Paper and Cardstock: Flat Broke or Crafting Gold?

Everyone insists you need “premium” supplies, but my best stuff’s usually from the bargain bin. Hoarding cardstock, stickers, all that—sometimes feels like nobody remembers construction paper exists.

Cheap vs. Splurge: When It Actually Matters

There’s this thing where only “smooth” cardstock is “good.” I tried the expensive stuff—does it matter? Maybe for tiny details, but unless you’re cutting with lasers, who cares? White cardstock’s a must, but I’m not hoarding every color unless I need something specific. Textured paper sometimes ruins cuts, fine, but regular paper works most of the time.

Bulk packs from the office section—ugly, but they hold up. “Craft paper” that’s cheaper than lunch? Sometimes lasts longer than the expensive stuff. I don’t know, maybe I’m just cheap.

Scrapbooking Without a Million Prints

I’ve never finished a scrapbook. Just scraps everywhere—leftover bits, weird patterns, those corner pieces nobody uses. Coordinated packs, monthly “must-haves”—I end up with piles of leftovers.

People who actually finish albums? They use whatever’s around. Old cards, tissue paper, the blank side of “ruined” sheets—nobody brags, but it works. The obsession with buying new paper just means I never finish anything. If it’s flat and takes glue, I’ll use it. Why does buying more paper make anyone feel like a better crafter?

Paint, Pens, and Markers: What Actually Gets Used

Open my supply bin and it’s chaos—old paint leaking on sharpies, crusty brushes everywhere. I’ll dig forever for one marker that isn’t dried out, then realize I hate the color anyway.

Paint Hoarding: Justified or Not?

Why can’t I throw out paint I’ll never use? Bargain craft paints keep multiplying, but they dry out before I even try them. Acrylics dry fast, and so does my enthusiasm. Watercolors? I have a set, somewhere, collecting dust.

Chalk paint is “magic” for furniture, apparently. I used it twice, then the jar sealed itself shut. Bulk paint packs seemed smart, but I only like four colors. Why do I keep buying pastel blue?

Marker Madness: Which Ones Last?

Permanent markers—everyone’s obsessed. I use two, the rest clog. Sharpie oil-based or Posca are the only ones that actually work, but then I feel bad tossing the dried-out ones.

Gel pens? Why do I own so many? I just want one that doesn’t smudge. Colored pencils—kids love them, I don’t. I need, like, a black fine liner, maybe a gold, and a half-dead red sharpie. The rest? No idea.

Brush Types Worth Your Drawer Space

Brushes multiply when I’m not looking. Flat tips, round tips, foam—most are wrecked. I keep “the good ones” because the internet said so, but I always end up using cheap foam brushes that fall apart instantly.

Natural bristles? Shed everywhere. I need a round tip, one flat, that’s it. Dried Mod Podge on a brush? That’s mine. Sponges? I’d use them if they weren’t gross.

Fabric and Thread: DIYers’ Love-Hate Relationship

Never the fabric I have, always the stuff I don’t. The tiny things—needles, thread—clutter drawers but vanish when I actually need them.

Stash or Pass: Knowing What You’ll Actually Sew

Supposedly you need a whole cabinet for fabric. Fat quarters, bias tape, yarn—someone online convinced me I’d use it all. But really, the pile in my closet just makes me feel guilty.

Found a yard of sparkly tulle taped to a pizza box last week. No clue why. I thought I’d use it “someday.” That day never comes.

There’s always a list of must-have craft supplies, but how many projects actually get finished? If it’s not many, why am I still collecting fabric for “future” projects I’ll forget about?

Sewing Machines: Friend or Foe?

My sewing machine spends more time unplugged than running. It jams, makes weird noises, and I’m always on YouTube trying to fix it. Dragging it out for one hem feels like punishment.

Some people have fancy machines with a million stitches. Me? I just want it to work. Whether you’re hardcore or just fixing holes, nobody talks about the space and patience it eats up. Sometimes I wonder if I own it or it owns me.

Needles, Pins, and Thread The Truth

Cheap thread snaps exactly when I need it. I have every color except the one I want. Pins bend, so I use yarn, which leaves fuzz that never comes out. Measuring tape’s always tangled. Needles poke out of the pincushion, and my “essentials” kit is mostly empty wrappers.

High-quality thread’s worth it for sanity, but actually keeping track of what I have? No chance. Everyone loves the idea of a tidy kit, but mine’s just a heap of random junk and hope.