Which punches do you use most / find most versatile?

I am new to scrapping and don't have too many toys yet. Storage is a problem so I am trying to exercise some restraint in my purchases. I do not have a die cut machine.

I am wondering which punches are the most useful. All I have so far are a 1-inch circle punch, 1-inch scallop circle punch, medium star punch, small heart punch and the treading water border punch.

Are there other punches that I "need"? Maybe a square punch or a large circle punch? Do you find that you use a punch shape in several sizes for layering or some other purpose?

Which punches do you find most useful? Are any of the punches particularly versatile, ie maybe a square punch can be used to make gift tags.

Thank you for your help and advice.

I love all my circles, my corner punch and my corner rounders!

I really like border punches. I have used them to create my own patterned paper s, to add interest in photo mats.

Definitely check them out.

I only have one punch right now and have already used it worth the price in two days time.

It's the Ek Success corner punch. I like having photo corners but never get enough in a package at the store.

Ek Success just came out with a new line of punches that store flatter--they definitly take up less space.

Oh Man I'm a punchaholic but let me go in the store and pick my favs for you!! FUN!!

Andrea

i love my corner rounder! i also like my circle punch...it's a 1" but i would someday like a larger one. other than that...well, i have a bunch but dont use them much anymore.

Corner rounder for sure! Circle punch a must in all sizes if you can. Love the flowers punches since you can put them together and make some pretty neat flowers. Look in my gallery if you like to see a few that I have made.

I use a corner rounder all the time. I do a lot of shape layering... but I use the cricut to cut them.

I use the die cut machines instead. I used to have a lot of punches, but found them really limited compared to the die cut machines. It might be worth it for you to pick up a used baby cricut with George and basic shapes. Lots of people are upgrading to the Expression and are selling theirs for a good deal. Just my two cents.

Idon't use many punches,butttt a corner punch and corner rounder are really must haves. Come on Holy chime on in!

I do have a corner rounder. I guess I wasn't thinking of that as a punch. However, I have noticed in the gallery here and in BHG Scrapbooks Etc that few pictures have rounded corners. I thought maybe geometric shapes are "in" now and rounded corners out....Do you use a corner rounder for something other than photos?

Any particular flower punches you recommend?

I LOVE border punches. I have lots, but I also like and use my basic shapes like circles and squares as well as the scalloped versions:)

If you remove the paper guard from the corner rounder, you can use it to make a scalloped edge.

I seem to use the scallop punches a lot, especially the circle and the rectangle.

I agree the corner rounder is a great punch to have. You can use it on your photo corners and the corners of mats and even change a font by rounding the corners off. I love my Fiskar Border Punches. I like to get the ones you can layer together and I try to get ones that are like the Fiskars - Border Punch - Threading Water that you can use a heart hand punch to replace every other tiny circle. I have tiny leaves and flowers and like the Fiskars corner punches that are three corners in one punch. I try to get punches that I can use other ways like the heart can become petals of a flower or the belly of a rabbit like the one in my gallery. A square can become a diamond. I can punch an apple or a leaf with a small punch and then with the circle or square punches you can punch them out in that shape and use the negative or the shape you cut out. Squares or circles are good bases for letters to be placed on too. Flowers and snow flakes are my favorites too but I try and stay away from them because they are an addiction in themselves! You can never have too many snowflakes on a page! If you think you have too many you just call it a BLIZZARD. In my gallery I made a lady bug with a button punch and a few of the pieces that come from other punches I had for antenna and the head and a circle punch for the body and the button punch I put in four more holes with my tiny 1/16" hand circle punch and lined it with black for the spots. I cut the button in half for wings! Circles can be used to make many insects like a catterpillar. Enjoy your punches and being creative on a rainy afternoon!

I have a Cricut die cutting machine but I often find myself wishing I had a few more punches - frequently I want to punch out a specific spot on a photo or patterned paper and while theoretically it is possible to do so with a Cricut, I am not going to take the time to do it.

Basic circles and squares I use all the time. I also like scalloped edges so Fiskars Threading Water border punch is my all time favorite. I use Martha Stewarts little butterfly punch a lot too. And can't live without my Zutter corner rounder.

