Scrappers Product Review

ProvoCraft Zision Tool Kit

2006-02-03T17:09:00.000+11:00

Provocraft have under the Zision range, released a toolkit aimed at scrapbookers. Packaged in a similar manner as the Silent Setter, the Toolkit comes in a black zippered pouch. Each item in the kit fits into a space carved into firm, lime green foam.

The tool kit contains:

8 punches (1/16", 1/8", 1/4", square, rectangle, star, flower, heart) and handle
tweezers
hammer
two needles
piecer/awl
scorer
wire cutters
scissors
3.5" x 3.5" self-healing mat

The inter-changable hole-punch heads screw into the handle. This forms a quite sturdy bond. The punch heads are held firmly in place in the kit by matching holes in the foam on the other side of the case. These punches are used in conjunction with a small 3.5" x 3.5" self-healing mat which fits into the case. This small mat is especially useful, and could be used with other tools, such as exo-knives and the awl. The hammer, while small easily gives enough force to use with the hole punches.

The tweezers are also handy for working with both fibres and the various hole punches in the kits (great for cleaning out blocked punches or working with the very small punches produced).

The scissors come with a plastic guard to protect the blades as well as the other items in the kit. The wire cutters easily cut the wire used by most scrapbookers, although I wouldn't use it on anything too heavy gauge. The needles are quite large, making use fairly simple. They have two different sized eyes to ensure you can use both thin threads, such as embroidery floss and thicker fibres such as wools and fancy yarns as well. The awl is sharp and would be useful when working with thicker materials such as chipboard and leather. Very useful for making holes to thread fibres through.

Pros: Very easy to use and contains all the standard must have tools that scrapbookers are always reaching for. While it doesn't have the amount of tools other toolkits aimed at scrapbooker have, this means it doesn't clutter the kit with things most people won't use or will only use infrequently.

Cons: To be honest, I can't really think of anything against this kit. It is modest in it's purpose and fulfills it well. Anyone disagree?

Quick Review (Out of 5 Stars)

Cost/Value for Money: 4
Usefulness: 5
Ease of Use: 5

Basic Grey Notch & Die Tool

2006-01-28T17:53:00.000+11:00

Paper and embellishment company Basic Grey has begun to diversify into the tool market. Their first offering is the Notch & Die Cutting Tool. This tool consists of a handle and a set of three interchangeable heads. These heads are held in place by both a male/female slot and a magnet. This double locking system is necessary as the heads each contain razor sharp blades. The blades are half circle, v-wedge and straight blades. The straight blade is 12mm/1 inch long.

The tool is relatively easy to use, although it does require a strong arm and wrist. The instructions on the tool say to use a rubber mallet if extra strength is required. The blades give a clean cut when used. In the image below, a medium weight cardstock was used. I was also able to cut through thin chipboard without much extra effort. Basic Grey claim the tool can also be used on fabric, leather and thin plastic. I was able to cut all these materials with the tool. As stated early, the blades are very sharp.

In the back of the packaging is a chart which demonstrates some of the potential uses for the tool. For scrapbookers, it would be useful as a tool for mounting both photos and journalling blocks, especially when using materials such as vellum which can often be difficult to mount due to their see through nature. The tools also allow the production of closures for small booklets, which could be used for hidden journalling or mini-books.

On the whole, I found that the tool was able to fulfill all it's claims when it came to cutting various materials. However, while a novel idea, I think it would be a useful though limited tool for scrapbookers. I can see it being quite useful to anyone who is into cardmaking. Basic Grey have stated that they will be bringing out further heads, in different shapes in the future. This might make the tool more versitle.

The packaging of the tool is typical of Basic Grey. It comes in a nice brushed metal tin, with thick foam inside. This is indented to allow the secure storage of the handle and blades, thus minimizing damage of the blades in transit.

Pros: Fairly simple to use and designed so that additional blades can be used as they become available.

Cons: My one suggestion for improvement of the product would be the inclusion of a small self-healing cutting mat. While most scrapbookers and card makers will have one on hand, when the product costs $55AU/$29US, including a mat would be good customer service. Especially for those who want to be mobile with the product.

