Good Saturday morning and Welcome to the Things We Love 2015! I’m so excited to be part of something new this year from Ellen Hutson LLC. From December 1 thru 10 the Ellen Hutson Design Team will be sharing their favorites and each day a different designer will be featured. Julie’s favorites were featured yesterday and Carissa’s favorites will be featured tomorrow. I have been excited this week seeing what my fellow design team members favorites are. Make sure that you KEEP READING (or scroll down to the bottom of the post) for details on the giveaway and my exclusive discount code!!
Now I have to admit I started scratching my head trying to figure out how I would ever narrow down my top favorites. But then I started thinking about the inks, adhesives, and tools that I reach for and use on a constant basis and it didn’t seem so overwhelming. I did get a little shaky in the knees and my eyes started twitching when trying to narrow down my favorite dies. Oh Ellen….can I list more than 5? Wow! This was not an easy job for me. LOL!
Since I had such a hard time narrowing down my die choices I decided to list the frames I use most often. I so love to frame my scenes and floral projects.
I love Distress Inks pads, reinkers and markers.
Card Shoppe by Bazzill: This wonderful cardstock is dyed completely through and is a perfect heavy weight. I LOVE THIS PAPER. Hot Press watercolor paper is my very favorite to work with. It has a smoother finish more like cardstock but is a dream for water coloring.
I love all the tools below but I can't say enough about Susan's Garden Tool Kit. Those tools breathe life into my floral projects.
Things We love Give Away Details
Ellen is providing a wonderful gift package to give you using one of my favorite coordinating die and stamp sets.
This giveaway consists of the following items:
- Essentials by Ellen Cozy Christmas Stamps and Home and Hearth Die Set
- Essentials by Ellen Totally Fabulous Exclusive Die Set
- Essentials by Ellen Storage Envelopes
- Essentials by Ellen Magnet Inserts
For a chance to win simply comment on this blog post between now and December 9th and tell me what your favorite "tool" is. One winner will be randomly chosen to receive these five wonderful products. One comment per person please!
Things We Love Discount Code
If you want to go shopping I have an exclusive discount code for you! You can use this discount code thingswelovekittie on any purchase of in stock product at Ellen Hutson LLC from now until December 14th! Enjoy!
PS…All of Julie's stamps and dies are on a special discount. Check it out!
Thanks for sharing your list. One of my favorite tools is my Fiskars paper trimmer. I use it all the time for all my paper cutting needs.
Wow, what a great list! My favorite tool is my ebosser machine. Love it a lot and is well used and well loved.
It’s been fun looking at everyone’s favorites. But one of my favorite tools has been my MISTI.
My favourite tool is EK Success Cutter Bee scissors. Super sharp and the most perfect for cutting very detail images!
Great list and thanks for a chance to win. I have a few favorite tools that I use all the time including my cutting machine, adapter plate and my paper cutter.
My favorite tool is my BigShot. I hardly ever create anything without using it.
This is a great list! My favorite too is my standby stamp-a-majig. I use it all the time to get my sentiments straight.
My favorite tool is my Big Shot. I have most of the dies on your list plus too many to count. I am a dieaholic. Really enjoy using all of them. You are one of my inspirations, too. Thanks for the chance to win some goodies.
My favorite too is my Big Shot… makes crafting so much easier..
Bernice P
My paper trimmer is my most used item. I’m lost without it. Thanks for your list.
My favorite tool by far is my Sizzix machine! My fiance got it for me for Christmas 8 years ago and it was what started me in this wonderful hobby of paper crafting and card making. I just love it!
I could not be without my sizzix big shot.. love it
Wellllll….. since I am “die crazy” I guess them with my big shot are my favorite things. Thank you for always sharing your very special talent with us.
Carole Lovill
Hands down my Cuttlebug,it’s like magic, in goes a plane old piece of paper out comes a beautifully embossed piece of paper! Not only does it emboss beautifully but it also cuts beautiful die shapes! I really do love it, I can’t image paper crafting without it! Thank you for the chance to win these awesome goodies!
Pam
scrap-n-sewgranny.blogspot.com
Great list Kittie. My two top favorite tools are my die cut machine and definately my MISTI. Before I would always ruin my cards when I stamped my sentiments or anything for that matter, life saving for me for sure.
