Mary, another hint...if you have a delicate die that does not cut, put bubble wrap packing between the plate and the cardstock with the die on top of that and then your other plate. I save all the bubble wrap envelopes that come in the mail and use those. It works perfectly! Great and is free
I LOVE those white microfiber cloths from Dollar Tree! And they must must be white and from auto! I’ve always used them as a cloth to wipe my makeup brushes on in between colors, usually with a spritz of brush cleaner in the center of the fold. (I sit with it folded on my lap while I do my makeup) I believe I have 3 of these so I always have a clean one available. Plus, I’ll use a clean, dry corner to wipe away any of the eyeshadow or mascara that may have gotten away from me. These cloths are really SO soft! One is now immediately moving to my craft room! Thanks, Mary!!
Thank you so much for these ideas! that cloth is amazing and I need to go get some more. After I thought that, I went into my stash and have like 3 more new ones. haha
Hi Mary! Thanks for sharing! I love the look of the coloured blending brushes, but I have a heap of black-handled ones that are perfectly fine, so what I did was use Washi Tape to mark the colours of the brushes! So a simple glance at the tape, shows me what colour the brush was used for! Made life a bit easier! Thanks again!
Love your ideas and especially that they work. Everything in life is so expensive and sometimes you can’t even find what you’re looking for, but you still make it possible for the beginner to do art with style. I always learned something new. This is a new hobby for me and the benefits are amazing as far as mental health and overall attitude adjustment comes easily
As always....finding the best stuff we can use without breaking the bank! Thank you so much Mary. These videos are always so helpful and cost effective. Since I found your channel, I've learned a lot from you and have purchased many things you recommend. You're fantastic. I really appreciate you always taking the time to do this, and I'm sure I'm not the only one that appreciates it. I hope you're feeling better and taking some "you" time! Again...thank you so much!
You are so welcome! Thank you so much for taking the time for me today to share this! I appreciate it more than you know. I'm so glad these are helpful videos. I'm doing so well lately, taking time for me first and then I am the best version I can be, to give to others. Finally cracked the code! YAY
Your video is so helpful!! I am super excited to get the self healing mat (what an awesome idea, btw) and the microfiber cloth. I’m going to also have to give those alcohol inks a try, especially at that price point. I really appreciate you doing these types of videos. I find them to be invaluable. I enjoy your sense of humor too :) You are such a blessing to me, Mary!
As your title clearly said “ alternative craft products”………that’s clearly what you share!!! I am always looking for item comparable to the high priced crafting supplies. You shared some good ideas ……..definitely helpful🥰
Hi Mary!!! Love this informative video! The various mats is a definite game changer & the alcohol inks pricing is fabulous! Thanks so much for taking your time to do this for us!!! YOU ROCK! So blessed by you sweet soul!!! So grateful for you!!!
While you're in the automotive section, get an artificial chamois (like The Absorber) which is the same thing as Lawn Fawn's Stamp Shammy at a fraction of the price.
Thank you so much for sharing. Awesome finds. When they had a clean out at my work I managed to snag about eight boxes of transparencies. Eventually they threw nothing out without passing it by me first, I got some great card stock, out of date business cards that I was able to use on Christmas tags. 😉
I purchased those cutting mats awhile back to use with my Cuttlebug since they no longer make the plates for it. You just make your normal sandwich combo, just substituting the mat for the B plate. It works great. It is extending the life of my Cuttlebug, I was going to have to replace it when my acrylic plates broke but now I will be able to keep using it.
There is a UK firm called Scrappy Cat who make plates to fit machines including the Cuttlebug and are reasonably priced. I don't know how much shipping would be but if you want some plastic plates too you could check it out.
@@jalh3 I’ve been using self healing mats since my acrylic plates broke. When my mats start warping, you can flatten them using an iron! I place a pillowcase over the mat and press my iron for a few seconds over it. The cuts in the mat heal and it flattens
Mary, another option for cutting mats for the BigShot, is a Fiskars self-healing cutting mat..2 layers put together as the layer that takes the cutting abuse. I made mine several years ago, and just last week bid it goodbye...tearfully. :-) It served me well. I just cut 2 new layers from the $10 Fiskars mat from Walmart. Of course I "stole" the idea from someone else on UA-cam, so I can't take the credit. Love your channel!