Quick Review (Out of 5 Stars)

Cost/Value for Money: 3
Usefulness: 3
Ease of Use: 4

DISCLAIMER: The Basic Grey Notch & Die Cutting Tool used in this review was supplied by AussieScrapSource - http://www.aussiescrapsource.com/

New Review Email Alert Group

2006-01-26T21:06:00.000+11:00

If you would like to be alerted via email of a new review here at Scrappers Product Review, why not join our Yahoo Group. This is an announcement only list. This means the only email you will get from this group will be alerts about new products. It is NOT a discussion list.

Click to Join New Review Email Alert Group

Update: Next Review and Request for Next Item

2006-01-20T16:30:00.000+11:00

OK, I've got my hands on the BG Notch Tool. I will be putting a review up in the next couple of days. So, what would people like to see reviewed next?

Requesting Donations

2005-12-07T10:09:00.000+11:00

I've had several requests from people to review the new Basic Grey Notch Tool. I've tried to get a review copy from Basic Grey, but I'm waiting for a response from the local distributor who they refered me to.

In the mean time, if anyone wants to donate, please feel free to use the buttons on the side. All donations will go to purchasing the tool and doing a review of it. Any money over the cost of the tool (BG Tool is $57.00AU) will be held and used to help purchase the next review item nominated by the readers. If there are donations made, I will keep a running total on the page, so that people know how much more is required.

What Items Would You Liked Reviewed?

2005-11-01T11:35:00.000+11:00

One problem with running a review website is knowing what sort of things readers would like to know about. So far I have basically been reviewing items I've bought recently, so this had led to alot of Making Memories and Sizzix stuff getting reviewed. So what about I put the ball in your park?

So, what would you like reviewed? Please leave some ideas in the comments section of this post. After about a week, I will collate the results and hold a poll. Top vote winner of the poll will be the next item I will review (if I can get hold of it!). So nows your chance. If I already have the item, I will definately do a review.

Update: Making Memories Modular System

2005-08-24T10:54:00.000+10:00

As reported in the review of the Making Memories Modular Storage System, I had problems with two of the accessories. After hearing about a form on the Making Memories website, I went to investigate. I found the Request a Product Replacement form and filled it in. Within a couple of days I had someone from Making Memories contact me about my problem. Normally, they request that defective items be returned, but since I am located in Australia, they just sent me the replacements. These arrived in about 10 days, which is pretty good time from the USA. So, while it was a bit of a pain that the original product had problems, I have to say I am most impressed by the great customer service from Making Memories. Many manufacturers would take the head in the sand approach and pretend there are never problems. It's nice to see a business recognize that problems can occur and have a quick and fairly painless process already in place to deal with the problems when they occur.

Heidi Swap Boxed Chipboard Alphabets

2005-08-20T11:58:00.000+10:00

From the growing range of Heidi Swapp products come the Boxed Chipboard Alphabets. This is a review of the 3" pink, upper and lowercase letters. First off, for our international audience, the chipboard referred to is NOT wood, but a thick heavy cardboard.

The letters are nicely packaged (as is most Heidi Swapp stuff) in a glossy black box with pink label. The box is nice in that it protects the letters. However, when I pulled mine out of the box, they all had a definate warp. Normally, I would attribute this to over tight shrink wrap, but these were not wrapped as such.

The colour is added as a layer to the cardboard and seems pretty robust. Since it is card, these letters would be fairly easy to distress, paint or do just about anything to. Also, you get to keep the negative and use that as well.

In the uppercase set, you receive one of each letter of the alphabet, and a full set of numbers (0-9). In the lowercase set, you receive 3 each of a, e, i and o, 2 each of h, l, m, n, r, s, t and u, and one each of the rest. You also receive punctuation of !, &, #, ?, :, . and ,

It is with letter distribution that I have my biggest problems with this set. Yet again, we see a manufacturer not thinking or not caring about the consumer. We are in the first decade of a new century, therefore, when most people are writing the date they will need more than ONE zero and ONE two!!!! Basically, if you want to use these sets to write the year 2005, you will need to buy two sets of the uppercase letters. At approx. $11 AU per set, that makes for a very expensive year.

In the lowercase the issue is slightly different, this one is about wasted space. Insdead of putting multiple items where possible, they are just put in the middle of the square. I can understand that one per square is necessary for items such as letters and some punctuation, but in the examples below, you could get at least four of the punctuation symbols on each square without reducing usability, infact, you would increase it considerably.

