I have loved crafts for as long as I can remember. Everything about creating and making sings to my soul and the entire process of bringing something to life is more than just a hobby. Crafts are an excellent way to access creativity – being able to take bits and pieces of materials and items and put them together to create something new, sometimes functional, sometimes decorative, but nevertheless something – is marvellously wonderful and even a little magical.
Over the years I have grown an extensive supply of different craft supply items and tools. In my stash, you’ll find everything from wire cutters to paint to needles and thread. Some of the tools and supplies can be project specific but many of them are things I use time and time again.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the isolations and quarantines that came with it, 2020 saw a strong emergence of crafts for kids and adults alike. As schools shut their doors parents raced to shops for craft supplies in hopes of keeping their children occupied while spending endless days indoors. The result, was a new found love of various crafts as well as the exploration of new and different materials, tools and supplies.
As a mom and a maker myself, I wasn’t bombarded with the overwhelming amount of supplies available and I already had pretty much everything at hand already. Specific projects wiIl often require other items to stock, but there are always the basic items that you need to have in hand all the time. I know that if you are ‘craft-challenged’, it may be overwhelming to know what to purchase, so I want to share my ultimate craft supply resource list of most commonly used items you might want to keep at hand if you or your little one want to build your own stock of craft supplies. Take this list as an ultimate starter kit and continue to build your own supply on these basic items.
ADHESIVES
- hot glue gun & glue sticks (literally my best friend)
- white pvc glue
- glue stick
- sticky tape
- double sided tape
- masking/paper tape
DECORATIVE
- pipe cleaners/chenille
- pom poms
- glitter – tubes, tubs, pots, glue
- google eyes
- beads – wooden, seed, pony, pearler
- popsicle sticks
STRING
- twine/postal string
- yarn
- thread
PAPER PRODUCTS
- coloured paper
- photocopy paper
- kite/tissue paper
- brown paper
WRITING/DRAWING/PAINTING
- coloured pencils
- wax crayons
- felt tip markers
- permanent marker
- HB pencils
- poster paint
- watercolour paint cakes tray
HARDWARE
- hole punch
- scissors
- pencil sharpener
- assorted paint brushes
- paint palette
- home printer
RECYCLABLES
- glass jars – that can double as water cup when painting
- paper towel/toilet paper rolls
- straws
- plastic bottles
- cardboard boxes
That’s a pretty extensive basic list, but having these supplies at hand allow you dive into creativity and making any time you and your little ones want to.
Stay creative and have fun.