In the world of hobbies and crafts, you don’t need a whole cupboard of supplies to get started. A small, carefully chosen collection can cover a wide range of activities; card making, paper crafts, simple decorations, collage, journaling and many other beginner projects.
The following beginner craft supply list should fit inside one medium-sized lidded box, depending on the size of the paper and materials you choose.
Scissors
Start with one comfortable pair of general-purpose craft scissors. They can be used for cutting paper, card, ribbon, yarn and lightweight fabric.
Keep craft scissors separate from kitchen or household scissors where possible, especially if you want them to stay sharp.
A Pencil, Eraser and Ruler
A standard pencil is useful for sketching shapes, marking measurements and planning where decorations will go. Add an eraser and a 30-centimetre ruler for simple measuring and straight lines.
Glue
A glue stick is convenient for paper, card and lightweight collage materials. You could also include a small bottle of PVA glue for projects that need a stronger bond.
Avoid buying several adhesives before you know what kinds of crafts you actually enjoy. One glue stick and one general craft glue are enough for a useful starter box.
Coloured Pencils or Felt-Tip Pens
Choose one compact colouring set rather than several large packs. Coloured pencils are versatile, easy to store and less likely to dry out.
Felt-tip pens may be preferable if you enjoy bold colours, card making or lettering. You do not necessarily need both at the beginning.
Plain and Coloured Paper
Keep a small selection of plain white paper, coloured paper and lightweight card. Cut larger sheets down or store only a few colours so they fit neatly inside the box.
Paper can be used for cards, decorations, collage, templates, paper folding and practice work.
Washi Tape or Decorative Tape
One or two rolls of decorative tape can add colour without taking up much space. Washi tape is useful for journaling, card making, wrapping small gifts and decorating paper projects.
Choose designs that work across several occasions rather than buying a different roll for every theme. Washi tape comes in lots of pretty patterns, and it’s easy to go overboard and buy too many designs!
String, Yarn or Ribbon
A small bundle of string, yarn or ribbon is useful for hanging decorations, tying tags, making simple tassels and adding texture.
Use leftovers from other projects where possible. There’s no need at all to buy a large collection of colours.
A Few Reusable Templates
Simple cardboard circles, stars, hearts or tag shapes can make repeated cutting easier. You can create these yourself from packaging rather than buying specialist stencils.
Store them flat at the bottom of the box.
A Small Selection of Extras
Leave a little room for any other materials you may want to add, like:
- Buttons
- Stickers
- Fabric scraps
- Pom-poms
- Wooden craft sticks
- Old magazines (for collage or junk journaling)
Don’t go overboard on these little additions; you don’t want your box getting overcrowded or filled to the brim!
What Can You Make With One Craft Box?
A small supply box can be used for:
- Handmade cards
- Gift tags
- Paper garlands
- Bookmarks
- Simple collages
- Journaling pages
- Small seasonal decorations
- Paper flowers
- Beginner yarn crafts
As you try different projects, you can add specialist supplies. Only do this if you actually need them, though.
How to Keep the Box Organised
Use envelopes, small bags or recycled containers to separate out any very small materials. Keep the most frequently used tools near the top and remove dried-out pens, unusable paper scraps and supplies for crafts you don’t enjoy any more.