*Smash Review

There are a few lines of products I just love love love right now.  One of those lines is *Smash by K&Co!  I’ve always been a fan of journaling.  It’s therapeutic and it can be a ton of fun.  But if you’re a scrapper like me and you’ve clipped magazines, periodicals, and newspapers you need something different than a regular journal. *Smash is what you need; it's a catchall for the things your love.  I've known about *Smash since it's initial release but I've only recently gotten my hands on it.  I really don't know why I waited so long but I've been smashing ever since! To the left is how the *Smash journal comes right out of the store.

The entire line of *Smash products has a retro -whimsy feel to it.  The items aren't matching in the *Smash line but some how they all go together.  I really like most of the items I've found and will be discussing them along with the journals.

So what's the point of smash?  Well, it's like a visual journal of sorts.  It's all the things that you hang on to.  I know I keep odd things like the fortunes from fortune cookies, concert tickets, movie tickets, feathers, clippings of magazines, cards...  They end up tucked inside a journal or they end up in a drawer or box.  The *Smash book is the place to store all that in a fun and unique way.  Others may find *Smash as new way to keep a regular journal.  Some may theme their books; a travel theme or a holiday theme.  Whatever you can think to slam in there, it's yours to play with!  

There are 6 styles of *Smash, shown is the Doodle Red, Retro Blue, and Eco Green that I just got in the mail.  There is also Simple Orange, Mod Black, and International Yellow.  I own and I am currently working in the Orange.  Each journal has a theme. For example, the Eco is a nature based theme, the Doodle is an artsy based theme.  These journals come in a clear plastic slip cover that protects the book and keeps the pen from wandering off before purchase.  I’m keeping the plastic cover to use as a dust cover when displaying or storing.  The journal is color lined on the front and back facing covers.  In the back there's also a pocket to store things inside your *Smash should you not be able to work in the book at that moment.

I would start with the Simple Orange *Smash first.  I wouldn't say that it's "Simple" but more eclectic than the other journals of *Smash. It seems to be a mix of all the other journals that I've seen so far.  It was the first one that I got and it's very user friendly.  It has many fun pages to play on.  If you look for the video commercial on *Smash it's the featured journal.  I really like  working in it and it's one that I think I'll purchase it again.  

*Smash also supplies something called the *Smash stick.  It is a gem!  It’s a black felt tip on one side and a glue stick on the other.  I really like this because I can smash on the go.  One thing about the glue stick that bothers me is that you need to be liberal with it’s application on slicker papers like magazines to make them stick well.  I’m not someone who likes to slather glue all over the place.  You can purchase the pen separately as well as a pink and blue version of the pen.

There are some other products I want to go over with everyone.  The first is the binding bands; not pictured.  These are like the ones of yesteryears.  They are basically large rubber bands that comes 2 in a pack; it has one white with black stripe and a light blue one.  I know it sounds goofy to buy them but it really keeps the smash book closed when you start filling it with things.  The only complaint I have is that the black stripes peel off the band.  I’m not upset by this but I’d really like to see something more durable in that decorative aspect.

Another good buy: the smash pads.  Scrapbookers may recognize these as tags.  The smash pads are also themed: blank, travel, quotes (a.k.a. word of mouth), family, entertainment, and the 2 of us.  These pads have different things in them to journalize your findings or stick a note in the smash book.  I suggest the blank to get you started if you’re not familiar with the journaling aspect.  If you're working on a themed *Smash or themed pages, you can really get some use out of them.  I used the travel one many times!

Now comes some other little things I really love.  Pictured below are 3 different items.  At the top is a roll and it’s the polka dot smash tape.  I’ve seen this in other companies but I really love the polka dotted one of the *Smash line.  The tape isn’t permanent, more semi sticky like painters tape, so you can remove whatever is being held down later without destroying it or destroying the page.  To the left are page tabs.  You peel the back away and fold in half over the edge of the page leaving some hanging off.  It creates a tab you can quick reference to later.  You can write on them for even faster reference if you have multiple tabs in your *Smash.  The last thing is on the right and that’s the pockets.  These are for storing items you want to keep but not adhere to the page.  I like these and they are really cute.  

Another *Smash product that I’m loving is the date stamp.  At about $5 I was really happy to find this; I had been looking for something like it but every thing was so expensive.  The date is on the right.  But on the left there are cutesy saying that you can stamp along with it.  I’ve tried out that side but I didn’t like it much; just not my thing.  I use the date side and just make sure to press the ink onto that part.

But every product line seems to have it’s weak point and for me that’s the *Smash retro clips.  I was really bummed about these because they are so adorable.  However, they don’t hold the page well. They look kinda like paper clips but with words on them.  I really was hopeful but after only a week I’ve lost most of them because they just don’t stay put. Moreover you can only mark from the left side; they aren’t dual sided.

My rating of the *Smash line is 4.8 out of 5 stars.  The retro clips bring it down.  Overall this is a fun method of journaling for those that clip and save like me.  Buyers beware though, on the K&Co website you can find the whole line but the shipping is super expensive and is only free if you hit $60.  Most of what I bought I found at Michael’s and Joann’s stores.  I’m a coupon girl so you can find coupons for both stores at their websites.  I’m sure there are places online that you can buy them for a little cheaper.  Pick one up though, they are a lot of fun!!!! 

Please note: there are other products in the *Smash line that I don’t own so they haven’t been reviewed