In our iPad magazine The Crafty Swedes we list materials we always have at home and a few expensive things we save for special occations. You can download the magazine for free here, but for those of you without iPads we will post the list here on the blog as well. A lot of the things on the list are basic materials found in your local grocery store, book store not to mention your recycling bin. You find part one here and part two here.
Here in part three – Ocassionally in our craft cupboard
Cotton pulp balls
Lots of fun things can be done with cotton pulp balls, but they are quite expensive, I think. We buy them occasionally and in this magazine we show you what you can do with them.
Washi tape
Washi tape is a Japanese paper tape made of natural fibers. It’s a bit like masking tape and works the same way. The big difference is that washi tape comes in all possible designs and colors. It’s great to use for putting up artwork and for decorating with but it is expensive. We have a couple rolls of colored washi tape and a couple of rolls of patterned. It is enough, I promise, even if it is incredibly tempting to buy more. Always very appreciated when given as a gift by both big and small craftspeople.
Paper straws
Available almost everywhere and a great craft material. They are easy to work with and come in bright colors. The fact that they aren’t very expensive is also an advantage.
Spray paint
Spray paint is available in most paint stores, but the most fun colors can be found in stores that sell graffiti paint. Don’t buy too many colors, one or two is quite enough. They last forever and should be used wisely because most of the aren’t environmentally friendly.
Pom pom maker
With a Pom Pom Maker you make pom poms in a snap. A completely unnecessary gadget – but we could not resist. Available in craft stores and online retailers.
Things to rescue from the recycling bin:
Toilet rolls
Toilet rolls are a fantastic craft material. Save, save, save!
Cardboard
Save cereal and pasta boxes. The cardboard is just the right thickness to suite many sorts of crafts. Just remember, if you paint on the raw side you have to use acrylic paint. Watercolors don’t stick to the raw surface, they will smudge and the carboard will shrink when treated with water and bend.
Plastic jars
Cosmetic jars are often exquisite and rather exclusive. Wash them out and decorate them! PET and shampoo bottles are also great to save. The soft plastic is easy cut in to with a pair of scissors.
Things we try to avoid:
Craft kits
Every now and then it’s fun to make erasers and soaps but I’d rather put my money on supplies with more than one use. Craft kits do, however, make wonderful birthday presents.
Glitter
Those of you who read our blog may have noticed we don’t use a lot of glitter. I like glitter, but not everywhere. It only takes a kid and a jar of glitter and your house is full of it – for a long time. We do all our crafts at the kitchen table and I don’t fancy glitter in my food. Do we have glitter at home? Sure, Freja has spent a fair amount of her pocket money on glitter, but I think she likes to look at the containers more than using their contents. A good alternative to glitter is glitter glue. It runs out quickly, but it’s so much easier to clean off.
This is the third and last part of the list. You find part one here and part two here. Please let us know if you think we missed something or if you like to share a smart craft tip with us! Let’s complete the list together!
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