When you are starting in a new craft, it can be scary heading to the craft store, looking for supplies. Paper crafting can be one of the worst with so many different products out there.
Knowing where to start and what to buy first can go a long way in having fun. And isn’t that what crafting is all about anyway?
These tools are my top 5 paper crafting tools for beginners. They make creating easier and are tools you will use over and over and over again. Whether you are making cards or scrapbooking, these are tools that will be glad to have.
A good paper trimmer is the first thing to buy – before paper, before stickers, before card bases. It will be the one tool you will always use. It’s not the most glamorous of purchases, but it will save you time and time again. Cutting out school pictures and want them straight? Paper trimmer. Cutting cardstock down to make card bases? Paper trimmer. This one from Tonic Studios is compact enough to use for cardmaking, but also cuts 12” x 12” paper if you are doing scrapbooking. It is portable, cuts straight, and makes quick work of cutting paper, pictures, and cardstock.
A craft mat is essential to keeping your table top clean and damage free. A self-healing mat is the best kind because you can do detail cuts with a craft knife on it without damaging it to much. They are typically pretty easy to clean and can save you a lot of heartache if you spill something on your work surface like I did once. This 18” x 24” mat from American Crafts is a great size to work on and it comes in a super bright and fun shade of pink.
A sharp pair of scissors is critical for paper crafting. Maybe you are just cutting bits of paper and ribbon or maybe you are cutting super detailed images out – either way, you want to make sure you have high-quality tools for the job. These scissors from Tim Holtz are the perfect starter. They are large enough to cut through bigger projects, but make detail cutting easy as well. Plus, they are serrated to cut through thicker materials with ease. You can use them for any of the projects that you will have starting out which makes them that great investment when starting out.
I love the Xyron X for sticking oddly shaped bits and pieces to my projects. It makes anything a sticker! Pictures, papercuts, punched items, intricately cut items, little cardboard shapes – I could keep going! All of these easily become stickers to add to any project. And, what is really nice is that you aren’t trying to add adhesive by hand to tiny little bits. It is an economical purchase and it is refillable, which is even better.
If you are interested in stamping, but have never done it, then tools like the Tim Holtz Stamping Platform will help to make the job easier. You can use rubber or clear stamps, it holds your paper in place, and it lets you line up your image before you stamp so that you know it is going exactly where you want it. I find that if I take the stamps before I ink them, lay them out where I want them on the paper then close the lid, they stay right where I want them and make my life a whole lot easier! Stamping is simplified with this tool and if you love to stamp, it will be your best friend.
While there are dozens and dozens of options out there, starting with a basic toolkit will help you get started on a fun and creative journey. If you have the right tools for the job, the creating goes faster, smoother, and easier. Now all that is left to do is to create!
Happy crafting!
