Gift Giving Guide for Card Makers - My Top 10

Every year I get asked about gift giving guides for card makers – and the emails have already started coming in!

This year has been my first full year of my new adventures in card making – and this list was so hard to pare down. I've been working on it for a while now, and I'm excited to share it with you.

This list is not in any particular order, and I have to say that if you use my links below, I may earn a small commission. I am proud to share these links – these links are the best way you can help support small business owners, like me.

Glassboard Studios Magnetic Glass Craft Mats

I am so in love with these magnetic glass craft mats, it's insane! I now have 3 and I've only known about this company since April. Total game changer! Their magnets are great, their accessories are fun – but the magnetic glass is the best! I have 3 sizes:

The 9″ x 12″ that you see in my videos. The reason I bought this size was to have one small enough to make my videos on it.
For my every day crafting, I use my 18″ x 24″. It's large enough for me to have my projects in sections on the glass mat. I keep my die cut pieces in one area, my stamping gets done in another, and so on.
The new scrapbook size is brand new, and so new to me too. I used it just two days ago to help me mass produce my cards. Since it's sized for 2 12″ x 12″ layouts, it's also then perfect for card making. Each section was a mini work station to help me get them all complete.

If I had to pick one, I would recommend the either the scrapbook size or the 18″ x 24″ size. The biggest difference is the depth of the glass mat, so keep your workspace in mind.

Order Glassboard Studio Here

OLO Markers

Alcohol markers were the biggest game changer in the card making world, in my opinion, since die cutting came on the scene. They are smooth as glass and make coloring fun again! There are many options out there, but OLO Markers are my favorite.

I highly recommend them because:

The great quality of them. If you've seen me color in the last 18 months, they have been with these markers.
The cost is just down right affordable. They are easy on the pocketbook, especially when comparing them to other alcohol markers.
Their refills are simply a thing of beauty! Brilliant, easy, and affordable. If you've ever tried to refill a Copic, then you will really appreciate these refills, as you simply remove a cap and pop your nib on top.
No more buying two packs of markers that can't be purchased separately. Many of you have seen me use Stampin' Blends a while back – and how frustrating is it that you can't just purchase the one marker, you have to buy two. That drove me insane and was the number 1 reason I quit using them, well before my change in craft adventures.

They have a lot of colors, so I get asked a lot where to start. I was fortunate to be asked to put together some color assortments with OLO, and you can find them here.

Budget Friendly options:
There are two collections there, one is more of a rainbow assortment, the second collection you will see has two of each shade, a lighter and a darker. So pick the one that best suits you in the nib you like – my preference is the brush tip. Make sure to add on a Zero marker – that will be your colorless marker that allows you to move the ink and so some really cool things.

Go Big Options:
Heck, get them all! Or, if you want a middle size assortment, I would recommend this set of 64 here. I love this collection over the other 64 set collection because you get more greens – and we use a lot of greens in card making.

Order OLO Markers Here

Catherine Pooler Ink

A friend asked me yesterday what ink pads I like the best. I have picture on Facebook right now that really shows which ones I clearly like the best, and they are Catherine Pooler's Inks.

There are a LOT of colors, she has such a great selection. They are easy to store, easy to refill, and EASY TO OPEN!

The hardest part with her inks is picking out where to start, because she has so many colors!

How I recommend starting:

Pick a collection – Party or Spa. I love my bright colors, so for me, I started with Party.
Pick 10 colors. You know the colors you use the most, but here are my top 8: Rockin' Red, Limoncello, Party Dress, Grass Skirt, Cummerbund, Cotton Candy, Dress Blues, and Lime Rickey.
Grab 2 neutrals to complete your 10: I love Hoodie and Cashmere if I had to pick 2.

If you want more, you can get the entire collection in ink pads and refills. I do recommend always buying the refill when you get the ink pads. If you get in that habit, then you never have to remember if you have the refill or not!

Order Catherine Pooler Here

Brass and Bliss Cover Plate Dies

I love cover plate dies, they are so much fun! So as I was going through my cover plate dies, I found that most of them I have are from Brass and Bliss. Not only are their dies great, but their selection is incredible.

The other thing I like about theirs is the price point. Even full price, their prices are better than most other online retailers, but you can snag some great ones on sale throughout the year.

