From the name of my blog, I am sure by now you know I specialize in shrink plastic, AKA Shrinky Dink jewelry. 99% of it is cut on an electric die-cutting machine. The other 1% is cut with scissors using my chubby little hands. Yes, some cuts are so fine, that I have to follow up using ultra fine tipped scissors or an X-acto knife. See? So far you have three tools! There are quite literally a 100 more in my possession.
- Multiple Dremels; A chargeable multi-speed with LCD light (expensive), it's rival, bought at Wal-Mart for 75% less!. Three, yes, three Dremels with cords, one of them having a much smaller 'pen' device on the end of a long hose-type extension.
- Dremel drill press (where one of the corded Dremels stays)
- Dremel router (where another of the corded Dremels stays)
- Tons of awls for poking out fine cut work or for holding down my shrinkies as I heat them up.
- A nice crafting heat gun with two heat-proof mats
- Multiple resin doming trays (I love resin work)
- Multiple bead augers/reamers (for making bigger holes)
- 15 hole punches for punching holes pre-shrink
- 100 paint brushes, some of them silicone, which make some of the best I've owned
- Tape dispensers big and small
- Staplers
- Markers, pencils
- 10 wire mandrels for wire work
- beading tools, oh boy, this one is HUGE. 10+ pairs of chain nose pliers, 6 round nose pliers, 5 flush cut snippers
- Multiple brayers
- Wire jigs
- Bead working anvil
- Round nose hammer
- Steel doming block
- Steel plate for hammering
- Multiple lazy susans (vintage of course!) for holding stacks of bead holders, paint bottles, brushes, and pens.
- Ultra-fine set of files (in love with these)
- Multiple tweezers, some with LCD lights
- Die cutting machine (vintage Cricut that cuts like nothing I've ever seen, and it was used and cheap).
- Printer Multiple Canon and Lexmark inkjets
- Two Ott lights
- Multiple sets of reading glasses for intricate work (I am over 50 and my eyes ain't what they used to be). Don't strain your beautiful eyes, let the glasses do the work!
- Jeweler/watch maker goggles. You can find inexpensive plastic ones that work great!
- Computer
- Camera
- Photography lights
- Tripod
- Mannequin
If I think of more I'll post them.
Wish I could put up images of all of it, but you get the idea. All of these items were purchased over years and years. As stated in the first bullet-point, I found a Dremel brand equivalent at Wal-Mart that cost me $25 as opposed to the $100 Dremel and Menard's. Shop around! Save coupons when buying tools at Michaels, Hobby Lobby or JoAnn's. Wait and use the 40, 50 and 60% off coupons; tools are almost NEVER on sale and 60% is a huge savings.
I haven't posted lately because I've been staying very busy between my real job and my other real job (Etsy) LOL
-Stay cool and Love one another!
