10 Must-have Tools for Miniature Projects and Doll’s Houses
I use most of these tools for my DIY doll’s house kits, but they can all be used for crafting in general.
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Cutting Mat
I have to be honest; in my excitement to start my first doll’s house kit, I absolutely ruined my work desk. A cutting mat should have really been one of the first things I bought, and I highly recommend it be yours, too. Every single kit that I’ve come across has some need for cutting with a craft knife, whether it be slicing lemons off a stick or trimming excess wood. Even the templates made from card are often better cut using a knife. Due to their teeny size, precision cutting is often necessary to make furniture and objects fit together properly and look more pro. There’s nothing worse than having a raggy-looking craft because it wasn’t cut properly.
Tweezers
I have a few different pairs of tweezers, all with varied shapes and sizes. If you only have one set, get a pair with a fine point. You’ll need them for picking up beads and holding wires, as well as fastening paper together.
Tea Tray
From everything to glueing and fixing, I’ve been using an old tea tray to hold all the small bits and bobs. I thought at some point I’d find a better option, but my tea tray is still going strong. It’s handy for keeping everything together during a project, including scraps of materials. Although mine is patterned, I recommend using something plain to keep from losing tiny pieces on the tray. Another reason for using a tray with sides is to stop things rolling away, although I can’t promise it won’t stop things from jumping off from time to time! Melamine is probably best since it’s easy to clean and doesn’t mark much, although I’m sure a wooden tray would work just as well. One of the biggest reasons I use a tea tray is for easy transportation. I dream of having a space (one day!) where I can craft to my heart’s content, but since I currently live in a smallish apartment, my craft materials need to be moved easily, including away from the mouth of a sneaky Labrador! If you’re in a similar situation, you might also look for a tray with handles for better grip (yes, I’ve had a slipping incident!).
Magnifying Glass with a Light
The magnifying glass is a relatively new addition to my tool kit, but it’s handy to have for fiddly sticking and attaching. Even if you don’t fancy a magnifying glass, you NEED NEED NEED a decent desk lamp, especially one of those you can bend and move around. This is even more important when you don’t have natural light to assist you.
Metal Ruler
A metal ruler is essential for cutting using a craft knife. Several of the kits I’ve used have come with plastic rulers (that’s great and all), but they are often so thin and flimsy that the craft knife usually cuts into them instead of the material underneath. Using a metal ruler helps get perfect, crisp lines and also has the added bonus of having a sharp edge. This can be used for folding edges and getting a flush finish on boxes etc.
Bulldog / Binder Clips
Keep bulldog clips handy for holding paper or card objects together while the glue dries. Since they have rounded edges, they’re unlikely to damage your miniatures.
Toothpicks / Needle Tool
I usually keep a couple of toothpicks around on my tray to use for enlarging holes, glueing tiny items or even removing surplus adhesive. A needle tool is an even better choice since it prevents waste (a toothpick only has a limited lifespan).
Tool Caddy
Although I keep some of my tools on my tray for easy access, I usually keep my tools in a pencil pot to keep things organised. I especially like that mine has separate compartments, but a simple pencil holder will work just as well.
Boxes for Materials
Once I’ve finished a project, there are always leftover pieces hanging around. I store the leftovers in a box meant for jewellery fixings. If I’m completely honest, though, I’m a total hoarder and can’t bear to throw anything away. So, any bits of ribbon, small pieces of material or string, I keep in a set of plastic drawers.
Craft Knife
Most of the kits that I’ve used come with a craft knife that seems to do the trick, although they’re not especially strong. I also have an Exacto knife that’s extremely sharp. They come with a range of blades that you can switch out.
