Crafting

Guide to crafting supplies

When you get that hankering to make something special with your own hands, you'll need supplies ranging from craft kits to glue guns, glitter, dyes, tools, papers and other items. Use the following information to determine which products meet your specific needs.

Glue gun essentials

A glue gun is a necessity for crafting. Choose the right glue gun for your projects:

• Look for a glue gun that sits stable when you set the hot appliance down.


• Consider one with an auto shut off.


• Get a higher wattage glue gun for large projects and lower wattage for small projects.

Die-cut machine essentials

A die-cut machine is another crafter essential, especially for papercrafting and scrapbooking projects, but some models also work on plastic, fabric, all cardstock weights, metal, glass, soap and even leather to make intricate designs and shapes. With a die-cut machine, make anything from monogrammed pillows to etched glass, appliques and wall decals. Look for these features:

• Manual die-cut machines with hand cranks are least costly and simple to use.


• Look for a folding machine with a carrying handle.


• Consider the size of the plate. A generous plate size is 12 inches wide.


• Electric die-cutting machines are computer operated, more costly, but allow more creativity.


• Wireless die-cut machines are new and use Bluetooth technology to control the machine through your computer or mobile device.

Craft something useful

• Wood crafting: From scrap wood to pre-cut shaped pieces, wood crafting projects are easy when you have the right tools such as hot glue guns, engraving tools and craft paint. Use wood letters to make a monogrammed wreath or spell out a word or name for wall art.


• Fabric art: Turn plain Jane T-shirts, curtains or other apparel into works of art with fabric paint, tie-dye kits, fabric markers and iron-on vinyl decals. Use fabric glue instead of sewing to create hems, attach patches and embellishing fabrics with studs or beading.


• Craft kits: Grab a kit and make stepping stones or holiday window clings with your kids. All-in-one kits are effortless ways to craft with your family.


• Leather crafting: From die-cut decorative book covers to stamped or embossed key rings, leather crafting requires finish dyes, stamping tools, handstitching tools and die-cut machines for professional looking results.

Craft something gifty

• Card making: Card creations require stickers and adhesive shapes and words, embossing kits plus trimmers and die-cutting tools. Try quilling, also known as paper filigree, to create a one-of-a-kind card. Quilling tools and precut strips of paper make the art form easy to create.


• Specialty crafts: Before starting any handmade gift, make certain you have the right ingredients for candles and soap and the right tools for woven gifts. Handmade gifts take longer than you may anticipate to make. For example, some soaps may need up to six weeks before the soap hardens and you can gift it. Hooking a small rug can take hours, and then it needs to be trimmed.

Craft something artsy

• Screen printing: Screen printing may sound difficult and exotic, but this easy artsy technique turns T-shirts, totes, napkins and more into works of art. Begin with a starter fabric screen printing set to learn the basics.


• Etching and intaglio: Though this also sounds intricate and oh-so fancy, it's another set of printmaking techniques including engraving, drypoint, etching and stippling. The techniques are used to incise the surface of a plate of steel or copper with tools, then coated with ink, then transferred to paper. It's a beautiful, vintage look you can create.


• Relief block printing: Use lino carving tools and finely crafted woodblock tools to create intricate works of art on linoleum blocks, which are then covered in ink, and then transferred to paper or fabric.


• Glass and mosaics: Craft mosaic wall art and tabletops. Look for tools to cut glass wine bottles to create spectacular artisan light fixtures, chandeliers or even wall-mounted vases or candleholders. Get truly inspired by cutting a glass wine bottle lengthwise in half to create a serving tray or spoon rest, the perfect gift for foodies and wine enthusiasts.

Craft something floral

• Wreaths: Buy a premade wreath forms from small to large or create your own from a wire or foam base. Then add ribbon, artificial florals and greenery, shells, burlap, bells and anything else your glue gun will attach.


• Floral arrangements: Arrange silk and artificial flowers like a professional with life-like florals from cabbage roses to hydrangeas to calla lilies. For DIY wedding bouquets, you'll find every rose and rose bud variety you can imagine. Coordinate with silk rose petals, vines and garlands.


• Succulents:It's tough to tell artificial from real succulents. Create your own easy-to-maintain indoor succulent wall by hot gluing succulents onto an oversized frame. Tuck artificial succulents into mini-pots and line them up on a shelf or on a table runner for instant decor.


• Topiaries and greenery: Grace your front door with a pair of perfectly shaped topiary trees in decorative containers. Today's artificial greenery looks incredibly realistic. Place artificial palm trees, Boston Ferns, green ivy and even faux wheat in empty corners to warm up your indoor and outdoor spaces without the hassle of watering and replanting.