SANTA TIPS

What to buy a paper crafter

Hey! Psssst! Hey you over there!

Is your loved one, significant other into paper crafting, scrapbooking and card making? They are! Well, we need to have a conversation!

Are you stumped as to what to get the crafty person on your Christmas list? Craft stores and departments can be a foreign land for some people so here is a little help.

There are 2 items that ever paper crafter needs. Paper, of course, and scissors! You can buy all sorts of different papers. They usually come in 2 different sizes 12 x 12 and 8.5 x 11. Decorative papers also come in smaller sizes most of the time 6 x 6 pads. The pads are a great thing to get as it allows many different combinations and the papers are designed to go together. The prices vary as much as the designs. Rest assured though a nice pack of designer or speciality paper would not be unwelcomed under the tree. Scissors are another thing that paper crafters need more than one of. There are small ones for the fine delicate jobs and larger ones for the big cuts. Many crafters have different pairs for specific jobs such as cutting ribbon. Oh! Ribbon! What a great stocking stuffer. You can actually put it in the gift instead of around it. Although most crafters will keep the ribbons on the gifts and the paper too!

Another thing that crafters like to store a variety off are embellishments, that would be anything from brads and buttons to small flowers and chipboard shapes. Things used to fancy up a project.

If you are looking for a larger "special" gift, one suggestion may be a portable light studio. The studio folds almost flat it stores small lights and a cameral tripod. When the studio is unfolded it would fit on a kitchen table and is a box with dark sides and a top that you put your card or project in to take a picture of it for posting on the net, for blogs or crafting groups.

Another big gift would be an embosser or die cut machine. These range from small to very large in size as well as price. The newest machine of this type is the Provo Craft Cricut Imagine which actually prints the image in colour first then makes the die cut. The Imagine retails for about $599. If you are looking for something more affordable there is the Cuttlebug, a hand cranked die cut and embossing tool and a great place to start.

Other wonderful gift additions to any crafters space would be lighting, anything from a good desk lamp to help with colouring to a nice set of track lights. Storage is also precious to a crafter. Small bottles are good for buttons and bows, racks are good for ribbons and there are some great modular units specially for paper and supplies available at most craft stores.

You will always find the staff at most craft stores very helpful. If there is a favourite store where your crafter goes you might want to check it out they may have a few ideas for you too!