Also to be considered is the slightly misleading name of the items. While the full square is 3", the actual letters are NOT that size. The uppercase are 2 1/4" tall and the lower cases just over 1 1/2" tall (for an "a", taller letter would be slightly bigger). When you are wanting impact, there is a big difference between 3" and 2 1/4".

Pros: Great way to add emphasis or visual impact to a title or page. Versitile materials mean they can be customized easily and in a large variety of ways.

Cons: Lack of relevant numbers in uppercase set and wasted space in lowercase letters detract from the value and usability of these products. Also, the fact that they letters (uppercase) are not true 3" in size but 2 1/4".

Quick Review (Out of 5 Stars)

Cost/Value for Money: 2
Usefulness: 3
Ease of Use: 5

Provocraft Silent Setter

2005-08-15T11:26:00.000+10:00

The Provocraft Silent Setter is an attempt to solve the very noisy problem of setting eyelets. The system is made up of the silent setter tool, three interchangeable heads, a small container with 50 eyelets and a small setting mat. All this is contained in a padded, zippered carry case.

The interchangeable heads are double ended. One end acts as a hole punch and the other end allows you to set the eyelets. The sizes of the heads suit 1/16", 1/8" and 1/4" eyelets. The system works by putting the hole punch end in the setting tool. You then hold the tool by the very large handle, and press down, twisting at the same time. Because the handle is so large, you can use the whole palm to apply pressure.

To set the eyelet, you just flip the head around and repeat the process.

I found the tool fairly easy to use and it was definately alot quieter than using a hammer. However, I think that your wrist would get quite sore after a while. I think you would have to be very careful to use it as ergonomically as possible to prevent injury.

On the whole it was quite effective in setting the eyelets. My only concern would be that they eyelet is not set flat. If you look at the image below, you can see how the back of the orange eyelet is bowed and doesn't sit flat. The yellow eyelet was set with the Silent Setter and then the back flattened with the hammer.

I've seen this on sale for between $20 AU and $40 AU. I paid $25 AU. For that price, I think it's OK value.

One small issue with the small container of eyelets comes with the set. It is stored in a small screw top container. I found that my container was defective, the lid just slipped off the bottom of the container, the screw thread on the lid had stripped and no longer worked. This meant that each time I opened the tool case, I had to be very careful not to spill the eyelets everywhere. Only a small issue, but one to be aware of.

Pros: Very easy to use and the fact that it comes with tools to set the three main sizes of eyelets, its really six tools in one. Great if noise is an issue. I also like the storage case, the padding provides protections for the items, stops them moving around and means they are less likely to get lost.

Cons: My only concerns would be the fact that the eyelets are not set completely flat (and this many not be an issue for everyone) and also the possible pain issue from repeated use.

Quick Review (Out of 5 Stars)

Cost/Value for Money: 4
Usefulness: 5
Ease of Use: 5

Chatterbox Luggage - Pink

2005-08-09T10:05:00.000+10:00

One of the most anticipted products of 2005 (well, by me anyway!) has been the limited edition Chatterbox Luggage Collection. Announced at the beginning of the year, and finally delivered now, the collection was promoted as a stylish storage and tote system in one. The collection came in two colours (standard brown and the much harder to get hold of pink) and was made up of the following items:

Trunk with Paper Storage Box and Business Card Holder
Handbag
Corner Punch with Storage Box

Above is an image of the entire collection. Each item was available separately for purchase but many retailers offered discounts if you bought everything. The reason for pink being hard to get hold of was the Chatterbox policy of selling the trunks in sets of four, one pink and three brown. This meant pink was hard to get hold of as retailers didn't want to be stuck with unsold brown ones. Understandable as it would be quite a financial investment.

Trunk

The trunk is equiped with sturdy rollers (double rollers on each of two sides). The telescopic handle is black. Unlike similar rolling totes, the handle runs on the inside of the bag (see image below). I think this is a good and important design decision as black handles/poles on the back would have ruined the asthetic of the bag. It is about the size of a standard carry on suitcase.

There are straps which go around the entire trunk and are fully functional, being held in place with buckles. For the security conscious, there is a double combination lock. On the bottom of the trunk, there are strudy metal studs to protect the bottom of the trunk. The material used to make the trunk (and other items in the collection) is not leather, but some sort of synthetic. It has a matt (not totally smooth texture) and the colour is just very PINK.

