My 10 Favorite Crafting Tools
It is the first day of spring and perfectly appropriate, the rain here in the Seattle area has stopped and the sun is out for the first time in a month! I’m working on spring-themed projects and it got me to thinking about a question a reader emailed me about. She is starting out in the party/crafting game and wanted some tips on getting started. My laptop and DSLR camera are my right and left arms, but my real workhorses are my crafting tools. Since many of you are getting spring crafting ready, here are my 10 favorites.
FYI, this is not a sponsored post for Fiskars…I just really love their products and tools!
- Hot-glue guns – a must-have for any level of crafter’s arsenal; I have used mine for just about any scenario that can withstand a little heat. I have a pretty, clean one for company and workshops and my blue hot-mess one for everyday work.
- Shaped paper punchers – from their affordability to patent-grip, I love Fiskars punches. From making confetti to gift tags to cupcake toppers, I love finding new ways to play with them. I just bought two more…
- Metal ruler – If you are cutting and trimming with #6’s utility knife, you will need a metal ruler. You will slice up a plastic ruler in a heart beat.
- Mini wire cutter – Whether I’m cutting shanks off buttons to trimming floral wire, my cutter is a hard worker. I just discovered it can trim Necco candy wafers without breaking them.
- Scissors – Yes, Fiskars again. I have several, from small, sharp ones perfect for cutting tiny details or cutting twine cleanly to regular sized ones. It is good to have several of these as well; I have a ‘crappy’ one that I use for cutting through glued or taped crafts so it’s gunky. I have a ‘nice’ one with clean blades for things I want a nice, neat cut to.
- Utility Knife – #10’s paper trimmer is magical, but for super-precise cutting that neither that nor scissors will do, you need a utility knife.
- Dry adhesives – Sometimes glue just won’t do; double sided tapes and runners give precise adhesion for delicate crafts. Don’t forget about glue and foam dots.
- Rotary blade – I learned this lesson when I was going through my felt-crafting/making-tassels phase. You can’t cut either with scissors or a utility knife. For those of you who work with other textiles, you know what I’m talking about.
- Cutting mat – I have both rotary and self-healing mats, since obviously, I use both. Whenever you are cutting with a utility knife, always use a cutting mat to protect your surface and blade.
- Paper trimmer – Once upon a time I did not have one. I don’t remember those dark days…
These are just my top 10…I have lots of other tools that didn’t make the cut, but these are the ones I use in just about every craft project. Do you have a favorite crafting tool you can’t live without?
