Craft Tips!

Tips are from U Create & U Create Readers!

I thought it would be fun to share little ways that make our crafty lives easier! Here are some of my very favorite craft tips...

Use a cookie sheet w/ newspaper or wax paper for a portable craft surface…super easy cleanup!

Sharpen your scissors by cutting sand paper.

Place a little bit of Vaseline to the end of your glue gun to get rid of those long glue strings.
Soak your paint brushes in fabric softener or hair conditioner for 10 min…cleans right off!

Recycle large plastic lids by using them for a painter’s pallette or cutting them up for stencils.

Need to create a large pattern? Use newspapers!

Keeping a magnet close by makes picking up those sewing pins a sinch!

Store those pipe cleaners for kid’s crafts inside of a paper towel tubes.

Break up some styrofoam to create snow for craft projects.

Keep those cardboard boxes! Cut & cover with patterned paper to make a mini album, cover with art paper and use as a canvas, and I always use them to eliminate a mess while spraypainting!

Re-use old containers such as Pringles chips tube or Clorox wipes container for storage of paint brushes or other art utensils.

Re-use prescription bottles for tiny craft goods-needles, beads,jewelry parts etc.

Whenever you paint a room, put a small amount of the leftover paint in a small, airtight jar (baby-food jar etc) and store it somewhere in that room-then you can instantly paint over nicks or scuffs on the wall when they happen!

Make sandpaper last 3x as long by putting duct tape on the back of it. Makes it stronger!

Tiny "scrunchies" or ponytail holders are great for keeping bobbin/spool thread from unwinding when not in use.

Empty dental floss containers (and empty pill bottles)make great little emergency sewing kit containers. Put in a needle, a small cardboard square with some plain black,white, and tan thread wrapped around it, a couple of safety pins and put one in your purse, your car, your diaper bag.

A few of my favorites:

• For less fraying on the ends of ribbon use No Fray from the fabric section at the craft store, or use clear nail polish.
• To remove stamps or ink texts on plastic or glass items use nail polish remover.
• To use tattoos on projects follow regular instructions, however instead of a damp cloth use a baby wipe.
• Pigment ink is easily cleaned with a baby wipe.Goo Gone is a Crafters Dream when it comes to gooey situations.
• Warm/Hot water removes modge podge and rub-ons from glass. (I came across this with the flower vase tutorial.)

Do you have any craft tips you'd like to share? I would love to hear them!