I may not be recognized as a crafting genius in my lifetime, but my creativity knows no bounds. There’s no way of predicting when inspiration will strike, so I try to keep everything I could possibly need on hand. If you’re anything like me, the ultimate craft supply checklist can enrich your life, too.
Tools
- Paintbrushes and foam brushes
- Hole punch
- Ruler or yardstick
- Wire clippers
- Paper trimmer—no matter how accomplished your scissors skills, a guaranteed straight line is better.
- Sponges
- Needles—do yourself a favor and keep these in an old Altoid tin, or you’ll find them in the carpet.
- Scissors—bonus points if you still have an impressive array of edger scissors from a scrapbooking phase.
Writing
- Markers—frankly, I have a weakness for them all: Sharpies, fine point, poster-sized, brush markers for calligraphy, basic washable Crayolas, glitter, and so many more.
- Colored pencils and sharpener
- Oil pastels
- Chalk
Paints
- Acrylic paints
- Chalkboard paint
- Milk paint—I have an irresistible impulse every now and again to refinish furniture. It’s not an exaggeration to say that I’ll paint anything.
- Watercolors
- Tempera paints
Fabrics
- Felt
- Textile remnants—give me anything larger than 12 inches, and I’ll make a pillow out of it.
- Thread and embroidery floss—if you’ve started 1,000 needlework projects like I have, y’all probably have plenty of this.
- Burlap
Trims
- Ribbon—you can have a good time crafting with nothing but ribbon.
- Yarn
- Twine—rustic touches are extremely on-trend.
Paper
- Colored tissue paper—borrow some from your gift-wrapping supplies station.
- Cardboard, cardstock, and poster board
- Construction paper
- Crepe paper
Putting It Together
- Velcro
- Glue—stick glue, glitter glue, Krazy Glue, Elmer’s, wood glue, and whatever else you could possibly use. I keep nail polish remover nearby for when I inevitably glue my fingers together.
- Hot glue gun—I hold this tool in high regard, and would never just group it in with the other glues. Wield it in good health.
- Fishing wire
- String
- Floral wire
- Mod Podge—Beware, y’all might get obsessed with it like me.
- Double-sided and painter’s tape
- Clear contact paper
Wild Cards
- Googly eyes—everything is better with googly eyes.
- Pom poms
- Beads
- Feathers—if there’s a way to work in feathers, you’ll be glad you did.
- Sequins
- Glitter
- Mason jars—put anything in one of these, decorate it, and you have a decent gift.
- Small rocks
Containers and Organizers
Be ready with some spares, because you’ll be creating leftover supplies as you go. Stay organized from the get-go, keep supplies separate, and label everything. The ultimate craft supply checklist depends on it.