I love these money saving/alternative crafty supplies videos! I was just playing with alcohol inks on poster board yesterday. I’m sure I got that tip from one of your previous videos because I don’t recall hearing about it anywhere else, so thanks for saving me $$! 😀
💡💡💡. Poster board ? Seriously ? Like cheap poster board ! Yay ! I wanted something I can play with the alcohol paints on. I wanted to be able to cut a 3x4.5 inch section and maybe glue that to a card if I like the results. I mostly use acrylic fabric paints bc I don't "paint". Rather I just throw paints at a surface and move them around in a very " abstract" manner. Sometimes I'm so pleased with my art that I want to share it. 💡 Poster board.. who knew ! Thanks ! 🙋 Nana in se OK usa
I've been using a self-healing mat that I got off Amazon with my Platinum 6 and I love it. I recently found them at the Dollar Tree, so I got a bunch of them. I got a desk vacuum recently and I have to say, it's the best thing I never knew I needed. I use it so much! Thank you so much for doing these videos. They're so helpful!
I am an occasional die cut user so paying $10.00 (USD) for replacement plates (Spellbinders Platinum 6) is worth avoiding the learning curve of working out shims, etc. 😉
I discovered yesterday for my big shot i replaced both my acrylic plates with cutting mats and just used a 110pound sheet of cardstock as a shim and it cut perfectly. Completely surprised me. Possibly for really intricate dies i might try a metal shim.... but pretty happy with the results. Also if your cutting mat starts bowing or warping, heat it with your heat gun and it will go back to normal again.
The blower tool I use I get from the baby section at Walmart for $1! it's what parents use to suck the snot out from the baby. Works pretty well. Also, I bought a pack of 4 of those blending brushes from my local Dollar tree and put washing tape on the handles in the color of the ink so I know what brush to grab from my stash to match the ink.
Before investing a ton of money into alcohol ink on cards I have gone over UA-cam videos and the internet finding all the info I can for alternative uses and "hacks". Thanks bunches for this video ! 🙋 Nana in se OK usa
The blower tool I found at Daiso for 1.50 same size as Ranger. It's labeled as a camera cleaner or something like that. The brushes Dollar store use a punch put the color on glue to the head and coat with clear nail polish if you like. Diaso also carries foil origami paper for cheap I use it over white card stock. Dollar store carries the mini cutting mats too. Look in the sewing section at hobby lobby they also have them for a couple bucks. I'm not big on online shopping. Prefer to buy in store. Walmarts another source for cutting mats
If you are using a big shot machine you can literally just swap the cutting mat for one of the big shot cutting plates, or both if you choose too. I put a big shot cutting plate on the bottom with the cutting mat on top & dies facing upward, this works great for me but obviously you do what you find works best.
I was at my local scrapbook store and they wanted $71 for 10 blender brushes.!!! So I found the ones you got from Amazon and they work wonderful so thank u
@Mary Polanco the brushes were from picket fence. I almost fell over when I saw the price. I thought there has got to be something else. So my husband suggested Amazon. Well I was so happy to find the ones you had used in your video. I am thrilled. That leaves a whole whoppin $52 to spend on something else. Thank u for all your comparisons. And all your hard work.
Hey Mary...The We R Memory keepers glitter vaccuum is USB rechargeable not batteries. Also wanted to let you guys know to keep an eye out for sales and coupons. My daughter and I both got ours for $10 at Michaels I believe...it might have been Joann's. It was such a good deal I almost thought they were going to tell us it was a mistake and we couldn't get them. Haha
Yes, why are we all having to purchase new plates? Love this topic. I just paid 350 bucks to take Anna Griffen's create class for scrapbooking. It was gorgeous! However, it came with these beautiful 12" dies. I warped and cracked all my plates cutting these out. I worked out by trial and error how to make a small STRONG base plate and it works soooooooo great. No warping, no cracking and it was free. Have you seen Jennifer Mcguire's video about using the double-sided plates by Gemini? Brilliant! I'm definitely getting those. Just spent 50 bucks on new plates, though....geesh. ❤🧡💛
Thank you for all your helpful tips!! I have been using the self healing mat for my die cutting. I have the large Gemini and I use the Gemini Jr plates, my sandwich is the bottom plate, the self healing mat and the top plate, I run my die and paper thru and it cuts every time. So glad I found out about the self healing cutting mat trick, saves me from constantly buying those cutting plates. Alcohol inks! Going to put the on my Amazon wish list right now!! Thank you again!!
