I often get questions about the creative supplies and tools I use to make my art and DIY projects. While I have a pile of found and saved items in a corner waiting to be transformed, and will use whatever is handy to complete my projects, I do have some favorite craft supplies and tools I reach for first. I’m happy to share my tried and tested list in hopes you’ll find them helpful in your own creative projects!
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Basic Crafting and DIY Supplies for Most Projects:
Glue— If your project is meant to last, invest in good glue. Spending hours on a special project is wasted time if the embellishments are falling off in a few weeks. Beacon Adhesives are my go-to choices for attaching things to other things. They have a glue for nearly everything. My most used glues are:
- Zip Dry Paper Glue
- Fabri-Tac (great for more than just fabric!)
- Tombow tape runner for the rare occasions I need a dry adhesive
Scissors— I probably have 20 pairs of scissors (not an exaggeration) I’ve collected over the years of working in the creative industry. If I had to choose 3 pairs to be stranded on a crafty deserted island with, they would be:
- Westcott Titanium Non-Stick for sticky projects
- 3″ micro-tip for precision cuts
- Tonic Serrated Snips for chipboard and heavier materials
Paper Trimmer— I use a Tonic 12″ guillotine-style trimmer. It’s been going strong for 9 years and makes even the thinnest cuts with precision.
Adhesive Remover–This little square gizmo is inexpensive and can save a project from disaster. Despite it’s humble appearance, this square is fantastic at removing adhesive that has seeped or strung, or has been placed in the wrong spot by a stray thumb.
Acrylic Paint Brushes
Favorite Craft Supplies for Specialty Projects:
Acrylic Paint-– I love to paint my projects. For great coverage and colors, I use Americana Acrylics. They have a good variety of indoor and outdoor options, as well as finishes.
Brushes— Having nice quality brushes will save a lot of frustration and repainting. Brushes with stray bristles poking out in every direction do not make for a happy crafter. No need to break the bank, however a moderate splurge in this area is worth it. This is one of the supplies where I don’t have a brand preference. I prefer softer, flexible, bristle brushes to the sponge variety though, because the sponge brushes soak up a lot of paint that gets wasted.
Crop-a-dile Punch–This single hole punch will go through nearly anything. I’ve used it on felt, paper, wood, acetate, baked clay, and lots of other materials. I have both the regular and the big version, but the regular gets more use. I don’t even bother putting it away any more.
Electric Cutting Machine–I use a Cricut Explore Air to cut out my own designs for paper and DIY projects, as well as cut stencils for my art. It also cuts a mean science fair project title 🙂 Everything I’ve tested has been cut beautifully.
Ultra-White Card Stock–I love a smooth, thick, bright cardstock for printables and stamping. While I always have a stack of the cheap stuff around for testing, I love Neenah Paper for all my finished work.
Favorite Supplies for Coloring and Lettering
Thanks for stopping by and checking out some of my favorite craft supplies. Leave a comment and let me know what your favorites are. Enjoy your crafty projects and try some new things today!
Until next time:
Carla
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