The Craft Items I Cannot Live Without

Here it is! The most essential post of all craft posts!  The craft items/tools/products that I simply cannot live without.  I'm talking the basics here, the items which make all other things possible.  The stamps, the embellishments, the dies, the ribbon, etc. - those are all just the icing on the cake.  We need the basics before we can build upon those!  I am frequently asked for recommendations such as "what paper do you use" or "what glue is best for ----?"  While we all have our own personal favorites, and everyone is entitled to their preferences, here are all of MY insider craft secrets in no particular order:

X-Acto Commercial Grade Guillotine Paper Cutter

$104.99
I invested in the monster of all guillotine paper cutters because it is the one tool I use and need all day, every day.  With a wooden base and a solid steel handle and blade, this is my most used craft tool​ and has lasted for years because of it's superior quality.

80 lb. Neenah Classic Crest Cardstock

$32.00 + up (per ream of 250 sheets)

If I can tell anyone one thing about cardmaking, it is to buy GOOD quality paper.  Actually, buy the BEST quality paper because it makes all the difference.   Neenah Solar White Crest (Smooth) is my go-to for nearly everything from card bases to coloring.

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

$6.19

Fade resistant dye ink captures even your most intricate images. Stamped impressions once dried are water resistant and will not migrate. Dries on all paper surfaces including coated and textured papers.  This ink does it all and is great with COPIC markers!

Tombow Dot Runner

$7.29 (refillable)

Easy grip applicator with roller tip for smooth application in either a straight or curved line for exact placement. Acid-free, photo safe and non-toxic.
approximately 39 feet of adhesive.  

Get rid of your old Tombow line runners stat! The Tombow DOT runner holds even better!  

LineCo Neutral ph Adhesive

$9.49

Liquid adhesive has a bit of a learning curve to it, but this glue designed originally for bookbinding offers excellent bonding, quick drying time and is far less expensive than using Tombow dot runners.  

Glue Dots

$4.49

​These tiny, double-sided adhesives are perfect for permanently bonding items like rhinestones, beads, pictures, ribbon and sequins! Glue Dots bond to most surfaces including paper, plastic, metal, wood, foam, textiles and more. This package contains 325 1/8 inch round super-strength clear adhesives. Acid free, archival quality. Non-toxic.

Glue Dot Dispenser

$7.99

Keep your Glue Dots neat, clean and easy to apply by using this unique desktop dispenser.
Comes with 300 mini (.1875 inch) Glue Dots and can be refilled with any Glue Dots rolls, except Glue Lines.

Glue Tube Holder

$9.00-$11.00

This glue tube holder will hold a variety of glues from Lawn Fawn, Gina K Designs, LineCo and more! Keep the glue flowing directly to the tip when you need to use it.  
​I promise you will want to buy one for every glue tube you own!  I now own three. . . 

Lawn Fawn Glue Tube

$4.49

This semi-fine tip liquid glue is great for all those small things. 

Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat

$39.99
​
Measuring 14 x 23 inches with a sleek black finish, the Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat is a fantastic multi-functional tool for creating on your workspace.
The 12 x 14 inch measuring grid features imperial and metric measurements, and the white 7.5 x 11 inch mixing palette area (complete with a durable non-stick mat) is ideal for preparing wet mediums.

Ranger Silicon Craft Mat

$14.99

​Ranger’s Silicone Mat is a durable, heat resistant surface great for all craft and mixed media needs. The clear silicone is ideal for placing over a white surface to create a mixed media palette where wet mediums can easily be mixed together, making colors easily visible. This Silicone Mat resists slipping on any surface, and the smooth finish prevents texture from transferring onto any projects. Mat measures 12 x 16 in.
​Yes!  You really do need more than 1 mat for different projects!

Sakura Quickie Glue Pen

$2.99
Eliminates shaking and squeezing. Now you can draw anything in a thin line and dust with fine glitter or mica! When used with the appropriate film, you can foil stamp your message for a very creative custom look. *Note - this glue does not bind paper to paper.  

Lawn Fawn Double Sided Tape

$5.49

This tape comes in a couple widths and I own all of them.  This adhesive has a very strong bond and works great on those 3D boxes/treat bags or interactive pieces.  

Cutter Bee Scissors

$10.99
With precision tips, comfort grips, and a safety cover, these scissors are a favorite for detail cutting!  These are great for a quick snip and I keep two pairs that are each labeled - one for paper only and one just for fabric/ribbon.

Tonic Spring Cut Fine Detail Scissors

$10.99

With a spring action and Kushgrip handles these scissors reduce the fatigue on your hands. The convenient locking mechanism and ergonomic design make crafting light work. Locking handle latch. Stainless steel blades. Approximate length: 6.5 inches.

You'll never go back to fussy cutting again with these scissors.  It takes a little while to get use to the feel of these in your hands and rounding corners smoothly, but your fingers will thank you!