I purchased a small vacuum from Amazon. Just a black and white one. A little more $ than the ladybug one and I love it. I use it all the time. It picks up small bits of paper as well. Really impressed. The mats are something I would be willing to try but I have the larger Gemini. So I’m not sure if it will hold up. If I was to purchase from Amazon a plate for my large Gemini it would cost me 29.99$ cad. But I purchased a few from Craft Stash in the UK for 13.99$ cad. Plus I got free shipping cause my order was over 100$ cad. Imagine. So I bought 2. 😳. I’m not an alcohol user but those seem like great deals. Thank you for sharing. Great video. Love these.
I have been wondering about those alcohol inks! Glad to see this👍🏼 I’ve always appreciated your money saving videos❤️. Glad they are selling self healing Mats cut to size, I bought a large one and cut it down to size myself. Love my ladybug too🐞You rock Mary💪🏼🙌🏼👍🏼🌈
Hello there, very nice alternatives for our studio. I particularly liked the alcohol inks. I've been checking around too for all crafty alternative because as we all know, we have an expensive hobby or business. Just a thought, rather than waste the inks on the cloth, what I have discovered is using every bit, I cut and envelopes from white copy paper or cardstock and use the brushes to color the white paper and cardstock, blending a few colors or just one. Then I glue the envelope in my journal or the front of a card, that's what I call utilizing your supplies and saving money, just a though. Thanks for you time reviewing the above products, I found these quite informative and will be ordering a few of the supplies, i.e, alcohol colors and blower, wink.
LOVE your idea not to waste the inks. I always have intentions to do that but forget. Thank you so much for the reminder! YAY! Love saving money and stuff.
I use 91% or higher isopropyl alcohol as my blending solution for alcohol inks. It’s very cheap on Amazon compared to the branded blending solution. It works the same as the branded.
Thanks for showing the lady bug vacuum. I went straight to Amazon and ordered one. I had to get the green, but that is fine. I had one of those days where I kept getting embossing powder everywhere. I was an accident waiting to happen.
Hi Mary, QUESTION: Regarding the alcohol inks, can they be used to refill alcohol markers? Have you ever done this, and if so which more affordable alternative did you use? Thank you for all of you artsy help.
I have not done this but you might find someone on YT that has. When mine run out I am likely to purchase a comparable Copic refill but I haven't come up against that yet.
I'm always looking for a good deal! I've never tried alcohol inks because they are so expensive. Also, the blending brushes! I may have to treat myself to those 2 items. Thanks, Mary!
Another great and informative video Mary! I bought an inexpensive blower tool and I didn't like it. I broke down and spent the money on the Tim Holtz blower tool and I think it works much better for me. I assume the mini vac will pick up embossing powders, is that correct?
05:47 - There's actually an under-appreciated die cutting / embossing machine that doesn't require a bazillion shims. Instead, the machine has a mechanical knob that lets you adjust the height of the rollers themselves. It used to be sold as the "Crossover" machine by Tattered Lace. Now it looks like "Crossover II" is being sold by a brand called "Crafter's Edge". I have the original Crossover machine and I love it. :) One of the benefits of not using a bazillion shims is that you end up cutting into the clear top plate - meaning that you can see if the paper is fully cut through without having to disassemble the sandwich first. Main downside of this machine: it's more expensive than most other die cutting machines out there.
Someone told me about that recently and it looked amazing. I asked the company if they would let me try it out for all of you but haven't heard back yet. It is so cool that you don't have to have a gazillion plates.
I am going to have to pick up some of those cutting mats, my problem is trying to remember the sandwich eacch time, but I can write it down and pin it beside my gemini jr. Have you seen the mini finger blending brushes I think from SSS? Amazon has a pack of ten for about 12 or 13 dollars, and those are each different colors. I love them for blending on stencils, especially the layering stencils. I have one pack for my oxides and one pack for dye inks.
Great video. I love your videos on inexpensive crafting alternatives. Could you please share the link for the different shims you have used for the die cutting.
Just watched a few of these craft videos including this one...I see a lot of these products and supplies in variety stores and the like...I was wondering what you and others do with all the cards and similar projects that you make...I am sure that after a while your home would become overloaded with creations...do you sell them or gift them? It certainly seems like a popular activity which many people are doing.
Great question, yes I gift them and use them. Around the holidays, I'll pack up a variety of cards and gift them so the recipient has cards to give out during the year.
Mary, another hint...if you have a delicate die that does not cut, put bubble wrap packing between the plate and the cardstock with the die on top of that and then your other plate. I save all the bubble wrap envelopes that come in the mail and use those. It works perfectly! Great and is free
What a great tip thank you so much for this!
I LOVE those white microfiber cloths from Dollar Tree! And they must must be white and from auto! I’ve always used them as a cloth to wipe my makeup brushes on in between colors, usually with a spritz of brush cleaner in the center of the fold. (I sit with it folded on my lap while I do my makeup) I believe I have 3 of these so I always have a clean one available. Plus, I’ll use a clean, dry corner to wipe away any of the eyeshadow or mascara that may have gotten away from me. These cloths are really SO soft! One is now immediately moving to my craft room! Thanks, Mary!!
Thank you so much for these ideas! that cloth is amazing and I need to go get some more. After I thought that, I went into my stash and have like 3 more new ones. haha
Just love watching you and your ideas
Thank you so much! YAY!
Hi Mary! Thanks for sharing! I love the look of the coloured blending brushes, but I have a heap of black-handled ones that are perfectly fine, so what I did was use Washi Tape to mark the colours of the brushes! So a simple glance at the tape, shows me what colour the brush was used for! Made life a bit easier! Thanks again!
Sonya, great idea; love that! Thank you so much for the share.
I had to watch this one, even though it’s older! Love it!!! Thanks for posting it ❤
Glad you enjoyed it! YAY!
Love your ideas and especially that they work. Everything in life is so expensive and sometimes you can’t even find what you’re looking for, but you still make it possible for the beginner to do art with style. I always learned something new. This is a new hobby for me and the benefits are amazing as far as mental health and overall attitude adjustment comes easily
Thank you so much for this! I agree with you; iit's been so important for me for thos same reasons
As always....finding the best stuff we can use without breaking the bank! Thank you so much Mary. These videos are always so helpful and cost effective. Since I found your channel, I've learned a lot from you and have purchased many things you recommend. You're fantastic. I really appreciate you always taking the time to do this, and I'm sure I'm not the only one that appreciates it. I hope you're feeling better and taking some "you" time! Again...thank you so much!
You are so welcome! Thank you so much for taking the time for me today to share this! I appreciate it more than you know. I'm so glad these are helpful videos. I'm doing so well lately, taking time for me first and then I am the best version I can be, to give to others. Finally cracked the code! YAY
Your video is so helpful!! I am super excited to get the self healing mat (what an awesome idea, btw) and the microfiber cloth. I’m going to also have to give those alcohol inks a try, especially at that price point. I really appreciate you doing these types of videos. I find them to be invaluable. I enjoy your sense of humor too :) You are such a blessing to me, Mary!
Oh thank you Ali, that is so very kind of you!!!
As your title clearly said “ alternative craft products”………that’s clearly what you share!!!
I am always looking for item comparable to the high priced crafting supplies. You shared some good ideas ……..definitely helpful🥰
Awesome! Thank you for letting me know! YAY
Mary, I love these types of video's!!! They are very helpful!!! Your the best!!!
Thank you so much Michele! They are always so fun for me to do. I bought this stuff months ago and finally got a chance to play with it all.
Hi Mary!!! Love this informative video! The various mats is a definite game changer & the alcohol inks pricing is fabulous! Thanks so much for taking your time to do this for us!!! YOU ROCK! So blessed by you sweet soul!!! So grateful for you!!!
Thank you so much Maria! It's my pleasure; I love learning from these videos as I try stuff out
While you're in the automotive section, get an artificial chamois (like The Absorber) which is the same thing as Lawn Fawn's Stamp Shammy at a fraction of the price.
That's such a great idea thank you so much for the share!
My husband is the one that told me about these. They work great!!
They have them at dollar tree 😎
Thanks! My Amazon cart now has some great alternative products! Thank you.
You are so welcome! Yay
Great ideas and tips and who doesn’t like saving money…New subscriber. Enjoyed this video.
Awesome! Thank you! I'm so glad you're here!
Thank you so much for sharing. Awesome finds. When they had a clean out at my work I managed to snag about eight boxes of transparencies. Eventually they threw nothing out without passing it by me first, I got some great card stock, out of date business cards that I was able to use on Christmas tags. 😉
Fantastic finds!! Especially the alcohol inks. Thank you so much for sharing!
My pleasure, loved that find! YAY
I purchased those cutting mats awhile back to use with my Cuttlebug since they no longer make the plates for it. You just make your normal sandwich combo, just substituting the mat for the B plate. It works great. It is extending the life of my Cuttlebug, I was going to have to replace it when my acrylic plates broke but now I will be able to keep using it.
