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Ann's Tool Box
Click here for larger image
1.
Self-healing cutting mat. Makes cutting smooth and
effortless, as well as prolongs the life of a
cutting blade.
2. Thin metal ruler with cork backing designed to
prevent slipping. English scale in inches on one
side and miniatures-friendly millimeters on the
other. Use the ruler with clamps to make a folding
gizmo. See photo above.
3. Clamps are used to secure the metal ruler. Make
accurate paper folds against the ruler’s edge and
improve your paper project at hand. Clamps cost
under $2 each at the local hardware store.
4. Not used.
5. Fast grab, dries clear, quick-dry craft glue.
Works where a typical wet white craft glue can’t.
Standard white craft glue is too wet and sloppy to
work with when making miniatures.
6. Glue stick is appropriate to glue flat items
back-to-back. This glue, however, is not good for
gluing tabs because the contact becomes brittle over
time and loosens its grip.
7. DecoArt Paper Effects clear dimensional paint
adds dimension to printed items such as the printed
candy in a candy box or game pieces. There are other
brands as well, and it is my understanding that all
brands can be difficult to locate. This is an
enhancement and not necessary to have in order to
assemble miniatures.
8. Paper Minis that have been sold in a kit do not
need to be sprayed with polyurethane clear paint!
This is for those of you who are printing your own
printies and may not have a colorfast printout.
Spray a couple of light coats before cutting out a
printie. It protects the mini’s finish and glue
wipes off easily without leaving tell-tale residue.
All paint and hardware stores sell inexpensive as
well as expensive brands of clear polyurethane
spray.
9. Mini black office binder clips hold book pages
together while gluing the book’s spine. Unlike the
photo, place a bit of thin cardboard between clip
and your book to prevent dents.
10. Average sized scissors for cropping pieces
apart. Use detailing scissors and X-acto knife for
detail cutting.
11. X-acto knife is excellent for cutting
nooks-and-crannies perfectly. Never use a dull
blade! Blades are your best investment and use a
cutting mat–not cardboard!
12. Variety of small artist paint brushes for
painting glue...at least one flat and one tiny
pointed brush.
13. Toothpick for poking and picking.
14. Two thin needles wrapped tightly at the eyes end
with scotch tape can be helpful for winding paper.
15. Straightened paper clip for poking and picking.
16. Tweezers for holding small items and pressing
glued folds and seams. Q-tip (not shown) is also
good for pressing seams.
17. Aluminum foil to use as a disposable glue pot.
Cup it if you need to mix a little water with your
glue. When done, just throw it away.
Not shown:
18. Tissue for quick clean-up
19. Cup for water to
hold your gluing brushes
20. Tool box to
keep these items localized
21. Optional
selection of small hole punches. A 1/16” punch comes
in very handy.
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