Having the right tools for your craft is essential and will make it much easier and more enjoyable, whatever type of craft you are doing. Here's a round up of some of the tools that you really can't do without! Measuring Things
Ideally you should have two rulers. An eighteen inch metal ruler that you can use with a craft knife for cutting and a transparent plastic ruler for marking lines when you need to see an image.
Sticking Things Together
Paper glue known variously as PVA, school glue, paper glue, Elmers glue etc for all paper crafts. Dries to a clear finish but don’t overdo it on thin paper or in the presence of water soluble inks.
A glue stick is easier to use than paper glue and will not affect water soluble inks but it doesn’t stick quite as well as paper glue.
Rubber cement gives a removable bond when applied to one surface and a permanent bond when applied to both surfaces to be joined together. It doesn’t last forever as it yellows slowly and loses its adhesive properties.
Glue guns are electric tools that heat adhesive before applying it. The adhesive properties are very good and the bond formed is strong.
Epoxy glue, comes in two tubes that are mixed together before use and can be used on wide variety of porous and non porous materials. The bond formed is very strong.
Glitter glue is great for all sorts of projects. Kids love it.
Mounting tape or mounting squares are adhesive backed foam strips that can be used in scrapbooking for a 3D look.
Transparent and double sided tape plus masking tape are essential for many craft activities. Use masking tape to temporarily hold paper or light materials together while the glue is drying or to tape down stencils.
Holding Things Together
For temporarily holding things together use paper clips, pins paper fasteners, rubber bands, clothes pins,staples, ribbons, wire, string, thread etc.
Cutting Tools
Basic scissors, in different sizes, and a good craft knife are essential and will be adequate for almost all craft activities. Use large scissors for heavy materials and small sharp scissors for curves and small shapes. A good pair of scissors made for sewing are best for fabric cutting but don’t use them for paper or other materials as this will dull the edge. Decorative edge scissors or pinking sheers are useful for making designs.
A paper cutter is good for cutting straight lines which is difficult to achieve with scissors. A large rotary type paper cutter would be a good buy. A circle cutter will, of course easily cut our paper or fabric circles.
A craft knife with replaceable blades is essential. Be careful to cover the blades when not in use by the supplied cap or by pushing it into a cork. Dispose of the blades carefully by wrapping in thick tape.
Hole punches are very useful and a pair of needle-nosed pliers and a wire cutter are needed for some craft activities. Craft punches come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. if you will need to cut sheet metal a pair of tin snips will be needed.
Painting
Cheap synthetic brushes will be adequate for most craft work and come in a huge variety of sizes. Choose a good selection of fine, medium, coarse, round and flat. A stencil brush, with short stiff bristles is also a good buy. Clean them properly so they last and use old brushes for applying glue and other substances.
Foam brushes are disposable and cheap and good for applying glue or other mediums on large areas.
For scrumbling a natural sea sponge is essential. Pricey but definitely worth it.
