I’ve been on a bit of a marker kick. And why not? Lots of colors, inexpensive, and versatile. So today we are looking at the Tombow Dual Brush Marker Pens. Here’s how the company describes them: Flexible brush tip and fine tip in one marker. Brush tip works like a paintbrush to create fine, medium or bold strokes; fine tip gives consistent lines. Dual Brush Pens are ideal for artists and crafters. The water-based ink is blendable and the […]
Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers
Markers are an essential crafting tool- for adding color to stamped images, custom-coloring accents, drawing, creating washes…well, markers are a timeless crafting and art-making staple. Today I’m reviewing the Zig Clean Color Brush Markers to see how they fit into my craft studio! Disclosure: sample provided for review, but all opinions are my own and based on my first-hand experience with the product. Here’s how they are described on the website: Unlike many “brush” pens, the Zig Clean Color Real Brush […]
The Buckle Boutique Self-Adhesive Rhinestone Sticker Sheets
Hey crafters! I am so excited to show you today’s product up for review by The Buckle Boutique. These rhinestone sticker sheets are AMAZING and so unique compared to other rhinestone sheets on the market. Before we get into the nitty-gritty lets see how The Buckle Boutique describes these gorgeous sheets of bling: “Add sparkle and shine to scrapbook pages, cards, favors, personal electronics, anything that needs a little or lots of BLING! Because the 3mm “stones” are actually a gel or […]
Martha Stewart Crafts Cut and Fold Punch
Sometimes I’m just walking through a craft store and a product catches my eye- this was the case with the Martha Stewart Crafts Cut and Fold Punch. I have another brand of cut/fold/tuck dies, so I wondered if the punch would be easier or more versatile to use, so I picked it up to review for you. (Thank you, 40% off coupon!) This punch comes in two parts, like the other “Anywhere on the page” punches. There are strong magnets […]
How To Make A DIY Quilling Tool & Quilled Hearts Tutorial
If you’ve been here before, you may know that I have a soft spot for quilling. I love that you can take simple strips of paper and some white glue and twirl them into spirals that you can form into shapes that can be almost anything! (OK, I’m a little breathless here!) But what if you don’t have a quilling tool? Well, I gotcha covered. You need: plastic coffee stirrer (the ones like a mini straw) OR Ear Swab with […]
Simon Says Stamp Card Kit Feb 2015 & SIX Valentines!
Time for the Simon Says Stamp February Card Kit, peeps! And I made SIX Valentine’s Day/ Love cards in one go. By the way, I’ve decided I like Simon Says Stamp so much, I’ve become and affiliate partner and you can use THIS LINK to buy! Thank you! Not gonna lie…this month I struggled with the card kit. The vintage colors felt a bit washed out to me, and I couldn’t quite feel the gold Gelato with clear embossing ink. While […]
The Best Stamp Pad for Copics (and other Alcohol-Based Markers)
Last week I posted a review on the Staz-ON solvent-based stamp pads, and based on the comments I received, it seems that there are a bunch of folks who purchased it to use with their Copic or other alcohol-based markers…and then were sadly disappointed when I shared that they were, by and large, not compatible. This prompted me to really question which stamp pads were compatible with alcohol markers. In true CraftTestDummies fashion, I tested ten stamp pads and six […]
Staz-On Solvent Ink Pads (overview)
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- a solvent-based stamp pad is a must-have for any crafters’ tool box. It will do what most stamp pads won’t- become permanent on non-porous surfaces. Today we’ll take a look at Staz-On, their new midi size stamp pads, the new colors, and even some tips for stamping and reinking! First, here’s how they are described on the website: Product Overview StazOn inkpads are the industry leader in multi-surface stamping; StazOn’s highly […]
CHA 2015; Precision Base Plate for Sizzix for Tim Holtz
Ever have difficulty cutting through certain materials while using your thin-rule dies like Framelits or Thinlits? Well, Sizzix has come up with a new metal base plate that allows you to cut more precisely and cleanly! Take a look: And don’t those new deco sheets look fun as well?? The Precision Base Plate will be available in March, and we are hoping to have one at CTD to give a full review then.
