Alright fellow crafters, here’s the drill (pun intended!). I know that the idea of shopping for your craft supplies at the hardware store can be a bit intimidating and overwhelming at times, especially when more often than not, stores have about 100 aisles to go through. The good news is that I’ve teamed up with Orchard Supply Hardware to make this process completely approachable and painless as possible.
And while this list could be twice as long with other fun items you may find at a hardware store, here are my essentials items that can be used in a number of ways, ensuring the most bang for your buck. There’s also a free printable AND giveaway at the end of this post that you won’t want to miss!
1. Tape. Of course! There is a huge variety of tape that can be found at the hardware store these days, especially at Orchard Supply. Masking, packing, washi and even glitter duct tape, you name it. I highly recommend Scotch Blue’s specific type of painter’s tape made especially for taping off designs on recently painted surfaces (for all your thrift store makeover needs). You can also use it for the follow projects:
Fruit Slice Umbrellas, Half Painted Door, Geometric Photo Booth Backdrop
2. Cork Rounds. Typically found in the nursery section of the store, cork rounds can be used for more than just soaking up excess plant water. The backs tend to be made of hard plastic, making them perfect to use on multiple surfaces.  Here are just a few examples of the projects you can make with them:
Painted Photo Frames, Bulletin Board, DIY Mousepad
3. Dowel Rods. Incredibly versatile AND cheap. What’s not to love? Dowels come in a number of sizes and shapes (you can get square ones too) and can be used as long individual pieces or chopped up into multiple smaller ones, depending on your project. The following projects are a great way to start experimenting with them if you haven’t before:
Blanket Ladder, Coffee Cup Holder, Inkodyed Wall Hanging
4. Copper Fittings. You don’t need to know a thing about plumbing to use copper fittings in your projects! If you can’t find the right size you’re looking for, you can even buy large copper tubing and cut it, like I did in this necklace diy. Here are a few other ways to bring the ever-so-trending copper into your life:
 Copper Flower Bud Vases, Copper iPad Stand, Copper Necklace
5. Drill + Bits. I went too long without a good drill in my life and now I’m kicking myself for all the projects I’ve missed out on.  Seriously invest, you won’t regret it at all. You can even buy different types of bits, like a spade bit, to help you make larger holes (like I used for these wooden votives). I have this drill from DeWalt and it was about $60. If you’re still not convinced, here are some projects that will maybe change your mind:
Wood Slab Table, Key Holder, Embroidered Sewing Box
 
6. Vinyl Letters. If you do not have the best handwriting, or if you don’t want to invest in a cutting machine, vinyl letters are the absolute best way to go. Plus they’re really easy to work with and can be easily removed from most surfaces. Here are some quick yet high impact projects:
Pretty Shampoo Bottles, Song Lyric Wall Art, Balloon Banner
7. Sandpaper. You will use sandpaper on everything from wood to cement, resin to plaster, and everything in between. Even if you don’t have a specific project in mind, I recommending having a sheet or two on hand at all times. You really never know when you’ll need to smooth something out. Here are a few projects where sandpaper came in handy:
Dresser Makeover, Glitter Bracelets, Plaster Lip Magnets
8. Plastic Bucket. Whether you’re dip dying, marbling, or just storing flowers, it’s always nice to have a good plastic bucket on hand. And when it’s not in use, you can use it as additional storage in your craft room– win, win! Here’s what I mean:
How to Press Flowers, Nail Polish Planters, Indigo Dish Towels
Now that you have the rundown of all my favorite items, I have two fun pieces of news! First, the lovely and talented Ann Shen created a free printable for you guys! You can print it right at home and either hang it on your wall or take it with you to the hardware store as a shopping guide:
Second, now it’s time for you to win a chance to go and buy all the supplies for yourself! Two of you will each win a $75 gift card to Orchard Supply Hardware. Spend it on stocking up your craft supplies, or recreating this painted planter project I shared last week, or something new all together. It’s up to you! Best of luck!
