5 Tools That Every Crafter Needs
By:
Bobbie Byrd
Crafting is pretty easy and requires a lot of different supplies. Sometimes you might find yourself overrun by crafting supplies because of left overs from all the different projects that you do. However there’s a few key tools and supplies that you need to be a crafter.
These are the tools that are going to be the base for your artistic whims. Add in any of those crazy random supplies such as scrapbooking paper, coat hangers, stickers or paint to these basic crafting tools and you’ll be prepared to craft to your heart’s content. 
1. Glue Gun– There are so many uses for a glue gun! At least a few times a week I say “child! go fetch the glue gun!”. Ok so maybe I don’t say it quite like that but I do use it a lot. Last week I hot glued the christmas lights to the brick arch on our front porch. My child hot glued her patches to her Awanas vest rather than waiting for me to put them on properly. And sometimes I actually use the hot glue gun for crafts such as making wreaths
or assembling craft kits. Click here for a great post on selecting the right hot glue gun for your needs.
2. Pliers and Wire Cutters– Most craft pliers also have a built in wire cutter. Lately I’ve really gotten into wrapped wire jewelry
and the needle nose pliers are so valuable to me! Needle nose pliers are great to use when crafting because you can grab little tiny pieces and place them where they need to be with them or you can use them to pull and adjust things with a lot of force. They’re really not expensive and you’ll beam with pride when your husband has to come ask to borrow your pliers. 
3. Glue– There is so much glue out there! Yes I know hot glue was #1 but there’s many other types as well. I recommend that a dedicated crafter also keep fabric glue, wood glue, spray adhesive, a very strong glue and a Mod Podge type glue on hand. Here’s a small sampling of some of my favorites that I keep on hand; Gorilla Glue Wood Glue
– I’ve always been an Elmer’s girl but a few weeks ago I tried this wood glue and I really like it. E6000 Glue
– This is one of the stronger all purpose glues that I have found. It’s a very strong glue that’s great to use in hot climates when the hot glue might melt (like in Houston). It is slower drying but I hold pieces in place with a bit of painters tape until they are dry. Elmer’s Extra Strong Spray Adhesive
– (See I told you I was an Elmer’s Girl) I could brag all day about my favorite spray adhesive. I love this stuff. I even used it to apply felt to tshirts for my girls halloween costumes and it held up great! One of the shirts has been through the wash numerous times and the felt pieces are still there!
4. Rotary Cutter – Honestly I don’t currently have one of these because my kids love to raid my craft room. Awhile back I found my 4 year old dismantling my rotary cutter so I got rid of it for safety. They are very sharp and even though they have a guard, they are dangerous. But when I did have it, I loved it. It makes it so much easier to cut fabric or felt with. You can also cut paper if you’re ok with changing the blade frequently. If your kids or older or you have a safe place to store it away from little fingers, it’s a great tool to have at your crafty disposal.
If you do have littles and don’t feel safe with a rotary cutter, a really sharp pair of professionally sharpened scissors is just as valuable. 
5. Paint brushes – Anytime I see paint brushes on sale, I pick them up! There’s so many great uses from spreading glue, applying a fine layer of glitter to a project or actually painting with them. Experiment with different ones and different brush types to find the ones that you really enjoy. I try to keep a mix of nice brushes that I clean and care for along with some cheap ones that I know I can just toss without regret if they get too gross.
Here’s another post you might like – How to Save Money Crafting
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