I write a lot about tools.  Why?  Because without proper tools it’s nearly impossible to create stunning cards. Today, we are going to look at some unusual and crazy useful tools in the craft room.  Everyone has different opinions about which tools are the right tools and some people buy all of the latest and greatest.  These tools aren’t really tools at all but supplements to our most used tools and are pretty darn inexpensive.  I don’t think that buying every single tool out there is the way to go but I do think a great set of sure-fire tools is.

Unusual and Crazy Useful Tools in the Craft Room

• Bowls – I use small bowls in my craft room all the time!  I’m talking about those tiny little bowls that are cute and you never know what in the world anyone could ever eat out of them.  I picked mine up at Tuesday Morning for less than $2 each.  When you find the perfect purple bowls, you just can’t leave them sitting on the shelf!  I also have some plastic ones that I picked up at the Dollar Store.

• Coffee Filters – Coffee filters are excellent for catching embossing powder and glitter.  I usually pour my embossing powder over my stamping image right over the coffee filter.  Then when I’m done I can just funnel it back into my container.  Done!  No mess at all!

• Swiffer Cloths – What happens when you get glitter or embossing powder all over the place?  A regular cloth will just spread the mess around.  A baby wipe will get everything all wet and spread the mess around.  A Swiffer cloth, on the other hand, picks up the mess and hangs on to it.  Another thing I use these for is buffing away the dust from an anti-static powder tool.  Now, I don’t use the brand name ones.  Instead, I pick up mine at the Dollar Store.

• Under Counter Drawer – If you’re like me and you work on a LARGE surface without cabinets underneath, you need a little drawer for all of your most used items.  I found some small basket-drawers by Rubbermaid that hook over the edge of my table top.  I made half a paper box to cover the bottom of the basket so nothing would fall through.  It holds my tape runner, sticky notes, glue pens, and small scissors.  It’s perfect for quick clean up too since most of my small stuff just fits right in there.

• Small Kitchen Cutting Board – Say What?!  I use a kitchen cutting board for heat embossing, watercoloring, and to set things on to dry.  Heat embossing can get…well a little HOT!  My cutting board saves my fingers from being scorched.  Watercolor uses water, right?  This causes the watercolor paper to buckle and warp so a nice flat surface is good to tape the paper down.  I don’t know about you but if something needs to dry on one of my cards, like Nuvo Drops, I will stick my hand in it and smear it.  I use my cutting board to set cards out of my way while the card dries.

Who would have thought items from the kitchen and cleaning supplies would be so useful?!  Crazy right?!  Unusual and crazy useful tool can be found just about anywhere, so keep your eyes open.