(Note: Jen Clark from MyCraftyFriendJen will be guest-posting regularly over the next couple of months. Make sure you give her a holler over at her blog, too! Jen, take it away!)
I love embellishments. Â It doesn’t matter what type of project I’m doing – whether it’s a scrapbooking layout, a card, an altered project, a banner…whatever I’m making, I must add coordinating embellishments – and the more, the better! Â However, I’m also a perfectionist, and it sometimes takes me an hour (eek – or more!) to decide on just the right embellishments…and it’s especially frustrating when I can’t find anything in my stash that coordinates just perfectly. Â So I was super excited when Epiphany Crafts gave me a Shape Studio to review…all I could think about was how awesome it would be to be able to create perfectly-coordinated embellishments for whatever project I’m working on!
I was given a Size 14 Round Shape Studio, a pack of same-size Bubble Caps, a few Vintage Settings and Charms, and a Ring (brand NEW and not on website yet). Â Here’s what the company has to stay about their products:
“The Epiphany Crafts Shape Studio and Button Studio line of tools allow you to create your own epoxy shapes or buttons in just a few, quick, easy steps. Â Turn your scraps of paper, photos, brochures, tickets and more into one of a kind embellishments. Â No more searching for that perfect “extra” to match your projects, you will save time and money by creating your own accents to match your project perfectly – every time.”
The Shape Studio package insert includes clear instructions for using the tool.
Simply open the top and remove the plastic tool insert; put your paper into the paper slot and line up your image through the view-finder; place an epoxy bubble cap through the view-finder, pressing down so that it sticks to your paper; replace the tool insert, close the lid, and push down on top of the tool.
I followed the instructions and found the tool just as easy to use as was described. Â I opened the lid to find a perfect little epoxy shape!
Once the epoxy shape is created, there are a multitude of possibilities for it…leave it as a simple epoxy embellishment, or add it to one of the many “extras” the company has created.
First, I tried out the “Vintage Settings.” Â The epoxy shape fits perfectly into the adorable resin settings, which are available in three different gorgeous color assortments. Â The instructions did not say what type of glue to use to adhere the epoxy shape, but I found Glossy Accents to work just fine.
Next, I glued one of the epoxy shapes to a felt flower, and loved the result. Â I could have left it as is, and used the flower as an embellishment, but I decided to take it one step further and add the flower to the stretchy ring. Â I love the look! Â While the description for the ring says that “one size fits most,” I found it to be a bit uncomfortable on my own fingers…so I’ll be sending this to a friend!
Finally, I decided to make one charm pendant. Â I love the look of the epoxy shape in the charm setting, but I did find the bale on the charm to be quite small. Â While the images provided by the company show the charm on a ball chain, I could not get my ball chain to go through the bale, so I used jewelry wire instead.
I found all of the settings to be easy to use and perfectly sized for the epoxy shapes created by the Round 14 Shape Studio. Â If the small round size isn’t your style, though, you’re still in luck – there are TEN tools to choose from, all with coordinating Epoxy Caps or Buttons. Â And with the newest settings, the creative possibilities are endless!
So what’s the bottom line? Â While the Shape Studio is super easy to use, and I love the ability to create my own, perfectly-matched embellishments, with MSRP of $24.95 for each tool, it could get a little pricey when you want to purchase additional tools to create varying sizes and shapes. Â However, I did find it available on Overstock.com for just $16.99, a significant savings! Â The only other potential negative I can possibly think of is that the tool itself isn’t super-small (at about 3″ in diameter and 2.25″ tall), so if storage space is a big issue for you, you may find yourself not wanting to store multiples of it in the different shapes/sizes.
That said, I absolutely love the tool for its ability to give me just the right embellishment, as well as to create all the additional items “off the page,” so I’m definitely giving it “two thumbs up!”
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Mandie W says
I got to play with this at CHA and I won one from them too!! I LOVE it so much!!!!
Janet says
that looks like it would be really fun to play with!
Rosy Newlun says
Thank you for the review. I have been curious about them, wondering if I could just use glossy accents over the image, lay the epoxy on top, press myself and let dry (not needing the expensive presses).
Jen Clark says
Rosy, thanks for your comment. First off, the epoxy shapes already have adhesive on the back of them, so you can theoretically buy them and do whatever you want with them! I have seen a few projects where the epoxies were used just to highlight certain elements on a paper, rather than being made into individual epoxy shapes with the punch, if that makes sense.
So I think that you COULD stick them down (not using Glossy Accents), and once dry, cut around them…but I have to tell you, I do LOVE my punches! Especially the pennant one! (And there are some newer ones I’m hoping to get!). I believe at one or more of the craft chain stores carries them – oh, I know I’ve seen them in my Hobby Lobby – so you can always use coupons to help with the price of the punches. I know they hurt the pocketbook a bit. 😉