I adore crafting! I’m guessing we have that in common! If so, you might be contemplating purchasing a Cricut cutting machine. In that case, you might be interested in How I set up my Cricut Craft Room. But what if you don’t have a Cricut…yet! Maybe you’re someone who doesn’t have the space or money to invest in a Cricut cutting machine just yet. I totally get that! I have been there! No worries. So here are some of my Must Have Crafting Tools If You Can’t Invest in A Cricut!
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Long before I owned a Cricut cutting machine, I was crafting! And although I do love my Cricut and the things I have been able to do with it, there are still so many things you can do without one. The key, however, is making sure you have some of the right tools in your tool box (or should I say craft box!?)! So, here’s my list of all the things you need to invest in prior to graduating to a Cricut.
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Large Paper Cutters: Must Have Crafting Tools If You Can’t Invest in A Cricut
First, you need a paper cutter that will cut regular sized paper, as well as 12 x 12 paper (which is a standard craft paper you get at any craft store or online.
If you have a very small space to craft in, I recommend this Fiskars cutter. It is small and can fit inside a drawer or closet when you’re done. The negative of this product is that the blades get dull really quickly. Sure, you can purchase many refill blades like these, but they seem to get dull very quickly. Therefore, I recommend using this cutter just long enough until you can store the next paper cutter, below.
I personally decided to upgrade to this Westcott Paper Cutter just after I purchased my first house. I finally had space! No, I’ve have had this cutter for nearly 4 years and I have never needed to sharpen it yet! And to be honest, even though I do have the Cricut, I use this paper cutter just as much, if not more than my Cricut.
Circle Cutters: Must Have Crafting Tools If You Can’t Invest in A Cricut
Hole punches are a great thing to own if you don’t have a Cricut. This pack of hole punches is a great thing to have on hand so you have a hole punch for all sizes! This kind of hole punch works really well for projects like…
Alternately, you might want to cut larger circles. That’s when I recommend this Custom Cutting System Patterns by Creative Memories, the blades, and the coordinating cutting mat. We have had this in my family for years! I thought about getting rid of it, but still to this day it comes in handy when crafting in my craft room. Never get rid of old crafting tools! You never know when you’ll need it!
Lastly, if you’re making banners, like the one below, you’ll want a small hole puncher to make the small holes for the ribbon to go through. I personally love my small Handheld Metal Single Hole Punch, and this one comes in different shapes which I think is adorable, and now I want the hearts and the stars!
Handheld Crafting Scissors: Must Have Crafting Tools If You Can’t Invest in A Cricut
If you’re a crafter, a good set of regular handheld scissors is a major must have! But can I tell you a huge secret? I love using my Kitchen Aid scissors. Honestly, they were created to do some hard cutting in the kitchen! Therefore, it must be good enough for all the crafting I get into in my craft room. They never seem to dull and I just love them! Also, they come with a cap, which I think SCREAMS crafting scissors!
However, if you just want some regular old craft scissors, I just bought this cute set of scissors for my daughter (since she keeps stealing mine!). Sadly, these new ones probably won’t make any difference, since she just loves to use MY stuff. Can anyone relate?
And last, but not least, you need decorative edge scissors! This is especially fun with kids! They will love all the things they can create!
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You might also be interested in the following articles:
How to DIY Party Decorations on a Budget
The Best Paper Organizer for Cardstock Paper
How to Create Your Own Baby Book
Lastly, thank you so much for taking the time to read about Must Have Crafting Tools If You Can’t Invest in A Cricut. I hope this gives you some ideas about what you need to invest in before making the jump to a Cricut Cutting Machine! I love to help you celebrate life through party decorations and personal development! But above all, I’d love to connect with you. Reach out to me on Instagram and let’s chat.
xox
Lindsay
