What was your worst scrapbook purchase ever?

My biggest disappointment was the Hermafix tape dispenser. Most in here swear by it, but that thing I declare had it in for me. It finally flew out the door after getting bounced off the wall, desk and floor a few times!!! I now use Zyron cartridge dispensers (not refillable) and their refillable one.

Most in here also abhor the fancy scissors. I only bought a couple which I use regularly. The other thing I bought and could not stand was a couple different Fiskars cutters. I hated them. I am not very patient (duh - a man?!) and wanted something more precise. I settled on using the old office cutting board I have had for years.

About that swivel knife Judy. The trick I was taught in a class is to hold it loosely between three fingers STRAIGHT up and down, applying as much down pressure as needed to penetrate the paper you are cutting. As you are moving it thru your patterns and you get to a corner, very gently twist it between your fingers. Also make sure the blade is sharp. Heavy cardstock is harder to cut than say patterened paper (doh!)

Pratice with some scraps to see if this helps.

nada for 05

OKC Dave

I agree with Dave 100% on the Hermafix tape dispenser, I HAD to buy one at my last crop cuz I forgot my adhesive, and I cannot figure out how to change the darn thing.......It is very frustrating to have spent $10.00 on it and another $5.00 on a refill. Anyone have any helpful ideas on how to change the refill??? Just my 2 cents Tracy K

I cannot think of just one! If I had to say over all, just buying to buy is the worst mistake "I " have made. Now I have so much stuff that it just overwhelms me. I have not made as many pages. I think about pulling it all out and having a garage sale just to get rid of it...and getting back to basics when it was fun. Kelly in Fl

Judy, I never got the hang of the swivel knife either. I also have far too many fancy scissors that I seldom use. Although I still like them. Use them more with card making. I think my most useless purchase was lots of fancy pens. I could never do the fancy writing with them and am just sort of letting them lie ,like sleeping dogs.

Hugs, Sabrina in Kentucky

a good friend is a life long treasure

The herma and the scissors for me as well! The scissors only cost me a dollar a piece so I'm not too upset about that but the herma (the one with the micro dots) was a complete waste of money for me.

I have walnut ink and every time I use it, I don't like the results so I am also leaning toward that being a bit disappointing.

Brandi

I too had a Hermafix and tossed it. Yikes, what a consumer unfriendly item. And I have about 25 "fancy scissors" that I've had for years and years and never ever use. So I think the votes are staggeringly overwhelming: If you haven't bought these items, DON'T. Melissa Pages in 2005: 31

On the inside of the refill package is a diagram.... It helps some. I love my hermie but changing the tapes for it can cause a headache the first couple of times.

I do have to say the hermie dots I can not stand... I only like the tabs!

Well, I like my Hermie dots. I did get pretty frustrated the first couple times I had to change the roll though.

One of my biggest wastes was all those gel pens. I was just thinking the other day "What on earth am I ever going to do w/ all these stinking pens?" I love my zig millenium and sakura micron pens though. They seem to be the only ones I ever use anymore.

I have to say that I think Kelly's got the right idea about getting back to basics. That's what I need to do too, and, for the most part, what I have in supplies could already be considered basic. LOL

Katrina in KS (who seriously needs to get to work on her "school years" album)

My biggest waste was Cornercopia, the thing that is supposed to let you use any punch to do corner cuts. I labeled all my punches for the corners they were to be used in but never used it. Second biggest waste was the Blade Runner. I just can't get it to work. Peggy in NJ

Most definitely the blade runner!! I tried the darn thing once and I haven't taken it out of the box since!! Good concept in theory but it works for @%$*#! If that somehow had a swivel blade maybe it would actually work!! (now there is a concept!)

I have that TOO! (imagine that!) I hated t thing too then I looked at all the Fiskar templates I have and a brilliant thought overcame me. I turned one upside down to cut a pattern and the blade runner worked better. The way the templates are cut, right side up they have a beveled to a rounded edge and the blade runner does not grip it.

Now for coluzzles and other templates, no deal - the thing is worthless and as far as using it free hand - NOT!! If I could draw maybe! (dreaming to have April's and Jessie's talents!)

nada for 05 (unless redoing and adding to some pages counts!)

OKC Dave

Hmmm, I' reading all these white elephant purchases and the only thing that comes to mind in "maybe" the kit of 4 different types of inks (walnut, Java, Eucalyptus & Terra Cotta)I bought it when it first came out & so far I have only used it as a test spray to se what it looked like.

I could have said scissors, but I've stated using them again, so I can't say those anymore:>)

I have lots of letter stickers, but I know I'll use them eventually:>)

Well, my worst purchase.... Ok let me start at the beginning. I don't sew. I do have a sewing machine. I see everyone's LO's with such cute stitching around borders. Soooo. I seen on TV this hand held sewing machine. You can mend with it. So I thought it would be good to just use to sew for scrapbooking. I was Christmas shopping and seen one. I got it. It's a piece of crap. I broke a needle. I took it back and got my money. I did buy one for 10.00 at micheals. Its by provocraft. It sits on the table and it does sew paper. So it's much better. Does everyone else just use their big sewing machines to do their zig zags. This one I got doesn't do zigs.

I haven't done any sewing on a scrap page, but when I do I'll just use my regular machine.

I have one of the little sewing machines for scrapbooking, but it just sits in the case in the corner. I just run downstairs and use my big machine whenever I sew on a page. It's already set up and it works ever so much better! Sandy

I can't say that I've bought anything that I "regret" buying. I have found that as I scrap my interests change and I don't use what I "just had to have" as much or at all now.

As far as using a "big machine" I use my big sewing machine to stitch. I have a machine that does many decrotive stitches. Now that is a thought, I might try using some of the different stitches to embellish a page. (thanks for the idea!)

Oh there are so many...

I never use all those decorative scissors and have bought soooooo many (what was I thinking?). And cutter after cutter after cutter... When will they invent one that works and is not so heavy or awkward, but still big enough to cut TRUE 12" paper? I have a new Fiskars (4th one I've bought) and it seems to be working okay. I also bought one of those little sewing machines...just HAD to have it. Haven't used it even once. When I first started scrapping I bought TONS of stickers and diecuts that I don't really use. I have used some, but I look back at some of them I bought and have no idea what made me think I would ever use them. Waaaaaaaaay too much paper!!!! I figure if we hit a financially tough spot then I can scrap for a few years without having to buy anything so that is comforting. hehe I got the Fiskars "shapeboss" and all the templates, but have never taken it out of the box.

Cecelia

Reading this thread has been interesting.

I think the worst purchases I've made was some of my punches... the basic shapes of circle, square, tag, flower are okay but the fancier ones... they never get used!

Also decorative scissors and some patterned paper I do regret buying. I just recently bought one of the new purple fiskars cutters and it's awful, the blade always falls off, and it is marked differently than I am used to so I regret purchasing it... I suppose it's defective since the blade falls off, but I don't have a receipt anymore :(

I also was surprised so many dislike the hermafix. I love it...as for refilling it, it is tricky but if you just follow the insturctions on the package after a couple times it gets easier, I wouldn't use anything else now. Also use the tabs, not the dots, they work better IMO