Almost all of us have a creative friend that just loves doing their DIY projects. They’re very crafty and can turn the most ordinary things into something beautiful and practical. They handmade every gift, and card, and some of them even DIY their wedding decorations. This hobby of theirs can be a perfect inspiration for gifts for their birthdays. There are so many tools they can make use of, so your options are endless.
Card-Making Supplies
Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, graduation or any other occasion, handmade cards always put a nice finishing touch to the present. It shows that the person cares enough for you and they took their time to create something unique for you. There’s always that one touch of something personal and meaningful that awakens emotion and tenderness. So, one of the best gifts for your crafty friend would be a big variety of card-making supplies.
The first thing you could buy is envelopes. They come in so many shapes, sizes and colours that they can be hard to choose. You can find square, rectangular, oval, round, star-shaped, and heart-shaped envelopes in any colour you can imagine. There are also envelopes with prints and patterns that make them suitable for some occasions.
For example, mistletoes and bells can indicate Christmas and candles and banners hint at birthdays. A nice addition to the envelopes would be stickers. If you’re making it a themed present get stickers based on that theme, reindeer, Christmas trees, presents, bells, stars etc. Oftentimes, these stickers are pre-cut, and they won’t have to use scissors to take them off.
One interesting thing you can add to the present is plastic domes. They consist of 2 parts and the person can add anything they want inside to make snow glob shaker cards. They’ll simply fit the globe to the card, stuff it with whatever they want and get a unique creation. You can find these globes in many shapes and sizes, but the most common ones are oval, heart-shaped and star-shaped, and between 7-10cm in diameter.
In addition, you can also buy calendar tabs for the next year. This way they can play with the dates and incorporate them into the cards. Card layers are also a nice idea. There are some interesting cut-a-part sheets with sentiments. They can be practical if the person is in a rush.
Glue Gun
This is a handy tool that’s a must-have for every crafty person out there. Chances are, they already own one, but having 2 of them is not a bad idea. These glue guns are very practical, and they can use them for small crafts, fabric designs and anywhere in the house. The great thing about them is that the glue dries very fast, usually in less than 1 minute.
There are low and high-temperature glue guns. Low ones get heated to around 120 degrees Celsius and are safer to use. In addition, get them low-temperature glue sticks that have a lower melting point. They’re great for card-making supplies and light DIY projects. High-temperature glue guns heat up to 190 degrees Celsius and can strongly bond wood, plastic and metal.
For crafters, the best option is an adjustable glue gun. They can regulate the temperature according to their needs. The gun size can vary as well. Smaller ones take glue sticks of 0.6cm in diameter, and the larger ones use a glue stick of 1cm in diameter. This choice depends on the crafts the person is making and whether they need a larger or a smaller amount of glue squeezed out. Additions like the on/off switch and a stand can be very useful.
Cricut Machine
If you’re not familiar with this device, a circuit machine is an electronic cutting machine that’s capable of cutting and drawing on many materials. These materials include paper, adhesive vinyl, and cardstock and some of them will even work with leather and wood. It’s kind of like a printer, but instead of printing, it cuts the sheet of paper.
It’s very precise and fast, so it’ll save a lot of time for your friend. You can find them at various price points and with different features. They all have digital access to software where the person can upload and download different designs. Many of them have a Bluetooth connection so there’s no need for a USB cable. The machine comes with accessories such as a blade, pen, mat and some sample materials to cut or draw. But to make the present even better you could buy some extra mats, blades and a hand tool set.
Embroidery Kit
Embroidery requires a lot of patience, and if your friend is a crafter, they’re surely one very patient person. If they haven’t done any embroidery in the past, this gift is a good way to start. There are many embroidery kits for beginners on the market that contain all the essentials. The best choices for fabric are cotton and linen because they’re not too stretchy. The hoop is one of the main elements and it holds the fabric in place. You get consistency and control over the needle with it.
The most common size is 15-20cm in diameter, plus your friend can use it as a frame after they’ve finished the piece. Go for thicker and more expensive threads, because otherwise they might tangle or lose their colour. Needles come in sets and contain different sizes. This diversity lets the creator make a piece with amazing effects.
Cutting Mat
There’s a lot of cutting and precise measurements while making crafts. The cutting mat is one of the best DIY card supplies that will make cutting and measuring a piece of cake. The colour of the mat is important. If your friend makes a lot of red, pink or blue crafts, consider a mat in different colours such as yellow, white, black or orange. Also, make sure the markings are nicely visible and they won’t struggle to read them.
The size depends on the working surface your friend has. If they have a large space, buy a bigger mat, if not, go smaller. Most of the mats are made as foldable totes so they can be transported around with ease. Most of the mats are self-healing and have different numbers of layers. Some have just 5 and some go up to 15. Overall, this is a great investment that will give your friend precise and fast cuts every time.
