What is a Take-it Toolkit? In this article, we discuss suggested tools and supplies that you’ll need to make cards while you are traveling.
Travel Related Products
Take-it Toolkit: Totes
It is handy to have a tote or two (or three) to hold all the crafty things you will need. And, if you pack them right they can be used as organizers. That way you won’t have to remove everything in them to find what you need when you need it.
I use three totes in my Take-It Toolkit. And, I leave those tools in the totes that I have more than one of. As a result, I don’t have to pack them every time I want to take them anywhere.
The totes that I use are designed for crafters and I love them. They’re made by Everything Mary. To demonstrate, click the photos of the totes and it will take you to where you can find them on Amazon. But you don’t have to use these totes. However, you can really use anything to bring your crafty tools along…even a shopping bag.
Tool Tote
The tool tote has many little pockets. They’re great for keeping all the smaller things in. And then, the center has a nice big spot for bigger things like a heating tool and large ink pads. It’ll even hold my die-cutting machine in a pinch.
Next, I have a little caddy where I keep all of my pre-made card bases and card panel safe and sound. It’s a small tote that fits inside of the Organizer but I can pull it out and put it on the table when I need it.
The last one is where I store my cardstock, stamps, dies, & ink. The size is big enough to protect 12 x 12 paper from getting damaged and there are several sections in it that allow me to separate the stamps from the dies and the paper. There is also a pocket in the front. Additionally, I’ve replaced the plastic tray that comes in the bag with two little trays I bought on Etsy that hold my ink mini-cubes that are described
Travel Trays for Ink Cubes
I’ve replaced the plastic tray that comes with this tote. I use little trays with lids bought on Etsy to put my ink mini-cubes in. They are made with a 3D printer and are perfect for holding eight ink cubes in each. But a small plastic zip-lock bag would do as well. The goal is to keep the lids on the ink pads and the ink away from everything else.
Take-it Toolkit: Crafty Supplies
Some of what you bring kind of depends on what you plan to make while you’re gone. So, a little planning will help. I use Excel to keep a “make schedule”. The schedule includes the events and dates for everything I need to make cards for. For example birthdays, holidays, product releases, etc. That helps me to know what I need to make as well as when I need to have them done. This is a really good way to stay organized. But, it also helps in determining what I will need to make while I’m traveling.
Once we decide what we’re going to make, then we can select the stamps, dies, cardstock, ink and other coloring media that we want to take.
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Heat Gun: Sizzix Heat Tool- You’ll need this if you’re doing any heat embossing
Anti-static Powder Tool: Cottontail – You’ll need this if you’re doing any heat embossing
Blending mat – Waffle Flower Water Media Mat Mini – You’ll need this if you’re using media, but I like it for blending and holding my ink pads in place.
As I mentioned above, I usually make my card bases before I go. But if you don’t have time to do that then just make sure that you have a way to score the cardstock to create a nice crease.
I like to use checklists to make sure that I pack the things that I want to take on my trips. If you like them too, then you might find the one that follows helpful.
Teri has over 30 years of experience as a cardmaker. Her work has appeared in Spellbinders Paper Arts’ blog as well as with some of their products and on Altenew’s blog. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, stained glass, and teaching. She and her husband live in Crystal River, Florida with their three dogs and a cat.
