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best craft supplies + easy diy projects | beginner kits, workshops & youtube tutorials 🏷️
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items my master list of the best craft supplies, easy diy projects, beginner craft kits, art tools, workshops and youtube tutorials i think are worth knowing about. whether you want to try scrapbooking, bookbinding, sewing, embroidery, crochet, polymer cla...
Sections
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craft supplies worth keeping around
paper crafts, collage, journaling + handmade books
sewing, embroidery, crochet + clothing diy
polymer clay, charms + jewelry making
cricut, stickers + personalized diy
printmaking, painting + upcycling
craft supplies worth keeping around
these are one of my favorite all-around supplies for customizing things because you can use them for illustration, lettering, handmade gifts, painted objects and so many different diy projects. the medium tip is a really useful starter size if you on...
uni posca pc-5m paint markers
if you like collage, decoupage, junk journaling, handmade decor or mixed media, this is one of those basic craft supplies that ends up getting used constantly. i especially like matte finishes when i don’t want a project to look overly glossy.
mod podge matte
a really useful general craft glue for paper, fabric, embellishments and small diy projects. i like having this around for projects where a glue stick is too weak but hot glue would be unnecessarily bulky.
aleene’s original tacky glue
a mini glue gun is perfect for charms, miniatures, diy decor, embellishing objects and all the random projects where you just need something to stick immediately. the detail tip makes this especially useful for smaller crafts.
surebonder mini cordless hot glue gun
one of the most useful tools for sticker making, collage, paper crafts, bookbinding, stencils and tiny detail work. if you make anything that requires cutting around intricate shapes, this is much easier than trying to force regular scissors to do ev...
x-acto #1 precision knife
pair this with a craft knife and suddenly paper cutting, fabric work, vinyl projects and bookbinding feel so much easier. the grid is also useful when you actually need your project to come out straight instead of eyeballing everything.
fiskars self-healing cutting mat
one of my favorite upgrades from cutting every piece of paper by hand. it’s useful for scrapbooking, cards, collage, prints, photos, handmade books and basically any project where clean straight edges make everything look more finished.
fiskars surecut scrapbook paper trimmer
if you sew or upcycle clothes, having scissors that are actually reserved for fabric makes such a difference. these are worth having for sewing, patchwork, visible mending, fabric crafts and thrift flips.
fiskars razoredge fabric shears
a good basic acrylic palette is enough to start painting canvases, wood, clay pieces, diy decor and mixed-media work without buying dozens of individual colors first. this is a nice entry point if you want real art paint without immediately going int...
liquitex basics acrylic starter set
this is the kind of thing i keep around for charms, jewelry findings and small repairs where regular craft glue isn’t strong enough. the gel format is especially useful for tiny projects because it’s easier to control.
loctite ultra gel control super glue
paper crafts, collage, journaling + handmade books
one of the easiest ways to turn your own drawings and designs into actual sticker flakes or sticker sheets at home. this is a great entry point if sticker making is the craft you’re most excited to try.
cricut printable sticker paper
this version is specifically worth knowing about if you do a lot of scrapbooking, collage, paper crafts or handmade journals. it gives you another option for adhering and protecting paper-based projects.
mod podge paper matte sealer
washi tape is one of my favorite low-commitment supplies for journals, scrapbooks, handmade cards, collages and decorating planners. simple patterns like these are easier to mix into lots of different pages than buying one very specific themed set.
recollections grid line washi tape
a fun upgrade for anyone who gets really into card making, journaling and memory keeping. i like tools like this because they let you experiment with more polished paper projects without needing a full professional setup.
fiskars all-in-one paper crafting tool
one of the best rabbit holes to go down if you’ve ever wanted to make your own sketchbooks, journals or tiny handmade books. this tutorial walks through an actual binding project and gives you a clear supply list to work from.
sea lemon single-sheet bookbinding tutorial
i love resources like this when i want to make something but don’t know what yet. you can browse beginner through advanced diy projects across paper, beads, sewing, yarn, cricut, painting and more, with instructions and supply lists in one place.
michaels free craft project library
sewing, embroidery, crochet + clothing diy
embroidery is one of the easiest crafts to start because the supplies are small, inexpensive and easy to store. dmc floss is useful for hand embroidery, friendship bracelets, visible mending and adding tiny details to clothes or accessories.
