Banners Pick a Punch.
3. Tag Topper Punches
The next punch category that you need is a tag topper punch, and we have 3 different designs to choose from, that basically do the same thing. Tag Topper punches are amazing because they allow you to turn a strip of cardstock of any length into a tag with one punch! The hole for the ribbon or trim is included in the punch design so it's so quick and easy. In addition to gift tags, you can use tags on cards and on scrapbooking pages.
As I mentioned we have 3 different Tag Topper punches, so choose which one you like best. My personal favourite is the Delightful Tag Topper Punch (shown top in the picture below), because it allows you to cut tags in widths of 1", 1& 1/2" and 2". The Scalloped Tag Topper (shown bottom in the picture below and used on the tag pictured) and the Fancy Tag Topper (shown middle in the picture below) both cut 2" wide tags, and the hole for ribbon or trim is a little wider in case you want to add wider trim.
4. Label Punches
Every cardmaker needs a versatile shaped label punch in their card making supplies. These are punches that will fit a variety of sentments and also add a bit of statement on their own with their shape. We have lots of label punches in our punch collection at Stampin' Up!, but these are the two I think that are my top two choices in this category.
My first suggestion for a label punch is the Double Oval Punch, which is a new punch in the 2021 January to June Mini Catalogue. I love this because it has two layers of the label in one punch, so it's great value and gives great dimension with layering. You can mix up the colours to vary the effect as well.
My other suggested option for a label punch (if you prefer a different shape) is the Label Me Fancy Punch. This is a real multi-tasker when it comes to punches. You get the great decorative label shape, and you can also use other parts of the punch to punch a hole for twine, or a slot for ribbon. These parts of the punch can also be used on other labels too - so clever!
5. Corner Rounder
My last must-have punch is a corner rounder. This is great for adding some softness to the card design by taking away some of the sharp corners. In true Stampin' Up! style, our corner rounder doesn't do just one thing, it does three. The punch actually has three separate sections. One gives a perfect rounded corner, another cuts a decorative floral corner (which works in combination with the rounded corner if you choose), and the other section cuts a small oval shape for twine or ribbon. Another really versatile punch that I use a lot.
I hope you have found this run-down of my most used punches handy. You can purchase any of the punches using the links in each section, and can view the entire Stampin' Up! punch collection HERE in my online store or contact me to get the paper catalogues sent out.
Punch Bundles
Punches are better with coordinating stamps! Quickly cut out stamped images and save 10% (on both the punch and coordinating stamp set) with convenient stamp & punch bundles. There are 14 different stamp and punch bundles (including several of the punches we have used today), and you can find them HERE in the online store.
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All the products I have used today are available NOW to Australian residents in my Online Stampin Up Store ; if you are in another country, the products will be available from a local Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. When you shop online with me in Australia, and use the monthly Host Code, you also qualify for a small thank you gift mid the month after your purchase. My customers love getting these little gifts in the mail. Here's the shop link (individual products are linked direct throughout the post), and this month's host code (if it's past January 2021 when you are reading this, this month's code is in the right hand column or HERE). You can read about three ways to shop with me HERE.
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Thanks for checking in today. Have a happy day.
Claire
