Tools and Supplies

I Need Every Craft Tool To Be Good, Right??

No one can say definitively what tools are absolutely necessary for any craft room because each crafter is different. You might be able to freehand what someone else needs a tool for. You might be able to substitute or upcycle something that another crafter needs a retail item for. So what you need vs what I need vs what anyone else needs will always be different.

Just like you, I want every crafting tool or supply that exists in the known universe. But I don't have the finances, space, or talent/skill to use everything out there. And I don't need everything out there. I plan on buying other things, as finances allow, but for the most part, I get by with the basic supplies I have listed below. I think any crafter can benefit from having these basic tools in their supply stash. These tools/supplies are useful across a number of genres from card making to mini albums to ATCs to miniatures and then some.

Links provided are for reference only to give you an idea what the item looks like. They are not affiliate links. I may or may not have gotten the same or a similar n item from the linked online store (Amazon, Michael's, Wal~Mart,Target, eBay, etc).

DESIGNATED SPACE

You need a dedicated/designated space that belongs to you that you set aside for your crafting needs. This space can be an entire room (lucky you), part of a room, or a corner of a room so you will need a table, desk, or folding tray/cart, bright light/lamp, comfortable seating, storage, and (if you need it) peace/silence or at least only the noise that is pleasing or not distracting to you. You will also need TIME - unrushed, unpressured, uninterrupted.

SOFTWARE 

It goes without saying that you need a computer in your craft room - what kind depends on your budget, your tastes, and your needs. You'll need internet/wi-fi if you want to share your minis on the web. And you'll need some social media accounts, but those are for a whole diff post. this post assumes you have access to and a good working knowledge of all of the above things. Now, if you don't have, can't afford, and don't plan to bootleg Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator and you plan on designing your own mini printies you will need some digital design software. You can download freeware (free software) that provides basic design tools for you to create very passable work. Download software at your own risk/discretion. Below are all the programs I've downloaded except for MyPaint:

EZ Paint https://ez-paint.en.softonic.com/ (Used the most for my printies)
GIMP https://the-gimp.en.softonic.com/
Inkscape http://download.cnet.com/Inkscape/3000-6675_4-10527269.html
Krita https://krita.en.softonic.com/
MS Paint (No longer available - retired. Came pre-loaded on Windows PCs)
My Paint https://mypaint.en.softonic.com/

INEXPENSIVE TOOLS ($1 - $10)

These are tools you can easily find at your local dollar store, convenience store, or big box store. They shouldn't set your wallet back too much. You can find most of this stuff on eBay as well. BUT you probably have most of these tools already! Just set them aside for your craft space.

Scissors (For paper and fabric you need very sharp scissors in great condition. You also need multiple sizes - large, long, short, tiny. Dull scissors are good for cutting thin wood.)
Pens and Pencils 
Colored Pencils and/or Watercolor Pencils
Markers and/or Sharpies
Various Tapes (masking, duct, packing, transparent, painters, washi)
Rulers (plastic and steel)
Various Papers (copy paper, construction paper, tracing paper, graph paper)
Clamps and Paper Clips (large, medium, and small. you want strong clamps)
Paper Towels, Napkins, Baby Wipes
Plastic Gloves
Baby Oil, Baby Powder, Cornstarch
Beads (seed bead, pony beads, assorted beads)
Junk Jewelry (for findings, embellishments, and parts to upcycle for minis)
Molds (silicon, candy, plastic, etc - all sizes. For crafting ONLY - cannot be used for food)
Cookie Cutters (various shapes and sizes. For crafting ONLY - cannot be used for food)
Glazed Ceramic Tiles (12x12 in, 8x8 in, 6x6 in, 3x3 in, 1x1 in. One of each. Tiles can be used to shape and bake polymer clay on. The diff sizes are for convenience for diff sized projects)
Craft Foam Sheets (assorted colors)
Fabrics (assorted patterns, sizes, colors. You can upcycle clothes or buy cheap clothes from dollar store and repurpose for minis)
Glitters (assorted colors)

Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
Iron
Jewelry Wire, Jump Rings (or other wires and strings)
Thread, Yarn, String (assorted sizes, thicknesses, colors)
Movies and Music (various - whatever you like to entertain or distract or inspire you while you create. I like listening to sermons, watching tutorials, or listening to good tunes)
Paint Brushes
Sponges

Sandpaper (various grits)
Elmers, School, or Craft Glue (liquid and stick)
Toothpicks, Straws
Crazy Glue (lots!)
Xacto Knives and Replacement Blades
Disposable Aluminum Cake Pans/Trays (for crafting ONLY. Cannot be used for food) 
Envelopes (different sizes)
Gift Bags (different sizes, styles)
Notebook or Journal (lined: for writing ideas, unlined: for drawing sketches and designs)
Pushpins / Sewing Pins / Safety Pins
Sewing Needles (various sizes)
Paperboard (from various boxes: cookies, crackers, cereals, cartons of pop)
Plastic (from various packages, baked goods, electronics, etc)
Clear Sheet Protectors
Cardboard (various sizes: pizza boxes, packaging, electronics, delivery boxes, etc)
Hand Drill and Drillbits
Set of Nail Art Brushes (small brushes for detail painting)
Bowls and Containers (various sizes for storing, mixing, etc)
Ribbons and Lace (various shapes, colors, size
Cotton Balls and Q-tips
Stapler and Staples
Thumb Tacks
Contact Paper (clear, white, black, other colors and designs you like)
Old CDs or DVDs
Acrylic Clay Roller 

