Tonic Studio Paper trimmer review

These tutorials/reviews are a product of extensive reading, researching and lots of time spent on making them. Please do not copy, or share on your page (for promoting your items in your shop) unless I give you permission to do so. Please ask nicely....I won't say no...but you need to ask.... You can link it on your blogs if you have used these tutorials...please share the link with me when you do use these tutorials...I would love to stop by and see what you have done! 

I had a whole rant post typed up....but after I finished ranting...I felt so good...didn't want to post it...
Simply because people are not going to change by my ranting ... so I choose to walk away from such people... I tend to carry my heart on my sleeve and am not ashamed of it. That's what makes me who I am and maybe that's why I am prone to ranting so much... :p

So without further ranting ...here's my review.. Kinda picture heavy...

Here's my Tonic Studio 12x6 paper trimmer...its huge..I can tell you that..but worth every penny...There are many reasons why I chose this...over the Fiskars Sure Cut or any other trimmer. (sorry about the dark and glary photos, it is a cloudy day)

 This is how your trimmer looks when it arrives.... the other essential stuff is stored at the back...so its pretty compact...If I didn't have a space crunch, I would have gone for a 12x12 for sure....With a 40% discount from JoAnn's, this cost me around 20$. And free shipping courtesy mom and dad

 

This is how the extras store in the back. The extendable arm has slots which click in place. It will never fall off...that I can assure you. 

 

This is after I've attached the handle and the extendable arm. Usually I don't bother attaching the handle...but if I'm cutting heavy papers, I do use it. Its a fabulous soft grip...so if you're cutting 10 papers or 100, I doubt you would have a problem. 

My Pros

1.See the transparent thingie? It has two metal springs at each end...It holds your paper down, so that it doesnt shift while you're trimming or cutting. 

2. Space... I have a space crunch and needed something that would fit into a drawer and out of sight...this does the job perfectly. 

3. The foldout arm has a base that is again foldable. So your extendable arm doesn't bend down or break. Its a support.

  

4 .The top grid .. has markings in cms and inches....and has upto 6 inches... What I don't like though, is that I can't cut a half inch strip from a strip less than one inch. For that, my other small Fiskars guillotine comes handy.

5.. The bottom of the grid has markings for regular card sizes...4.25 and 5.5. I tend to use the top measuring scale. There is a scale again in the middle too...which I find useful in lining up. 

 6.  This is my biggest reason for buying a guillotine trimmer. Be it printer paper, thick 300 gsm card stock or 80 gsm papers, everything cuts like butter.  And I can challenge a Fiskars Sure cut to give me these cuts...I've seen thin papers get shredded like a blunt scissor cut it,on a Sure Cut...That made me sure that I needed this.

I can cut multiples of these strips and with ease....I didn't know what to label the extreme left strip..its half of a 1/16th strip....these look big, but try cutting these yourself and you'll get an idea. I might take some comparison photos and put up at a later date.

7. The second biggest reason...I don't have to replace the blade. This is a self sharpening blade..the more I use, the sharper it stays.  Less/more usage doesn't affect  it. With a Sure Cut or any trimmer that uses a blade, you are dependent on the availability of blades. With Sure Cut, if you cut the guiding wire, your trimmer is gone...You have to replace the rubber guide on which the blade glides every 6 months, and change the blade every 3-6 months depending on your usage.
        Me, I don't have to worry for the next 5 years.

CONS

My only grudge is the small distance between 6 - 6.5 is not that easy to judge. So for this measurement again, I have to rely on my small trimmer. But other than this...I really don't have major grudges....
Sure, they could have numbered on the sides, and given measurements too. But then it is impossible to have everything  I guess....

So, if you're deciding between a guillotine and a line trimmer, my suggestion would be the Guillotine...as for the brands, there are tons...Everyone has come out with their own paper trimmer, and if you wanted my opinion, I would say the X-acto Laser Paper trimmer but it retails for around 70-80$. After that is the Tonic Studio.

I haven't tried to cut multiple sheets, but I think I can cut at least 5-6 easily at one go. And one teensy warning, don't run your finger down the edge of the newly cut paper. I've had more paper cuts than I can figure out how I've got them!

If  you have an questions, go ahead ask me.

Some more CAS cards

Another Batch of CAS cards which I completed and sent out...it took a loong while to get the photos up!!

 A take on Maile Belles card....Loved her card...and well It would have been good if I had PTI colors, but hey...who's complaining!!

I love this card!!