Oh that's a great way to extend the life of your machine. YES! I'm here for that kind of money savings
There is a UK firm called Scrappy Cat who make plates to fit machines including the Cuttlebug and are reasonably priced. I don't know how much shipping would be but if you want some plastic plates too you could check it out.
Me too although I found with intricate dies it needs a card stock shim which causes slight warping.
@@jalh3 I’ve been using self healing mats since my acrylic plates broke. When my mats start warping, you can flatten them using an iron! I place a pillowcase over the mat and press my iron for a few seconds over it. The cuts in the mat heal and it flattens
@@Crazychanzo Wow that's crazy, I can't wait to try it. Thanks so much!
Mary, another option for cutting mats for the BigShot, is a Fiskars self-healing cutting mat..2 layers put together as the layer that takes the cutting abuse. I made mine several years ago, and just last week bid it goodbye...tearfully. :-) It served me well. I just cut 2 new layers from the $10 Fiskars mat from Walmart. Of course I "stole" the idea from someone else on UA-cam, so I can't take the credit. Love your channel!
Beeeee-rilliant! Thank you so much for this. I will have to give it a go! YAY!
I love these money saving/alternative crafty supplies videos!
I was just playing with alcohol inks on poster board yesterday. I’m sure I got that tip from one of your previous videos because I don’t recall hearing about it anywhere else, so thanks for saving me $$! 😀
YAY! YES it is amazing and works so stinkin well. You can practice technique and not feel bad
💡💡💡. Poster board ? Seriously ? Like cheap poster board ! Yay ! I wanted something I can play with the alcohol paints on. I wanted to be able to cut a 3x4.5 inch section and maybe glue that to a card if I like the results. I mostly use acrylic fabric paints bc I don't "paint". Rather I just throw paints at a surface and move them around in a very " abstract" manner. Sometimes I'm so pleased with my art that I want to share it.
💡 Poster board.. who knew ! Thanks !
🙋 Nana in se OK usa
I've been using a self-healing mat that I got off Amazon with my Platinum 6 and I love it. I recently found them at the Dollar Tree, so I got a bunch of them. I got a desk vacuum recently and I have to say, it's the best thing I never knew I needed. I use it so much! Thank you so much for doing these videos. They're so helpful!
RIGHT? I never knew I needed it either. I love it so much!
I am an occasional die cut user so paying $10.00 (USD) for replacement plates (Spellbinders Platinum 6) is worth avoiding the learning curve of working out shims, etc. 😉
Thx for the brush info. Always hesitated due to price!! The Dollar Tree also has pop-ups that work great AND pop-up tape. Can’t beat the price💗
Awesome thanks so much for this!
I discovered yesterday for my big shot i replaced both my acrylic plates with cutting mats and just used a 110pound sheet of cardstock as a shim and it cut perfectly. Completely surprised me. Possibly for really intricate dies i might try a metal shim.... but pretty happy with the results. Also if your cutting mat starts bowing or warping, heat it with your heat gun and it will go back to normal again.
I’ve been reading the comments just to see what alternative sandwich will work for big shots.
@@rtd1791 Give it a go, hope you have success also :)
Ooooh great share thank you so much for all of us to now know. YAY
@@mrspickle8285 Thanks…I am going to get it a try…I have a Big Kick
I always enjoy your videos. Thx for sharing your finds and ideas.
Thank you so much Juanita! I really appreciate that. YAY
Good finds , catching late, so maybe I still get ahold of some of these goodies!
I love your hacks and cheaper alternatives videos! Thank you for making them! 🤩👍🏼
You are so welcome! My pleasure!
Thank you for taking the time to do the research and inform us , very much appreciate
My pleasure; I'm so glad it can be useful
Thanks Mary! I always appreciate your money saving tips!
You are so welcome! Thank you so much!
Thank you Mary.
My pleasure thank you
Mary, I love these videos!! Card making can get expensive and appreciate any opportunity to save money.
So true! That's what it's about for me
The blower tool I use I get from the baby section at Walmart for $1! it's what parents use to suck the snot out from the baby. Works pretty well. Also, I bought a pack of 4 of those blending brushes from my local Dollar tree and put washing tape on the handles in the color of the ink so I know what brush to grab from my stash to match the ink.
Thank you so much for this share. So many people have found those blending brushes at the Dollar Tree but I never could! So glad that you did
Ha ha ha! When I saw the blower tools (I do not do craft things that require them) I thought "I could use junior's old snot sucker for that." 😂
Hi Mary! I love this video. You have so many great tips! Thanks so much. I hope all is well. 🥰👍
Thank you! You too! I am so happy it was helpful! YAY
Thanks for all the tips, very helpful!
