Starting a new hobby can be intimidating, especially when it feels like there's a never ending list of supplies you simply must have. Miniature making is certainly no exception--it can be an extremely expensive hobby. But it doesn't have to be! To make things easy, I'm going to break down tools into categories, so you can figure out what you think you might need, and what stuff you can hold off on.
Glue
You can't get away without having something to stick your pieces together! After that, it's really down to what you're trying to glue and your own preferences. My advice: start with whatever you already have on hand. I tend to favor Aleene's Tacky Glue, which is a PVA glue (white glue). I like it because it's a little thicker than Modpodge, so I don't have to wait as long for it to dry, and I'm a very impatient person. When I first started, I really favored super glue because it dried the quickest. Why did I make the change? The lid to my super glue got stuck.
At the start, don't bother with specialty, single-purpose glues: white glue, super glue, and hot glue can adhere to almost all materials you'll use.
Cutters
Another tool you can't avoid is something to cut with. For this category, I really recommend a thin blade as opposed to scissors. The go-to blade in the crafting world is X-Acto, and a lot of people have a lot of opinions about it. Not me though! I'm currently using knockoff blades, and I can't tell the difference. I've even used those breakaway box cutter blades, which work fine as well.
Clamps
This category can be very varied. Woodworking clamps are very handy, but can be expensive. Other options are binder clips, or even just tape. If place right, masking tape can put enough pressure on a seam to hold it in play while it dries. My recommendation: start with whatever painters tape you have at home, and if you want to pull out your hair, invest in some clamps.
Paint and Stain
This is a category that can really get away from you! But the good news is that even the cheap stuff is good. I have everything from the cheapest craft paint to expensive, professional stuff, and I'd be hard pressed to tell you what I use more. Starting out, I'd recommend using acrylic craft paint. It's very versatile and can even be watered down to look like wood stain.