Video Review: Ranger Ink and Dyan Reaveley New Dylusions Sprays
Hello crafters! Today I wanted to show you the six new colors of Dylusions ink sprays! There were already 18 colors from the Dylusions line so these new six make 24 total. New to Dylusions? Check out this review by Jenny and learn the basics about these awesome sprays. I am a huge fan of Dylusions sprays because their bright, poppy colors and hues jump off the page! The new colors are chopped pesto, slate grey, pomegranate seed, tangerine dream, […]
Thank You Cards & Simon Says Stamp Card Kit Jan 2015
‘Tis the season…for thank you cards! The gifts have been opened and the leftovers eaten up, so now it’s officially time to write out those cards for all of the wonderful gifts and merriment. What better way than to use my Simon Says Stamp Card Kit for January 2015? By the way, I’ve decided I like Simon Says Stamp so much, I’ve become and affiliate partner and you can use http://shrsl.com/?~brev to buy! Thank you! I made you a video […]
Peek A Boo Gift Tags
Do you make handmade gifts? Ever want to include extra information? Well, here’s an easy idea for making super-cute “Peek a Boo” Gift Tags. They are like a mini card, actually- pretty on the outside with space for extra information inside. And you can make them easily using your tag punch or die. They are very simple to make- I’ve made you a little 3-minute video to show you how. And if you need some supplies, here is a […]
Ranger Ink – Wendy Vecchi – New Archival Ink Colors
Hello crafters! Today I want to introduce to you the six newest colors from Ranger Ink designer, Wendy Vecchi, in her Archival Ink line. We have already done a full review of Archival Inks on Craft Test Dummies that you can see here. There are now 12 colors total in Wendy’s Archival ink line, and the ones I show you in the below video are her newest. If you enjoy this color palette, Wendy has also released embossing powders in […]
Chameleon ColorTones Alcohol Markers
Disclosure:product provided for review purposes. Links below may be affiliate links and CTD will receive a small commission from your purchase. Opinions are 100% our own and based on first-hand experience with the product. Thank you! I first saw the Chameleon ColorTones markers at CHA 2014 last January- and after a long wait, they are finally coming to America! (They’ve been available in the UK for awhile now.) I do love a good alcohol marker- they are a “secret weapon” in […]
Craft Haul: Stampin’ UP Holiday 2014 and Cards!
Eek! Halloween just ended…which means that Holiday crafting is in full swing! For those of us who make our own Holiday Cards, it’s time to get cracking. For me, that means doing some playing experimenting with different designs to see which one will actually “make the cut” and become the holiday card for the season. I recently got a nice box of the Stampin’ UP holiday product to work with, and in this video I’ll share with you the items […]
Martha Stewart Crafts Deluxe Scoring Board and Paper Trimmer
A while back I got a request from a YouTube fan asking me to compare the Martha Stewart Crafts Deluxe Scoring Board and Paper Trimmer to another scoring/trimming tool. So of course I thought I should give this combo tool a once-over to see how it works. Let’s take a look. At first blush, it’s pretty impressive- it has a movable cutting arm, on-board tools, and envelope tool AND a bunch of easy-to-follow project templates . Here’s how it’s described […]
Simon Says Stamp Card Kit October 2014
Hey crafty friends! I’m working on some BIG new videos and reviews, but I wanted to give you a super-quick overview of the Simon Says Stamp (affiliate link) Card Kit for October 2014. If you’ve got two minutes, I can show you what is in the card AND three cards I made right off the bat! This is a new format for me- the “no talking” kind of video. Do you like it? It certainly keeps it short and sweet. I’d love […]
Comparison of Colored Pencils and Paper When Blending with Gamsol
Earlier this week I shared an overview of Gamsol, an odorless mineral spirits used for dissolving the wax in colored pencils so that you could blend and shade them the same way you can with oil paints. Naturally, though, my curiosity got the better of me and I wondered if better (artist-grade) colored pencils really had an edge over cheaper, student-grade ones. And did the paper really matter? Well, I set out to answer those questions! I tried five […]
Stencil1 Stencils by Ed Roth for Plaid
Stencils are still a major trend in crafting- after all, it’s how those of use with horrible less-than-stellar drawing skills can add that hand-drawn look to a project. And lucky for us, the designs offered continue to evolve and become more sophisticated and trendy! Today I’m sharing some stencils that REALLY caught my eye at CHA 2014- the Stencil1 line designed by Ed Roth for Plaid Crafts. It’s sophisticated, on-trend and even a bit edgy. Take a look at this […]
Scrapbook Soup Behind the Page Interview 2014
Earlier this spring I was invited to film some segments for the nationally-televised Scrapbook Soup tv program, which airs on PBS. In addition to the two tutorials I filmed (including the Two-Fer Inlaid Diecut Cards and Making Custom Stencils and Masks) I also was interviewed by the host, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer. This was an unscripted, unrehearsed interview- and I was sorta surprised at some of the answers that popped out of my mouth! Take a look: That last answer was […]