I can not do anything without my Big Shot. I love all the cards you make. Thank you for sharing you talent with us.
It was fun to see your favourites, Kittie! My favourite tool would have to be my Cuttlebug – I don’t think I could craft without it!
There are so many fun tools it’s hard to pick a favorite! I probably would have to say the Bigshot as I think it’s the one I use most often although the Susan’s Garden Tool kit also scores very high in my “faves”.
I love seeing these lists of favorites. My favorite tool would probably be my Big Shot.
Like you, I have so may favorites, but I guess the one I use most is my Big Shot machine with all the many plates that go with it. But glue is right along there with it. Could go on and on. Love your review. Edna Burgess
Eileen, I asked Santa for a MISTI. I don’t do much stamping but have ruined my fair share of my card fronts by stamping my sentiment crooked. I hope Santa thinks I’ve been a good enough girl to get my wish. I have heard so many wonderful things from blog world and Splitcoaststampers.
Kittie, I have no idea how you could pick your favorites… I’m sure you’ve got lots and lots of favorites… I liked the fact that I have several of your favorites and use them all the time.
Thank you for the opportunity to win some ‘candy’….
Love seeing your favorite things. My big shot pro would be my favorite tool. I have enjoyed all your inspiration! Thank you!
Wonderful list!!! I totally agree with your choices….my favorite tool is the Big Shot as I LOVE my dies!!! Could not create without them! Thanks so much for sharing your inspiration throughout the year Kittie…much appreciated!
Paper Hugs,
Jan
Thank you for sharing your list. I am happy to see some of my favorite things on there too.
Many of my favorite things are on this list too! Great Crafty Minds!
Thank you for sharing your list, Kittie.
I also have several favorite tools and dies, but I really LOVE my e-Bosser. This machine makes it possible that I can punching self and I love it!!
Greetings and Hugs, Eva.
My favorite tool has to be my Big Shot. With so many great dies I see Kittie use, the Big Shot is used the most.
I love dies and my Cuttlebug has helped me create some beautiful cards with all the different dies out there.
I always love to see what everyone else sees as essential tools of our trade. I just love what you do with your projects and often my jaw drops when I visit your blog. I couldn’t live without my dies and die cutter. I don;t think I make many cards without using them. Right now I have a Grand Calibur but I don’t know that I am tied to that brand. I’ve seen several people say the Sizzix is their favorite and I just might have to try that one. Thanks for your favorite list. Happy weekend!
This ‘ttol’ wasn’t on the list of favorites, but, My Favorite Tool is…my hands. Because of them, I can use any tool that’s created to express my creativity and my hearts desire to share goodness, kindness and beauty! Thanks for the opportunity to try for a winner!
One of my favorite tools is my Misti. I also love my teflon bone folder, it makes such a difference.
My favorite tool is the Fiskars Fingertip craft knife. (After that it’s the Big Shot die cutting machine.) I cut better with this craft knife than I do with scissors. You slip your finger through it – it’s like cutting with your finger and I don’t have to worry about gripping a craft knife handle.
What a great list! Many are on my Santa’s list. Kittie, you are such an inspiration and so talented. I look forward to you blog post every day! By far, I could not survive without my BigShot and magnetic platform!
My favourite is the Big Shot! I love it and use it all the time.
My favorite tool for 5 years running is my Tim Holtz Vagabond 🙂 It’s a sure fire fit for my crafting time !!! On Santa’s list this year is a Misti (fingers crossed I was a good girl this year!) How fun it must be to pick your favorites…it’s like being Oprah for a day! Merry Christmas Kittie!
thanks for sharing your favorites Kittie..I have so many..but would hate not to have my vagabond… thanks for this opportunity.
Even though my paper trimmer is the most used tool, my favorite is my Big Shot. I hope one day I can get the Big Shot Plus.
Firstly, Kittie, I would like to thank you for posting your remarkable work so faithfully. I am always inspired by your work, and am constantly amazed, not only by your creativity, but also by the way that you take the time to share it with us all.
As for my one favourite tool, I think that my biggest discovery this year has been multi matte medium. I love the way that it dries invisible, even when it leaks out of the side.
I would have to say my favorite is my Big Shot, my most used is my Fiskars paper trimmer. I love tools, what would we do with out them.
