What is the beginner workflow for importing assets into Skyrim Creation Kit?

[Joseph6]

I'm trying to create my first simple mod for Skyrim, specifically a new standalone weapon with custom textures, but I'm getting stuck on the process of properly importing the model into the Creation Kit and setting up the necessary files for the game to recognize it. I've followed a few older tutorials, but they seem outdated for the current tools. For experienced modders, what is the most up-to-date beginner's workflow for asset creation, and which essential tools beyond the Creation Kit do you consider mandatory for troubleshooting and testing a mod before release?

[Steven.R]

Nice project. Here's a beginner-friendly workflow I actually use: model the weapon in Blender as a clean low-poly base, organize the mesh so it’s easy to wire into CK, unwrap UVs, and bake a simple albedo and normal map from a high-poly reference (you can do this with Substance Painter or ArmorPaint). Then export to FBX and bring it into Skyrim via the NifTools workflow to produce a .nif. In Creation Kit, create a new WEAP entry, assign the world model and the first‑person model, set basic stats, and test in-game. Keep naming and folder paths consistent with Skyrim’s conventions to avoid missing textures.