Tim Holtz Retractable Craft Pick, by Tonic Studios

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Reported by: Dana Vitek

I am not a paper-piercing-kind-of-girl. My first paper piercer (it came in the Making Memories tool kit that everyone and her sister has) met its untimely end during the installation of my sliding-glass door (it seemed like a good idea at the time). I don't think I ever actually used it for its intended purpose. But that didn't stop me from replacing it with the snazzy Tim Holtz Retractable Craft Pick the last time I was poking around my local stamping store (pun intended). Clearly, I have issues.

I volunteered to write this review so that I would HAVE to use it for its intended purpose: piercing paper. As it turns out, I already had a number of paper piercing templates that I bought in the 'before time,' when I actually thought I might possibly be a paper-piercing-kind-of-girl. I did mention I had a problem, right?

I unwrapped the template (yes, still in its original packaging), slapped it down on some cardstock and went to town. Poke, poke, poke. Kind of addicting, like bubble wrap. Luckily, I moved my Silpat out of the way, and was piercing on this foam mat thing I have.



Anyway, I dry embossed the snowflake, and then poke, poke, poke, and then I used my emery board to expose the white core of the cardstock:



Here's the card, in all its poky glory:

(Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder, American Traditional Designs piercing template PC-204 (discontinued), cardstock by DCWV)

So, getting back to Tim's Retractable Craft Pick. It has a number of features that distinguish it from the other varieties out there, most notably, its retractability. This is HUGE in my house, because I have the dreaded sneaky kid infestation in my craft room. It starts in the early morning hours, and I have to make extra sure that all of the dangerous stuff is well out of reach. Having the pick retract into the plastic housing means my son would have to work too hard to inflict damage, and might move on to something less challenging. Seriously though, I love safety features that are built in, so I can't lose them.

Also cool is the plastic loop on the top, that, if I were organized, I would attach it to a lanyard-thingy and hang it around my neck, so I couldn't possibly lose it on my workspace when I just set it down 5 seconds ago (Tim? Have you been watching me craft?!).

Let's cut to the chase, shall we?

Pros:

• Retractable, and therefore safer, and as I always say, "Safety First!"
• Variable length stabby part, and I love versatility.
• Tapered stabby part, so you can make tiny holes with the tip, or wider holes by stabbing deeper, and I don't like where this conversation is headed.
  
• Plastic loop for carrying or wearing, if you're cool like that.

Cons:

• I've heard complaints about the stabby part retracting during use. That didn't happen to me, but as I mentioned, I haven't been using it very long. I will be vigilant, and guard against this potential trouble.
• It's red. Red is my son's favorite color, and he's like a magpie when it comes to spotting red things in my craft stash. But, it's not really Tim Holtz's fault that I need a nanny. I do, however, prefer pink things.
  

I bought my craft pick at White Swan Rubber Stamps in Historic New Castle, Delaware, home of tax-free shopping. You can also find it online at these retailers: StarLit Studio, Scrapbook.com, and ACMoore.com. It retails for $5.00, and I think it's well worth it. Will I use it more often now that I have gotten on the paper pierceing train? Probably. But I won't be using it when we replace the windows.

What do you use for paper piercing? Have you upgraded to the Tim Holtz Retractable Craft Pick, or are you sill using "Old Rusty" the trusty thumb tack? Leave us a comment and let us know!