The above images shows how the telescopic handles are located on the inside of the trunk. While this does mean the bottom of the trunk is not flat and there is some loss of space, for me, I find this an acceptable compromise as this keeps the overall look and style of the bag intact. I would think it would also add to the strength of the handles as they are given extra support by the back of the case.

The inside top of the trunk has an expanding section that could house papers or other materials, held in place by two straps and press studs. There is a zipper pocket that would be suitable for pens or similar items.

Paper Storage Box

The Paper Storage box comes as part of the package with the trunk. It is large enough to hold 12 x 12 paper (but not, ironically enough, the latest range of Chatterbox room papers, which have that little extra strip of info at the bottom which you have to cut off!). I would think it would hold 50 sheets of paper.

The box is made in two separate sections. The top of the box slides over the bottom and is held in place by two lots of press studs (top and bottom). This box will fit inside the trunk.

Business Card Briefcase

This is also part of the trunk package. It is so cute! The little combination lock doesn't work, but the clasps holding it closed do work. Just a very cute way to store business cards.

Handbag

The handbag has similar features to the trunk, combination lock, an expandable pocket on the lid and studs on two sides for when sitting flat or upright. The straps, however are decorative and are held in place by press studs. There is, in addition to the handle, a small strap. This can by slipped over the open telescopic handle of the trunk to allow both to be moved at the same time. The dimensions of the handbard are 12" long, by 9" wide and 4" deep.

A long strap is provided which allows use as a traditional handbag. From looking at the original photo posted on the Chatterbox site earlier this year, it seams that a major improvement was made with this strap. In the earlier photos it seemed to be made of webbing. The one that arrived with the case is made of the same material as the case and has solid metal fixtures (clips and slides).

Corner Press

The corner press comes in a small, relatively plain box with none of the metal work on the corners or straps but it does have the combination lock. It holds the corner press tool and two bags of corners. The corners themselves are covered in a removable plastic so that they can be applied without scratching the metal. The plastic is easy to remove. Chatterbox is supposed to be coming out with a line of decorative corners at some future date. The ones that come with the tool are plain brass.

Overall, I am pretty impressed with the collection. While marketed as a functional item, style is also a major selling factor. As such, I think the prices reflect this. I got the trunk for approx $180 AU. This included the paper storage box and business card briefcase. When you look at comparable systems, I think this is pretty much on par as far as price goes.

The handbag was $58 AU and the corner press set $40 AU.

Pros: It is stylish. You can't deny that a major reason for buying this system is that it is just very cool to look at. It is sturdily built and I think that with care, it will last quite a while. The rollers are strong and will make moving it pretty easy.

Cons: As a storage system, the trunk isn't that big. It would be suitable for day crops but no good for packing for a retreat. The colour will take a bit of looking after as small scrapes and dings will show up pretty easily. The weight of the system, if you are carrying everything at once is not minor, and when full would be quite difficult to move without care.

Quick Review (Out of 5 Stars)

Cost: 4
Usefulness: 4
Ease of Use: 5
Style: 5

Update: Making Memories Foam Stamps

2005-08-08T09:08:00.000+10:00

I received this email from a reader about the Making Memories Foam Stamps:

I have found with the stencil fonts that the "negative" side has very thin walls and can cave on one side. Your picture of the M shows this perfectly... see how the wall is less than 1 mm on one side, and 2-3mm on the other side? With constant use, the thin side actually breaks away.

I have to say that this is a valid comment. When I was cleaning the "M" stamp, I was concerned about the wall of the stamp, it bent rather worringly during the cleaning process. I think this is something people should keep in mind when using these stamps (or similar products).

Making Memories Modular Organization System

2005-08-03T15:46:00.000+10:00

The Modular Organization System is a new product from Making Memories. The system is based on a series of panels (three metalic, one cloth) and a series of storage options which incorporate magnets. This allows them to stick to the panels. As with most things from Making Memories, the system is very stylish, with a clean, modern look.

Below is the package for the Brushed Metal Panel. Each panel comes shrink wrapped in plastic. When you open the side of the box, be careful as this is where the supplied screws and plasterboard/drywall plugs are stored.

