10 Best Scrapbook Tools (That Are Not Made for Scrapbooking)

I love the look of those organized Pinterest craft rooms, where every single tool, bin and box match -- but you can spend an awful lot getting that perfect look. I'd rather spend that money on supplies, so I use some alternative tools that work just as well (and sometimes better) than the branded ones sold specifically for paper crafts. Here are a few things I use every day, some are just from around the house, others are from the health and beauty aisle at Target.

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Eyelash Applicators

I got eyelash extensions last year (I love them!) and noticed the lash lady had some super tiny cotton swabs. It turns out, these are for applying and removing lashes and their tiny tips make applying very small amounts a breeze. Even better, you can get hundreds of them for under $8 on Amazon! I use these for just about everything, from scooping up a tiny bit or paint or dye to laying down a dot or line of glue exactly where I want it.

I bought the 500 pack and still have at least 300 left, they are packed in sets of 100, and those packs are untouched. The only thing I don't love about these is that they are plastic, instead of wood or paper. They are recyclable, but I do prefer more compostable materials.

See these swabs -- and the other tools below -- in action! I have also recorded a video showcasing the odd items I use for scrapbooking tools, so you can see them in person:

Dental Tools

Buy these sharp picks and tweezers in the scrapbook store and they'll be called "weeding" tools, and cost about 3x more than in the health and beauty dental aisle! These are so handy for peeling up things from the Cricut mat and for clearing out those tiny pieces of vinyl that have to go after you cut something out. I've torn so many pieces of paper when I got impatient and tried to peel it off by hand. These slip right under the edge and lift the sticker perfectly every time.

Tweezers

My dental pick set came with a pair of tweezers, but most folks have tweezers lying around in a first aid kit or bathroom. They are useful for positioning small items and for handling fragile paper goods (I have a few that I am afraid to touch, they are literally falling apart). The oils from your hands can get on delicate ephemera and ruin it -- tweezers prevent this from happening.

Makeup Brushes

I am sure that some makeup brushes are expensive for a reason. I don't know enough about makeup to know what that reason is, but I do know the cheap ones make wonderful scrapbooking tools. Aside from applying inks and paint, they also work with powders to add small amounts of glitter or mica to a project at a time. You do not need an expensive set -- the one below is about $6 and comes with a big selection of brush options.

Saline Spray

Inks react differently to paper that is wet than to paper that is dry. To get a textured look, spritz the paper with saline first, then add to the dye bath. The parts you pre-wet will take on ink more readily, creating a more intensely textured finished result. Saline spray can also be used to dilute inks and paint or to mist a surface you're prepping for watercolor paint. Any brand will work, find this in the cough and cold section of the store.

Hand Drill

A jewelers hand drill is meant for those tiny, tiny screws that go into glasses and hinged pieces. Most come with both drill bits and screwdriver parts. I use these for signatures I want to hand sew. Poke the holes first with the drill, then stitch. The clean holes are less likely to break or tear and you'll get a much neater look. Expect to pay $20 for a "paper drill" in the scrapbook section, or about $7 in the hardware or jewelry section.

Salt Shakers

I use these for glitter! The see through ones are best so you can see what color is inside, but I don't have a lot of them and just remember which is which. These are ideal for placing an even, small amount of glitter in one place, far better than just dumping some out from the tube and hoping for the best!

I use vintage salt shakers, but this bundle of 12 for under 10 is likely going to be in my next Amazon purchase, so I can add more colors:

Tiny Clothespins

I seriously love these and can't pass them up! I've purchased in bulk from Amazon, but also picked up packs of 25 at the dollar store. Mini clothespins are perfect for holding layers of paper together without leaving an imprint on the paper, as a metal clip will sometimes do. Plus they're just so little and cute!

Vintage Paper Drill

This is one of my favorite tools, and one you'll have to look around for a bit. A paper drill can add a hole anywhere -- it is not hinged so you don't have to worry about taking a "bite" from the edge of the paper. Just place the drill on the paper, press and twist.

Look at the tool and housewares section at the thrift shop -- a lot of people don't know what these are, so they may be in with food utensils or tools. Anyone selling vintage hand tools may have one and not even know it -- look through items for sale at the flea market etc -- that distinctive red handle is easy to spot.

These are the items I use every day -- in one way or another. I'd love to hear about the unconventional tools you use for junk journaling and scrapbooking!