 This is another of those...why didn't I do it before types..... I had stamped and embossed several pieces of CS with Antique Brocade stamp, when I'd borrowed it from Manasa. And I used them now!! 6 months later...Talking about hoarding....I think most of us crafters would easily get an episode each on the show called Hoarders!!!
I distressed it with 3 shades of distress inks, sprayed with LSG silver mist and matted the squares on black...and voila!!!

 Isn't that shimmer pretty? two of those squares are mounted on foam...

 This is Stampin up's Birthday Whimsy Set....and why did I not use it before!!! Hoarding again!!!

Loved stamping and fussy cutting the presents...Scrap piece of pattern paper in the background and PTI stamp for sentiment.

 This is a tall card...again from the Birthday Whimsy set...I think its time I got some neon inks!! What say?

The birthday cake from Birthday Whimsy again....so many easy cards with just one set!!!

 

Pic up some scrap pattern paper..punch out some circles and cut them in half....stick it up....add some twine, some bows..and some dotted borders!! TADA!! another CAS card done!! 

 

This I already showed you....but just to show again!!! love the sunset..gotta try some more!!!

Hope you like this installment of cards......
Working on some special cards..once those are done..will share with you!! :)

Till then..happy crafting!!!

A scene inspired card

Ever since I had been following Michele Zindorf's cards..I wanted to create scenes...and never got the motivation...now I did!!
After seeing Isha's card on "Do more with Less" I was determined to make one...just to take part in her challenge!!
I love her cards and this was my way to say, Thanks for all the inspiration! (Sorry Isha for not finding time to stop by your blog for soo long!)

And also linking this card to Anne Gaal's 4th Blogoversary Celebrations! 

This is simple blending with distress inks...and some masking with a circle post it...Those birds are hand drawn!

Inks used, Mustard seed, Wild honey, spiced marmalade, dried marigold, and fired brick. Memento Black.
Sentiment Papertrey ink.Hero arts- garden bouquet, Antique engravings.

Will be back to post the other cards soon...Had to share this card first, coz else I would have missed out on the deadline! :)

8x8 Scrapbook for Sister

Here's a custom order that I completed recently and so happy to say that it was very well received...That is what matters at the end....
I love each and every page of this book and this was my first time working with pictures than blanks and I think having pictures makes the work much much easier....
Since its a picture heavy post, I won't babble too much...just feast your eyes and ask me if you have any queries...

The cover....Wanted it to look like a frame dangling on the wal...and I love how it looks!!

 

  

This is  a mini within a mini.....a foldout booklet that holds 6 photos....fully decorated with Washi tape...the black polka dotted strips are Washi tape from Rachna....Thanks babe!!

Another favorite page...Saw this design in Silhoute studio and decided to cut it by hand....awesome results!!

I had to do this page when it popped into my head....the butterflies are a left over project which was spritzed till it shimmered....

So that's it about my book...would love your feed back on it!! My fastest one to date!!! 20 days only! :)
That might be too much for others, but for me each page is an ART and has a piece of my soul in it...

CAS cards

I think I've been away from my blog too long...The how or the why isn't important, what is, is that I'm here again and dying to share my cards...All of these have been show on Facebook, easier to upload rather than write big long posts which I don't know how many read!!! Sound like a pessimist do I? That's been my mind frame lately and the reason I did not want to blog.....

That pessimism has no place on this blog, so here I am sharing all my CAS cards...

I had a request to make birthday cards, within the price range of 40-60 Rs, and what better than CAS cards..But they had to be huge...so it was A5 size cards (8x5)

Totally inspired from Pinterest..tried to make a male card (gosh why is it so hard) ribbon is an old RAK from a friend (3 yrs old- hoarding at its best) sentiment - Hero arts

 This one uses my very favorite, wanted for a long time stamp - stamped in purple memento and colored using the same!
Sentiment PTI and butterflies and the tiny dragonfly- Antique engravings!

Love that little dragon fly 

Some yummy cupcakes ...Hero arts - colored with Staedler watercolor pencils..and glossy accents to the hearts!

This color palette is totally outside my comfort zone...screams Govinda to me...but what the heck..it looks awesome!!! Thanks Khush for make me think of such quirky colors!!
Butterflies and sentiment PTI

I have a lot of posts to share, so will do so in the next few days....I have a few baby cards to share, a CD mini for the Swap Central India and my 8x8 album for sisters...which I just finished yesterday...that is why the posts are up now!! :)

Talk to you guys soon!!
P.s. I may not be commenting on your posts, but believe me I read every one of them...A thousand apologies for not stopping by to say hello. 

