March 1, 2009
maria
closeAuthor: maria
Name: Maria Nerius
Site: http://thinkcrafts.com/
About: See Authors Posts (227)
Crafts, Projects
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Time to party! Time to craft! It’s our month and let’s do it right!
One of the best sites for ways to celebrate National Craft Month can be found at CraftPlace.org. This is the consumer site of the Craft and Hobby Association. You’ll find projects, tips, and even lesson plans for teachers.
Here’s a little sample of the tips you’ll find on CraftPlace.org.
Tape or staple swatches of ribbon or fabric to index cards. This makes it easier to get extra supplies at the craft store.
Cover cardboard rolls in acid free tissue and then wrap your ribbon around them for storage.
Never underestimate the importance of a hot glue gun; it is an invaluable tool for all crafts.
Heat from a blow drier causes strings of hot glue to disintegrate immediately.
Use plastic drop cloths to cut inexpensive patterns and throw them away if you make a mistake.
Use toothpicks to apply expensive brand name glue. You will never put too much on your project and more will stay in the bottle.
Remember this adage: clean hands, clean project.
When working with cardboard and glue, lightly wet the underside of the cardboard and it will dry flat.
Use a damp q-tip to pick up small beads. They stick to the q-tip and make loading a needle much easier.
Store delicate die cuts in folded acid free paper with the die cut facing the fold.
Break mirrors, plates, or tiles for projects by sealing them in a heavy-duty zip lock bag and breaking with a hammer.
Use plastic party table covers for messy crafts. They protect better than newspaper and can be used more than once.
Try using tiny rubber bands, such as dental bands, to hold small crafts together. You can substitute the rubber bands for wire.
Use tweezers to hold small supplies and reach tight areas when crafting. Tweezers act as an extension of your fingertips.
Prevent paper from ripping when affixing tape by applying the tape to clothing first to reduce its stickiness.
When doing decoupage, use rounded lacquered chopsticks to smooth out any air bubbles or wrinkles after gluing. You can usually find lacquered chopsticks (which are smoother than un-lacquered sticks) in Asian markets or gift shops.
Make small bows by tying the bows first before cutting the ribbon.
