I spend a LOT of time making resources to enhance my TTRPG and D&D games at home. From character journals to spell tomes, custom TTRPG cards, and even custom paper minis, I love how I can make quality, custom creations easily with my own hands! (yeah, maybe my real life class is the Artificer!)
A selection of DanDMadeEasy print at home creations - you can find free resources here, and other resources in the DanDMadeEasy store (use code BLOG10 for a 10% discount). Custom cards are coming soon on Kickstarter.
In this blog, I share what I use to make my creations, and why.
I've used almost everything on the list below myself, or it's a direct equivalent to something I do use. If I don't use it myself, I let you know why I recommend it.
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Printing
Printer - Canon Maxify GX6050 (US - similar model) - ink tank printers like my Prisma have great print quality and are really economical - I've printed hundreds upon hundreds of full color pages, and only had to buy a single additional bottle of black ink for about £20! After about 18 months using Prisma as my main printer rather than my old HP Deskjet 2542, I think I'm close to paying off the upfront cost of the new printer in lower ink costs!
Paper/Card
Make sure you get the right paper size, and make sure you check your printer's specifications for max thickness!
I use 250 gsm for cards and custom paper minis, and 160 gsm for journals and trackers
A4
250 gsm - I buy in bulk from House of Card & Paper - I'm sure better quality options are out there, but I print a lot!
160 gsm - I buy in bulk from House of Card & Paper - I'm sure better quality options are out there, but I print a lot! I've linked the 50 pages version, I get 250 at a time.
Letter - sorry, I don't understand US card weights!
Cutting
My trusty old pair of scissors never fails - I'm sure you have a pair lying around!
Paper trimmer - Amazon Basics 3 in 1 laminator (sadly, this is UK only). I use paper trimmers to save time, but I often use scissors for more precision with smaller items like cards or paper minis. If you want to primarily use a trimmer, I recommend getting one with a very clear guide marker that shows where the cut will take place. I've tried a few and they've never quite hit the mark for me, so I mostly rely on my scissors for the final cuts.
Modeling knife for card minis - I got my knife ages ago from I don't know where. Here's one that looks very much like mine.
Laminating (trackers and cards)
Make sure you get tools for the right paper size!
Laminator - I use the Amazon Basics 3 in 1 laminator, which is full of functionality - as well as being a laminator, it includes a paper trimmer, hole punch and corner cutter! Sadly, it isn't available in the US, but an Amazon Basics Laminator is available.
Matte laminating pouches - for a real professional quality, much better for photos and videos, and so much better for cards than glossy pouches! You can even add text in pencil over matte laminate!
A4: I use Fellowes Matt Finish pouches, but there are way cheaper alternatives like this one. I'll try it out and update.
Letter: Scotch pouches have generally great reviews (untested - I don't have a Letter size laminator or card)
Glossy laminating pouches - cheaper than matte pouches
A4: I use these as they're cheap - more premium versions are available, but if you want to increase quality, why not use matt pouches instead...
Letter: The Amazon Basics pouches are cheap and have great reviews - more premium versions are available, but if you want to increase quality, why not use matt pouches instead...
Extra stuff for cards
Corner cutter - I have a few, one I got as part of the Amazon Basics 3 in 1 laminator (UK only), a cheap one, and a more expensive Sunstar Kadomaru Pro. The latter two have a few sizes. I find the cheap one the most reliable to use.
My favorite card sleeves
Vault X exact fit for single sleeving - I got a 500 pack, because I'm going to be making a lot of cards!
Optionally, Vault X soft for double sleeving or an easier fit - I got a 1000 pack, because above ;)
Deck boxes
My favorite deck box - Vault X Exo-Tec - magnetic lid, water resistant, looks and feels awesome and comes in different colors. I got the Electric Green version first because my Druid Dzunnun is getting a lot of attention at the moment. Toploading or sideloading versions are available. I went with toploading.
Great bulk option - Rayvol 5 Card Deck Box - 5 boxes in different colors, with 10 dividers total, so great if you have different sessions/campaigns!
Card Binders
My favorite 9 pocket binder - Vault X Exo-Tec 9 Pocket Zip Binder - water resistant, comes in different colors - I got a black version in the UK. I think these are really popular - many more colors are in the range than are currently available on Amazon. I'm looking forward to using my binder as a campaign book for my regular D&D games - I just need to find the time and images!
My favorite 4 pocket binder - Vault X 4 Pocket Folder - a zip version is also available, but the price difference is huge, and I don't feel it's worth it to store up to 160 cards. This is a great alternative to a deck box for taking cards between games, as it makes it easier to find the card you're looking for.
I'm not a big fan of 12 pocket binders - I feel they're too wide.
Booklet Binding (character journal and spell tome)
There are some options here - I use comb binding, which is the nicest effect, but the most expensive. Spiral binding is a good low cost option. You can also just use string if you want!
Comb binding
Comb binding machine - I use a Peach Personal Binding Machine PB200-09, but it's no longer available at time of writing. The cheapest alternative I see is the Amazon Basics Comb Binding Machine.
Binding combs - I got a set of Rayson mixed sized combs - I've used every size, too! You're not likely to make as many journals and tomes as me, though, so I'd recommend you get a set of 10 mm 21 ring combs.
Click binding spines
I used Rayson 12 mm 34 ring spines
I'm not sure if US alternatives have the same distance between rings, so I'd be reticent to recommend using this method if you're in the US
Spiral binding
I use these spiral combs
Gluing
Trusty old Pritt stick - I don't use it for much, just as an option to assemble my custom paper minis.
A decent size selection of my current toolkit
So that's my current toolkit. I'll update this list as it expands or changes. If you find any great options that aren't on this list, please let me know via my website or Discord. Sharing is caring!
Until next time, happy crafting!
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