The chalkboard panel is also metal so the various magnetic accessories will stick to it. It is a smooth chalkboard surface and the chalk rubs off easily with a cotton cloth. The range also has a Cloth panel, which used stick pins and a Mesh Panel, which can use the push pin accessories or the magnetic ones.

There is a large variety of accessories for this system of various usefulness. Prices listed below are approximate and will vary from retailer to retailer:

Panels (Brushed Metal, Metal Mesh and Chalkboard- $40 AU, Cloth - $30 AU)
Magnetic Half Round Cup (2 sizes) - $9.90 and $11.90 AU
Magnetic Round Tin (3 sizes) - $11.90, $12.90 & $13.90 AU
Supply Trays (2 sizes) - $11.90 and $13.90 AU
Bulldog Clips - $7.95 AU
Hooks - $6.95 AU
Decorative Push Pins 12 pieces (4 each-3 styles) - $7.95 AU
Small Magnetic Clips
Decorative Magnets
Magnetic Square Tin
Zip Bags

You can see the selection of items that I tested below. The magnets used are fairly strong, on the larger items such as the cups and the supply tray, the whole back is a magnet and it takes some force to remove them from the panels. I stacked 800 grams of weight onto the large cup and it took the weight without falling off. I did have one problem with the large items. The large supply tray was warped. This meant that it did not sit flat on the panel. This made it a bit unstable. While still able to hold things, if its bumped, the tray comes off the panel quite easily. Because of the sturdy construction of the tray, it's impossible to bend it flat. I can only assume this is a manufacturing problem rather than damage that occured during shipping.

Of the smaller items I had the small round tin and the bulldog clips. The small round tins will comfortably hold about 75 1/8" eyelets. However, I don't think this would be a suitable method for mass storage of eyes (not with two tins costing just under $10 AUD). But they would be good for items that you needed to access regularly or wanted to show off. The round tins come in two larger sizes (which I ordered but wasn't able to get). I think these would be a more useful size. The lids fit tightly and are secure.

Again, with this product there was a small problem. The black plastic inserts in one of the tins was very thin, and had been crushed. It also had a small hole in it. This caused items (such as eyelets) to fall under the insert. Also, because the insert had collapsed on one side due to the thinness, it didn't reach the rim and items could move from one segment to another.

Here you can see the thinness of the plastic and the hole.

Actual installation is pretty simple. It only requires drilling two holes, using the supplied screws and mounting the board. Below is the before shot of my wall. The holes are from the previous storage system that was there. A paper template is provided to help with drilling the holes. I didn't use it, this was a mistake on my part. As someone who does multiple hobbies requiring measuring, I did a very bad job of it on this project. Entirely my fault, not the product!

This is the panel up. As you can see, they sit very flush to the walls. This is a definate advantage if working with a small space.

This is the panels up with the various storage systems attached.

Pros: It looks good. A large part of the appeal of this system is the way it looks. However, the modular nature of the systems means that it can be customised to suit the needs of each user. The shapes and sizes are good. I would like to see a supply tray that will take a full six bottles of the paint sets. And its robust enough to take the weight of heavier items such as hammers, scissors etc.

Cons: The manufacturing flaws in the supply tray and round tins were disappointing. While not enough to mean the were unusable, for the price, one would expect top quality. The cost is another issue. Using this system for mass storage would be extremely expensive. As a decorative as well as storage system, the price is a bit more reasonable.

Quick Review (Out of 5 Stars)

Cost: 2
Usefulness: 4
Ease of Use: 5

Special Limited Edition Sizzix Font - Azure

2005-07-19T09:12:00.000+10:00

For those interested in Sizzix alphabets, there is currently a limited edition font available. Called Azure, it is available only from the Shop At Home TV network. Not sure if they ship internationally.

CHA

2005-07-16T22:20:00.000+10:00

Several trends have emerged or rather strengthened on the first day:

Foam Alpha stamps
Artifical flowers
Office/Stationary emellishments
Word Plates - metal and acrylic
Ribbon Sets

Hot Product Of the Day:

Provocraft Cricut

CHA Summer 2005

2005-07-16T11:22:00.000+10:00

The CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) Summer 2005 trade show begins this weekend. Over three days, hundreds of designers and manufacturers will be releasing thousands of new products. I will not be attending (I wish!) but I will be keeping an eye out for new releases and doing quick write up's about anything that catches my attention. These won't be full on reviews (I only review something I can hold in my hands and use), but more just "What's New" announcements.

