Papercrafting Toolkit

You don't need fancy equipment to start papercrafting so it is an great option for new crafters.  Only buy the minimum needed for your papercrafting toolkit when you start out as you may find papercraft is not for you.  If you enjoy papercrafting then buy new tools when you need them and build your toolkit gradually.  A papercrafters basic toolkit would consist of (but is not limited to):-

Scissors - basic scissors will be fine when you start out but you will soon want to upgrade as you progress and want to do more.  Typically you will want two main pairs, a small set for delicate work and a large set for trimming.  Ensure you clean your blades regularly as cutting tape can leave a residue on the blades!

Craft knife & metal ruler - a craft knife is the best tool to use for long straight lines. There are many different types of craft knifes to choose from but you should always use a craft knife with a metal ruler. A craft knife can easily cut nicks out of a plastic ruler which are then useless.

Pencil & rubber - an essential in any craft.  Not only useful for marking out your designs but if you keep a notebook handy you can jot down new ideas as you get them without becoming distrscted from the job you are doing.

Pva glue with cocktail sticks - this water-based all-purpose glue dries transparent and is used in most paper crafts.  A cocktail stick is the perfect item for applying the pva to delicate projects.

Glue stick - glue sticks are easy to use and perfect when you want cover a large area with an even film without making the paper soggy.

Double-sided adhesive tape - this is a good alternative to glue and does exactly as titled.  Double-sided adhesive tape is perfect for mounting work behind apertures.

Cutting mat - you don't want to be ruining your kitchen table or dining table!

Scrap paper and card - you will buy craft papers for your projects but having a box of scrap, off-cuts and clippings is a great idea as you never know when you will need something extra.

Even when you are just starting out it is best to think about storage and keeping a little organized.  Your supplies will soon build up and you may find yourself spending more time looking for things than actually making projects.

The firstof our papercraft categories is our cardmaking section.