I just love word dies, they really make your card stand out. Also I just love all your cards!
My favorite tool has to be my Big Shot as I use it every day!!!
Kittie, I am like you love my susan ‘s garden tools. They do bring life to florals. My second pick would be my big shot, adore making cards that use dies, I am addicted
To dies. Thanks for always bringing us such great tools and ideas.
My favorite tool is my MISTI!!!
As you said it is impossible to pick a favorite tool but my big shot is one of the most used tools for sure. Love dies!! Great list here. I can’t imagine paper crafting without many of them!
I love and use my BigShot on almost every project.
My most used tool is my Fiskars cutter, but I think my favorite is my Big Shot. I love putting in a die and coming out with a shape and building something from there. You can go to the big box card stores and buy some pretty cards, but they don’t impress like our handmade cards with our die cuts and embossing. I’m not nearly as talented as you, but people are impressed none the less when they receive a handmade card from me. Thanks for your postings. I love to see what you come up with.
I could never survive without my Big Shot for cutting and embossing. I also love my MISTY.
My favorite tool is my Big Kick with the magnetic platform. It makes crafting with finesse so easy and less time-consuming. No need to cut out everything by hand!
Thanks for sharing your creations. I love the cards you design and while I can’t begin to emulate your work I do sometimes try! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
My Fiskars Paper Trimmer is probably my favorite only because every single time I start a project, it starts with the paper trimmer. I have the one that has the silver metal wire running down the middle of the ruler so you can tell exactly where the blade is going to cut. Thanks for sharing all of your projects and wonderful tutorials … they have really helped me develop in the paper crafting arena … looking forward to a whole new year!
my Big Shot was a Christmas present last year and boy has it cost me “alot” ….. of fun thois year!
First I have to say, I have watched your posts for a long time, your
work is amazing, how you come up with all your idea’s. I have to say
I’m on my second Big Shot. Use it all the time.
I just got my first die cutting machine (Spellbinders Grand Caliber) and I’m so excited to get into the worlx of die cutting and embossing!
Thanks for sharing! My favorite tool is my Cuttlebug!
Thanks for your great list and sharing your wonderful art. Love your blog. My fav right now would be my ebosser but I have lots that I wouldn’t want to be without.
I also am a die-aholic and besides my Vagabond and that desperately needed metal shim, the one tool I reach for over and over is my cheapie dental pick to poke paper out of the dies!
I rarely make a card without using a die cut, so I guess my dies and my Big Shot. Don’t know how you narrowed things down for your list. Thanks for the chance to enter.
I love what you shared! Thank you for the discount code and the chance to win
Thanks for all the product favorites!! I saw some items I have never seen before!!
Thank you for sharing your favorites, Kittie! My favorite stamp related item has to be my Big Shot as it has made card crafting much easier for me!!
If I have to choose just one favorite tool, I would have to say my paper trimmer/cutter by Stampin’ Up. I really love my Cuttlebug too.
Like so many before me, I have to say my favorite tool is my Big Shot – love it so much – it makes paper crafting a real joy. I also love your talent and inspiration Kittie.
I will have to say that my dies are my favorite tool. I just love them all. I have so much fun when I use them on my cards and also in scrapbooking. If this is not excepted then I’d have to say my big shot because it can do more than one thing. Multi tasker I call it.
My favorite tool is my Sizzix Big Shot machine! I reach for this machine every time I make a card. Couldn’t be a card maker without it! Thanks much.
My favorite tool hands down is my Big Shot w/magnetic platform!
one of my favorite tools is the piercer because it can punch out all the little pieces from my intricate dies.
Big Shot! I hesitated because it’s expensive, but now wonder how I managed without it.
So many ,but if i had pick it would be Tim holtz distress Ink pads, so many techniques.
There are so many cool tools out there, but I’d be lost without my trusty Cuttlebug!
My fave is my paper cutter I use it every time I craft
Thanks for the chance
If I have to choose just one tool for a favorite, it would have to be my Cuttlebug. I use it in someway for so many of my cards and I can’t imagine not embossing or die cutting!
Wow! The Big Shot sure got a lot of votes. I love it too. Took me a while to break down and buy one but sure am glad I did. I would like to add one more thing to this long list. I love the PPA Glue.Ilike it because it dries flat so it does not show up when I get a little too much on my card. When I want dimention,I cut my die with fun foam and then glue the paper cut out on top of the foam cut out. When I get excess glue on it, it does not show. Doesn’t work with foil cut outs though. Shows up big time on foil.
What fun to see other crafters tools and favorite supplies! It’s a difficult task to select one of the many i use but I would be lost withour my curved tip Miltex forceps!
Oh Kittie, no wonder your cards are always so gorgeous! I’m in awe whenever I see such basic frame dies and what can be done with them. ( They are on MY wish list!) My favourite tool is my MISTI but this HAS to be a trick question??? Its like choosing one of your children over another! LOL
Kittie, I love your blog and have to check it each day to see what you have come up that day..I have so many favorites it would be hard to pick one but if I have to, it would be my Cuttlebug..I use it with almost every card I make.
I love my teflon bone folder, is the best tool!
My very favorite tool is my Big Shot! Love, love, love creating things with embossing folders and my dies! Love the look of dimension on my cards!
I love my Craft Boss for die cutting and embossing. It is electric so works well for me with my arthritis.
I love seeing all the designers favs!
Awesome list. My most used tool is my Fiskars trimmer…second most used is my Big Shot 🙂 🙂 I love both a lot!
My favorite “cool tool” is my Big Shot. It opened up a whole new world of cardmaking to me.
I have to say that my favorite tool is my heat gun. I love to emboss but also I have no patience to wait for things to dry 🙂
I have three teflon bone folders because when I lost the first one, I bought two to replace it to ensure I would never be without (and then *found* the first one).
My Tim Holtz Vagabond remains one of my go-to tools.
I would have to say my favorite tool is my Big Shot! I don’t seem to do anything without my diecutters. But a close second is my Fiskar paper cutter and Misti tool.
My Big shot is the one tool that never fails me. The tool I use the most? My XActo knife.
My favorite tool is my Big Shot: it took my paper crafting projects to a whole new level, and my enjoyment as well! Thanks for the generous giveaway, love these products, especially the Cozy Christmas.
I have a lot of favorites that I use regularly, but the Big Shot is something that I use ALL the time. I love that I can do so many things with it – die cutting, embossing, and letterpress!
I have lots of favorite tools, but my newest favorite is my MISTI. Love it!
MISTI I am not a good stamper, or WASN’T a good stamper, until MISTI came to live here.
Kittie it was so great to read about your faves. I have admired your art for a long while and know how skilled you are. I can easily understand that you had a hard time limiting yourself to choose only five things in each category…..lol..
My fave tool must be the Sizzix Manetic platform. It is so lovely that the dies stay in place when you use several and detailed dies. But of course who dont love Susans Gardens tool set… They are awwesome…!!!
Thank you for sharing.
Hugs from Monica… Spain
WOW – WONDERFUL list Kittie – THANK YOU for sharing and for including the links 🙂
I’m ever SO LUCKY to have a Big Shot in my stash, along with a magnetic platform, together they’re AWESOME, so I can totally relate to them being on your list, the combine to be my favourite because they make die cutting PURE MAGIC.
From your list, I’m tempted to get the Susan’s Garden Tool Kit, it looks practical and handy … along with many of the other goodies you have shared that TEMPT me – nothing better than recommendations from experienced crafters to assist me in deciding exactly what I NEED => THANK YOU 🙂
My favorite tool–hands down is my CUTTLEBUG..I wore my first one out and bought a new one last year….LOVE…LOVE…LOVE..IT!!!!
My favorite tool… Well I actually have four. I could not live without my MISTI, Big kick, Spellbinders Grand Caliber, and my Cricut Expression 2. I use them every single day!!
you’re right! I love them all!!
but I love my vagabond the best
It is so very hard to figure out one tool that is a favorite as a person uses so many tools. So the one I will pick out of many is my Cuttlebug. It is a smaller die machine that is easy to take with you. Thank you for sharing all your ideas.
My favourite tool is definitely the Big Shot. Do not want to be without anymore. What a wonderful gift set! Thank you for the chance to win. Creative regards from stempelfrida
I LOVE my Tonic paper cutters and also the Big Shot. I use it along with my Cuttlebug and find that each one works best with certain products. I LOVE your site 🙂
Like that old potato chip commercial…..”bet you can’t have just one” !!!!