It was SO HARD for me to narrow it down to give you my top 5 for each, but I did it. Here they are:

A2 Quilted Cover Die
Spider Web
Circle Cover Die
Diamond with Stitch Cover Die
Ornament Panel Die

And then for fun, let's add in the Impossible Fold Die – it's a fun fold die, what's not to love?!?!?

Order Brass and Bliss Here

Pear Blossom Press Interactive Elements

Interactive cards are just too much fun – and Pear Blossom Press does it better than anyone! Her lights literally light up any card. Her spinners are way better than using pennies! And her wobbles are just such a great quality, you don't want to mess with any others.

She has a variety of lights, so let's talk about some of her items and why I love them:

The Candle Light is too much fun – because you actually have to blow out the candle! Pressing the button again does nothing – the person has to blow out the lights!
Her spinners are called Snap and Slides. They are lightweight and easy to work with, but if you need more weight, she even sells weights! She has dies that work perfectly with these Snap and Slides that you can then use with any other stamps and die cuts.
Wobble cards never get old. If you doubt me for one second, make a card with a wobble and give it to someone. They can't help but flick them over and over again. Throughout my over 20 years of card making, there are a lot of these on the market. The quality from Pear Blossom Press is the best. And if you are spending money on making a card with a wobble, her's are $.60 each – well worth it!

Order Pear Blossom Press Here

Glue Press

I didn't want to like it. Many of you know just how much I didn't want to like it!

I'm a grown woman that knows how to squeeze a glue bottle. I felt very confident in my glue bottle squeezing abilities.

But I started doing a bit more work with layered dies and I hit my limit and ordered one.

And it was 100% worth it!

You can order from any of these places, the prices are the same:

Crafty Stamp Co's Stencils

In looking in my bin at my love of stencils, I rapidly saw that most of them are from Crafty Stamp Co. I love her stamps and papers, and equally love her stencils.

I love the quality, the variety and the price point. I love how she releases new ones every other month, so not too many, not to little – just right!

You can use them with almost any inks and I've never had an issue with a single one of them – which if you've done a lot with stencils, you probably know that some are better than others.

Since I am sharing my favorites, I would have to go with these for my top 5:

Yikes & Frights – it's unique!
Spring Breeze
Ink Splats #1
Bubbles
Party Polka Dots

Order Crafty Stamp Co Here

Sizzix Stencil and Stamp Tool

I am putting this one on the light because if you are like me, you want a tool that can do more than one thing – and that's the Stencil and Stamp Tool and the Stamp and Spin addition.

The Stencil and Stamp Tool is unique because it's a stamp positioner that doesn't use magnets. It has a tacky grid mat that you can use over and over again, but if needed, you can get replacements. It has an adapter that holds your stencils in place if you choose to use it, or if your stencil is big enough to surround your card stock, you can just stick it down on the surface.

It also has a clear plate that is a removable hinge that you can use as your stamp positioner. It helps you go back over a stamped image that either you want to be darker, you didn't stamp it well the first time, or you want to do some cool ombre effects.

What makes it even cooler is the Stamp and Spin addition. It has a hinge as well, so you take the clear, flat stamp positioner off your platform and slide this one into it's place. And now you can make wreath, and circular patterns in no time. It's so much fun! It's something I tend to forget about, and then I use it and fall in love all over again.

There are 3 places I recommend ordering from:

Die Cutting Machine

Many years ago when the earth was flat, I bought my first Big Shot. While the name has stayed the same, the guts of it haven't.

And I didn't know this. Many of us didn't know this. So my original was kinda clunky. It worked but it was just clunky.

About a year ago, a new, shiny Big Shot arrived at my door and I could not believe the difference. It was smooth like butter.

I truly couldn't believe the difference. Same Sizzix company, same product name, but revamped.

And now they have done it again! And the new machine is quite a visible change. I don't have it YET, but it is on my wish list as well.

My friend that has it says that if I think mine is smooth, I don't even know what smooth is until I have used this one! She loves that the handle is detachable and you can store it right under the machine.

And that handle might be what has me most excited. Not because it's detachable – let's be honest, I would only take it off if I was to travel with it. But because I wouldn't have to keep up with that tiny little hex screw driver thingy when the handle gets loosened!

If you have a die cutting machine from the stone ages, it's time for an upgrade! Say goodbye to clunky and say hello to smooth sailing!

Ordering Suggestions: