Avoiding Craft Blooper Messes

August 14, 2009 9:11 am Allie Contests, CreateForLess Team

As promised, ideas to avoid craft blooper messes!

Protect Your Work Surface & You

To make clean-up easier and avoid messy stains, make sure to thoroughly cover your work surface. Items like newspaper and paper will work, but most craft products will soak through. Wax paper works well because glue or paint will not stick to it and will better protect your table or counter. You can also use old vinyl tablecloths to cover tables and floor space. To protect yourself usually smocks work best to cover your clothes while crafting, but you can also get a lot of coverage with an apron or large t-shirt.

When using paint, cover tools or areas you might touch with petroleum jelly. Cover your door knob with a light layer of Vaseline, and then when you leave the room and touch the door knob, the paint and Vaseline will easily wipe up.

Cleaning Craft Tools

The sooner you clean your tools after a session of crafting, the easier it will be. Keep a tub of warm water or some baby wipes near your craft area so you can easily grab them when you need to.

If you are painting and can’t get the paint off your brush, dip the brush in fabric softener or hair conditioner to help remove stubborn paint. Also if you plan on painting again tomorrow or just need a break, wrap your brush in cellophane or a Ziploc and stick it in the freezer. It will just take a few minutes to thaw, but then will be right back to where you stopped painting.