Sunday 18 July 2010

Joining the big girl crafters....

..that's what it feels like; I have this monster sitting on my desk. See, on my WOYWW tour every week, I see loads of 'em. Everyone who has one on show waxes lyrical about them. And living up to the character fault so kindly pointed out to me by a erm, friend, I'm not really a leader, I'm a follower. So, after two emails from Jo giving me valuable purchasing advice and heaps of enthusiasm for it; I bought one. Walked the walk if you like - I've been talking the talk for bally months.
It is a monster, but actually, it's much , much lighter than it looks. I had a few seconds of misery loading the thing - because the tape is uber sticky aggressive. I say this at workshops about glue dots. You have to treat it like snot....roll it around on your fingers and flick it off. It's the only way.
I've been practising. Depressing the trigger isn't difficult to remember - letting go when you want to lift the roller off the paper is the bit I forget - and the tape is v e r y s t r e t c h y. I'm not perfect yet at where to start and stop, and straight lines - forget it. So far though, I like it. It's not difficult to find either, even when your desk looks like mine always does...although I can see that there will be days when there's no room to actually put it down! So, I can see why lots of you have made it your best friend. I can also see a huge similarity between this and US ArtQuest's 'Ah That's Great' tape. (ATG, see.....). Seems to do the same thing too. Anyone? Meanwhile, I shall go back to flourishing my new monster and feeling like one of the big girl crafters. Good grief, I might take myself seriously in a minute.

42 comments:

Unknown said...

I LOVE my ATG gun ... a lot ... not more than chocolate ... but still a lot :0) Have the bestest time with yours X

Scrapcat 1 said...

That is a huge tape gun it looks like the ones I used to use to close up large boxes but like you say you shouldn't lose it too easily. Looking forward to seeing how you get on with come Wednesday

Unknown said...

And you have blogged on a Sunday too!!!

Maz said...

I haven't got one...yet. Used one at a friends house recently and was quite impressed. I'm a ds tape girl so no doubt I'll invest in one soon! x

misteejay said...

Might take me a while to get around to one of these. I'm a DST girl and I just love my redline super sticky stuff. However, I have been using tape-runners more for quick stuff and so you never know...........

Toni :o)

CoventryAnn said...

LOL at the snot comment, I'm still one of the little girls alas, but I think I have no room in the corner of the kitchen I craft in, or in the bags I haul to crops for this monster sticker. :)

Helen said...

Do let us know how you get on. It seems an awful faff (phaff?) when you could use DS tape???

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I've seen so many of the WOYWW crafters mention AGT and often wondered what it meant. I even asked someone once. I've only seen photos on desks, nothing in person. It really is quite the monster, but sometimes you need something amazing, awesome, or monster-ish. Case in point: I have a ton of hand held hole punches and a couple of eyelet setters, but I never use them unless I can't reach where I need to go with my Crop-a-dile. Seems like sometimes the best investment may not seem like such at first glance, but I bet you're going to love this. And we want to hear an honest review of it one of these days, too.

BTW, a few days ago I said it was too hot to be out and about. That's why there are no people in any of the photos on my blog. They're all in the air conditioned buildings, which is the only smart place to be in this oppressive heat and humidity.

Paige said...

OMGosh!!!!! how big is that glue gun!!!!!!!!! do they make them in red????? :)

Darcy Marshall said...

love,love,love my ATG, out of tape right now and waiting for some to arrive. It really is the best thing since sliced bread.

Siobhan Brignull said...

hmmm never heard of this and missed it on the other woyww desks, tell me more, is is expensive how wide is it, should I have one!!!!!

paola said...

You are a real gas, i have such a good laugh when i read your posts in my google reader and dont pop in often enough to leave comments, but this sure is a big ass adhesive applicator, he he
smiles
Paola

Kaz said...

Well done Julia - I followed too and am in love with mine. As for storing when there's little room on the desk, it sits very happily on it's head xxx

Raven said...

Welcome to the club! I have the 714, and I love it. You will be SO happy when you see how much you save on adhesive.

Angie said...

I wish you good luck ...I bought one about 5 years ago ...or something very similar ...it came loaded ...and after a few false starts it was so brillint to use ...but then it ran out and needed to be reloaded. This is where everything went wrong ...I followed the instructions but it jammed up ...tried again ...and again but no luck. DD snatched it away and looked at me as though I were in imbecile. She tried ...and tried ..and tried to make it work ...with no luck. and that was the last time I remember seeing the gun ...may it RIP. lol

Anonymous said...

...sticky aggressive... hahaha! That strikes me as so funny because 'sticky aggressive' is the cause of So Many troubles...
Good luck with your new neat thingie that I don't have!
Amy

Anonymous said...

LMAO!!!!! .............no wait, still laughing.... omg!! you are tooooo funny!

Diane said...

Best thing i ever bought.....and i have bought lots!

Annie said...

Hehehe I'm still not completly sure what it is but I hope you have fun using it :-)
A x

Sue said...

Hi Julia
pmsl, luv the way you tell us things,
i asked one of the girls last week what the yellow monster was, so do i need to get one????
Have fun playing, sue,x

donnalouiserodgers said...

hmmm, as you know I'm a bit accident prone - Niall has a 'parcel wrapper' that a bit bigger than the thing on your desk - it has a guard behind which hide a set of teeth and I got bitten - so he wraps my parcels for me now....had to wrap my own on friday and used good old cellotape....for me it's still the quickest option ( taking into account injuries and inability to final flourish that tears/ends the tape out the blessed machine thing....)

