What does The Palette Muse use? I’ll tell you! These are my go-to resources, the tools that I use most often and don’t think I could do without. I’ve divided them into three general categories so you can easily find what you’re looking for: DIY/Home Improvement, Crafting, and Blogging/Biz. These are the topics I get the most questions about, so I’m giving you a crash course right here in one place!
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DIY / Crafting Resources
DIY & Crafting Resources
The right tools can make the difference between a job well done and a DIY disaster. Here are the products I use all the time, and the ones I always recommend. For anything from fun crafts, up to major home improvement projects, here's what's in my toolbox and craft closet.
B+D Laser Laser
A good laser level is key to hanging everything from picture frames to curtains. The first thing I did when I realized recently that I had misplaced mine was to order exactly the same one again. This one is the perfect size, with all the right functions for everything I need.
Husky 14-in-1 Painter's Tool
I love this little guy so much I wrote a whole blog post about him! (And I call it a him.) It’s like the swiss army knife of your paint kit.
Scotch Blue Painter's Tape
It’s not fancy or expensive, but this stuff is good for so many projects. From its originally intended use for edging paint lines, to keeping your grout lines neat, to holding flooring or tile in place while it dries, this tape is a must-have in any toolkit. I once bought a knock-off brand and learned my lesson. This is one time when the brand is the only way to go. (And yes, I buy it in 6 packs because I go through so much of it!)
B+D Corded Drill
Personally I prefer corded drills, since I can never remember to plug in the battery when I’m not using it. This has been my favorite drill of all the ones I’ve used!
Shortcut Angle Brush
I have a lot of paintbrushes, but this Wooster Shortcut is my favorite and the only one I carry around in my toolkit. It’s the best for edging, and great for everything else as well. Plus, its short rubber handle is super-comfy on my hands when I’m doing a lot of painting.
DecoArt Paints
Hello my name is Meredith and I’m a color addict and DecoArt is my dealer. I’ve loved every one of their products that I’ve ever tried. My favorites are the Satin Enamels, which are great for furniture and cabinet makeovers. No sanding required! You can see how I made over my entire kitchen using Satin Enamels in this blog post. I also love Curb Appeal, which is an exterior paint, specially formulated for when you want to give your front door a facelift. I used it in this front porch makeover. They also make lots of fun craft products, like I used in this paint pouring project. DecoArt really gets people like me, who like to add a little color to almost everything, with as little work as possible.
Blogging / Biz Resources
Tailwind – Someday I’ll tell you the story about my whole blog grew out of my obsession with Pinterest. But for now, let me just say that I love Pinterest, and this blog probably wouldn’t exist without it. Because of that, I am strategic in how I use Pinterest to attract viewers to this blog, and Tailwind plays a key part in that strategy. If you are using either Pinterest or Instagram to drive traffic to your business, you need Tailwind. They have mastered the art of scheduling, and make my biz life so much easier, not to mention more productive. (And if you’re not using Pinterest or Instagram to bring in customers, you probably should be.)
Canva – I use Canva for almost all my Pinterest images and Color Palettes. I love how easy it is to use, and they have a TON of helpful videos to help you learn their system. I learn new tricks all the time, and they continually develop their software, offering more and more capabilities all the time. Canva has a free option which is great, but I happily pay the small annual fee to get the most use out of their system. Want to see what Canva is all about? Sign-up for free today!
QuickBooks – I am NOT a numbers person. The less I have to think about business accounting, the better. QuickBooks keeps me organized, without me having to spend hours trying to make sense of their sytem. You don’t need an accounting background to understand their setup and instructions, and they have videos to help you get started. Plus, they have a help line where you can speak to an actual person if you run into trouble. QuickBooks makes my bookkeeping totally…bearable. Give QuickBooks a try, with a 50% discount!
Big Scoots – These guys are the best at web hosting! I’ve been with a couple of different hosts over the years, and I can say without reservation that Big Scoots is my favorite. They helped my site speed, are so easy to work with, and I’ve never had such great customer service – from real people! If I ever run into these guys at a blogging conference, I plan on giving them a big hug.
Etsy – It’s hard to overestimate how much Etsy has impacted my business. Between running my own shop, and browsing all the other beautiful shops out there, it makes my creative heart happy, and my business more profitable. I love supporting other artists and makers, and it’s a constant source of inspiration for me. While I’m no longer selling through my own shop, it’s worth mentioning here because I also got my website design from a designer on Etsy. Always check here for any creative products you might need, and if you’re interested in starting your own shop, Etsy is the way to go.