Build your own “Crafty Mom Bin”
Crafty Moms get your supplies in order. Make a portable adult craft kit with all the essentials for those rare 15 minute breaks.
We’ve all been there. You need the break but you can’t find the scissors, marker, thread, tape, etc. to finish that project. I have a solution for you. It’s the crafty mom bin. Today’s the day you get your crap together!
The Short and Sweet
I’ve been creating activities and engagement for my toddler — ways to safely get his hands messy. I enjoy them, but I quickly realized I needed creative output for myself, too. I needed something that was just for me.
When I first became a mom, I thought I was going to be one of those crafty moms always making things for my son. Then I went back to work. My time dwindled. My desk collected paperwork, doctor’s notes, and bills- things I couldn’t put anywhere else because we had a mobile baby.
Projects sat half-started with no time in sight to finish. My desk was a disaster, but it was also my only “safe space” to escape.
I found out very quickly that my mental health status was lined to my ability to do a quick project. It was an aweful cycle: the room collected clutter so fast that I had to clean before I could craft, and by then, my free time was gone. I even told my husband: “If you want to know how I’m doing, look at my desk.” If it was clean or a project was going I was good. If it was just piled with stuff I needed some time for myself.
As soon as my materials were readily available and I had a surface to work with, I became a much more focused and sane mommy and wife.
So my fellow crafty moms, I present to you: The Crafty Mom Bin.
The Crafty Mom Bin
Mess? None. We are cleaning a part of of lives and collecting the pieces we need.
Prep: You might be doing some prep for this one. If there are some things you want to buy or upgrade now is the time. The whole point is to have the basics so you can do more with the little time you have. I have linked the supplies I have bought or similar ones to help you out.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including those from Amazon. This means if you click and buy a tool to save your won sanity, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep this website running and my Crafty Mom Bin stocked! See my full disclosure policy for details.
The Crafty Mom Bin
1. The Container
Use what you have today to collect everything. You made it this far. You are motivated. I stared with a pile on my desk before I reused that light blue/green bin pictured above. Below is the closest thing I’ve found to match.
Stack & Carry Box with Removable Tray Looks just like the one I bought over 10 years ago. I love the flat handle at the top. The tray on the inside seems to be the right size for everything for me. I’ve reused this box for sewing, jewelry making supplies, a project container for bigger tasks or multiple notions. It’s the perfect size to fit on a bookshelf.
1. The Cutting Crew
Almost all my projects require some kind of cutting tool. These are the ones I use the most. Pick a few to get your started. go for versatility like a pair of scissors, an X-acto or knife, and a cutting mat.
- Scissors: Once a year, I buy a generic 3-6 pack of scissors and replace them around my house.
- Teflon-Coated Scissors: These are my go-to for anything tough scissors. I have had these for a long time and anything heavy duty, sticky, or messy has been cut with these.
- Slicer Tool: I have one of these at home and one in my desk at work. It’s perfect for intricate shapes.
- X-acto Knife: nothing beats the good old X-acto knife. I’ve had mine for years and it always comes through.
- Rotary Cutter: I have used my sewing rotary cutter many times for something other than fabric. I just keep a separate blade marked “paper” so I don’t ruin my fabric blade. Paper dulls a blade very fast.
- Knife: This doesn’t have to live in your box but one year I asked my husband for a good knife with a 4-6″ blade one year for the holidays and it has been a go to for me for anything thick. I was trying not to dull our kitchen knives and we had just replaced them. I also didn’t want to get things like glitter on our kitchen knives. Side note: My husband loves knives and keeps them nice and sharp so dulling a knife for a craft project is a no no but also something fixable in our house.
- Small cutting mat: besides the scissors these cutting tools need a surface that is hard to damage.
Marking and Measuring
2. Marking and Measuring
- Mechanical Pencils: I love these 1.3 mm handwriting pencils.
- Sharpies: I keep a Dual-Tip Black Sharpie and a Metalic Sharpie for darker surfaces.
- Colored Pencils: I know there are more artistic ones out there but the 24 pack suits me perfectly.
- Posca Paint Markers: I like this brand. they are the middle of the road for me. Thick enough coverage. they wear well even using them on wood and other rough surfaces.
- Flair Pens: Yeah I have some. Yes they are cute. but they are also very versatile and add just enough pop of color for me to include them here.
- Quilting Ruler: I like my small 4″x 6″ and my 6″x 12″ rulers. This set of 3 also comes with a 1″x 6″. They are great for making parallel lines and squaring things up without extra marks or effort.
The Sticky Stuff
- Super Glue GEL: I like the gel variety because it doesn’t run all over your project, or your hands. I buy a multi pack of little tubes. For me who uses it on occasion it doesn’t dry out the whole container.
- E6000: Great for making jewelry and sealing items. It has a strong odor, so use in a well ventilated area.
- Double Sided Tape: Any variety will do. I currently have some plain scotch branded double sided tape. But the next item on our list sticky dots and scrapbook double sided tape works just a s well.
- Glue Dots and Tape: I usually have glue dots and tape on hand for scrapbooking or archival style projects. I am on a mission to clean up and use up my craft room supplies. When I need more I will probably purchase this new set that has a little bit of everything.
- Mod Podge: I have replaced using school glue for just about everything. Mod Podge is my go to. I have more than the matte and high gloss but these two work for almost everything. It dries better and is less wet, which helps with paper wrinkles. I also have other specialty glues for different crafts but this is my go to 90% of the time.
- Washi Tape: Great for holding things in place temporarily or decorating a boring edge. Choose your style that fits you. I found this white version if you are looking for something that does not distract from a design.
- Hot glue gun: I use my very infrequently. I found the quality of the glue stick makes the most difference.
- Hot Glue Sticks. This is where you need to buy some good ones. I suggest the ADTech Multi-temp ones. I can use them in the cheap hot glue gun I bought close to 20 years ago or in the newer one I got about 10 years agon.
The Recycled Stash
A true “Crafty Mom Bin” isn’t just about buying things. iN fact mine is about using up the things I had from 1-2 projects. I found having a few recycled things laying around to be useful.
- Cardboard Scraps:We order a lot through Amazon, and the clean flaps of the larger boxes are perfect for mess mats or sturdy bases.
- Toilet Paper and Paper Towel Tubes: I keep a few for crafts lying around. They also make great seed starters in the spring time.
- Fabric Scraps: I always save scraps from fabric projects. I cut them into squares or rectangles and sort them into a shoebox.
What’s in your box?
So what did I miss? Comment below with what your go to supplies are.
Also let me know what crafts you are looking forward to getting back to.
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