Sizzix Sizzlets Alphabet - Stencil

2005-07-15T12:29:00.000+10:00

The newest font available in the Sizzix range of Sizzlet Alphabet dies is the Stencil font.

This is a much bolder font than many of the recent styles released in the Sizzlets alphabet range. Also making it different is the way the letters are arranged on the dies. In previous sets, both upper and lower case was on the one letter die. In the case of the stencil font, since both large and small are both upper case, they have placed one large letter per die and then four small letters on another die.

This address what was one of my major concerns before the release of this font. When using stencil style fonts, most scrapbookers like to able able to use both the positive and negative image of the font. Having the dies layed out as they are addresses this problem:

Also, I found that the die cuts for this font were much sharper and easy to work with than the thinner style fonts. I believe this is due to the chuncky and linear nature of the font.

Pros: Large fonts that allows the use of both negative and postitve images. Also, while I was sceptical about the smaller die, I believe they will be most useful and because of the way in which the letters have been arranged on the dies, you get the most versatility out of the set.

Cons: Due in most part to the nature of the stencil font, in addition to the alphabet and numbers, there are only two punctuation symbols (question mark and amphersand). The other fonts usually have several additional punctuations symbols in addition to thse (dash, exclamations mark, dollar sign, hash, semi-colon, quotation marks). This would be my major criticism, but again this may be related to the font and necessity of different layout. I personally would rather miss out on punctuation if it means keeping the better layout.

Quick Review (Out of 5 Stars)

Cost: 3
Usefulness: 4
Ease of Use: 5

Making Memories Foam Stamps - Alphabets

2005-07-12T11:46:00.000+10:00

The Making Memories Foam Stamps are a new addition to the Making Memories embellishment tools range. They are promoted to be used in conjunction with the Making Memories Colors (Paint) range.

The stamps come in a semi-hard plastic case, and once open, the stamps need to be separated. In the case of the Stencil stamps were are reviewing here, the stamps are double sided, with one side positive and the other negative of the stencil font. There is upper case only in the stencil font. For the other fonts in the range, all contain both upper and lower case in on set (except for Stencil and Jersey). These sets include:

Jersey Uppercase
Jersey Lowercase
Gabby - Upper and Lower
Franklin - Upper and Lower
Misunderstood - Upper and Lower
Philadelphia - Upper and Lower
Stencil - Positive and Negative

The stamps are easy to use. They can be used with both the Making Memories Colors or with normal stamp inks. However, the large size of the stamps and the styles of the fonts lends them to be used with the paints. A tip, when using with the paints, stamp quickly. The paint can dry very quickly. The other thing to note is that the stamps tend to "slip" when used with paints, so be careful unless you really want the smudged look!

The alphabet stamps are around $18 AU.

My main issue with the stamps is cleaning. When using the paints, they can tend to stain the stamps, even if clean up is done straight away. However, I think this is a relatively small issue.

Pros: Good size. Too often the alphabet stamps that are on the market are too small and lack impact. The font sizes in these stamps are large and are a great way to add instant oompf to a page or title.

Cons: Staining of foam on stamps may be an issue for some people, especially if colour transfer occurs.

Quick Review (Out of 5 Stars)

Cost: 3
Usefulness: 3
Ease of Use: 4

Sizzix Sizzlets Alphabet - Funky Brush

2005-07-08T11:55:00.000+10:00

When Sizzix first started putting out Alphabet sets, there were two major complaints. Firstly, there were only two fonts. Secondly, they were very expensive, partly because you had to buy four different boxes to get a complete set of alphabets (upper, lower, numbers, punctuation).

This changed somewhat with the arrival of the Sizzlets style die cut. These thinner dies dramatically cut the cost of sets and also ushered in a large number of new fonts. This first generation of dies were good, except for one thing, in my opinion the die cuts were too small. At approximately 5/8" tall, they were too small and fiddley to worry about. I would just use sticker letter.

However, a new generation of the Sizzlets Alphabets has been brought out. The one under review here is the Funky Brush alphabet.

