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- What & why
- Cardstock
- Colored cardstock
- Paper cutter/scorer
- Die cutter
- Ink
- Stamping platform
- Color
- Adhesives
- Tools
- Stamps & dies
- Optional extras
What you actually need, and why
Just getting started? Before we get into specific products, let’s talk about the jobs they do for you.
To make a basic card, you need to:
- Create a card base
- Add a sentiment
- Add a focal element
- Add color
Thinking about these ‘jobs’ helps plan the best products for your style and the types of cards you want to make.
For example, to make card bases you’ll need:
- Good quality cardstock
- A paper cutter
- A way to score your cardstock
To add sentiments you’ll need at least ONE of these:
- Sentiment dies
- Sentiment stamps (with or without matching dies) AND an ink pad AND either a stamp block or a stamp positioning platform
- Pre-made sentiments
- Rub-on sentiments
To add a focal element you’ll need at least ONE of these:
- Dies to match your card’s theme
- Stamps to match your card’s theme, plus ink and possibly a stamping platform
- Pre-made die cuts (called “ephemera”)
Naturally if you opt for sentiment or focal dies, you will also need a die cutter.
To add color you have lots of options! But to get started I recommend ONE OR MORE of these…
- Inks AND blending brushes
- Markers (alcohol ink or water-based)
- Colored cardstock or DSP (packs of patterned paper)
Colored cardstock gives you lots of options for your card panels and die cuts. Inks and markers let you color in stamped images, use stencils, and color white cardstock to match your project.
You will also need a way to adhere your card pieces, which means ONE OR MORE of the following:
- High quality “wet” glue
- High quality glue stick
- Double sided tape
- Double sided foam tape or strips or “dots”
There are a couple other tools that make life much easier. Technically these are optional, but they’re so useful that I consider them essential:
- Low tack tape if you’re using a die cutter, to hold dies in place
- A pokey tool if you use either a die cutter or double sided tape, to help you remove die cuts from dies, and to help remove the backing from your tape
- A T-ruler to help you place your sentiments
So with all that, if you’re just getting started here the products I can heartily recommend if you’re just getting started…
Recommended starter kit products
NOTES:
- These links are NOT AFFILIATE LINKS. I recommend products that I have used myself, or come recommended by trusted cardmaking friends.
- Where possible I’ve provided Canadian, US, and UK links to major shopping hubs (like Amazon and Michael’s), but your local scrapbooking stores will often have better prices and selection!
Cardstock for card panels and bases
- Hammermill Premium Cover, 100lb/271gsm [CAD, US, UK]
- Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 110lb/297gsm [CAD, CAD, US, UK]
Notes:
- Personally I use Hammermill because it’s great and more available in my area, but my American friends swear by Neenah.
- I also like Goefun 100lb linen cardstock [CAD, US, UK] for card bases — it has a premium feel that I’ve been using more and more for cards that are primarily white.
Colored cardstock
Notes:
- This is heavy duty “solid core”, which means you won’t see a white edge if you die cut it.
- It comes in 48 colors!
- You can buy the multicolor packs I linked to get started, or packs of a single color, or look for individual sheets at your local scrapbooking store.
A paper cutter / scorer
Notes:
- This is a great combo item — it measures, cuts, and scores, and it also folds so that it’s compact enough to travel with.
- The only downside to this style of cutter is that you need to replace the blade regularly, so I recommend buying extra blades up front.
Die cutter
Notes:
- This is a manual, hand-cranked die cutter with a 6” plate. I’ve used mine for years and it’s a real workhorse!
- I recently discovered that they now offer a fold-up version that may work well if you travel lots or have limited space. I haven’t had the chance to try it but their regular version has been so good I felt it was worth mentioning the other option.
Ink
Notes:
- This stamps very well and won’t bleed with alcohol ink markers. I have also heard good things about Versafine Clair Nocturne (black).
Stamping platform
- Stamping blocks: Look for a set like [this one] that gives you a few different sizes, up to at least 4”.
- Stamping platforms:
Notes:
- You need one of these to use clear “photopolymer” stamps.
- You can use a stamping block as long as your stamps aren’t too big. However, it’s pretty common for stamps to need multiple impressions to get a perfect result, and that’s hard to achieve with a stamping block. In that case you’ll need a stamping platform. These hold both your stamp and cardstock in place so that you can re-ink and re-stamp cleanly.
- I have tried a bunch of stamping platforms and a lot are surprisingly…not good. A couple found their way into the trash because they were genuinely terrible. The first platform listed above is the one I’ve stuck with. The second is the platform that many of my cardmaking friends swear by, and you probably can’t go wrong with.
Color
Notes:
- Why start with markers and not inks? Inks come with a higher price point to achieve a decent range of colors, plus you need extra tools — namely blending brushes. Also there are several different types of ink and the right ink depends on what you are making. If you’re just starting out you may still be figuring that out. Markers let you color in stamped images and you typically get 24-48 colors in a starter set, which gives you a lot of flexibility. I recommend alcohol ink markers over water-based markers because they blend well, don’t smear when dry, and dry really quickly. I like Ohuhu because they have good prices on their sets, and it’s relatively easy to get refills.
Adhesives
- Wet glue: Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive [CAD-$$$, CAD-$, US, UK] or Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue [CAD, US, UK]
- Glue stick: Scotch 3M Wrinkle-Free [CAD, US, UK]
- Double-sided tape: [CAD, US, UK]
- Foam tape: Pre-cut squares in a variety of sizes [CAD, US, UK]
Notes:
- Pre-cut foam squares avoid gumming up your scissors!
- Nuvo is my fave wet glue — it’s a super strong glue that gives you a few seconds of wiggle room before it bonds. It’s unfortunately temperature-sensitive though, and can’t be shipped during cold months. Bearly is also good and can ship year-round, so it’s my backup of choice.
Tools
- Spellbinders Tool’n One [CAD, US, UK]
- PearBlossom Press: Cardmaker's T-Square Ruler A2 [CAD, US, UK]
Stamps and dies
There are possibly thousands of stamps and dies out there! I recommend starting with a birthday set and a holiday set, since you’ll probably make the most cards for these occasions. A set should include one or more sentiments, and one or more ‘themed’ focals. For example, a birthday set might include sentiments like “Happy Birthday “ and focal elements like cakes or balloons. A holiday set might include sentiments like “Happy Holidays” and focal elements like ornaments or snowflakes.
When it comes to sentiments I personally love banners like these, because you get a bunch of options in one set:
Birthday sentiments:
Holiday sentiments:
Optional extras
If you’re investing in dies I definitely recommend a set of nesting rectangle dies that cut out perfect card panels, matts, and borders.
This year I switched over to using the Spellbinders Precision Layering A2 sets these and find myself reaching for them with almost every card!