Lain’s Picks

I often am asked for my favorites — favorite product lines, favorite trimmer, favorite idea books. So I figured I’d put a little list together here. Each link may take you to a different vendor, but I’ve tried to save you trouble by sticking to Amazon.com and Scrapbook.com as much as possible. Check back — I’ll be updating as I find new favorites!

Best Scrapbook Tools:

We R Memory Keepers Crop-A-Dile: The BEST hole-puncher for paper and chipboard. Two sizes. Also sets eyelets. I use it constantly!

We R Memory Keepers – Crop-A-Dile – Eyelet and Snap Punch Tool

Fiskars Rotary Trimmer: I love the clean cut of the rotary trimmer. The blade seems to last longer than the other types of trimmers, and you can swap out different blade styles (zig-zag, wavy, etc.). I’ve tried at least six other trimmers, and now I don’t use anything else!

Best Scrapbook Products:

Tombow Adhesive: I have to admit, I’ve been through a lot of adhesive. This is my current fave (they seem to discontinue everything I fall in love with). Tombow permanent is my current fave. I buy it in bulk!

Mono Adhesive (Permanent) Dispenser – New Style

Glossy Accents: I have long had Glossy Accents on my shelf for adding dimension to rub-ons, stamps, and stickers. But what I didn’t know until recently is that Glossy Accents works FANTASTICALLY as an adhesive. It’s the perfect glue to add buttons and chipboard to layouts and cards (thanks, Jen McGuire!). It dries FAST and the applicator is easy to use. And it’s inexpensive!

Stickles:

stickles trio

All That Glitters Trio

(I love Stickles so much, I created a whole page about them! Check out my ode to Stickles, including product usage ideas, here: How to Use Stickles)

Sakura Gel Pen:

Sakura Rollerball Gel Pen, Medium Point, White

Echo Park Paper: This is a new favorite for me! I love this line with the bright colors and graphic patterns.

Echo Park – Little Girl Collection

American Crafts Albums: I love almost everything AC, but the one product I cannot do without is the 12×12 three-ring binders! They fit both 8.5×11″ pages and 12×12″ pages. The chipboard covers can be customized, and the albums are sturdy — and not too expensive!

American Crafts – Modern Album – Customizable 12×12 D-Ring – Red

Kraft Cardstock from Bazzill: If I could only use one color cardstock, I’d have to opt for kraft. It’s a little more jazzy than white or black(but white would be the next in line after kraft).

Bazzill Basics – Bulk Cardstock Pack – 25 Sheets – 12×12 – Kraft

Doodlebug Letter Stickers: Doodlebug makes some adorable fonts that are cute without being cutesy. These come in a bunch of different colors (and I love them all!) but if I had to choose one, black it would be.

Doodlebug Design – Alphabet Cardstock Stickers – Simply Sweet – Beetle Black

Jillibean Soup: I love all the Jillibean products, but these journaling sprouts are the must-haves!

Jillibean Soup Journaling Sprouts – 24PK/Red Kraft Circle

Best Scrapbook Idea Books:

Ali Edwards is nothing short of amazing. She reduces scrapbooking to a simple philosophy. Her books are out of print but worth ordering used.

A Designer’s Eye for Scrapbooking by Ali Edwards

A Designer’s Eye 2 – Patterned Paper

Stacy Julian is another must-follow scrapbooker for me. It’s less about the page ideas than it is about the accessible philosophy. Start with “The Big Picture.”

The Big Picture: Scrapbook Your Life and a Whole Lot More by Stacy Julian

Looking for a jumpstart to your creativity? Flip open Elsie Flannigan’s book and get scrapping, as she  challenges you to create a page in a number of different ways. While her style is a lot more involved than mine is, I never fail to get a ton of inspiration from her layouts and designs.

52 Scrapbooking Challenges by Elsie Flannigan

Lest you think that all pages have to include tons of embellishments and frou-frou, Cathy Zielske will show you otherwise. With the focus on the story and photos, she was the first scrapbooker to cut through the product fog and make “clean and simple” a motto for thousands of scrapbookers.

Clean And Simple Scrapbooking: Ideas for Design, Photography, Journaling & Typography by Cathy Zielske

How could I leave out this one? Filled with layouts as well as tips on how to scrapbook happier. Stacy and I had a blast writing it, and I think you’ll have fun reading — and learning from — it!

20 Simple Secrets of Happy Scrapbookers by Stacy Julian and Lain Ehmann

20 Simple Secrets of Happy Scrapbookers by Lain Ehmann and Stacy Julian

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  • http://amysorensen.typepad.com/ AmySo

    Can I ask a dumb question? Is the Bazzill Kraft cardstock textured? I like a smooth Kraft, and the one I have been buying, my very favorite, isn’t available anymore. Thanks!