MODERATELY EXPENSIVE TOOLS ($10 - $75)

I got some of these things from Michael's, JoAnns, Amazon, and Tuesday Morning on clearance, coupon, or caught a great sale (i.e. ATG, paper packs, card stock, heat gun, punches), but the majority of the pricier tools (complete collections of Alcohol and Distress Inks, Spectrum Noirs, etc) I found on eBay for crazy cheap prices.

Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks 
Tim Holtz Distress Stains
Alcohol Markers (Spectrum Noir, Ciao, Copics, etc)
Automatic Tape Gun (ATG) and Refill Tape 
Heat Gun
Pliers (assorted sizes, shapes)
Self-Healing Cutting Mat
Craft Mat/Sheet (to protect your desk or table. Skid proof, water proof, stain proof)
Paper Punches (various sizes and designs)
Stamps (various sizes, types, designs. Block staps red rubber stamps, clear stamps)
12x12 inch Card Stock (basic: black, white, brown)
12x12 inch Paper Packs (various. DCWV, Graphic 45, Teresa Collins, Colorbok, etc)
Paper Cutter/Trimmer
Martha Stewart Score Board
Sookwang/Scor Tape (or other double sided tape in various thicknesses 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1)
Polymer Clay (large 8-16oz blocks: black, white, translucent - Sculpey, Premo, or Fimo)
Polymer Clay (small 2oz blocks: various solid colors, effects, shimmers, metallics)
Gesso (clear and white)
Glue (Scotch or Aileen's Quick Dry Glue, Aileen's Tacky Glue, Mod Podge)
Basic Clay Sculpting Kit
Duct Tape (designer styles, colors, effects)
Wire Cutters and Metal Scissors/Shears 
Mold Putty
Drill and Bits/Accessories (Dremel, etc)
Texture Sheets (Makins Complete Set, and also various items around the house)
Embossing Folder and Stencils Sets (Tim Holtz, Martha Stewart, etc)
Translucent Liquid Sculpey (clear or various colors)
Fimo Deco Gel
Polyurethane Varnish (or whatever varnish or sealant you have)
Popsicle Sticks (normal, jumbo, extra jumbo)
Wooden Coffee Stirrers
Crepe Paper 
Hands-Free Magnifying Lenses (for adding detail to tiny minis)

EXPENSIVE TOOLS ($75 - $1000)

Digital Camera and Tripod (Phone, Bloggie, Tablet, etc - for filming or taking pics of minis)
Die Cutting Machine (Sizzix Big Shot*, Grand Calibur*, Cuttle Bug, Gemini, etc)
Dies (various sizes, brands: Sizzix, Memory Box, Lawn Fawn, Anna Griffin, etc)

Printer (HP, Canon-, Epson, etc)

Electric Pasta Machine (hand cranked with 7-9 adjustable thickness settings. Pasta machines are used for rolling polymer clay in this case and must stay in the craft room. You cannot use this for food once you have used it for clay.  It may be helpful to put a "TOXIC: NOT FOR FOOD" label on ALL food-related craft tools and containers whether toxic or not just to avoid any confusion or misuse)
Toaster Oven with Adjustable Heat Temps  (get one with degrees (90, 120, 210, etc) not just "cool, warm, hot". You need to be able to bake clay at the exact temperature as specified on each package. A toaster oven eliminates the need to bake clay and/or toxic plastics (like CDs) in your main oven. You can find them on sale or at thrift stores. Use in a well-ventilated place. Put a "TOXIC: NOT FOR FOOD" label on your crafting toaster oven).
We R Memory Keepers Tools (Corner Chompers, Cropadiles, Fuse, Glass Cutting Mat)

PROFESSIONAL TOOLS

NOTE: I don't have these tools yet, but they (as well as many other things) are on my "to get" list!

DSLR Camera and Accessories. If you plan to create a channel or social media around your minis or you just wanna take better photos and vids of your work you will want to invest in a great camera.
Paper Cutting Machine (Cricut, Brother Scan-N-Cut, Cameo)
Photo  Lights
Kiln and Accessories 

Adjustable Desk and/or Portable Desk
Complete Set of Copics Sketch and Various Ink Refills
Lucy Clay Tools (Czextruder, Discs, Mammoth Clay Slicer, etc)


However big, small, cheap, expensive, spare, or extensive you want your craft room to be -
Get your tools and supplies together and craft with me!

ppodd!