
Sound like the last jacket you’ll ever need? It isn’t. So you get 1) A fully insulated ski jacket for cold temperatures 2) A waterproof, breathable shell for warmer days and 3) A fleece or puffy mid-layer that can be worn on its own. For those who need a refresher, the 3-in-1 is a winter jacket that comes equipped with an additional zip-in insulating layer, usually a fleece or hoodless puffy. The situation is markedly more futile when it comes to the so-called 3-in-1 jacket. The issues arise when you actually go to use the thing, only to find that the Phillips head is too short to reach the recessed screw you need to twist, or that the tiny knife blade is not quite up to the task of butchering a leg of wild boar in the backcountry (that one comes from personal experience).ĭon’t get me wrong, a multitool can come in handy, but it can often be a jack of all trades and a master of none, leaving it to gather dust in the toolbox you hoped to eliminate in the first place. As an idea, it’s a good one: get rid of the need for an entire toolbox by packing multiple instruments into one small, pocketable apparatus. The multitool is just one example of this fallacy. The only problem is, this type of simplification - the one-thing-does-everything type of simplification - is largely a myth. It's working really well for me, and if I have to replace the mats at some point due to wear and tear, it will be easy and cheap enough to do so.For multi-hobby individuals with small gear closets, the idea can seem dreamy, and paring down is usually in sync with the ideals held by those who spend lots of time outdoors. (This method does not use the MISTI, but I suppose you could stack the mats into the corner of a MISTI instead of affixing to a base and use them that way.) It cost me NOTHING because I had the materials lying around, but you could make one from supplies for less than five bucks.

PERFECT LAYERS TOOL PACK OF 3 UK HOW TO
I had been trying to figure out how to create a jig for my MISTI to accomplish this, and was seriously considering buying an expensive jig on the market, when I came across the instructions on a wedding site (no longer available, unfortunately). With this jig, I can do more layers on one card without affecting the accuracy. I have the Perfect Layers ruler type tools but I found that they are only good for one layer. You have to cut your layers first, and they need to be true. If you start out knowing the size of your card front, then you can cut your layers down the required amount to create the border. This is a boon for making lots of cards and not needing to measure or trim. In my sample below, you can see I cut up two mats, one with a wider bottom layer showing (1/4 inch) and one with a narrower bottom layer showing (1/8 inch). I used a piece of Plexiglas, but you could use thin wood or heavy cover stock. Just cut in half diagonally, then affix to a sturdy rectangular base, aligning with the corner. The mat has two layers already glued for you. All you need are some purchased photo frame mats (you can get at Michael's, an art framing place or even the dollar store), a knife and ruler, some tape (I used double-sided Sookwang) or glue and a sturdy base to tape the mats onto. I found the instructions from back in 2010 online (link no longer available, sorry!) and in minutes had my own jig that allows me to leave 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch borders around my layers. With this homemade tool, I can forget measuring, slicing with rulers and knives, or just eyeballing and hoping for the best. Fancy cards might have more than one layer. Typically you would decorate your focal layer, and then want to mat it much like a painting. If you are a cardmaker, you know the agony of trying to line up layers on a card front so there is a nice even border of under layer showing all around. I am so excited to show you the one I made.


This is a tool to help you line up your layers on a card front with ease. I have added a few more details on how I made this per requests.Ī jig! A cardmaking jig! No, it's not a new dance craze sweeping the card-making community. NOTE: Updated as original link no longer works.