For me it's the following

Corner rounder
Scallop Circles and Squares in varying sizes
and the McGill punches below

all the other to me are frosting on the cake! And I love frosting!

Circles and squares.

I'm new to scrapbooking too, and I have found that punches are an affordable way to be able to make your own embellishments. I have various sizes of circles, a few different flowers also in different sizes, and a corner rounder. I have a star but I never use it.

I like geometric designs, so I bought every circle punch I could find, from the tiny one, right up to the huge one (the yellow "extra jumbo" Marvy one, not listed on this site). I layer them either centered, or off centered for a more retro look (there are some on the baby shower page in my gallery). I've also made them into apples by snipping a bit off the top of a red circle and adding a piece of twine for the stem. I've also made a sunflower out of a big one with tiny ones all around as pedals (also in my gallery). Circles are also good for using as a background for a sticker you want to emphasise. Can you tell I love my circles?

The flowers are really versatile because you can layer them as another person stated. I like to layer the same shape flower in different sizes in different or the same papers (there are some of these in my gallery too). I find that if you vary your papers and how you layer them, no one would ever pick up on the fact that it's the same shapes over and over again in your album.

I've never been much of a border person, so I've never bought or used those, but some of the ideas above have me thinking I might pick up a fiskers border punch next time I'm out. Some of the other specialty punches like tabs, tags, or photo corners look like they'd be useful if you use those elements in you LOs a lot. I don't use those much (at this point), so I just buy those elements when I need them. I think a square might be nice to have, especially if it were big enough to use for journaling blocks.

The only other thing I wanted to say about punches, is that if you like using punches, you might want to consider the inexpensive Xron X150 sticker maker (about $10- less than some pnches!). Most of my punched pieces fit through it (except the huge circle) and it makes it waaaaay easier to place them on the page when you don't have to fuss with adhesive.

Happy punching!

I have to agree with the corner rounder and the corner punch. Also a large rectangular punch is nice to have for a journaling block.

If space is at a premium, you might consider getting a Coluzzle and some templates. That way you can have most basic shapes and they'd fit in a much smaller area than a ton of punches. Later you can look into a small electronic die cutting machine such as the Slice (which uses memory cards not bulky cartridges) or the Cricut Create which is small and has more options than the original Cricut.

You already have a sizable collection & could probably rest on your punch laurels for now if you want to hold back for the sake of price/space as you mentioned!

BUT if you're wanting to buy more punches, I ditto the others who said a corner rounder - it's a great, simple way to create a different look. Also, maybe a square - size is up to you - I have a smaller one (.5"? I think) that I sometimes use for a confetti-like effects but some people like the 1" so you can use for inchies (which you may or may never get into). The largest squares (I think a little over 2"?) are handy too because you can use them for photos & more-quickly created geometric designs (though they are bulkier & more $$).

Also it depends on what motifs come up on your pages the most - you already have a star & heart, which are handy designs to have. If a flower would be your style, that would be something to consider. I have a medium flower & also a mini flower (like a hole punch) that I use, along w/ a spiral-shaped punch, to create a confetti/party-like look on my pages, but that may not be "you" so just throwing that out there since you asked what we use the most!

And I myself am craving that photo corner punch so that might be a cool option too.

Have fun picking out whatever works for YOU! But like I said, you seem pretty set already.

If you have a little boy, star punches are incredibly useful. Fiskars puts them out in 3 sizes. I can only put so many flowers on boy layouts and stars easily take their place. A lot of people call star "boy flowers" and I have to say the punches were one of the best gifts for scrapbooking I've been given.

I wasn't much of a punch user til I got my Fiskars Threading Water and my Martha Stewart doily lace border punches. I also love my Ek Success retro flower and hope to get the xtra large one soon. I would like a big scalloped circle.
I do have some big and medium sized circles and squares and find them quite handy.

I, too, love my border punches!! Every once in awhile, I do use my corner round, and shape makers.

I love my punches - I really like the flower punches and have several different sizes - I use them for scrapbook pages and cards - I also like my border punches - I really like the scallop edged punches - I just picked up a new Ek Success border punch and really LOVE it!!

I would get a few shapes that you love and tend to use alot - such as a flower or circle - sometimes it's just more convenient to punch a shape then to use a cricut or other die machine. It also helps me to use up my stash of scrap papers!!!