I bet you will get the hang of it, you will love it, and soon you will put it to uses never before dreamt of....

Handmade with Love said...

I have one but haven't used it yet. I will get it out of the draw again and give it a go! Enjoy! Tracey x

chrissy xx said...

Glad I had had my breakfast before I read this!But, very funny. Enjoy.
Chrissyxx

Leo said...

I've not fallen for this one yet my only proviso with DST is that it's finger-rip-able then I'm a happy bunny :)
Enjoy making friends with your new tool! xx Leo

Poppit said...

I was eating jaffa cakes as I read your post....until I got to the bit about snot, that is. It kind of put me off!! lol. Love your posts Julia...always entertaining!

Lyn said...

I too am a Big Girl. A Big Girl who Feels Very Silly. You see, I succumbed to one of these a few months ago. I ordered the gun and reasearched the right width tape for my gun, then bought TWO of the longest length tapes available. Of course, when the package duly arrived and I excitedly unwrapped it, I rrealised that lionger lengths = bigger rolls which did not fit in my size gun. DUH. All were disgustedly consigned to the cupboard and have stayed there ever since. Hope you enjoy yours more than I have!

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Can we call you Annie now? I'm sticking to UHU -no pun intended hehe
Anne xx

Bettythebaglady said...

Dear Julia If you have any probs with your ATG let me know. If you have trouble sometimes you need to check that the backing o the take up reel isn't slipping. I adore mine although I use PVA for heavy duty stuff like boxes.For a straight line put a metal ruler down and run the rubber roller at the side of it-ruler to the left-gun on the right.Sometimes mine goes a bit squiffy but it is fab and the more you use it the easier it will get. If you save some release paper (the stuff from the back of peel offs you can use it to prevent your piece from sticking all in one go to make placing easier. Have been checking out Mr. D's horse wow and his forearms don't look bad either. Hugs BettyXXX

carlytheprincess said...

Once you get the knack, it is amazing and so easy to use. plus its so much cheaper than the tiny tape runners. i'm thinking of getting the 6mm adaptor for thinner stuff but the 12mm can be used ion most things. Have fun with it xxxxx

Rosie said...

I've occasionally wondered about one of these ... but because I have arthritic hands been worried that it might be a bit heavy and difficult to use? Squeezing things tight isn't my strong point either .... maybe I'll just stick to my PVA glue!

Minxy said...

I too have been meaning to possess one of these beauties but never get around to it, where did ya get yours?

Spyder said...

It's a kinda...make my day, kinda weapon, isn't it! I would have to put it,'somewhere' safe, and then forget where...like my pink Quickutz, which is 'big' and 'pink' but where is it now?? Disappeared! Sorry about the bad scary words yesterday... I really did have to 'clean' the windows, before they were painted...we're probably the last house in our road not to have double glazing... but i can dream...

JoZart Designs said...

To answer some questions.....They don't come in red but there's always alcohol inks to change the colour!
Julia .. you say it is so stretchy,... it's the warm weather and it will tame as the seasons change! Just wizz it off quickly until the temp cools.
There are great videos and instructions available via the web for how to change the rolls when needed and let's face it .. .you are all wonderful crafters and aren't DAFT! YOU CAN DO IT if you really want to.!!!!
This ATG is my bestest friend we are talking about !!!
Jo x

Hels Sheridan said...

LMAO hun... snot.. you just know that I have that childish streak that was going to snort at the snot comment LOL Glad you got your ATG gun...tis a pain in the bum to load but it is worth it... I have had mine a year now and I looove it loads :O))

Carmen said...

This is just one more thing that Ruby would use to torment the dogs... and me. I can just imagine dozing off in my chair only to wake up and find myself strapped to it and a whole makeover thing going on... shuddering at the thought ;)

Dianne said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment...I appreciate it! enjoyed my visit here. happy creating!

jude said...

Yes youve joined the club!!!!he he i have a large pink one....from USA and i just love it!im sure you will do in time hun once you get the nack of it.I had smae peoblems when i first got mine But woulndt be with out it now!!
enjoy
hugs judex

Sunshine Girl said...

Oooh you have joined the ATG gang! enjoy - mine is amongst one of the bestest things I own although I am only down to one tape now so I am getting a bit twitchy..... more are on order but they arent in my grubby little mitts yet so I wont relax until they are!

Chrissie said...

Ooh.... I want one!
Chrissie

Hazel said...

I love my tape gun - wouldn't be without it. Soon after buying it, I bought boxes of 72 reels of tape - and so far I've got through about half of them - so you can tell that I do use mine (a lot!!) x

Cath Wilson said...

LOL, glad you're one of the converts. I wouldn't be without mine - have had it about 10 years now and it's fabby dabby. It does take some getting used to but when you run out of tape, you really do miss it and the tape is uber sticky, lol. You'll grow to love it.

Anne said...

Ooooh, well done! I cannot imagine being without my ATG now - it did take me a while to get used to, but I can do the tiniest things with it now, and I can't imagine going back to the frustration (and expense) of the little tiny glue runners that seem to need refilling every five minutes!