The ScrapBlog

Question: Hi Robin, I’m looking for a letter punch that includes upper and lower case letter. Any ideas where I could find that?

Answer:  I have checked everywhere and no company that I know of sells a punch set with both the upper and lower case letters.  I did however find a place the sells the same style alphabet punch - you just have to buy the upper and lower case separately.  It is at www.paperwishes.com in their alphabet punches section.

If you don’t like the size or style, I would recommend getting a die cutting machine (manual or computerized).  You can purchase the dies or cartidges for these and usually can find the lower and uppercase for the alphabet.  Although these can be pricey, especially for the computerized ones (I like Cricut), you can use the machine for many other punching/die cutting projects.  You may find that some of the manual machines plus the dies may cost less than alphabet punch sets which can be $30 or more each.

Question:  What do we need for the eyelets front and back and tools to put them together by?  What size is the center circle?

Answer:  Eyelets are very easy to apply if you have a eyelet hole punch, hammer, and eyelet setter. A mat is also helpful.  You can get these in a kit.  I actually have the Making Memories Tool Kit to make it easy for me.  You might also consider the Silent Setter kit because you don’t have to pound with a hammer (but it does require some strength to push). 

The sizes of eyelet vary, but most kits come with the 3 main sizes: 3/16″,  1/8″ (standard eyelet size), and 1/16″.

To set the eyelet:

1.  Place the item you wish to apply an eyelet to on the cutting mat provided in the tool kit (you can also use something like a cutting board, but the mat works the best).

2. Insert the size hole tip that matches your eyelet size into the tool.

3. Hammer or press the tip of the tool onto the paper/cardstock.

4. Insert the actual eyelet into the hole and flip the paper over with the eyelet in it over the mat.

5. Insert the eyelet setting tip that matches the size of the eyelet into the tool. Use your hammer or firm pressure to set it in place.

Check out this tutorial online for pictures on how to actually set an eyelet.  You will be surprised at how easy it is!