A Few of My Favorite Things

I often get asked about my favorite crafting supplies… what’s my favorite nib? Pen? Adhesive? Today I’m sharing some of my favorite things, and I’ll tell you why I love them!

Paper Crafting

I always have a stash of Glue Dots in my drawer! These are mess-free, super strong little circles that hold anything from paper to ribbons to buttons.

For larger areas, I prefer to use a tape runner, like E-Z Runner. It lays down a smooth line of double-sided adhesive.

I love Staz-On ink for stamping. You can watercolor over it, and I’ve even successfully stamped on clothing with it.

Calligraphy

While I’ve tried many brands of nibs–including some very pricey ones– I’ve found that Speedball C-class nibs are both reliable and affordable. They’re available at most craft stores. I’ve also found that I prefer their plastic nib holder over the many varieties of wooden nib holders I’ve purchased. It’s nothing fancy, but it works well.

If you’d like to try a nib with more precision for fine calligraphy work, I recommend trying a Brause “blue pumpkin,” or steno nib.

When it comes to ink, I can’t tell much of a difference between the many brands of India Ink I’ve tried. I’ve liked them all! For white ink, Dr. Marian Davis Bleedproof White wins out.

Hand Lettering

When it comes to hand lettering, I do the majority of my work on standard white cardstock, which I buy in large packages at Wal-Mart. I go through a lot of paper! But for important pieces, I prefer Strathmore Bristol paper. It has a nice heavy weight and a super smooth surface.

I like to do my sketching with a mechanical pencil. I’m not too picky about the lead… but the eraser makes a world of difference. So my favorite option is Sakura’s Sumo Grip mechanical pencil. It has a comfortable gel-like grip, and an amazing extendable eraser that seems to go on for-ev-er. And you can even buy eraser refills! But I’ve had mine for a long time and still haven’t needed to replace the eraser.

I’m very loyal to Pigma Micron pens! The range of nib sizes makes it easy for me to achieve the designs I envision. The ink won’t smear or fade when erased, which is super important! They do come in color, but most of the time I just stick with black.

Sewing

There are a few items that make sewing so much more enjoyable! I love to use Spray ‘n Bond fabric adhesive for washable basting. I won’t quilt without it!

I think Heat n’ Bond Iron-On Vinyl is an amazing product! You can make your fabric water and stain resistant without the bulk of traditional clear vinyl. I’ve used this on everything from diaper bags to kitchen chairs. You can also buy it off the bolt.

My Gingher dressmaker shears are an item I can’t live without. If you’ve never tried cutting with really good fabric scissors, you don’t know what you’re missing! Make sure to only use them on fabric and they’ll last a very long time.

Finally, I adore my Olfa rotary cutter. Use it with a clear quilter’s ruler to quickly cut perfect strips and squares.

Now it’s your turn! What is the one crafting or sewing item you couldn’t live without?

Note: clicking on the photos will take you to an Amazon affiliate link. While I was not endorsed to write this post, I may receive proceeds from resulting sales.