Why I Chose a MS Score-board

These tutorials/reviews are a product of extensive reading, researching and lots of time spent on making them. Please do not copy, or share on your page (for promoting your items in your shop) unless I give you permission to do so. Please ask nicely....I won't say no...but you need to ask.... You can link it on your blogs if you have used these tutorials...please share the link with me when you do use these tutorials...I would love to stop by and see what you have done! 

I took at least 6 months to decide whether to buy or not to buy the scoreboard, and if yes, which one..the MS(Martha stewart) or the Score-pal. 

http://www.eksuccessbrands.com/marthastewartcrafts/

I am not a fun fold person, neither do I do 3D projects, but yes, I love doing crazy folds on my scrapbook pages...and if I had it, maybe I would give the fun folds a try...

My areas of contention were firstly, PRICE, PRICE, and then usability.

When it came to price, If you are buying from India, you can get it from anywhere between 1300-1800 depending where you buy from. I got a good deal and jumped in...In the end I paid 1500 including shipping for it. According to me, a good price.
If you are buying from the USA, Joann's or Micheals have really great prices, and if you have coupons, you can get it for as low as 10-12$. And if someone can go to the store and buy for you, you save on the shipping too..

The Score-pal on the other hand, isn't less than 2300 in India and around 40$ in the USA...its not easily available at most Joann's or Micheals, you have to order it online, so in the end it comes to around 50$, which was a huge NO for me.

Then comes the USAGE-
I have just played around with CS and printer paper to get the hang of it...and I love it..its everything I wanted. Some people don't like the flimsy scoring tool that comes with the MS board, but that is what gives you the crisp score...Because it is thin and pointed towards the end, it gives a very crisp line...

Photo credit - Valita @http://craftingwithsue.blogspot.in/

This photo shows the difference in the thickness..

Another plus point is the enveloper tool, that comes in to make envelopes. Agreed that envelopes end up being bigger than the card by 1/4th inch or more at times, but I would say something better than nothing on the score pal.

The deciding factor was the grooves on the MS  board...1/8th of an inch apart...fabulous for making rosettes and easier to calculate...no need to keep shifting your paper around ...
I have never been able to find a logic to the grid lines on Score Pal.

Also I like that the right edge of the MS board is open, meaning I can use longer sheets of paper on it, not limiting myself to 12x12 sheets

The only negative thing I can say for the MS  board is, Its flimsy and thin. Which was proven very well, when my scoreboard and Sharda's broke in transit. Her's worse than mine...

So whenever you get it, ask for extra packaging, and don't trust DTDC...this is my third fight with them. One extra tip....Open your package first as soon as you get it, and if it is in good condition, only then sign the delivery challan. Else have it returned back. And do write on the challan slip that it was in broken condition.

My NEGATIVES
for the other negative, coz the grooves are set together, if you try scoring very fast, you might skip a groove...My Solution, TAKE a second more to score, and hold your scoring tool at an angle of 45 deg rather than straight...

Pic copyright Valita@http://craftingwithsue.blogspot.in

The details printed on the tool box on top are pretty tiny..
 And what's with the hard to open door of the bone folder storage..I might break it one day!

So I am heavily in favor of MS scoreboard. Yes its not as sturdy as the scorepal, but as long as it does the work, I'm okay with it.

Long time no see

Its been a month and a half that this blog has been lying dead!!! oh well, blame it on a lot of things...but mostly, I didn't have anything to share!
One month vacation, lots of family issues..and some personal health issues (I had back pain, and before that could heal, I took a tumble down the stairs, so now my bum hurts) ! so that combined into me not wanting to blog about anything...

But I can't stay away...even if it is to ramble, I had to stop by and say hello....and probably share what I've been on a buying spree over here!!

First up I got some of my hero arts stuff!! can you imagine its not inked yet?yeah...shame on me!!

This has been on my wish list for soo long!! finally its here and its huge!!!

 

 These are a part of three set that I got a fabbie deal on ETSY. Lets see how I use them!!!

Another font set that I've always wanted!!!
ETA : I won a 50 AED voucher at Pretty Paper Studio for taking part in their  blog hop, and with that I had to choose this fabulous stamp!! Neelu is dying to see me use this...and so am I...I love it to bit, yet it scares the hell out of me!!
Thanks Neelu!

Then I got my very first lawn fawn set

Then I also got 2 fiskars quotes stamps...
But my bestest buy which I thought I didn't need but I think I'm gonna love it anyways,
My Martha stewart scoreboard! The arrival of which was a sad story, but I'm sure I'll use it and love it totally!!

