My Crafting Supplies

So I know I've been bombarding you all with mommy stories and honestly you will get a lot of those. I still consider myself a crafty mama but motherhood is 99% of my life right now. I will do my best to put in craft tips and share projects as my son gets older but he's still very young right now and requires 100% of my attention.

So my first crafty post is going to be about the supplies I use most. I've been a scrapbooker for roughly 12 years or so and I've gone through a few phases. I have also gone out of the box from traditional scrapbooking into a little mixed media and digital scrapbooking. I make cards, banners, mini books, frames, use canvas, etc. I think I have dipped my fingers in at least every type of scrapbooking related phase. 

That being said I could not always purchase the best tools or most recent paper lines. I do have preference for a certain designer and prefer a certain way to scrapbook. But through all this I have come to learn what tools and supplies I really need. So here is my list (in no particular order).

1. ATG Gun

Now this can be a bit bulky and take a little bit to get used to but I love this thing because it takes me awhile to use up the adhesive. I used to use smaller tape runners and would get frustrated having to change it all the time. I can go through a few projects before I need to refill this. My suggestion is to wait for a 50% off coupon to get this as it is a little pricey. The refills are $10 for 2 so I also wait for a 50% off coupon to get my refills as well. 

2. Non-stick Craft Sheet

 Love this! It is a must for anyone who crafts. It resists paint, ink, glue, you name it. It is also heat resistant so if you use embossing powders or a hot glue gun it won't get damaged. I do suggest getting the larger size for your craft area but I also purchased the smaller size for when I craft somewhere else.

3. Cardstock

This is pretty much a given but it is always good to have a variety of solid color cardstock. I make cards as well as scrapbook so I like to have plenty on hand. Size wise I like to keep 8 1/2x11 as well as a few sheets of 12x12. Bazzill makes some great quality cardstock but thickness is really up to you. I shop a lot at Michael's so I do purchase the Recollection's brand and have had no issues. 

4. Scissors

Now I'm a little biased on these scissors only because I am in love with Tim Holtz and everything he makes. But honestly these scissors are amazing! They will cut through cardstock, grungeboard, cardboard, thin plastic and even wire. They have a pointed tip which is great for fussy cutting and the soft grip handles make cutting comfortable.

5. Paper trimmer

Along with scissors, a paper trimmer is very important.Now there are different styles of paper trimmers and prices as well. I use a simple sliding trimmer like the one pictured but you can get a guillotine style or even a roller style. Mine has the arm that slides out for larger measurements but there are trimmers that have a wider surface area too. I don't have a lot of space so this one just worked for me.

6. Cricut Machine

Again I'm a little bias on this as this is the only cutting machine I have owned. But I do love my Cricut. I have several cartridges and now with Design Space you can upload your own images. Because of this machine (and the air is the third machine I've owned from Cricut) I no longer purchase stickers. I have moved on and now cut out all my images. Personally I think it makes the scrapbook pages and other projects a little more sophisticated. As with all my other purchases, I always wait for a deal or sale or try to use a coupon if I can. 

These are probably my top crafting supplies I use on a regular basis. I don't use very many embellishments because I have a Cricut and prefer to cut out images. Every once in a while, especially when I make cards, I do use stamps and ink but otherwise these are the supplies I use regularly. If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment.