Auntie Sarah’s Top 10 Crafty Tools
As a self-proclaimed Jack of All Trades, I want to share with you what my toolset contains, and how these tools (which are designed for a specific craft) are useful for many other crafts!
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Top 10 Versatile Crafty Tools:
Scissors
When I’m traveling, I bring two scissors with me: Large sharp scissors, small craft scissors. I also bring my scissor sharpener in case I need to use my scissors on tough materials, but you could use any knife sharpener you have on hand.
Having large scissors for general shapes can be useful for cutting fabric, yarn, felt, paper, cardboard, plastic, small wire, pipe cleaners, straws, food… whatever you happen to be crafting with that you’d like to make smaller!
A small pair of scissors makes detail cuts way easier. I’ve used my small pair for cutting threads, felt shapes, intricate paper designs… anything that your big scissors would be far too cumbersome for.
X-Acto knife
When the small pair of scissors is too cumbersome, or if the material you want to shape is more three dimensional, having a knife is a great option.
I really like having both a traditional X-Acto knife and a finger brace knife. I’ve found for flat projects the finger brace is extremely intuitive, and I haven’t cut myself once.
Meanwhile, the traditional knife shape is very helpful when you’re trying to whittle something three dimensional down.
Cutting mat
A good cutting mat is of course, great for cutting on without damaging your table. It’s also a great surface for rolling out doughs, measuring the lengths & widths of items/material, and can even help you practice your handwriting/calligraphy if you use a cutting mat under your paper.
It’s also a great surface to do most projects on, allowing you to move the whole project at once if you need to clear the table off mid-progress. Keeping your mess to one location can help you feel less overwhelmed when you’re ready to clean up!
Paper Cutter
If you start any craft that requires a lot of repetitive straight cuts for paper, get a paper cutter soon! Repetitive motions are a quick way to get overwhelmed and tired of your craft, and these boards are so versatile. I’ve used mine for scrapbooking, photo books, card making, and book making. You will have confidence that you’re cutting square to one side of the material, and your consistency will improve a lot with this device.
Metal Ruler (English & Metric) or Straight Edge
Sometimes you will need to cut repetitively but on materials other than paper. For that, I recommend combining your cutting board and X-Acto knife with a metal ruler or straight edge. Since the ruler is metal, you won’t stray from the edge as you cut. You do need to be very careful as you make these cuts that your hand position is safe, and the force you’re using won’t result in a sudden unexpected cut.
Glue:
I keep 4 glues in my glue tote… super glue, hot glue (and glue gun), mod podge, and a glue stick.
Super glue is great for materials that are metal, ceramic, leather, rubber, vinyl, or plastic. I’ve used it in projects that required assembly of different materials, or on cardstock when my glue stick wasn’t working.
Hot glue and mod podge are my traditional crafty glue option. Both work well for many different crafts (fabric, paper, embellishments, etc.) so I usually decide which I’ll use based off dry time. I’ve found that hot glue dries so quickly compared to mod-podge or craft glue but can be a little less strong.
Pencil & Eraser:
Pencils are my #1 choice of writing utensils when working on a craft. You can use it to mark paper, fabric, wood, metal, really any material I can think of all with the confidence that you can erase and outline fresh ideas. Having a good eraser is just as important as having a quality pencil. I love to use a kneaded eraser since I can mold it to a fine point and erase precisely.
Pens & Markers:
While these aren’t my #1 choice of writing utensils, I use markers or pens in almost every craft I do. (Even if it’s just signing my name on the card along with the gift) If you get water soluble markers you can even get fancy in the shading of your designs.
Needle Threader:
My needle threader is of course the first thing I get out when I’m going to start sewing, but I’ve used my threader for other projects too! They’re useful for weaving away loose ends in crochet/knitting projects, beading a necklace or bracelet, and threading a drawstring through a pair of pants.
Small Tool Kit
I’ve had a toolkit like this with me since high school. Access to needle-nose plyers, both a flat head and Philips screwdriver, some metal snips, and a hammer help you prepare for almost any assembly project. I’ve used these tools for jewelry making, wood working, prepping wire for sculptures, and leatherworking.
That’s all 10! These are my most versatile tools I keep in my crafty room, and even bring with me on trips.
If you’re a seasoned crafter and have your own list of tried and true tools, let me know below if I missed something on your Top 10 list.