My Favorite Tools and Supplies
The tools, materials, and supplies I actually use to bring my projects to life.
Over the years, I've tried a lot of different tools and materials while creating props, costumes, crafts and event pieces. These are some of the products I actually use and recommend—the things that make creating a little easier, faster or more fun.
A quick note about my recommendations: Everything on this page is something I personally use and recommend. When you purchase through one of my Amazon links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Tools & Supplies
Cordless Foam Cutter
Particulate Respirator
A versatile little tool that I reach for again and again when working with foam.
It works well for small projects, detailed cuts, shaping, and adding texture. The variety of interchangeable cutting tools gives you several options depending on what you’re creating, and the rechargeable battery has a good life between charges.
I’ve used the straight cutter for intricate work like my foam gears, the wire cutter for precisely shaping dimensional pieces like Olaf, and the curved cutter to create texture on projects like my oversized walnuts.
It’s easy enough for a beginner to get comfortable with, but versatile enough that I continue finding new uses for it.
Particulate Respirator
Particulate Respirator
Some of my projects can get dusty, messy, and downright unpleasant to work on, so having something comfortable to wear makes a big difference.
As someone who wears glasses, I’ve struggled with a lot of standard masks—they can be uncomfortable, make breathing feel more difficult, and constantly fog my lenses.
This is the respirator I reach for because I find it surprisingly comfortable, easy to breathe in, and I can wear it with my glasses without constantly dealing with fogged lenses.
For longer or messier projects, that comfort alone makes it one of my favorite workshop essentials.
Minwax Urethane
Minwax Urethane
This is one of those products I use on almost every foam project I make.
It adds a lightweight, flexible protective finish without turning your foam piece into a heavy, hard-coated prop.
I especially love it for pieces that will be used outdoors. I coated my Halloween tombstones with it before putting them outside, and they’ve held up beautifully through years of seasonal use. For indoor projects, I also use it as a finishing layer to add a subtle protective sheen and help preserve the painted surface.
This is not a hard shell coating, the finished piece remains lightweight and retains the feel and flexibility of the foam, which is exactly why I use it so often.
Electric Cutter
Rubberized Base Coat
Minwax Urethane
This is one of those simple tools that makes me wonder why I spent so much time fighting with scissors.
When I’m cutting thicker materials—especially cardboard—it helps me make quick, clean cuts without all the effort of forcing scissors through the material.
I use it regularly for projects, particularly when I have a lot of cardboard to cut, and it’s also incredibly handy for quickly breaking down all those boxes that seem to accumulate when you’re a crafter! It’s simple, convenient, and a great little time-saver to have within reach.
Rubberized Base Coat
Rubberized Base Coat
Rubberized Base Coat
When paint just doesn’t want to stick, this is one of my favorite tricks.
I’ve found this rubberized spray especially useful on plastics and flexible materials like pool noodles, particularly for props that are going to be handled again and again.
I used it as the base for my fake tree stump prop, and it created a slightly tacky, flexible surface that made it much easier for me to apply my painted finish and helped it hold up through repeated use.
This is a great base layer, that often eliminates the need to apply protective top coating. For those awkward materials that are notoriously frustrating to paint, this has become one of my go-to products.
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Rubberized Base Coat
Rubberized Base Coat
Welding is not one of my skill sets—at least not yet—so this has become one of my favorite alternatives for repairs that need some serious strength.
I’ve used it on everything from prop construction to repairing broken metal bases on my outdoor Halloween animatronics.
With good surface prep, I’ve been incredibly impressed by how well it holds. It’s become one of those products I’m very happy to have on hand when something breaks and I need a strong, dependable fix without pulling out a welder.