YAY! My pleasure!
Great ideas, thanks a lot!!
Glad you like them! YAY
@@marypolancodesigns yeahhh, I’n gonna buy some of them. Thank you
Before investing a ton of money into alcohol ink on cards I have gone over UA-cam videos and the internet finding all the info I can for alternative uses and "hacks". Thanks bunches for this video ! 🙋 Nana in se OK usa
I'm so happy that this was helpful for you; thank you for letting me know!
Thanks, once again, Mary. Your videos are so helpful.
You are so welcome! Thank you so much for letting me know
You never fail to make me laugh, Mary. After a really hard week it’s good to laugh out loud ❤️
Oh this is the best compliment ever! Thank you so much for letting me know I'm making you smile. YAY!!!
Great informative video 🥰 amazing things you shared ❤ thanks for sharing your tips Hugs xx
Thank you so much 😊 YAY
Love love love your videos!
Oh Monica thank you so much for this sweet compliment!!! Big hugs
The blower tool I found at Daiso for 1.50 same size as Ranger. It's labeled as a camera cleaner or something like that. The brushes Dollar store use a punch put the color on glue to the head and coat with clear nail polish if you like. Diaso also carries foil origami paper for cheap I use it over white card stock. Dollar store carries the mini cutting mats too. Look in the sewing section at hobby lobby they also have them for a couple bucks. I'm not big on online shopping. Prefer to buy in store. Walmarts another source for cutting mats
WOW! A lot of great shares; love this! Thank you so much!
I love your comparison videos!
Oh thank you so much Laura. I have a good time doing them
If you are using a big shot machine you can literally just swap the cutting mat for one of the big shot cutting plates, or both if you choose too. I put a big shot cutting plate on the bottom with the cutting mat on top & dies facing upward, this works great for me but obviously you do what you find works best.
Amazing tip thank you for sharing
@@marypolancodesigns thank you for the brilliant video, I am so into alternative money savers 😁👍🏼! I am just about to buy myself a paint edger 👍🏼🤩.
Great alternatives!! Will be checking out several of them!! Thank you for sharing!
You are so welcome! Thank you so much!
Thank you so much!!! Crafting can be very expensive so I appreciate your research!
You are so welcome! I agree, my pleasure!
That was funny…My first born! 😅 Thank you for all the helpful information.
Hahah...so glad this was helpful!
Thank you for the video. I appreciate that you do videos like this. I have learned a lot.
Glad it was helpful! YAY I love to hear that
I love these comparison videos!
Thank you so much for this Debi!
I was at my local scrapbook store and they wanted $71 for 10 blender brushes.!!! So I found the ones you got from Amazon and they work wonderful so thank u
Oh wow! So glad you got a better deal; that's a bit pricey!
@Mary Polanco the brushes were from picket fence. I almost fell over when I saw the price. I thought there has got to be something else. So my husband suggested Amazon. Well I was so happy to find the ones you had used in your video. I am thrilled. That leaves a whole whoppin $52 to spend on something else. Thank u for all your comparisons. And all your hard work.
I love when you do these! Thank yuo for sharing!
Glad you like them! YAY! My pleasure!
Very informative. Thank you for sharing. Have a blessed day.
I'm so glad, thank you for letting me know.
Thank you, Mary! I love when you release these $ saving videos! 💕
You are so welcome! I love doing these videos too!
Well done
Thank you so much!
Hey Mary...The We R Memory keepers glitter vaccuum is USB rechargeable not batteries. Also wanted to let you guys know to keep an eye out for sales and coupons. My daughter and I both got ours for $10 at Michaels I believe...it might have been Joann's. It was such a good deal I almost thought they were going to tell us it was a mistake and we couldn't get them. Haha
AMAZING TIP!!! yes!!!
Thank you for sharing the tools
My pleasure!
I have the little ladybug vacuum and love love love it 😍
IT'S SO CUUUUUTE! Lol
Mary: great video! Very useful ideas. And you really got a great comment section going here.
Thanks so much! 😊 RIGHT? I love it when we all share
Thank you, Mary. Great finds! Tfs.
Thank you so much! So glad it was helpful
Mind blown about the foam sheets and using them as stamps! Brain is in overdrive…want to try cutting a digital stamp out of it!
RIGHT? so fun and easy to use!
