June is busting out allll over! And before the month is out, the summer 2021 issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine will officially be released. Yessss! 

But before we get to that, welcome to TOOL week!

To kick things off, I wanted to share a few of my favorite tools—the ones that I keep reaching for and make my creative times even more enjoyable.

One thing I love most about card making is die cutting. I have three manual die cutting machines: the Gemini Jr. from Crafter’s Companion, the Spellbinders Platinum 6, and the Altenew Mini Blossom.  Depending on what I am cutting or embossing, this triumvirate of machines do great work! True confession: One thing I love about the Gemini Jr. is that while it’s cutting a design, I have a few moments to clean up scraps or cut some card bases! I’m all about efficient use of time. 

I would be LOST without my MISTI from My Sweet Petunia. I got one of the OG stamping platforms years ago, and now I have several in different sizes. I used to be a timid stamper but now LOOK OUT. A game changer in so many ways!

I am a huge fan of the Cutterpillar Pro from Cutterpillar. It cuts like a boss, can trim off the teeniest and peskiest little sliver of paper, and it has a light to help you see right where to cut!

 When I’m adding sequins, gems, or inlaid die cuts, I will grab either the Marvy Uchida Jewel Picker or We R Memory Keepers QuickStik. Both tools help you to manipulate the bitty bits that take a design from good to great.

Colored pencils perform best when they are super sharp! I swear by the Kum sharpener to make the perfect point. Truth be told, I bought a second sharpener for sharpening the pencils that I use to write in my planner. 

I’m so thankful to have great tools to help me create handmade kindness! Enjoy this week’s inspiration and have a most excellent month!

P.S. Two non-crafting tools I swear by are the Revlon Salon One-Step Hair Dryer (it’s a brush in hairdryer form, and it’s AMAZING!) and the Avid Power Cordless Leaf Blower which keeps my cute courtyard tidy!

Susan R. Opel, Editor-in-Chief