EK Success= Punching Success

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Reported by Heather Strenzwilk

When I began stamping 14 years ago, personal die cut machines didn't exist. Instead, we had specialty punches- they were heavy, clunky and the designs were very limited. Punch technology has improved greatly through the years and some of the best punches on the market are Paper Shapers by EK Success.

Paper Shapers come in 3 sizes- small, medium and large. Many of the styles come in assorted sizes which makes it easy to layer the punchies for different looks. There is also a line of square and circular nesting punches which graduate in size by 1/8" increments. The squares range from 1/2" to 1-3/8" and the circles from 5/8" to 1- 1/2" wide. These round and square punches are staples at my craft table.

"Thumb-Punch" technology makes these punches very easy to use. They also have guidelines on the top and sides of the punch, making it easy to line up multiple punches. The paper loading area is generous, making it easy to load and remove paper or cardstock.

I own 14 EK Success punches (various sizes) and approximately 20 punches from other companies. I have never had any problems with my EK Success punches aside from an occasional piece of cardstock (caused by operator zealousness). My EK punches range in age from 6 months to 5 years and I am very pleased with how smoothly they punch through paper and cardstock. The true test of a punch is cardstock through a circular or rounded punch and the nesting punches work extremely well. They are so easy to use that my 7-year-old daughter can use my punches without any help.

The nested circle punches are my personal favorites and I use them several times a week. They have definitely held up to heavy use. My other favorite is the Whale of a Punch- Retro Flower. It is 2" wide and a fun and bold flower. Tip- Add texture to cardstock before punching as in my flower card above.

The nesting punches are very clearly labeled with their size, making it easy to grab the right size for a project. I own five sizes of the circle punches and layer them or use them to make easy scalloped borders as in the above photo. The other thing I really like about the nesting punches is that they come packed in plastic boxes. This makes it easier to store the punches and to keep them dust free.

EK Success punches are widely available at most chain craft stores and at local scrapbook stores. Prices range from $3.50 - $10.50 and when combined with a coupon, make these a bargain. I don't think punches can compare to personal diecut machines, but they can offer an affordable option for crafters who need to make their own diecuts for projects. EK Success punches are easy to use, widely available, affordable and most importantly, dependable.