Yes, why are we all having to purchase new plates? Love this topic. I just paid 350 bucks to take Anna Griffen's create class for scrapbooking. It was gorgeous! However, it came with these beautiful 12" dies. I warped and cracked all my plates cutting these out. I worked out by trial and error how to make a small STRONG base plate and it works soooooooo great. No warping, no cracking and it was free. Have you seen Jennifer Mcguire's video about using the double-sided plates by Gemini? Brilliant! I'm definitely getting those. Just spent 50 bucks on new plates, though....geesh. ❤🧡💛
I can't wait to check out her video; so helpful. Yes the need to change plates so much is egregious. Glad we are finding alternative solutions.
Omg
I,am so suprised
Thans you for thuis money saving video
YAY! You are most welcome!
Thank you for your video!! I have the WRMK vacuum and find it in American Crafts Warehouse for $1.00. It's very helpful and neat.
Oooh love that price. Yay!!!
I have built up my supply bank slowly an have rarely paid full price for name branded supplies.
Thanks for another informative video. This was great.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for letting me know.
Thank you for sharing your videos
My pleasure
Thank you, Mary!
You are so welcome!
Thank you for all your helpful tips!! I have been using the self healing mat for my die cutting. I have the large Gemini and I use the Gemini Jr plates, my sandwich is the bottom plate, the self healing mat and the top plate, I run my die and paper thru and it cuts every time. So glad I found out about the self healing cutting mat trick, saves me from constantly buying those cutting plates. Alcohol inks! Going to put the on my Amazon wish list right now!! Thank you again!!
Ok, now I just feel silly! I HAVE to try that combo because it's way easier! lol
@@marypolancodesigns 😁
Great video!!
Thanks! I really appreciate that!
thank you! awesome video!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate that
Thank you Mary. Great tips.
You are so welcome!
I purchased a small vacuum from Amazon. Just a black and white one. A little more $ than the ladybug one and I love it. I use it all the time. It picks up small bits of paper as well. Really impressed. The mats are something I would be willing to try but I have the larger Gemini. So I’m not sure if it will hold up. If I was to purchase from Amazon a plate for my large Gemini it would cost me 29.99$ cad. But I purchased a few from Craft Stash in the UK for 13.99$ cad. Plus I got free shipping cause my order was over 100$ cad. Imagine. So I bought 2. 😳. I’m not an alcohol user but those seem like great deals. Thank you for sharing. Great video. Love these.
Right?? It's like the most "non-needed" needed thing in my craft room. hahaha Thank you for all the shares in here!
I have been wondering about those alcohol inks! Glad to see this👍🏼 I’ve always appreciated your money saving videos❤️. Glad they are selling self healing Mats cut to size, I bought a large one and cut it down to size myself. Love my ladybug too🐞You rock Mary💪🏼🙌🏼👍🏼🌈
Thank you so much! YAY! I love these so much!
Hello there, very nice alternatives for our studio. I particularly liked the alcohol inks. I've been checking around too for all crafty alternative because as we all know, we have an expensive hobby or business. Just a thought, rather than waste the inks on the cloth, what I have discovered is using every bit, I cut and envelopes from white copy paper or cardstock and use the brushes to color the white paper and cardstock, blending a few colors or just one. Then I glue the envelope in my journal or the front of a card, that's what I call utilizing your supplies and saving money, just a though. Thanks for you time reviewing the above products, I found these quite informative and will be ordering a few of the supplies, i.e, alcohol colors and blower, wink.
LOVE your idea not to waste the inks. I always have intentions to do that but forget. Thank you so much for the reminder! YAY! Love saving money and stuff.
Thanks for the reminder about the glass mat discount!
My pleasure; LOOOOOVE this mat
@@marypolancodesigns I just ordered one using your fabulous discount code! :)
I use 91% or higher isopropyl alcohol as my blending solution for alcohol inks. It’s very cheap on Amazon compared to the branded blending solution. It works the same as the branded.
Yes to this! I have used 99% and showed it one of my money savings videos. So great
Thank you so much, crafting can be very expensive
So true! So glad it could help a bit
I definitely just ordered those rainbow blender brushes. Yay! Thanks for the recommendation!
Oh YAY!! I love them so much! You will too!
Cracked me up when you said you added "first born" 🤣😂🤣
Hahaha...thanks Susan! :)
Thanks for this!
My pleasure!
Thanks for showing the lady bug vacuum. I went straight to Amazon and ordered one. I had to get the green, but that is fine. I had one of those days where I kept getting embossing powder everywhere. I was an accident waiting to happen.
