A few days ago I was asked to put together my holiday wish list and a crafter's gift guide...umm, are you kidding me? Done.
So, I loaded up my kids and headed to Wal-Mart...I mean, truly...where else can you find everything you need? Check out my entire shopping trip here, on Google+...
Are you shopping for a crafter this Christmas? Maybe putting a gift basket together for a friend or *ahem* certain blogger *ahem* hint hint *cough* and don't know what to buy? Or maybe you're just starting to enter the crafting world and you aren't sure what you need? Here are some of the things that are definitely must-haves in any crafter's arsenal...
Please try to overlook the fuzzy quality of some of the photos...I get so stinkin' excited when craft shopping that I can't always keep my hand still...don't judge.
The X-ACTO 12" Rotary Trimmer and Self-Healing Mat are definitely necessary...
Precise straight-line cuts are no problem with the trimmer...if you do any kind of paper crafting at all, make sure you have one of these...
And the self-healing mat is the ideal surface for cutting for both fabric & paper...and, hello...they're pink.
An X-ACTO #11 Craft Knife (which I couldn't make it out of the store without buying) is perfect for making more precise cuts...or for cutting things that are thicker than the 5 sheets of cardstock that the Rotary Trimmer can cut...I used an X-ACTO knife to cut the foam board I used for my Advent Calendar...it was an older version, but it worked like a charm...
A good pair of precision scissors is wonderful for tons of different projects. I use mine for embroidery, crochet, cutting small bits of paper or ribbon, you name it...
A Corner Rounder Punch is perfect for adding that little extra oomph to photographs or cards...it's amazing what little details can do...
Remember the foam board I mentioned a little earlier? Before a week or so ago, I don't think I would have added something like foam board to a Christmas Gift Guide...but...I gotta tell ya...since I used the Elmer's Acid-Free Foam Board for my Advent Calendar project, I have had occasion to use it twice more (for one of Tyler's school projects and as the front and back of a little Christmas scrapbook album I'm currently working on...). I really do love it. And it's not like a lot of other foam boards...the surfaces aren't shiny and slippery, they're just like paper...which is awesome. They paint easily, they cut easily & things adhere easily to them.
And they come in different colors...
These CraftBond Glue Spots are awesome...and they're completely mess-free. How can you go wrong? They come in a bunch of different sizes and they even have Pop-Up Glue Spots to add a little dimension to your projects.
Anyone who works with paper knows how annoying it is to glue two sheets of paper together just to have them wrinkle all up if you happen to add a little too much glue. It's horrible. But Elmer's has solved that problem with their No-Wrinkle Dual Tip Glue Pen. Absolutely perfect for craft projects or school projects...and the dual tip lets you use a little glue, or a lot...awesome. And it's under $2.00...again, awesome.
CraftBond Spray Adhesive is the perfect type of glue for any project that calls for you to reposition or temporarily adhere two items together. I love this glue...it's completely repositionable until it dries, so I use it on things like fabric projects. Because fabric can be stretchy and super-pliable, I don't always get it laid out where I need it perfectly the first time. Using the spray lets me pick up the fabric and replace it. I also use it on items that I Mod-Podge. I spray the entire surface of whatever I'm Mod-Podging, place it where I need it, then lift up a little at a time to spread the Mod-Podge. It works perfectly...
Make sure to include some adhesive remover in your craft-bag or gift basket. My kids love to use my stuff and, inevitably, the glue ends up where it shouldn't be (like on my self-healing mat)...this takes care of that, easy-peasy. And you don't need to use much, so that bottle should last you a good long time.
And last, but certainly not least...how about a subscription to one of the many craft magazines out there? You never know when you'll need some outside inspiration for using all of your cool new goodies...
Let's start with some of this tape...I loves me some CraftBond Double-Sided Scrapbooking Tape...and they have some that is removable! Not quite sure what I'd use the removable tape for, but I gotta have it...and that Foam Mounting Tape? - yep, I need some of that, too...I love adding dimension to my photos and embellishments in my scrapbook pages and this would definitely fit the bill...
More yarn. Oh. Man. Now that I am crocheting (and trying to learn to knit), my yarn addiction is starting to rival my fabric & paper addictions. Just look at all of the beautiful colors!
OH! And spray paint...don't forget the spray paint!
I used glitter glue in my last project and I couldn't believe how easy it was to use...I will definitely need more of this...
Ooooh, and I need more of these Sharpie pens...I am a total pen snob...these are the only ones I can use...is that weird that I am a discriminating pen-user? Again, don't judge. I think it has something to do with the fact that I'm left-handed. Or maybe I just made that excuse up...
...especially this one...
...and construction paper...I always need more of this. I can't tell you how many times construction paper has saved me from a day full of whiny kids...I just put the stack in front of them and say "here...make --- (fill in the blank)." Awesome.
So there you have it! MY Craft Wish List for this Christmas...
I have a secret, though...don't tell Santa...
I couldn't wait for some of these things and I already picked them up...that's one of the things I love about being an adult...when I want something, I can buy it...I don't have to wait for Christmas. Being an adult totally rocks.
This is what I came home with...
I used my No-Wrinkle Dual Tip Glue Pen to adhere the flower, the gem & the ric-rac to this card...
And Tyler snagged my Glitter Glue to make a rainbow for one of his friends...I really love this stuff...it's easy enough for a four-year-old to use, but not so easy that it just runs out of the tube...it's awesome.
And you know my Favorite Things giveaway I'm having next week? You may just see some of these items show up there...(hint, hint).
So there you have it...my Gift Guide & my Wish List...whaddaya think? Do you use any of these products? What would you add to a Craft Gift Guide or Wish List???
Disclosure: This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Elmer's #gluenglitter #collectivebias #CBias
While I was compensated for this project, all opinions are my own.
