In Dubai...need some help!

Hi everyone,

I am a brand new scrapbooker who just moved to Dubai not too long ago. We have a few scrapbooking stores, where everything is 5 times the price as things I see on joann.com!

I'm ordering some stuff online and my mom is going to bring it out when she comes to visit me. First though, I want to make sure I am ordering the right stuff!

What are the "must have" tools?

What are the best brands to buy supplies from?

How much approx. does a Cricut or Sizzix weigh?

If you can think of anything else that may help me, please let me know! I have a ton of paper, not too many embellishments. I think I am entering a whole new culture here! LOL

must have tools...
12" paper trimmer
small sharp scissors ( Fiskars are great)
a few markers, including black (i like ZIG writers)
adhesive dispenser + adhesive
Glue Dots

those are the absolute basics. some other things to consider...
clear acrylic stamps (and acrylic block to mount them on) both patterns and alphabets (and obviously ink)
punches...large circle and squares i think are the most used; a corner rounder and maybe a border punch

as for brands...most anything you see here at sb.com are good brands. a few of my personal favorites...
Basic Grey
k&co.
prima
Bazzill
Tim Holtz

i cant help you with the cricut/sizzix info...i dont have either. probably not a bad investment though if supplies are expensive. these will allow you to make your own!

only other advice i have...look through the galleries here. see what you like on other people's layouts and write down what supplies they used. this should help so you can see how things look on paper.

hope this helps!! good luck and enjoy your new hobby!!! it's wonderful and very rewarding!!

Stock up on adhesive!!!! You will be amazed how much you use!......You may even want to invest in an ATG gun(check superstore here)...... Fiskars paper trimmer that they are selling here for $8.99 is a great price and real lightweigh & easy to use.......I'm not sure how much sizzix & cricut weigh...both can easily be carried...maybe 5 or 6 lbs??!!........Good luck!!!

Hi!
When I started I was totally mystified by what I should get so I studied layout after layout, decided what I liked and didn't like, then bought the supplies listed with those layouts. There are endless sites you can look at. Good luck. It is very rewarding and a great way to pass the time. Kathy

More advice. I had no diecut machine but was lucky to get a slice through one of the home shopping TV cable shows and am I ever glad I did. It's compact and doesn't have to be connected to your computer. Having it eliminates the need for some enbellishments like letters or numbers. It's a contagion though. I want to get all of the design cards. I just look for sales all the time.
Good luck on your hobby whatever your decision is. Kathy

STICKLES!!!!!!!!! YOU MUST HAVE STICKLES!!!!!!!

AND THEY ARE SMALL AND LIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

Get at LEAST the white ones like Diamond or Icicle,,,,,,,they will shimmer and reflect the color you put it on, so you need at LEAST a few of those!!!!!!

I recommend an ATG gun ( Scotch 714, it's RED), PLENTY of Scotch gold 1/4 inch tape,,,,,and the 12 inch trimmer, but the MM one, which is awesome, is so heavy it may be difficult for your Mom to take it with her,,,

Fiskars makes some that are lighter,,,,

and GIRL, how the DICKENS did you wind up in Dubai??????? LOL,,,,,

• melissadam Said:

they're not heavy but the box is a good size,,,

a SLICE might be best for her,,,,it weighs much less, if I recall, and is much smaller,,,,AND the design cards are TINY!!!!!

Hello!! and WELCOME!!! I agree with the girls, especially with the ATG gun, It is a MUST have really!!!I will tell you what I LOVE and NEED everytime when Im scrapping:

TOOLS:

ATG gun,
12x12 pp trimmer,
ruler,
scissors ( Fiskars and cuttlebee),
White pen (signo),
pencil,
tweezers
ZIG pens

EMBELLISHMENTS

thickers
acrylic stamps
ink (staz on, Tim Holtz )
liquid pearls
stickles
prima flowers
rub ons

Oh and I forgot If you are planning to buy a die cut machine Will you be able to find cartdriges or die cuts in Dubai?? If you want an electronic machine maybe Silohuette could be a good option for you because you'll never need to buy cartdriges because it works with your pc and you can make your own design or download some of them for free or for a low price(ebay has it a good price). I dont have the Silohuette I had planned to buy it but changed my mind and I'll get the Gazelle but it was my first option!!!

Wow- thanks everyone....Looks like I have a lot of research to do now to figure out what all your suggestions actually are! LOL!!

My one "have to have" is Un-Du adhesive remover.
It's a petroleum-based product. But, Dubai, being an petroleum giant probably won't have any restrictions against importing it.