Supplies for Craft Making with 12 Photos

When you are home, away from work and obligations and totally free to be yourself, it can be very satisfying to allow your inner child or inner artist take the reins to produce something “all yours.” Men and women have been doing this with what they had since the beginning of time. It may have been the production of a wooden toy or whirl-a-gig from leftover lumber. Then again, it might have been scraps of fabric which were transformed into a rug or coverlet. Now, hand-crafting is a well-supported industry with abundant tools, instructions and supplies.

With all the hoopla over products and accessories, some might feel that craft making is expensive. Fear not. Most of us already own many of the core supplies needed to create handmade, unique crafts.

If you or someone in your household pays bills, does schoolwork, or just about anything involved in running the business end of a life, you are extremely likely to possess three of the “Big Four” used in nearly all craft-making. These are:

1. WRITING INSTRUMENT
2. SCISSORS
3. GLUE
4. PAINT

Sure, we have the writing utensils and scissors, don't we?

Granted, the various sub-categories of precisely what calls to you will require a few more specialty tools and supplies, but just start grinning now: you already have the beginnings of craft supplies!

For some of those categories, please see the lists below for more of the useful craft supplies.

Fabric, clothing scraps, fabric paint, stencils, paintbrushes

Ready-made items such as T-shirts, tote bags, visors, etc.

Pencil

Pins (straight or safety)

Fabric glue

Needles, threads, embroidery floss, yarn, ornamental buttons, beads, rhinestones, rivets

Good fabric scissors (these are not the same as everyday office paper scissors)

Iron and ironing board

Sewing machine

Pin backings, earring forms, clasps for bracelets and necklaces, thin wire

Scissors. wire cutters, needle-nose pliers

Beads, sequins

Jewelry glue

Polymer clay, or salt clay (link below)

Paint, paint brushes, glitter

Pencils, measuring tape

Saw(s)

Sandpaper from coarse to very fine

Paints, stains, varnishes

Paintbrushes

Drill

Nails, screws, etc., clamps

Wood glue

Correct weight paper, such as thin for origami and cardstock for making one’s own cards or stationery

Stamps and inkpads

Glue

Computer and color printer

Items to glue to the paper such as seeds, stickers, ribbon, raffia

Paper cutter

Polymer clay, Sculpey clay ™, or salt clay

Pre-made flowerpots

Paints (including primer), paintbrushes

Glue, beads, ribbon

Picture frames

Glassware – special bake-on paint for glass

Plexiglass, also known as acrylic glass

Cutter

Spray paint

Paint, paintbrushes, varnish

Bottles or glass tea light holders, etc…

Glitter

Thin-gauge wire and jewelry pliers

Rocks

Unfinished wood stools, birdhouse, etc…

Florists' wire, florist tape, frog

Silk, plastic or real blooms (fresh or dried)

Vase, or basket, or pot, or planter

Styrofoam

Pot pourri

Fragrance oils

Container or basket

Paints, ribbons, etc

Metal cans, colored duct tape, markers, chenille stems also known as pipe cleaners, acrylic craft paint, felt, construction paper, wiggle eyes, tape, glitter glue, fasteners, sealers, Modge Podge ™, craft sticks, hot glue guns

More items from nature: pine cones, seeds, dried flowers, pebbles, rock, driftwood, twigs, 3 feet of tree branches, bamboo, etc…

If you would like to further educate yourself about potential supplies, check an on-line store before going to your local craft business. You can equip yourself with a beginner’s knowledge and lots of questions. A few to explore:

http://www.michaels.com

http://www.acmoore.com/

http://www.joann.com

God created us in His own image – so we also are “creators.” Honor this part of your humanity and enjoy yourself!

Photos and text copyright 2012 Maren E. Morgan.