10 Products Every Crafter Needs

I am fairly new to crafting - in fact, I did not really start to build a crafting supply room until late last year. My slow and gradual crafting projects started off with basic supplies, but as my confidence grew, so too, did my need for more products to fuel my new found love of crafting.  

Walking into a crafting store can be daunting for those just tinkering with the idea of getting crafty, but with a few basic supplies in your crafting supply box, you can take on a number of diverse and creative projects without breaking the bank. In fact, getting crafty will actually save those dollars!

I almost always head to my local thrift store before starting a new project; there are always crafting supplies and materials to buy for a fraction of the price. The butterfly shape cutter I used in my canvas art project was a $1 at my local thrift store, the mugs I used in my ceramic craft were 4 for a $1 and the fabric from my fabric craft was an off cut I bought for a quarter. The myth that crafting has to be expensive is just that, a myth. 

When stocking your crafting supply chest, be sure you have the following materials on hand:

1. Mod Podge

Like sugar is to cake, Mod Podge is to crafting. Buy big tubs of it rather than small jars to keep costs low. It can be used any surface, with nearly any material and can make an ordinary project shine, literally. It has an adhesive property that allows you to skip the gluing application, making crafting with Mod Podge simple and straightforward.

2. Foam Brushes

Buy foam brushes in large quantities in various sizes to apply a variety of crafting products, like paint, glue, glossy accents, and Mod Podge. Foam brushes can be used over and over again so long as they are washed and dried between uses. Discard them when they start to tear, rip or look uneven.

3. Crafting Paint

Start with a simple palate of all-purpose neutral and seasonal color pots.  Keep them airtight and shake them well before each use. General purpose crafting paint can be used on wood, glass metal, fabric, paper and clay, and can often be used both indoor and outdoor.

4. Scissors

A fabulous pair of paper shears and a great pair of fabric scissors will give you the polished finish you are looking for when working with paper and or fabric.  They can be costly, so be sure you use them only for the material you are buying them for.

5. Crafting Knife Set & Mat

Buying a good set of paper cutting tools that includes a straight edge will be worth its weight in gold when you work on your first complicated paper project. Coupling that with a memory mat for cutting keeps your crafting surface wound free.

6. Hot Glue Gun & Glue Mat

Hot glue guns are indispensable and can be used on any number of projects from wreaths to fabric crafts. Investing in a glue mat will protect your crafting surface and keep the hot glue from burning everything it touches.

7. Glossy Accents

Great for jewelry, scrapbooking and any number of crafting projects, Glossy Accents dries clear and with a dimensional finish that lifts projects, creating a 3d effect.  A little goes a long way, so investing in 1 bottle will allow you to create a number of projects before needing to buy a second bottle.

8. Fast Drying Glue

A large bottle of fast drying glue allows you to finish crafting projects more quickly, taking all the hurry up and wait out of crafting. It can be used on a variety of surfaces, with a number of materials and a single large bottle is all you need to get started.

9. Paint Brushes

Buying a packet of multipurpose paintbrushes in a variety of sizes will allow you to paint and apply glue to a number of projects with ease. 

10. Scrapbook Paper

Buying a few sheets of decorative scrapbook paper will allow you to play around with your new crafting supplies. Paper can be applied to a number of surfaces from ceramic, wood, canvas, cardboard or even used to make something on its own, which makes it extremely versatile and budget-friendly!