  • Anonymous

    No dumb questions!
    This kraft is part of the “Smoothies” collection and is… smooth! :)

  • Luisa

    We share some faves: Tombow Adhesive, Stickles, Sakura Gel Pen, AC Customizable 12×12 albums, Doodlebug Design Stickers, 52 challenges book and 20 simple secrets of a Happy Scrapper!!!

  • Anonymous

    OMG Comadre,
    I have over half of these items. Great minds!

  • Anonymous

    Heehee!!

  • Erink

    With the exception of the adhesive and Echo Park (I have all boys) I have all of these! LMAO

  • Anonymous

    What paper lines do you like for boys?

  • Susan

    I don’t know about Bazzill kraft cardstock, but I know that the Stampin’ Up Kraft cardstock is not textured.

  • Gypsy Chaos

    wow.
    I love rotary cutters – and I just bought the latest Fiskars you’ve shown here. The wire guide is ABSOLUTELY worth the expense of buying yet another cutter.
    Tombow ROCKS. I too buy bulk refills.
    Stickles – check. Sakura white – check AC Precision Pen, black – check
    The most amazing matches: I have every one of these books, except the one by you and Stacy Julian. Guess what I’ll be doing with my B&N gift card?

    So, tell me in detail why you (and everyone else it seems) love the crop-a-dile so much.

  • Anonymous

    We’re scrapping twins! Will DEFINITELY do a video on my love affair with my Cropadile. :)

  • Kelli

    How do you scrap without it? LOL. If you do mini-books, it is a MUST. Punches through cardstock with no effort. I also like it because with my big one, I can put a hole ANYWHERE on a 12×12 layout …. in addition to holes (2 sizes) it will set eyelets, snaps, grommets etc. SILENTLY. When I was at crops and people were pounding, silently I would think :Geez, will you buy a crop-a-dile already!!!!

  • pamela.dixon

    thank you for your favs,  I have been debating on what Rotary cutter to get and you just helped me make up my  mine.    I also have just started to use Stickles, but I really love the Ranger Liquid Pearls the best.  I also outline or enhance different aspects of my layout.  You  must try them they are the best.

  • Anonymous

    Haven’t tried the pearls yet – thanks!!

  • Carol

    Thanks for this list, I have been struggling with adhesives…I will definately try the TomBow. Also rotary cutters can be “tricky”!

  • Anonymous

    This rotary trimmer is a no-brainer – LOVE it!!! Just remember to replace cutting pad before replacing blade. When the cuts go wonky, it’s usually the pad, rather than the blade.

  • Gzuswins

    Funny I have had and tossed the fiskars trimmer… I agree with the others however.. I will say if you have not tried the Signo White pen you should it is AAAAAAWWWWWEEEEESOME!  I just stumbled onto Ella Publishing yesterday… and found my way here… so good things! 

  • Anonymous

    YOU TOSSED IT? Should have sent it to me. :)
    Thanks for stopping by, chica!
    xoxo

  • Sharonscraps

    The Crop-a-dile goes through anything like butta. (I’m a Boston girl, if you didn’t catch the accent)  I have even used it topunch holes on the side of metal paint cans to add my own handles.  The best hole punch there is.  It also works on eyelets (it’s main feature) but I ditched all my eyelets years ago.  Still a great tool!!!

  • Anonymous

    I just did a video on using the Crop-A-Dile… you can see it here:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBOTAYLrZqw

  • Vesta

    My favorite albums are the 3 ring albums by We R Memory Keepers.  They are beautiful, hold their shape, hold a ton of pages.  I also LOVE my big shot.  I have the electronic die cut machines (notice plural!), but I always go back to my Big Shot and Spellbinder dies.  My new favorite things are the dies from Memory Box. Great for making cards, too. 

  • Anonymous

    Thanks for the suggestions! I’m going to check out those binders and Memory Box. :)

  • Sarahloughran

    I know that I have read somewhere in the mountains of scrapbook materials, that there is a spray Stickles. Is this true??

  • Anonymous

    I haven’t heard of that! I’ll see what I can dig up. ;)

  • Ruth G

    You got something against stalking?  It’s what I do best, although I am trying hard to participate in Cathy’s Ten Tips about Type class, so I’m technically not stalking  there…
    I totally agree about the Sakura white gel pen! It’s consistent, doesn’t skip and creates a wonderful fine line! I’ll have to look into your other favs, except for the book since I only read blogs, although you really know how to make me smile, so maybe…

  • Ruth G

    Oh, yeah, and I love my Fiscars rotary trimmer, too!  It’s so wonderful to be able to cut more than one sheet at a time, which you can’t do with the other kind, as well as cut with all the decorative edges in.a.straight.line! I have the Stampin’ Up! version of glossy accents and use it to add shine and love stickles for adding a little bit of bling (along with the Clear Star pen from Sakura, Smooch ink – looks like nailpolish- and the liquid pearls from Ranger.)  I prefer the “My Stick” style adhesive.  I have never had much luck with the kind that doesn’t leave some kind of little tabby thing behind – bless you if you don’t find it frustrating!  OK, I think I’m really done this time!