Daiso Art Supplies Haul: 8 Value Picks Under $12 Worth Knowing About

Introduction

Daiso, the popular Japanese value retailer, has quietly become one of the more interesting places to hunt for affordable art and craft supplies. Everything in the art and craft section generally ranges from $1.75 to $12, which makes it easy to experiment without commitment. You will not find premium Japanese brands like Copic or Tombow here, but you will find surprises, including a few products made by genuinely respected Japanese manufacturers.

This roundup covers eight standout finds: a watercolor set, two Platinum pens, an erasable Pilot fine liner, an unbranded quick dry brush pen, two needle felting kits, and Disney washi tape. Each pick earned its place by offering real usefulness for the price, with a few honest caveats along the way.

Daiso 12-Piece Watercolor Set

The 12-piece watercolor set is essentially the only paint option in the store, and it is an unbranded product rather than one carrying the Daiso name. Swatching revealed a mixed picture: the blues are surprisingly impressive and well pigmented, which is unusual for budget sets, but many of the other colors lean muddy and dull. The green is somewhat translucent, and some shades behave less like true watercolor and more like thick, heavy paint.

Two practical drawbacks stand out. The tubes are oddly shaped and impractical, making it difficult to squeeze out paint near the bottom, and the color range is limited for anyone hoping to blend cleanly. That said, at roughly $1.75, it is difficult to complain too loudly. For casual practice, swatching, or testing techniques, this set is cheap, cheerful, and usable. Anyone expecting vibrant, professional results should temper expectations.

Platinum Mechanical Pencil and Fine Liner

The biggest surprises of the trip were the Platinum products. Platinum is a respected Japanese stationery brand, and finding its mechanical pencil at $1.75 is genuinely remarkable. It is a solid, no-frills mechanical pencil that handles sketching and everyday writing well.

Alongside it sits the Platinum fine liner marker, also $1.75, which turned out to be the highlight of the haul. During testing, the pen behaved like a far more expensive marker: the ink held up under watercolor washes without bleeding, meaning it appears to be waterproof. That performance at this price point makes it one of the easiest recommendations in this entire list.

Pilot Erasable Friction Fine Liner

Pilot’s erasable friction fine liner is another recognizable brand name spotted in the craft aisle. These friction pens are known for ink that can be erased, and for anyone who sketches or journals, that safety net is valuable. It also resembles a well-loved favorite among erasable pens, which makes it an appealing pick for anyone who already enjoys that style of writing tool. As a branded Pilot product at Daiso pricing, it is an easy add to any basket.

Daiso Quick Dry Brush Pen Extra Fine

The Daiso Quick Dry Brush Pen Extra Fine is made in Japan and carries no other branding, but the nib and body design closely resemble a well-known premium brush pen. If the performance matches the appearance, this could be a standout budget find, and the main regret from this haul was not picking up more of them. For line work, lettering practice, or adding definition to watercolor pieces, an extra fine brush pen at this price is worth grabbing on sight.

Daiso Wool Felt Teddy Bear Kit

The wool felt teddy bear kit is adorable on the shelf and produces a genuinely cute result, but it is the weakest product here for beginners. The kit contains only the felt: there are no instructions, no black felt for the eyes and nose, and the felt colors do not match consistently between pieces. The result scored a solid one out of five on completeness for exactly those reasons.

That said, a finished bear is still achievable. The eyes and nose can be added with paint instead of black felt, and the fluffier, imperfect final look has its own charm. If you already know how to needle felt and have your own supplies, this basic kit is a fun, inexpensive project. If you are a complete beginner, it would be very difficult to use on its own.

Daiso Needle Felting Starter Set

The needle felting starter set, also around $1.75, includes a piece of styrofoam and a felting needle, which is all you need to get started with small wool felt projects. It pairs naturally with the teddy bear kit since the felt kits do not include the tools.

One honest warning: felting needles are sharp and easy to prick yourself with, and broken needles are a real possibility if you work quickly. Still, as a low-cost way to try needle felting, this starter set does the job. Anyone who enjoys it can upgrade to better needles and a wider color range later.

Daiso Disney Washi Tape

The Disney washi tape is one of the most charming finds in the store. It is Disney licensed, runs 5 meters in length, and costs $1.75, which is a very good price for a Japanese product that is also a Disney product. The tape comes neatly wrapped and looks great alongside watercolor work for borders and decoration. For journaling, scrapbooking, or light crafting, this is an easy, low-risk pick.

Final Thoughts: Are Daiso Art Supplies Worth It?

Overall, the Daiso art and craft section is stronger than expected. The Platinum fine liner is the clear star, offering waterproof ink at a bargain price, and the Platinum mechanical pencil and Pilot erasable pen add recognizable brand quality for very little money. The brush pen is a promising mystery worth grabbing while you can.

The watercolor set and teddy bear kit show the trade-offs of budget supplies: functional and fun, but with real limitations like muddy colors and missing instructions or materials. One practical note for planning a visit: the store stocks craft paper rather than proper art paper, so plan to bring your own watercolor paper. With that in mind, Daiso is an easy recommendation for budget-conscious artists and crafters who want to experiment affordably.

Conclusion

Daiso proves that enjoyable art supplies do not need a premium price tag. The Platinum pens are the standout picks, the washi tape and felt kits add charm, and the watercolors work well enough for casual practice. If a Daiso has opened near you, the craft aisle is absolutely worth a browse.