Gadgets to Help Make Homemade Crafts

Crafting has become a multi-billion dollar obsession that includes Americans from every walk of life. If you are one of 75 percent of the population that is stitching, gluing, cutting and crafting, David Gregg, senior editor of BehindTheBuy.com, has an assortment of cool crafty gadgets that are sure to get your creative juices flowing!

Darice Rhinestone Setter Hot-Fix Applicator Wand: This gadget will allow you to add some bling to your clothes and crafty creations.

The hot-fix applicator wand harnesses the power of heat to apply sparkly rhinestone accents to tote bags, t-shirts, handbags, and other garments and accessories. To use, simply heat special hot-fix rhinestones (sold separately) with one of the seven included hot-fix tips (four crystal tips and three stud tips included), and press them as desired onto cotton, denim, or other fabrics. Create beautiful patterns, shapes, and even lettering. The unit's ergonomic handle allows for hours of crafting fun in comfort and style, while its sturdy support stand serves to protect tabletops, counters, and other work surfaces from heat-related damage. The tool's lighted on/off switch provides added safety and convenience, while its extra-long, 65-inch electrical cord makes it easy to share with friends at workshops, parties, or classes. The hot-fix applicator wand comes with complete instructions and measures approximately 2 by 2 by 9 inches. $19.99, available at Darice.com.

HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web All-in-One Printer: World's first web enabled printer (accesses the web without a computer) allows you to access an exclusive web application to create crafts at home!

Create photo based crafts at home with this all-in-one (printer/scanner/fax/copier) wireless, web enabled printer (accesses the web without a computer!). This printer's built-in touch screen allows you to access a creative studio app (among other apps: Fandango, Snapfish, Disney, etc.) via the web to create projects like coffee mugs, cards/stationery, calendars, iron-ons, gift tags, posters, scrapbooks and more.
$279.95, available at HP.com.

Boye Electric Yarn Ball Winder: Gathering your skeins will no longer be a pain with this crafty solution!

This crafty gadget will allow knitters to conveniently and quickly eliminate tedious hand winding. Easily wind hanks of yarn into center-pull skeins. Create flat bottom balls that stack neatly, rewind messy partial skeins into tidy center-pull skeins and wind thin yarns together to create custom sizes or colors. Winds all sizes and weights of yarn. Labor-saving motor means less stress on arms, hands and wrists. A rheostat controller allows turn-rate to be adjusted as needed. $89.99, available at Simplicity.com.

Cricut Personal Electronic Cutting Machine: This electronic gadget allows scrap bookers and crafters to be able to trick out their creations with professional quality die cut designs and lettering.

Craft and scrapbooking enthusiasts will love the portability and convenience of this electronic cutting machine. Weighing just seven pounds and equipped with a generous handle, the unit can be taken along when traveling or to scrapbooking parties with friends. Stylish totes, sold separately, also make it easy to bring the cutter anywhere. Ideal for greeting cards, scrapbooks, and other paper crafts, the machine uses a cartridge-based system (no computer required) for cutting thousands of beautiful letters, shapes, or phrases in a variety of sizes and styles with just the touch of a button. Simply attach the material to be cut to the included self-adhesive cutting mat, load it into the machine, insert the cartridge, make a cutting selection, and press cut. The machine will quickly and electronically cut out the desired letter, shape, or phrase in seconds. It can cut characters from one inch tall up to five and a half inches tall and 11-1/2 inches wide from a variety of materials, including vellum, paper, cardstock, and vinyl. Customize the cartridge content in up to six different ways for thousands of variations. $150, available at Cricut.com.

Artograph Tracer Projector: Draw like a pro!

A versatile art projector for the beginning artist or crafter, and Artograph's bestseller. The Tracer enlarges any design or pattern onto a wall or easel from 2 to 14 times the original size. Projected image can be easily traced and colored as desired. No set-up necessary and simple to operate. 23 watt spiral fluorescent lamp included. Dark room required. $94.99, available at Artograph.com

Xyron 900 9-Inch Creative Station: Make custom stickers, fridge magnets, labels and laminate with just one gadget.

Create unique embellishments for a scrapbook, make permanent or repositionable stickers, design and produce personalized magnets, laminate photos or documents, and more, all with one easy-to-use machine. It can accommodate any flat item up to nine inches wide -- everything from photos, fabric, leather, ribbon, fancy paper, and more. Stickers can even be made out of intricate items like lace doilies; the adhesive sticks to the design without leaving a residue in the cut-out areas. The machine uses a drop-in-cartridge design for easy cartridge changes. Make stickers or magnets one minute and laminate the next. To operate, simply feed the item in, turn the handle, and trim. The unit does not require batteries, electricity, or heat, making it safe and convenient for home crafters, schools and day-care centers, offices, and creative and graphic-design firms. The multi-purpose unit comes with an idea book and preloaded with an acid-free permanent-adhesive cartridge. Other cartridges are available separately for turning the unit into a laminator, label maker, or magnet maker. Portable and lightweight, the unit measures 15-6/7 by 8-6/7 by 8-1/5 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.
$82, available at Xyron.com.

Brother Quattro 6000D: The world's most advanced sewing machine…it sews, embroiders, quilts and crafts…This is not your grandmother's sewing machine!

What do you get when you combine a computer and a sewing machine? Brother's new Quattro 6000D. The pinnacle of computer controlled sewing, embroidery, quilting and crafting. The Quattro 6000D boasts 100 new and improved features including industry firsts such as InnovEye Technology, an Up Close Viewer function and Runway Lighting. Sew effortlessly while the embroidery arm is still attached using 30 inches of workspace. Embroider with brilliance using over 600 built-in embroidery designs and the new Jumbo 12-inch x 8-inch hoop. The Quattro 6000D inspire you with its ground breaking technology! Available at Brother.com.