If you are the creative sort, then no doubt you have already tried your hand at various arts and crafts. But creativity is often not enough whether you are paper crafting or working with fabric. To achieve something truly unique, you also need a full set of crafting supplies.

But with so many different types of crafts and supplies available, it can get difficult to keep track of exactly what you need and what you can live without. Well, that is where we aim to make things a bit easier.

In this article, we have shortlisted 10 essential crafting tools that you should have in your arsenal regardless of your specialty to ensure your project goes smoothly.

Crafting Tools : Top 10 List For Beginners and Experts

“Arts and crafts” can mean many things. It can mean paper crafting, jewelry making, fabric design, or even woodworking depending on who you ask. But regardless of what you mean by it, there are a couple of key items that you need to make the most out of your project.

Here are the top ten crafting tools that you should always have in your toolkit if you want to partake in art projects every now and then.

1. Hot Glue Gun

Having a hot glue gun is essential regardless of the type of craft you are into. With this handy contraption, you can glue fabrics patch together, attach wood letter blocks to surfaces, or do whatever else you desire with minimal hassle. Just make sure you get the right glue sticks to put inside it.

Hot glue guns can come in many different designs and price tags. Ideally, you want to go with a model that lets you adjust the temperature setting. That way, you will be able to modify the heat setting according to your requirements.

2. Paper/Foam/Fabric Adhesives

Just because you have a hot glue gun does not mean you do not need other forms of adhesives. All arts and crafts projects require glue, and you need to decide which type of glue you want depending on what you are trying to do.

If you are working on paper projects such as scrapbooking or bookbinding, a paper adhesive stick might be the best choice. We discuss some printers in detail in our article about the top printers to print scrapbook.

For foam projects, you want to go with foam glue. And similarly, for joining fabrics, you need to go with adhesives that bond well with fabrics.

3. X-Acto Knife

The next essential crafting supply that you should have in your toolkit is the x-acto knife. Also commonly referred to as a paper cutter, this handy knife will let you cut papers with high precision. You can also use it to cut boxes, although, a box cutter would be the better choice for that purpose.

An x-acto knife comes with a short and fixed blade and has a metal body. When you are done using it, you get a metal cap to cover up the blade so that you do not hurt yourself. The part where you grip the knife comes with a grippy texture for better control.

4. Tape and Scissors

You might be wondering what you would do with tapes and scissors if you already have adhesives and knives. They pretty much do the same thing, right? Well, not necessarily. A pair of scissors might be the handiest thing. In fact, even if you do not have a box cutter, you can use your scissor as a makeshift knight to cut boxes open.

And tapes are always important. But I would recommend going with double-sided tapes as it is much easier to hide them in a finished project. Double-sided tapes are especially useful for any sort of cutting project.

5. Cutting Mat

With a cutting mat, you will be able to cut materials without getting things cluttered. Some mats even come with markers to help you cut materials to precise lengths. And since cutting mats are quite affordable, there is no reason not to get one if it can benefit your arts and crafts project.

Though some might argue that a cutting mat is not all that necessary, we believe that it is essential for a good work experience. It also helps you keep things organized on the desk since you do not have to cut any more than you have to.

And here is a good post about the procedure to clean a cricut mat and make it sticky again.

6. Straight Edge or Measuring Tape

For our next option, we actually went with two tools instead of one as they pretty much serve a similar function. Still, you want to get both of them if possible.

A measuring tape is great for taking longer measurements on any surface whereas a straight edge is only good for measuring smaller lengths. However, with a straight edge, you can measure smaller increments compared to a measuring tape. Both of these tools are quite handy for measuring out lengths for your craft.

7. Needle-Nosed Pliers and Tweezers

If your craft involves working with small items, then consider investing in a set of tweezers or needle-nosed pliers. It will make it much easier to grab them from the table and keep them organized.

A needle-nosed plier might not be the most essential thing on this list unless you are working with jewelry. But tweezers are definitely a must-have for any arts and crafts enthusiast.

8. Ribbon

Ribbons are a popular and commonly used material in crafting. In fact, the ribbon isle in a craft store is typically the busiest section on most days. With a smart placement of ribbons, you can make any project look cute and exciting. So make sure you have a couple of rolls of ribbon on your desk at all times.

Also read: Get your craft on with epson printable ribbon.

9. Painting Supplies

If you want to give your craft a personal touch, consider painting it in unique and exciting colors. And to do that, you need to have your painting supplies in hand. Whether you go with acrylic paint or watercolors, you need brushes, a pellet board, and other smaller supplies to use with it.

We recommend also investing in high-quality paint instead of going with the cheapest you can find. That way, the colors and the designs will pop out more making your final product look more exciting.

10. Random Embellishment

Those who work on various art projects would likely have pieces of previous works laying around that they did not get a chance to use. Instead of throwing it away, it is best to keep it stored in a small box for later.

You never know when a random piece of fabric or a remaining clay piece from an old work comes in handy for a new crafting project. By keeping these things for later, you will be able to add a new and unique touch to your art.

Final Thoughts

It can get extremely frustrating when you sit down for an art project and notice that you are missing an essential tool.

With our checklist of 10 crafting tools that you need, you will be able to keep track of whether you have everything ready to go before you get started.

Hopefully, our article could help you get your tools sorted and make the most out of your time. Good luck.

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