Heather Recommends

Just in case you're wondering, here are the essential things that I use and love... Disclosure: I am not affiliated with, nor compensated by, any of these companies for my recommendation or review. They are simply things that I enjoy using in my everyday, real life.

Scrapbooking

Trimmer

Tonic Studios Guillotine Paper Trimmer - finally, the trimmer I've been waiting for! Here's why I love this thing: the gridlines will never rub off; the top edge is actually perpendicular to the cutting edge; the blade will never need replacing; the base will actually support my entire page while I cut; and there's no hinge to make gaps in the ruler. Yes, it's bulky, and it doesn't fit in any of my crop bags, but I don't travel much; and the orange handle does come off (it stores on the back) and there's a hand-hold at the top to make it easier to carry.

Scissors

Fiskars Softouch Micro-tip Scissors - sharp enough for fabric, small enough for fussy cutting

Adhesives

American Crafts This to That Dot Glue Runner - my go-to adhesive 99% of the time

Diamond Glaze - my favorite liquid glue. Also makes stuff shiny :)

Journaling Pen

American Crafts Precision Pro - my favorite is the .03

Page Protectors
American Crafts - so far, their page protectors are the best I've found for accomodating dimensional layouts - and I've yet to find an album they didn't fit in
Becky Higgins Project Life - awesome divided page protectors in tons of different sizes

Storage Solutions

Dazzle Caddy from Best Craft Organizer - I have 4 of these to hold my Stickles collection

Cropper Hopper Paper Holder - how I store all of my 12x12 paper. Lots of it.

Other Stuff

Splat Mat from Bazzill Basics - nothing sticks to this thing, and the scalloped edges are a nice touch

i-Magicut Ribbon Cutter from Imaginisce - it's a little fussy for a perfectionist like me to get the ribbon in there "just right" but I love that it seals the ends of the ribbon - no more fraying!

Tech-y Stuff

Computer
HP Pavilion. I'm a PC. ;)

Software
Photoshop Elements 7.0 - for digital scrapbooking and organizing digital supplies
Lightroom 3 - for photo organization and editing
Family Tree Maker 2012 (and coordinating subscription at Ancestry.com)

Printer
EPSON Stylus Photo R1900 - prints 12x12 borderless, and on cardstock, no less. Awesome.

Photo Paper
EPSON Ultra Premium Photo Paper Luster - although, to be honest, I have most of my prints made by Mpix

Scanner
HP Scanjet 4070 Photosmart scanner (model discontinued)

 

Photography

Camera
Canon Rebel XTi (model discontinued) and iPhone 3GS

Lenses
Canon EF 35-80mm f/4-5.6 III
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Canon EF 80-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II

Music

Horn
Conn 8D

Oil
Hetman Synthetic Light Rotor Lubricant No. 11
Hetman Synthetic Light Bearing & Linkage Lubricant No. 13

Mutes
Woodstop transposing stop mute - I can't get over the sound of this mute! Nice loud low register, too.
Lewis non-transposing straight mute - lovely low register