My favorite products of 2009 - and a Giveaway!

Now that we are creeping into 2010, Twenty Ten, you know, not Two Thousand Ten, I thought I'd share some of my favorite crafty things right now.

1. SCT introduced me to Scrapbook Adhesive tape runners. They are my number one choice for adhesive these days. And they go a long way!

2. Pink Paislee Expression Whimsies:

I think these may have been overlooked by many people, but I hope Pink Paislee keeps making them. They are a great font and the PERFECT size for subtitles, I think. You can even rub ink over the top and change their color. I love them and need some more!

3. Sterilite Craft carts:

I took the wheels off mine. This is how I store my Studio Calico kits. When I get a new kit, I remove a drawer and put all the contents in it, (except embellies, which I keep in a crop bag), and then when I am done using my kit for that month, I lump everything together and store it away. After kits get a few months old and I'm done using them for layouts (because I keep using the kits after my gallery goes live), I go through and put everything into my regular stash. But for a few months, they are in these drawers.

4. This next love was discovered on the brink of 2010, but I'm going to share it anyway, because I was a years worth of excited when Joanne first shared May Arts jute:

I think it was Nik's idea to add twine to the shop. I've been a huge fan of the twine, but the jute is going to be a bit stiffer, so it will be easier to tie it in a bow and have it still look like one. I ordered several yards in several colors when this was added to the shop and I can't wait to wrap it around everything and tie it up in a bow, lol. Really. I am very excited.

5. It seems to me I've been talking about the supplies a bit, so how about fun product in 2009. One of my favorite scrappy lines was Cosmo Cricket's Girl Friday line. In particular, Thursday:

This is the perfect paper to describe my girls and their style. Pink. Blue. Flowers. Butterflies. Their room has these sky blue curtains in it, and when I went to repaint it, I took a swatch of this paper with me to the paint store. That's because Cosmo ALSO turned this paper line into fabric, complete with a GRID pattern fabric. So fun. I am in the process of collecting it all so I can make matching quilts for their beds and curtains too. I am a big big fan.

6. Another favorite thing right now are Hambly rubon stitches:

Bestill my heart. I sew on everything on my own and I think these are fabulous! Hambly rubons go on like buttah too. Love them. Such fun stitching patterns here.

7. I mentioned them a bit earlier but I have to give a shout out to SCT as one of my favorite things:

I've been working with this magazine for about a year, and was recently fortunate enough to be asked to contribute as part of the team. Every time I receive an issue, I am blown away at the quality of the pages and the inspiration in the content within. I canNOT believe it's free. You can download it or pick one up at your LSS, if they subscribe.

Speaking of which, you have until the 7th to submit work for publication in the spring issue. You can learn more about that call here.

The winter issue was full of layouts, cards, and altered projects, so if you haven't had a chance to check it out, I encourage you to do so.

8. The next one on my list is obvious. I use this on just about every layout. I have to say though, when I first saw it I wasn't going to purchase it, thinking my deco scissors could probably do the same thing. But obviously they are more work and can't create a straight line, so number 8 absolutely has to go to my Fiskars Scallop Sentiment punch:


Whoa. Can you see that image? lol. I just love this punch. I almost thought it was permanently stuck the other day, but I managed to work it out. It gets a LOT of use. I have heard punching through tinfoil will sharpen these punches, but someone also pointed out the punch revitalizer and I'm wondering if the lubricant makes any difference? If you have this product, give me a review please.

9. The last thing on my list is my printer's tray.....

I haven't made an altered project that I adore as much as I love this one.... I'm sure it's as much to do with the photos of me with my babies as the project itself, but I just love looking at it. It hasn't found a final resting place either. I keep toting it around the house. Like I said.... the handle has come in quite handy, lol. I think it's going to end up in my bedroom though. I have an old window hanging on the wall opposite the bed, and I think I'm going to take a great big wide ribbon and tie it up with a bow and hang it from one of the panes. I'll share a photo here when I do it. I have to put it down first.

Mine is black, which I love, but Studio Calico had the white 7 Gypsies printer's tray up for sale. That might be fun for the girls' room decor.

So that's it! That's my 9 favorites for 2009 and I'll have 10 to add later.

Speaking of favorite things though.... I was fortunate enough to play a part in one of the add-ons for Studio Calico's January kit this month, as you know. With a Candlestick is my baby. If you purchased this add-on for the project instructions, I hope they work for you. And if you purchased the kit for the stamps and AC Letterbox, you will not be disappointed! Both are fabulous!

In honor of my little project kit, I have an extra add-on that I want to give away here on my blog. As a reminder, this is what the "with the Candlestick" add-on looks like:

If you think you'd be interested in some delicious crafty supplies for your stash, leave a comment on this post letting me know what one of your favorite products or craft supplies are right now.

I'll leave the comments open until midnight 1/4 and draw a name bright and early Tuesday morning.

Have a great weekend! Davinie