Scotch 3M Foam

$49.99

No, it's not cheap by any means, but this is the best of the best when it comes to foam adhesive for your projects.  Unlike the cheaper brands of foam that get gunk all of your scissors, Scotch 3M offers a clean cut. 
Get rid of your old school pop dots and foam dots.  Use this adhesive and cut it to the exact size you need and your projects will lay more uniformly flat and hold so much better. 

Copic Premium Artist Markers

$187.00 + up

I recognize that such a large investment purchase is not for everyone, but last fall, I did purchase four out of five 72 marker sets and I have not regretted that decision once.  You can read that original post here.   They truly are as good as everyone hypes them up to be.  Now that I've had these markers for a while, I have been slowly beginning to purchase the refills for the colors I am using most.  ​

Gemini, Jr. Electronic Cutting Machine

$139.99 + up

Yes, I bought another electronic cutting machine!  Yes, I have two Big Shots, the Tim Holtz Vagabond 2 e-cutting machine and now the Gemini, Jr.  In my defense, I do use them a lot for classes, but I finally caved in purchasing the Gemini, Jr. because it is FULLY electronic.  The one downfall of the Vagabond machine (which I still use most) was that I have to hold the power button as the acrylic plates are moving through the machine.  The Gemini, Jr. picks up the acrylic plates and moves it through automatically.  

Old School Emery Boards

$1.99 + up

Yup, the thing I reach for most in my craft room to fix "boo-boo's" is an old school emery board!  If you have made a smudge on your card or left an unintended inky fingerprint, let the ink dry and then simply file a little bit of the paper down and it will help eliminate the mistake.  This trick saves me almost daily!  

Therm O Web Purple Tape

$4.99

This easy release, removable tape doesn’t leave any adhesive residue behind and peels easily without tearing paper. It’s ideal for anyone who stencils, die cuts or uses an electronic cutter.

​

UnDu Adhesive Remover

$8.99
​
Squeeze several drops over the top of a sticky label and use the spoon-shaped scraper to peel back the label. Add a few more drops and rub to remove residue. Non-staining.
Acid-free and photo safe!!  Safely removes all self-sticking & pressure sensitive stickers, tapes, labels, & adhesives on contact.

Bone Folder

$5.99

This bone folder measures 6 inches in length and creates a crisp, clean fold on your cardstock every time. 
​Spend the extra time to crease your fold!

Clear Wink of Stella

$6.99

With a 0.8mm tip this Wink of Stella Glitter Clear Brush Tip Marker is great for adding sparkle to your projects. It contains water-based pigment ink, is photo safe, acid free, lightfast, odorless and xylene free!  It comes in a variety of colors, but all I ever use is the clear!

Die/Wire Cutters

$6.99

Trim and separate your metal dies. Creating handmade jewelry is an easier task when you use tools that are specifically designed for the job. Beadalon cutters are made using stainless steel and feature a double-leaf action design with a padded comfort grip. 

Heat Embossing Gun

$29.99

​Gentle air flow keeps your powders in place! It is quiet, ergonomic, quick, and safe!
This tool is great for: curing embossing powders, shrinking plastic and tubing, quick drying inks and paints, and for all your craft heating needs

Versamark Ink

$8.19

Stamp your image onto text-weight paper to explore the possibilities of watermarking, or stamp subtle tone-on-tone images onto colored cardstock. Create a resist image by stamping on glossy and brayering with dye ink. VersaMark is ideal for embossing too!

MISTI Stamp Tool

$69.99 + up

This is the Most Incredible Stamp Tool Invented. MISTI for short. Its simple hinge design provides consistent stamping for the novice or experienced crafter. It will accommodate both cling mount and clear stamps. MISTI will provide a platform for multiple stamp techniques—stamp positioner, lining up die cuts and stamps, registration, etc. It offers the ability to use magnets to help positioning. Bottom is rubber so the MISTI will not slide on work surface.

QuickStik

$6.99

Precision pick up and placement tool. Tack dispenser for easy handling of small, hard-to-pick-up items like paper die cuts, beads, buttons, ribbons, rhinestones, and more. And detachable poker and chisel tip for efficient placement.

Retractable Craft Pick/Needle

$6.49

The Retractable Craft Pick Features:
-Perfect for crafting, rubber stamping, and scrapbooking! 
-Use to pierce cardstock, felt, chipboard, virtually any craft material.
-Retractable point for safe storage!

Uniball White Gel Pen

$3.89

​The intense, opaque white pigment makes it the unicorn of gel pens. Ink comes out silky white, almost like correction fluid but smooth. Acid-free and writes with a nice even flow on paper and photos.

Reverse Head Tweezers

$13.99

​Just like an extra pair of hands, these flat-head, reverse tweezers, grip and hold as needed. The flat head allows for a larger gripping surface. The reverse action allows the tweezers to hold an object without additional pressure on your hands.

These are most of the helpful crafting essentials I use most often on a day-to-day basis in my craft room.  If you have a go-to tool or product that would help others, please share in the comment section below!

XO, Crystal