YAY! Love that little lady! lol
those brushes are very good i paid $9 for them for 10. i was thrilled
Absolutely I love them too!! Yay
Hi Mary, QUESTION: Regarding the alcohol inks, can they be used to refill alcohol markers? Have you ever done this, and if so which more affordable alternative did you use? Thank you for all of you artsy help.
I have not done this but you might find someone on YT that has. When mine run out I am likely to purchase a comparable Copic refill but I haven't come up against that yet.
Thank you!!
You are most welcome!
Thanks for the info it was very helpful
Glad it was helpful! That's awesome thanks!
*add to cart* I have those blending brushes. They're great!
LOVE! Thank you so much
Walmart has fun foam more pocket book friendly. 50 sheets for less than $6. They are a bit smaller at 8.25x5.5
SO Great to know thank you so much Lori!!!
I buy craft foam from Walmart and Hobby Lobby--I use it in limited ways and do not need a huge supply.
That Happy die! Please let me know where you bought it? Great ideas! Always enjoy your tips, tricks, hacks and cost savings!
I could not find it linked separately because I believe it came in one of the Catherine Pooler's Sursee kits. I'm so sorry. :(
Just found you! Awesome video! Thanks for the money saving tips!!!
I'm so happy that this was helpful to you! Thank you for letting me know
I'm always looking for a good deal! I've never tried alcohol inks because they are so expensive. Also, the blending brushes! I may have to treat myself to those 2 items. Thanks, Mary!
YAY! I'm so glad this was helpful. I love those alcohol inks and such a great way to save money to play with them
Another great and informative video Mary! I bought an inexpensive blower tool and I didn't like it. I broke down and spent the money on the Tim Holtz blower tool and I think it works much better for me. I assume the mini vac will pick up embossing powders, is that correct?
Great to know Lori, thanks so much! You aren't the first person to say this in the thread so I'll have to watch out for it.
Thank you so much !!❤🤗
You are so welcome
I have bought self healing mats from Amazon but larger. This week I found the I the smaller size at dollar tree. I am going to try one.
Awesome! Love it
Thanks for these great tips!
Thank you so much, my pleasure
Excellent video!
Thank you very much! I really love doing these
Thanks for the saves!
My pleasure! Thank you Vicki
05:47 - There's actually an under-appreciated die cutting / embossing machine that doesn't require a bazillion shims. Instead, the machine has a mechanical knob that lets you adjust the height of the rollers themselves. It used to be sold as the "Crossover" machine by Tattered Lace. Now it looks like "Crossover II" is being sold by a brand called "Crafter's Edge". I have the original Crossover machine and I love it. :) One of the benefits of not using a bazillion shims is that you end up cutting into the clear top plate - meaning that you can see if the paper is fully cut through without having to disassemble the sandwich first. Main downside of this machine: it's more expensive than most other die cutting machines out there.
Someone told me about that recently and it looked amazing. I asked the company if they would let me try it out for all of you but haven't heard back yet. It is so cool that you don't have to have a gazillion plates.
Loved the video!!! May I ask where you got the plastic and magnetic shims?
I am going to have to pick up some of those cutting mats, my problem is trying to remember the sandwich eacch time, but I can write it down and pin it beside my gemini jr. Have you seen the mini finger blending brushes I think from SSS? Amazon has a pack of ten for about 12 or 13 dollars, and those are each different colors. I love them for blending on stencils, especially the layering stencils. I have one pack for my oxides and one pack for dye inks.
I haven't tried them but am off to check them out! YAY!
I have those too and they’re so convenient!
Thanx!!
You're welcome!
Great video. I love your videos on inexpensive crafting alternatives. Could you please share the link for the different shims you have used for the die cutting.
Thank you for asking that, I just added them to the description box under the Gemini Jr. machine
@@marypolancodesigns thanks so much 🥰
That microfiber cloth is great. All the others I have tried stick to my fingers and i hate the feel.
OMGoodness....I CAN"T STAND the feeling of the others ones when my hands are dry (which is all winter long) lol. I'm glad I"m not alone
Ty. Good info
Glad it was helpful! YAY!
Just watched a few of these craft videos including this one...I see a lot of these products and supplies in variety stores and the like...I was wondering what you and others do with all the cards and similar projects that you make...I am sure that after a while your home would become overloaded with creations...do you sell them or gift them? It certainly seems like a popular activity which many people are doing.
Great question, yes I gift them and use them. Around the holidays, I'll pack up a variety of cards and gift them so the recipient has cards to give out during the year.