If there is one thing I've loved longer than makeup and planners it is craft supplies. One of my favorite traits about myself is my creativity. I love that if I have an idea I can execute it - for the most part. Being able to create anything under the sun means having an amazingly stocked craft room/area. Honestly, I feel so thankful to be able to have the fun gadgets I have to make nearly anything possible. I've shared my favorite paper crafting supplies in this post, and I've also shared my favorite craft supplies in this post, but now I want to share my current favorite higher end crafty gadgets. Some of these could be considered middle end (which makes no sense, I know) rather than high end but if you're an average crafter I feel like these are things you save up for or ask Santa for and don't really pop into a Hobby Lobby and throw money everywhere.
I've been in love with these gadgets since I got them and find them so, so helpful for many different things!
Cricut Explore
I found my Explore on sale at Menard's (a hardware store) of all places. It was severely discounted and I just snatched it up. Since owning it I've used it to make stickers, planner dividers, & scrapbooking embellishments. I'm looking forward to trying to make some vinyl decals and seeing what I can cut with it. There are tons of free shapes and cartridges to create super simple projects. There is even a monthly or yearly subscription service so you don't have to buy a zillion cartridges all at once. The Design Space is easy to learn (reminds me of using PicMonkey) and the creation process is really simple. The Cricut software also has a print then cut feature as well. I would have never been able to create kiss cut stickers if it weren't for this machine. I also wouldn't have been able to create small embellishments in various shapes with out a million punches if it wasn't for my Cricut. The precision cutting is amazing as well - no more uneven planner dividers!
We R Memory Keepers the Cinch
I recently created my own planner using the Cinch and my Cricut Explore. I never would have been able to bind a little journal like that with out this little contraption. I was super intimidated by this little machine and just stared at it for a long while. Turns out it is super easy. If you're looking to create any sort of memory book or notebook. It is perfect if you need to make a little notebook in a pinch - like for a gift or something. But you can also take your time and make a super detailed scrapbook. It can also double as an A5 size hole punch to punch pages for your planners! I like it because I can make notebooks super fast. I'm going to try to make some little notebooks out of Project Life cards as little gifts this year for Xmas. You can also create a junk journal of sorts and punch in your pictures to create a flip book.
Sewing Machine
I. Love. My. Sewing. Machine. I don't even do a 10th of the things it is capable of but it is so inspiring to just feel like creating something out of fabric and then being able to. If I want to sit down and sew something I can...and fast. Hand sewing would make me get super bored of the project I was working on. I find that I get bored with a project if I can't see it develop quickly enough. I've loved using my sewing machine to make a few aprons, my fauxdori, some garb for the SCA, and just general sewing two pieces of fabric together.
Crop a dile Big Bite
This is one of those things where you can justify not picking it up every time you see it in the craft store. I finally picked one up to set eyelets and punch holes in my fauxdori. I now think it will be super handy when I want to set eyelets in other crafts - maybe scrapbooking? Who knows? I haven't really found assorted uses for it yet, but I'm sure I will!
These are my 4 current favorite higher end crafty tools. Now I can make all the things!
What are your favorite crafty gadgets? Anything I should try out?
xoxo, Moe