The HGTV Handmade Crew's Favorite Home Craft Essentials
HGTV's talented team of makers share the craft tools and supplies they can't live without.
The HGTV team is filled with master crafters, creators and gardeners, each ready to share their newest DIY creation. The HGTV Handmade crew, though, they're an exceptionally crafty bunch. Each week, the team posts new projects on the HGTV Handmade YouTube channel, from inspiring home tours to clever home hacks, so you can brighten up your space.
If quarantine has inspired you to tackle that forgotten home project or conquer a new DIY skill, we're right there with you. Ready to fill up your craft toolbox but not sure where to start? Check out the DIY tools and essentials our makers can't live without.
CRAFT TOOLS
"One of our craft essential musts is a Fiskars Craft Knife. They're great for those detailed, intricate cuts and work seamlessly with a ruler/cutting mat for a straight line. It's definitely something we always have in arm's reach and end up using in the majority of our craft projects." — Andrew Boza and Dennis Setteducati, The Crafty Lumberjacks
"I don’t think I could live without a self-healing cutting mat in my craft supply stash. The measurements on each edge help me stay precise, and it protects all the surfaces that I should probably not be crafting on in the first place (sorry in advance, dining room table!). The self-healing feature really does make it hold up longer as well — worth every penny!" — Marianne Canada
"I can't even tell you how many scissors I've gotten all gunked up from working with duct tape, but these scissors made specifically for cutting tape have stayed clean for years. Plus, the bright green handles are so fun!" — Karen Kavett
CRAFT BASICS
"With a printer and a wild imagination you can make custom magnets. And you don’t even need a printer. Old holiday cards collecting dust in storage? Magnets. Photographs? Magnets. Recipes? You see where this is going. In my opinion, it’s the perfect craft." — Jessica Yonker
"My favorite hot glue gun of all time is this one because it has high- and low-temperature settings. It also has a detail tip that allows for precise application, a ton of control and the ability to create fine lines (after a few test runs) that make the glue almost unnoticeable." — Cassidy Garcia
"Being home with a four-year-old all day every day, we've tackled about every craft project we could do with things we already have at home. Time and time again we go back to coloring, and these Crayola supplies are our favorite. Both mom- and kid-approved!" — Jill Tennant
PAINT SUPPLIES
"I love these paint markers because they make it easy to add a swipe of gold to any project, whether it’s a boring planter or a whole wall. I mean, it’s literally liquid gold. What could be better than that?!" — Liz Gray
"A must for me is Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. I've tested a lot of brands, and Annie Sloan has been the only chalk paint that I've been able to use on my dining room table (that has not chipped or scratched in four years). I did apply both types of wax and re-wax every two years." — Cassidy Garcia
GOOD TO HAVE
"This cordless drill gets used monthly at my house. It's perfect for woodworking projects and hanging photos." — Cassidy Garcia
"This makes hot-gluing small materials and crafts easier; all you need to do is dip and stick. It's also fun to watch the glue melt and dip stuff in it. I didn't even burn myself using it like I usually do with a hot glue gun." — Gabriela Hardan
"I have used this label maker for crafting, but I also love it for organizing my craft supplies (and obviously anything else I can put a label on!). The best part about it is that you can use the app on your phone to create labels in different fonts, sizes, etc. It's one of my favorite items, period." — Jill Tennant
"This Shop-Vac is perfect for quick cleanup after glitter projects or sanding. It's also small and lightweight, making it easy to use and store." — Cassidy Garcia