dmc embroidery floss
if you know you want sewing to become more than an occasional craft, this is the kind of machine i’d rather grow into than immediately replace. sewing opens up thrift flips, alterations, bags, clothing, home projects and basically an entire new categ...
brother cs7000x sewing machine
crochet is such a good portable hobby because once you understand the basic stitches you can branch into bags, accessories, amigurumi, clothing and home decor. this set gives you several hook sizes instead of building a collection one hook at a time.
clover amour crochet hook set
watch this before buying an enormous pile of sewing equipment. it’s a really approachable guide to the supplies that are actually useful when you’re learning to sew and a great starting point for anyone intimidated by sewing machines.
withwendy — sewing supplies you need to start
polymer clay, charms + jewelry making
one of my first recommendations for anyone who wants to make clay charms, jewelry, miniatures or tiny decorative objects. polymer clay is especially fun because you can start with very small projects and slowly get more detailed as you learn.
sculpey premo polymer clay
once you start making smaller clay pieces, having actual sculpting tools makes tiny details much easier than trying to improvise everything with household objects. this is a compact way to get several different tool shapes at once.
sculpey 5-in-1 clay tool set
useful for finishing polymer clay pieces when you want a more polished final surface without an extremely shiny finish. this is especially nice for charms, pendants and little sculpted objects.
sculpey satin glaze
if you want to turn charms and beads into actual necklaces, earrings, bracelets or keychains, jewelry pliers are one of the first supplies worth buying. this gives you the main plier shapes and cutters you’ll keep reaching for.
bead landing jewelry pliers tool set
save this before buying a ton of clay. it’s a useful beginner resource for understanding the medium, learning basic techniques and figuring out which supplies you actually need for the kinds of pieces you want to make.
sculpey polymer clay beginner guide
cricut, stickers + personalized diy
this is the high-investment recommendation on the list for someone who knows they want to do a lot of cutting-machine crafts. it opens up stickers, vinyl, paper projects, custom clothing, cards, labels, decor and a huge amount of personalized diy.
cricut maker 4
one of the basic accessories worth keeping with a cricut for everyday paper, vinyl and other medium-weight materials. extra mats are also useful when you’re making several pieces at once and don’t want to stop constantly.
cricut standardgrip cutting mat
start here if the diy project in your head involves custom shirts, tote bags or other fabric pieces. iron-on vinyl is one of the easiest ways to turn a digital design into something wearable.
cricut everyday iron-on
this makes the most sense for smaller heat-transfer projects where a full-size press would feel excessive. think tiny shirt graphics, hats, shoes, patches and other awkward little areas that are hard to press evenly.
cricut easypress mini
one of my favorite things to recommend alongside a cricut because buying the machine is much less intimidating when you immediately have beginner projects to make with it. this tutorial goes through several approachable starter ideas rather than thro...
jennifer maker — cricut projects for beginners
printmaking, painting + upcycling
block printing is such a satisfying craft if you like drawing because you can turn one hand-carved design into prints, cards, wrapping paper, fabric projects and more. a starter kit is the easiest way to experiment without sourcing every tool separat...
speedball block printing starter kit
this is pure creative-rabbit-hole material for days when you want something fun to make without treating art like a serious assignment. there are ideas for charms, shrink plastic, pins, painting, clay and lots of colorful small crafts.
moriah elizabeth diy crafts
a good resource if you want your crafting list to include thrift flips and wearable diy instead of only traditional art supplies. i love the idea of learning to alter and remake things you already own before automatically buying something new.
the sorry girls fashion upcycles
craft workshops + places to learn
one of the best free resources to save because it combines live online classes, recorded tutorials and in-store craft experiences across sewing, yarn, needlework, jewelry, papercraft, art and craft machines.
learn with michaels
this is great when you want to learn directly from independent makers. there are live online classes plus self-paced diy instructions across fiber arts, jewelry, paper crafts, home decor and other creative hobbies.
makerplace by michaels classes + how-tos
a huge online craft-class library for anyone who likes learning by watching someone actually make the project. it covers sewing, crochet, knitting, painting, quilting, paper crafts, jewelry, needlework and more.
creativebug
one of my favorite places to browse when i want a deeper course rather than a quick five-minute tutorial. there are classes in sewing, sashiko, crochet, jewelry, woodworking, ceramics, embroidery, candle making and tons of other handmade crafts.
domestika craft courses