The Craft Tools You'll Need for Your DIY Wedding

I often get asked about what my favorite DIY supplies are for creating all sorts of projects for your budget-savvy wedding, so I decided now would be a fabulous time to share them with you! I must be honest, I am a self-professed craft hoarder, so I have more than the average DIY bride, but I’ve also learned along the way which craft supplies are really worth it and which aren’t. The items I’m sharing today are the essential craft tools that you’ll definitely want to keep on hand to help you craft the perfect DIY wedding!

These essential DIY supplies will get you through so many craft projects large and small. You won’t want to find yourself without these must-haves, and trust me, they will take you far. More likely than not, you’ll end up using these items on one project or many, so they are good to keep on hand for all sorts of crafting, not just for weddings! Without further ado, check out these DIY wedding crafting must-haves!

Essential Craft Tools for DIY Brides

1. Ruler

Whether you’re measuring or cutting, it’s important to have a good ruler in your craft arsenal. A personal favorite of mine is made by Poppin because I just love the fresh pops of color they bring to a craft space. It’s also great to have a metal ruler with a cork backing because it helps your ruler grip onto the surface to ensure it doesn’t slip when cutting.

2. Xacto Knife

These handy craft knives are essential for paper crafting. I’ve used them to cut strips of paper for projects and more. I love using a ruler and Xacto Knife to cut because they allow you to be incredibly precise.

3. Scissors

I can’t say enough how important a good pair of scissors is. I personally use these Martha Stewart Crafts Scissors (I picked them up years ago with a 40% off coupon from Michael’s — totally worth it.) Another brand I really love to use is Fiskars. You’ll know them by their signature orange handle, and they are the absolute best for all sorts of materials.

4. Cutting Mat

A self-healing cutting mat is always a good investment because you can use it to protect your tables and other surfaces while crafting. I always recommend using a cutting mat when you’re using an Xacto knife to make sure you don’t damage your table, floor, etc. This is another item I would definitely recommend trying to pick up at Michael’s with a good coupon, as they can be a bit on the pricey side, but are SO worth it!

5. Hot Glue Gun + Glue Sticks

You never know when you’ll need a hot glue gun — it seriously solves so many problems! I recently used hot glue to secure a shelf in my pantry (random, I know!) Hot glue can be used for everything from decor to signage to stationery. Trust me, having this on hand will solve a variety of DIY dilemmas.

6. Adhesives

When it comes to crafting, there are so many great adhesives that it’s great to have on hand. Some of my favorites are Glue Dots, Tape Runners, Glue Sticks, Rubber Cement, etc. Whether you’re paper crafting or creating some DIY decor, having the proper adhesive is half the battle.

7. Chalk Ink Markers

Ever since I discovered Chalk Ink Markers last December, I seriously can’t get enough of them! These versatile markers come in a variety of colors and formulas depending on your needs. They are perfect for creating DIY wedding signage or other fun decorative accents for your big day. I seriously love them and can’t recommend them enough!

8. Glitter

I don’t know what it is about Glitter but y’all — I love it. You can add a little sparkle to just about anything and my absolute favorite glitter is the Martha Stewart Glitter collection because their colors are to die for and come in a rainbow of hues for the perfect match for your projects!

9. A Good Printer

I have a few printers now, and I really like all of them. First is the Canon Pixma iX6520 which can print up to 13″x19″ size — I love this printer because the size allows you to print large enough for 12×12 scrapbook paper, opening up a whole new world of options for paper crafting. Don’t have to buy patterned scrapbook paper when you can print it yourself! The other is the Epson XP-830 which I love because you can print even from your SmartPhone, so you could almost use it as a DIY photo booth photo printer for your big day — so cool, right? I’ll be doing a review and sharing some fun projects I’m making with this printer really soon. As long as you have a good color printer, you should be fine, but these are just two of my favorites.

10. Scoring Board + Bone Folder

A good thing to have on hand for paper crafting is a scoring board and bone folder. I love the one from Martha Stewart Crafts because it comes with a tiny bone folder and also includes instructions for how to fold envelopes, cards, and more! This tool is super handy if you plan to do lots of paper crafts, and thanks to having it on hand you’ll never find yourself without a card at the last minute again because this will allow you to whip one up in minutes!

11. Cricut Cutting Machine

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the holy grail of DIY tools: The Cricut Explore Air! Learn more about using Cricut cutting machines for wedding projects, as well as which Cricut machine is best for your needs.

Of course, there are some more advanced tools to check out for your crafting needs as well, but we’ll save those for another post. We hope you’ve found this list helpful!