Must-Have Tools for Card Makers

There are thousands of tools out there for cardmakers.  There are envelope punch boards, bone folders, jewel pickers, paper trimmers, and the list goes on.  But which tools do you REALLY need as a card maker?  I found the tools that I reach for most often in my craft room to share with you today!  Paper is the foundation of our card but the tools make it happen.

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Must-Have Tools for Card Makers

These are in no particular order and some have a few options.

Work Surface

I use a Dahle Vantage Self-Healing Cutting Mat in black.  The most important thing I love about this mat is it doesn’t warp when it gets hot.  In the past, I’ve used several different cutting mats that all warped if I sat something on it to heat emboss it.  Then the mat was basically useless to me.  This Dahle Vantage mat is AWESOME!

The other work surface I use when I’m using alcohol inks or doing ink blending is a Ranger Craft Mat.  Its non-porous surface allows for quick cleanup.

I’ve noticed lots of card makers on YouTube have switched to the Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat.  I’ve used glass mats in the past and I’m not a huge fan.  As a matter of fact, I pulled out my VERY OLD glass mat when the Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat came out.  I wanted to see if the glare from the glass would be distracting.  And it was.  But it might be something you want to check out so I included it here.

Paper Cutting

I’ve had approximately eight different paper trimmers.  I didn’t like a single one of them.  They didn’t cut straight at all.  Some of them even bowed out in the middle.  Finally, I found my most favorite paper trimmer ever:  The Fiskars Reinforced Paper Trimmer.  The blade slides across an aluminum bar instead of between pieces of plastic.  The blade cut right against the metal bar so there’s no guesswork as to where the blade cuts.  It cuts straight (as long as you have the paper in there straight).  I can’t say enough about this paper trimmer!

I also reach for my Fiskars Non-Stick Scissors all the time.  Adhesive and anything sticky just come right off so my scissors don’t get gunky.

Paper Scoring

I, of course, reach for my scoring board all the time.  Mine is a very old Martha Stewart Scoring Board and it’s no longer in production.  I’ve had it for years and I just don’t see the point of buying another one.  It works just fine. But I do recommend The Scor-Pal and The Scor-Buddy.

Bone folders can make or break your card.  I know that sounds weird but that’s the single tool that creates a crisp fold to your cardstock.  I use a teflone bone folder.  It will not glaze the cardstock (make shiny marks) or scratch the cardstock.

Those are the tools that just can’t live without to make a card.  Be sure to check out my post on the Ultimate Top 5 Cardstocks for Cardmakers article