Household Items You Need in Your Craft Room
I don’t know about you but I’m always organising my craft room. My room has all the essential craft tools can make crafting more fun, efficient, and rewarding. Did you know there are 20 craft room essentials that are everyday household items that might just be your secret crafting superstars?
Let’s dive into these craft room essentials and how they can simplify your creative life.
1. Small Metal Ruler
Every paper crafter needs a small metal ruler! It has both metric and imperial measurements, so you’ll always get perfectly proportioned layers. Plus, it can handle craft knife cuts without nicks—say goodbye to flimsy plastic rulers. I am always measuring twice so I can cut once.
2. Post-it Tape (Sticky Notes on a Roll)
Sticky Note tape is a game changer. Use it to master masking techniques or hold your dies in place while cutting. It sticks securely but peels off like a dream, keeping your projects flawless.
3. Vellum Sticky Notes
Vellum sticky notes make stamping stress-free. They let you visualize stamp placement before committing—perfect for avoiding those “whoops” moments.
4. Makeup Brush Cleaner & Conditioning Shampoo
Say goodbye to grimy blending brushes! A makeup brush cleaning pad and a supermarket brand two in hair conditioning shampoo (like Sunsilk or Dove) keep your tools pristine and ready for the next project. Your gradients will thank you.
5. Silicone Pore Brush
This tiny, mighty brush works wonders on intricate stamps. It’s gentle, portable, and easy to clean—a must-have for crafters on the go.
6. 13″x13″ Ziplock Bags
Keep your patterned paper and card stock dust-free and organised with oversized ziplock bags. They’re grab-and-go ready, saving you time and hassle. ( Logan Packaging Supplies is where I get mine by the carton.)
7. Extendable Magnetic Pickup Tool
We’ve all dropped a die or brad on the floor—cue the frustration. An extendable magnetic pickup tool is a lifesaver, especially if you have long nails or smooth floors. (This is mine.)
8. Dental Floss
Crafting mistakes happen, but waxed dental floss is here to save the day. Use it to gently separate layers that didn’t stick quite right. It’s like a crafting redo button! Check out my YouTube Video here.
9. Soft White Eraser
A soft white eraser isn’t just for pencil marks. It erases dried adhesive smudges and cleans up your work, leaving every project polished and professional.
10. Baby Wipes
Baby wipes (unscented and non-fluff, of course) clean StazOn ink from stamps and wipe away excess ink. They’re also great for quick cleanups when creativity gets messy.
11. Press & Seal
Press & Seal keeps floating image techniques intact. It holds everything securely, so your intricate designs transfer perfectly every time. (In Australia, Costco stocks this product.)
12. Wax Paper
Wax paper makes crafting smoother. Use it with intricate dies, for heat embossing resist tricks, or even to stamp on candles. It’s a versatile tool you’ll reach for often. (Don’t confuse wax paper with baking paper! it isn’t freely available in supermarkets – try Amazon for a three pack or ScrapDragon.or Bev Cross Crafts )
13. Aluminum Foil
Dull scissors or punches? Aluminum foil (Al Foil) to the rescue! A quick sharpening session will have your tools cutting like new. You can also run Al Foil through your embossing machine make great textured backgrounds.
14. Paper Towels
Paper towels are a crafter’s multitool. From cleaning up spills to creating textures like reptile skin, these humble heroes do it all. (If you haven’t seen my reptile technique video on YouTube take a look here.)
15. Isopropyl Alcohol
This crafting MVP extends the life of your “Wink of Stella” and mixes beautifully with water-based inks for custom sprays. It also sanitizes tools and cleans up glue messes. You can find it at your local hardware store.
16. Heat Resistant Reverse Tweezers
Protect your fingers while heat embossing with reverse tweezers. They’re also perfect for placing die cuts with precision—no sticky fingers involved. Good news is that these tweezers are part of the Stampin’ Up!’s Embossing Additions Tool Kit. But you will need several pairs!
17. “Remove” Adhesive Removal Wipes
These wipes dissolve tape and adhesive residue like magic. Originally designed for medical use, (That surgical tape leaves behind a residue that is almost impossible to remove!) they’re a crafter’s best friend for sticky situations. Get them from your chemist.
18. Microfiber Cloth
Messy crafting? No problem. Microfiber cloths clean mats, stamps, stencils, and surfaces effortlessly. They’re reusable and keep your workspace spotless.
19. Shammy / Chamois
Cleaning stamps has never been easier. Wet your Shammy, wring it out, and wipe away ink without harsh cleaners. It’s simple, effective, and reusable. You can use a good quality no fluff car Chamois or buy a specialised stampin’ shammy.
20. Large Bamboo Stackable Basket
Organize cardstock scraps in style with bamboo stackable baskets. Use ziplock bags to separate colors for a neat, tidy, and easily accessible setup. (I got mine from Kmart – here’s the link.)
Final Thoughts
Crafting is all about creativity and fun, but having the right tools can make a world of difference. These household essentials save time, money, and stress while making your projects shine. Try adding a few to your craft room and watch your productivity soar!
What household items do you swear by for crafting? Let me know in the comments or send me a message —I’d love to hear your hacks and tips!
Until next time… Happy creating!
Chrissy xo