So hard to pick one tool Kittie, so I thought what can’t I leave home without when I am crafting with friends….it is my bone folder. I use it on every single card or project I make.
Thanks for your dedication to sharing your talent with us all year long!!
Wow, what an impressive list. I use a lot of these as well. The two tool items on your list that I use ALL the TIME are my bone folder and my ATG gun. I own similar stamp sets, similar types of tape, the Glossy Accents, Distress inks, and more. What fun it would be to win a package of fun things from Ellen!
Great list. I bet it wasn’t easy narrowing down your choices.
My favorite tool is my Big Shot Pro. I love dies and this machine does a great job cutting them.
My favourite tool definitely is my big shot. It deserves tender loving care and recognition for its hard work all these years. I love that I can use any die on it to create amazing fine detailed cuts that I would otherwise not have gotten. I also love that I can emboss with it!:)))
I love my ranger embossing heat gun. It embosses beautifully to create really pretty raised and shiny effects and is also very quiet.:)
My favorite tool that I cannot live without is my tweezer bee tweezers! They are a must when working with little tiny bits.
My favourite tool has to be my BigShot!
I have two favorites. My ATG tape gun and my fiskars paper trimmers. I also love a BUNCH of other but these two are my work horses!
Well, this post sent me over to Ellen’s shop. Bought some stuff and put a whole bunch in my wishlist. Hmmm….. My Favorite…..Geez that is a hard one! If someone told me I could only keep one TOOL, It would have to be my Vagabond! But, a new baby arrived yesterday that I am so in love with……my Misti. Thanks Kittie for inviting us to play! A great giveaway! Hugs Lori
One of my favorite tools is my fiskars stamp press. It makes lining up stamps so easy. Thanks for sharing your list!
I love my big shot. I can do so much things with it like embossing and die cutting and create many intricate and detailed designs. This is my best investment ever!:)
My favorite tool is the Big Shot. I use die cuts on almost every card and couldn’t imagine myself without a die cutting machine.
It would have to be my Big Shot because it cuts and embosses which is the base for a beautiful card. After that, it would be my cutting dies and embossing folders. So much potential creativity.
It’s hard to pick a favorite tool but if I must then next to my die cutting machine I would have to say my Teflon bone folder. I live the way it helps me crease edges on cards and 3-D projects without making the paper shiny. I have the older version of tools from Susan’s Garden and, like you, I love them for lower making. They allow me to make more realistic flowers than any other tool I’ve tried.
I love my Bigshot and use it every day, but my most favourite tool would be a Misti if I had one. Thanks for the chance to win.
Rene from OZ xo
I love my fiskars cutter – I use it no matter what project I’m doing!!
Hi, Kittie! Thanks for sharing your lists with us!!! Your cards always make me swoon!!! I really have to say that my Sizzix Big Kick is my favorite tool. Kind of boring in away but it’s my fave. From the time I began stamping until the time I received my Big Shot for my birthday was 6 months. It was the longest 6 months ever! I would look at what others were creating and I just couldn’t achieve the same professional look with punches alone. So the Big Kick has to be my fave even if I don’t use it for every project! 🙂
That’s a hard one. After much thought, I’d have to say my Grand Caliber die cut machine is my favorite. Nearly every card I make, and even other projects, I use some kind of die cut or embossing folder, so I don’t know what I would do without it. After that would come my MISTI. I can finally stamp straight and cleanly. Now If I could only figure out how to un-mount all those wood stamps to be able to
use them in the misti.
Wow, difficult to pick one tool but since I use my Spellbinders Grand Caliber on every card I make, I’d need to say that tool. But a Miste tool comes in a very close second. Thank you for sharing your ideas! They are always awesome!
We have a lot of the same favorites. But I think my favorite tool has to be the Misti stamping tool. I used to be a terrible stamper. It has helped me so much!
Absolutely my favorite tool is my Sizzix Big Shot. I love love love dies and it is a must have tool. One of my favorite places to go for inspiration is Kittie’s blog. Be warned, once you see what she does with her dies, your wish list will grow.
Hi, Kittie,
Without doubt, my MISTI is my favorite tool! I stamp with confidence now – it has made so much difference.