When I first saw the actual font, I fell in love. Perfect for weddings, girly pages, heritage, formal, the list goes on. The actual die cut is also somewhat taller than the previous Sizzlet alphabets at 1 1/2" tall. The new generation of fonts also seems to be somewhat slimmer in style, which can make them a bit tricky to work with. I find the best way to adhere them to pages is to use glue rather than tabs or tape runners. However, the thinness, I believe, allows for larger letters, so it is something I can live with.

In order to use the Sizzlets dies in a standard Sizzix machine, you need a converter. This kit includes a bonus sizzlet die and an embossing folder. At $30 AU ($18 USD) it's not a huge layout. The Sizzlets dies can be used with the Sizzix Sidekick.

Pros: A better range of fonts and also a significant price drop. The fact that you get a complete alphabet (upper, lower, punction, numbers) as well as a storage system in the one package is a major improvement.

Cons: I do have issues with the Sizzlets dies, including the alphabet dies. Firstly, because they are thinner than the originals dies, you can only really cut paper and cardstock with them. And it have found it a struggle to use thicker cardstocks, such as Bazzil. However, it does become easier once the die has been used a couple of times. So it's worth preparing each die by testing it on some cheaper cardstock. This would be my major issue with the Sizzlets dies, the inability to cut the same variety of materials as the originals and also cleanliness of cuts. However, since the Sizzlets mean a significant drop in costs, it is probably worth it.

Overall, I believe the Sizzlets alphabets are a great addition to the Sizzix range, adding a great variety of alphabets. The drop in cost offsets the lesser functionality.

Quick Review (Out of 5 Stars)

Cost: 3
Usefulness: 4
Ease of Use: 5

Making Memories Scrapbook Colors (Paints)

2005-07-05T11:39:00.000+10:00

Making Memories is one of the leaders in the scrapbooking field for all sorts of embellishments. Of late their newest product, Scrapbook Colors or Paints have been making a big impact. Most scrapbookers have been concerned about using paints in their scrapbooks. But I think that having a product produced by a company with a good track record has helped get people over that initial concern.

This range of products comes in several sets, grouped by colour theme:

Cityscape - asphalt, espresso, manila, shopping bag, spotlight, steel (pictured)
Springtime - rose, peach, buttercup, celery, sky, lilac
Sherbert - strawberries & cream, mango, banana, honeydew, daiquiri, and blueberry.
Harvest - cranberry, nutmeg, wheat, evergreen, dusk, grapevine.
In Bloom - poppy, monarch, sunflower, meadow, cornflower, plum.
Childhood - red wagon, eat your carrots, school bus, grass stains, waterslide, grapesicle.
Tropic - hibiscus, coral, sunsoaked, key lime, aquamarine, blue reef.
Polo - apricot, capri, kiwi, lagoon, lemon, wisteria.
Hampton - acorn, bordeux, chocolate, eggplant, navy, spruce.

Each kit contains six 2 ounce bottles of Scrapbook Colors, 2 - 1" foam brushes, 1 - 1.5" foam brush, and 1 paint tray.

One interesting feature of these paints is that they are advertised as suitable for use on metal. Since Making Memories has such a large range of metal embellishments, this makes sense. If you plan on doing this, make sure you "key" the surface by giving it a quick sand with sandpaper.

I used the Scrapbook Colors in combination with the Making Memories Foam Stamps, Stencil Alphabet, to create the title on my "Camels" page. The paints have nice texture to them, but be warned, they do dry very quickly. I used the supplied foam brushes to apply the paints to my stamps. Make sure you wipe off excess paint as this can drip into the crooks and crevices of the stamps. When using them also be careful not to push to hard, as the paint on the stamp can make it slip a bit and smudge the letter. Once applied, the paint dried very quickly on the cardstock, which is a good thing as it means you don't have to wait around too long before proceeding.

Once I'd finished using the stamps and paint, clean up came next. It was at this stage that my only gripe with the products came up. When washing the stamp, I couldn't get all the paint off the foam stamp. I couldn't rub too hard as some parts of the stamps are quite thin. I hope that they paint will not transfer next time I use them.

Overall, I was happy with the product. At $25.oo AU ($13.00 USD), they are not cheap. It is probably possible to buy cheaper acrylic paints in normal stores, but part of the appeal for me was that they came in themed colour ways, which meant I knew each colour would go with the others in the set. For the colour challenged, this could be a big selling point.

Quick Review (Out of 5 Stars)

Cost: 3
Usefulness: 4
Ease of Use: 4