And something that's on the way is my dearly beloved paper trimmer!! This I will review it up!!! This trimmer, I've been waiting for 2 yrs!! 12x6 Tonic Guillotine paper trimmer!!

That's a lot of spending...and this doesn't count the tiny tiny things that I've bought....my Staedler watercolor pencils, washi tapes, ink pads,  more paper...etc....but mind you....all this was over a period of 5 months...nothing in one month or week!!!
So please don't be jealous...don't type a comment that you're jealous...its understood!! Just tell me you want me to see use it!!! That's all!!

A few projects that will take a long time to finish and will share more of it soon!!

This is a mini album, which I was to finish by may end...but coz of my back pain, couldn't sit for long to to do it...Thankfully my friend is in no rush!! so I can take my time slowly with it! I've done all the tags, but some tags are not to my liking, so will do them again...and will do a tute on this kind of mini, my version of it! :)

Also my CD mini is done, and boy, what an awesome one!! I can't share till it reaches my partner, and goes up on the blog!! But you have to see the inspiration that we're gonna get over the next 14days starting from monday! trust me!!

Do join in the next friendship swap that is up and running on the Swap Central blog!

Till my next post, drool away!!
p.s. i have a lot of wood mounted stamp coming out for sale! keep an eye out!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Today is Mother's Day..and I am so glad my cards reached my two moms...Well one is my mom, and the other is my neighbor..who practically wished I was her girl...and has always been there for me....

There's not much to post today....just wanted to show the cards that I had made for them....

The Blue one for my Chetna mom (She loves  Aqua blue...)

This one for my mom...

Its all Hero arts and papertrey ink ..The Butterflies, flourish background is HA and sentiment is Papertrey ink.

This is how my butterflies float in air...used a paint brush to curl the wings...

Sending these cards to Crafty JC's challenge - For A Special Lady

Lawnscaping Challenges - CAS cards

For the love of Crafting- Recipe Challenge-Bow, stamping, and sentiment

I wanted to show that I used Rock Candy Distress stickles (Brought again from Khyati..) on this card..which is not at all visible...and the best way to show this..is a teensy tiny video...or watch it on youtube


Hope you love it as much as I do...Have a great mother's day...and have a great week ahead!!

hugs, Tee

Blog Candy Winner!!

Thank you so so much for celebrating with me...I had a blast reading everyone's comments..and they made me feel super super happy!!!
Since I crossed 50 peeps for my blog candy, I've decided to offer another candy...a second winner who gets their choice of two distress inks too!!!

so Random.Husband picked out two numbers for me today morning...
No. 5 - Piyu!!!! Yipeeeee - Mail me for your choice of two distress inks..so I can forward the same to Khyati..(do you even need more distress inks?)

And no. 38...Mansi - Congrats!! Mail me for your choice of two distress inks...

Mail me at Tejal2210 (at) gmail (dot) com. You have two days to get in touch with me, else I pass this on to another person! Thank you again!!

And just a sneak peek of what I've been upto for the past 3 days...

 

  

  

 

I had a blast coloring these...and if It wasn't for Khush who guided me step by step while coloring them..I wouldn't have been able to do it so well!! I will put up a whole project, plus a tiny video...which will enable you for something else too...

 

And I do have a set of colors to sell...coz I know they're beyond the scope for me..They're my Derwent Inktense Watercolor pencils- set of 24. I'm asking for 900 for it plus shipping...do let me know if you're interested.  Its in a tin box..and none of the pencils have been sharpened..just barely used.

300th post blog candy!!

Just thought of sharing some love that I've received from you all.. This is my way of thanking you for encouraging me and standing by me through my ups and downs!

So what can you get from me? Two of my very favorite things! Hero arts and Distress inks! I have many things to celebrate...as and when they come along, I will have some more candies...consider this a mini candy!

These two stamps...plus 2 distress inks....Your choice...will ask my favorite seller to get it for you!!!
 (Khyati has always got me my favorite colors!!)


All you have got to do, is put your name down in the inlinkz below...that's it.

You can always say hello to me on my Facebook page
You can check out my new  store  blog - Where I put up my watermarks, cards, and die cuts and some stamps that I need to get rid of! :)
You can follow this blog...but as I said not necessary! 

Candy will run for a short time...two weeks only!  10th May the winner will be announced.
You will have to email me to claim your prize.
or within 2 days, I shall announce another name.

Good luck and Thank you for being along with me on this journey!!