Thanks for sharing your favorites, and for the chance at a fabulous giveaway!
i think my favorite and most often used tool would have to be my BIG SHOT. How else would i be cutting out my dies. I am actually onto my second machine as i think my old one just got too tired and died on me.Thank you Kittie for all your lovely designs each week. Love checking out your website
Hi Kittie thank you for sharing your amazing cards I love my big shot
and just love my I.O. Dies .
Thank you for all your insperation take care X
Thanks for sharing. That is a hard job to narrow down. I dont know what I would do without my big shot. Thank you for your daily inspiration.
I will have to say my Big Shot ..and now my Big Shot Plus….is the best given that I love love the dies…the second would be my ATG gun….and I so love Kittie’s daily inspirations…the best.
I love my EK success tweezers. I don’t think I could complete a project without them
How to pick just one!!? Like you, I have an arsenal in my craft cave rivaling my hubby’s tool collection for sure! But it all comes down to the big shot…not a project made that doesn’t involve it. Started with the Ellison pro model like used in schools and had every model since…can’t craft without it. So I guess that was easier than I thought! LOL 🙂 and I cannot leave out YOU and all of the wonderful inspiration you so graciously share here…Thank you so much 🙂
Thank you for sharing all of you favorites and a chance to win these wonderful products.
Thanks for sharing. My favorite tool is probably my Big Shot. Thanks for the tip on the hot press watercolor paper. I usually hear about cold press, but I don’t love what I’ve tried so far. Thanks again!
I am always amazed by your cards! Thanks for sharing all of your favorites! My favorite is my die/embossing machine! I couldn’t create without it!
It is hard to choose one favorite tool, but I use just an ordinary snap-off
blade utility knife for most of my crafting projects. It is very versatile
when it comes to picking up and attaching small items and putting them in
place !
Hi Kittie, It is hard to pick just one tool, but I love my Big Shot and dies!
What wonderful products! And don’t do like I did and forget to put the discount code when you place an order! 🙂
LOVE my big Shot so much I rarely make a card that didn’t use it! Thanks for your faves list, it’s so fun to see your list.
Thanks for sharing your favorites Kittie! I’m like you regarding dies, I love all of them! Thanks for the chance!
If I have to choose just ONE tool that I use the most, I will have to say it’s my Big Shot! You get so much effect from embossing folders and you save so much effort using dies to cut shapes with the Big Shot that it has become indispensable to me!
Hi Kittie. My favorite tool is my stiletto (much like a piercing tool but sharper.) I use it daily with dies, for placing small pieces of cardstock and embellishments, piercing, and bunches of other things I can’t think of right now. All I know is that I find myself reaching for it all the time!
By far my most useful tool is my Sizzix Big Shot Expressions machine since die cuts and embossed pieces are on almost every card I make.
My absolute favorite crafting tool is the Big Shot! Can’t live without it anymore! ;))
Thanks for sharing your favourites…my favourite tool is my Cuttlebug.
Thanks so much for the chance to win…I love everything! My favorite tool right now would have to be my ATG tape gun but I also can’t live without my Fiskar paper trimmer either. Love your work; thanks for sharing with all of us!
My favorite tool has to be my Big Shot. What would I do without it? No die cutting or dry embossing? I might as well quit card making without those. Do have a longer wish list though after seeing the DT’s favorites. Thanks, Kittie, for a chance to win.
I’d have to say my favorite tool is my Big Shot. I use it every day and on just about every card I make. If I’m crafting away from home, I’m lost without it. Your designs are a constant inspiration!
Great giveaway! Love my Big Shot, Fiskars Stamp press for large stamps, and the Fiskars paper cutter with the titanium blade (wire shows exactly where blade will cut). Wonder tape is great for anything I want to stick really permanently. Cheers!
Several of your favs are on my list… thanks for expanding my list, tho my budget made a frownie face! lol! My favorite tool is the MISTI… has saved me from oops’s many a time!
Hi Kittie! My favorite tool is My BIG SHOT. If I didn’t have it, I’d be lost and couldn’t do a thing. I love your cards Kittie~you were the first card maker I found online after I had my terrible accident, then was home alone. I got a computer, taught myself. ( without blowing up any thing-lol) found you, and opened up a whole new world for me. Card making. I am good at it now, thanks to your tutorials. To say that you inspired me is a under statement. HAPPY HOLIDAYS Kitty! Blessings, Victoria