Each post on making the Book Charms will have a supply list for that portion, but for those who are like me – impatient – this post will have all the supplies that you need on it. I’ve divided it into Must Have and Better to Have.
I’m trying to source products that can be gotten online because local prices differ so much and not everyone lives in an area with lots of craft stores. Either way, I caveat all prices with the advice to check your local area in case you can find it cheaper.
Disclaimer: I use the Amazon affiliate widget, which does give me a few cents per item you order on it, but that mostly just buys me a Starbucks Mocha once a month and isn’t some huge money-maker. I’m not pointing you there for profit. I only point to Amazon if I get it there because it’s the best price (or combo of price/quality) that I can find. I get no affliliate money from any other vendor. They are on here because I use them.
Everything with a * at the end of the description can be used for multiple Crafty Author projects.
Must Have:
- –Card stock, 65lb (you can also get it at Michael’s but it is almost always cheaper to get the Neenah on Amazon in page per price)*
- -Photo Manipulation program (or a friend who can do it for you and send you a .jpg file)*
- –Craft knife*
- -Straight edge for cutting guide*
- -Sculpey/Premo polymer clay in white and your chosen book cover colors (samplers work well for this) Check prices! They vary a lot. Hint: Use Sculpey Premo for the white, because the color is far brighter and use the cheaper Sculpey III for colors, because you’ll be mixing your own color if you like.
- -Findings (eyepins or headpins depending on what you’re going to do with the charms). See advice on buying below.
- –Ranger Inkssentials: (for use as glue and for the edges to make them hard) You might find this at Michael’s locally, and if you have a coupon, that might make it cheaper than Amazon.*
- –DuraClear Gloss Varnish Sometimes you can get this at a local craft shop. For me it’s hit or miss, but currently it’s only $6.99 at Michael’s and it’s $12.34 at Amazon, so I’ve only bought it twice from Zon when I couldn’t get it at my local Michael’s. Plus…Michael’s coupons!*
- -A small flat edged paintbrush. A craft one is fine so long as the bristles are fine.*
- -Cookie sheets
- -Parchment paper for the cookie sheets
Better to Have: All of the above, plus:
- -A good steel ruler.*
- -Precision cutting pen for trimming books (along with craft knife above)*
- –Self-healing mat*
- –Magnifier LED lamp (life-saver, but don’t go high dollar)*
- –Plastic cutting board only for polymer clay and other crafty author stuff. (You’ll see why in that post. This was a huge #LFMF since I ruined my favorite $50 plastic board. Get one from somewhere that you’ll only use for this type of work. The one linked is a good price.)
- –Small clamps, a lot of them. (I also got some from Fire Mountain Gems here. They appear to be the same clips, though the ones from Fire Mountain seemed to be better quality, like maybe this bulk buy from Amazon was for “second” quality of the same product, maybe. All things considered, they are about the same price per unit.)
- –Small pieces of marble or other stone. This is for use during the glazing process. Super useful and they are cheap enough to toss into the bottom of a flower pot for drainage if you mess some up. Be sure to get some that are at least 17mm on one side by no less than 10mm on the other. That way the book charms will be stable while drying. Don’t get them larger than 20mm on the longest side because you’ll run more risk of sticking.
- -Small plastic cups, like the little ones marketed for use with mouthwash*
- -A few straight pins with sharp points*
- -Paint brushes. I prefer Taklon and this set had enough brush sizes that I had enough for other Crafty Author projects. That said, you can find a smaller pack of them at Michael’s for less. No doubt! But it needs to have a smaller flat-edged brush in the kit.*
- -Wax paper (#LFMF. Put this on your counter so you don’t spend an hour cursing that you can’t get the lacquer off your counter surface)*
Which Eyepins and Headpins?
Or, in other words: “Good gory look at how many there are! Help me!”
This is an entire subject on its own, so here’s the quick and dirty. You’ll need different ones depending on what you want to do with your book charms after you’re done. You can get them at Michael’s but do yourself a huge favor and don’t. I have a gallon-sized ziploc bag full of boxes and bags of pins that are utterly useless at this point. For price and quality, just go to Fire Mountain Gems and get the correct ones right way to save yourself from Big Box of Fail contents.
Materials: They come in Sterling Silver, Sterling Silver Filled and Silver Plated Brass (as well as a few others, but stick with those for now). For special things you make for yourself or for huge, grand prizes, you can get the Sterling ones. Note the price difference, you can get a hundred silver plated ones for less than the price of twenty sterling ones of a thinner gauge. For almost everything else, get the silver plated brass.
- -For Bookmarks and Necklace Loops – Get these 21 gauge, 2 inch headpins in Silver Plated Brass. (For sterling special items, get these)
- -For bracelets like the one in my picture – Get these 21 gauge, 1.5 inch eyepins in Silver Plated Brass. (For sterling special items, get these)
You’ll most likely go back and buy other things once you’re done with the book charms and are ready to assemble. That will include jumprings, crimps, clasps, beads, hemp, cord ends, and bookmarks, but for now, just those two things are needed.
And below is your Amazon list if you need it.