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How to Craft Better: 10 Crafting Tips for All Ages

Learn the top ten crafting tips to make your hobby more enjoyable and less messy. Whether you or your kid is into crafting, this article is for you!

Who doesn’t love crafting? It’s an art form that is fun for all ages. It not only kills time when you’re bored but also improves your craftsmanship and teaches you patience and handiwork.

While crafting, you can easily create a mess. And this is one of the reasons many people tend to stay away from it. But why would you give up a therapeutic hobby just because of the mess!

That’s why we are sharing the top ten crafting tips to make it a more enjoyable and organized process for you. Read on to find out more!


1. Using Sandpaper to Sharpen Scissors


Materials needed:
  • Scissors
  • Medium grit sandpaper

Crafts such as origami usually require scissors. Although scissors are widely available, many of the ones lying around the house are either blunt or take a lot of effort to use.

In order to prevent this from happening, take a piece of sandpaper and cut through it several times until the scissors are sharpened.

By the way, if you’re looking for craft ideas besides origami, acrylgiessen.com craft ideas for adults can give you some pointers.


Invest in Proper Crafting Tools

If you want to take your crafting to the next level, then you need professional-grade tools. I really like Maun crafting tools, in particular their Leatherwork Kit, which includes a range of punch pliers and straight edges for crafting items in real leather.

"Maun Leatherwork Tool Kit"



2. Lint Roller to Clean Glitter

Glitters are a popular and versatile material often used in various art and craft projects. These tiny, reflective particles add a sparkling and eye-catching element to creations, making them a favorite among artists, crafters, and DIY enthusiasts. They are used to embellish greeting cards, invitations, and scrapbook pages, adding a touch of glamour to special occasions.

But glitter can be notorious for making a mess and spreading everywhere. Dealing with glitter spills and keeping your workspace tidy can be a challenge, but there are several strategies you can use to minimize the mess. A good example is using a lint roller.

Materials needed:
  • Glitter
  • Lint roller

If you want versatile crafting ideas, adding glitter is an amazing idea. Admit it: As mesmerizing as glitter looks on crafts, the millions of pieces of shimmery plastic takes hours, if not days, to get rid of properly once spilled.

However, life can be made easier with just a lint roller! Simply run the lint roller over any loose glitter on the floor or fabric and it should come right off.


3. Using an Ice Tray as Storage


Materials needed:
  • Ice tray
  • Small crafting materials (rhinestones, beads, clips, etc.)

While crafting, we tend to lose many small, loose objects such as paper clips or beads. In order to prevent that from happening, use an ice tray as a storage container to organize the teeny items and make them look even more aesthetic.


4. Get Rid of Hot Glue Strands

Hot glue is a popular adhesive for DIY crafts due to its versatility and quick drying time. However, the strands or "spider webs" of hot glue that can be left behind can indeed be a nuisance. They can mar the appearance of your project and create a messy workspace. So, how can you get rid of glue strands?
 
Materials needed:
  • Hairdryer

Once we’re done gluing pieces of our project together with a glue gun, we often notice rough edges or glue strands as a residue from the glue gun. This leaves an unprofessional or unfinished look.

To prevent this, use a hairdryer on a medium-hot setting and hold it four inches above the strands or edges for the best effect. Turn it off once the strands are melted or cannot be seen anymore.


5. Using a Magnet to Organize Pins and Needles


Materials needed:
  • Magnet
  • Metal pins/needles

Although sewing is very therapeutic and a beautiful craft, handling pins and needles is often unsafe and complicated, especially since they are small, smooth, and slippery.

To keep them all in one place, simply use a magnet and hold it over the loose pins and needles until they all attach themselves to the magnet. This crafting tip can help you prevent pins and needles from getting lost and preventing accidents.


6. Using a Paper Towel Holder as Ribbon Storage


Materials needed:
  • Ribbons
  • Paper towel holder

Ribbons in general are hard to store in a neat manner. No matter how many times we roll them up, they somehow manage to unroll themselves and get tangled.

An easy solution for storing ribbon can be stacking it on a paper towel holder. Along with organizing the ribbon, it can be used as a room decoration as ribbons are usually very colorful and have eye-catching patterns.


7. How to Re-Soften a Tape Roll


Materials needed:
  • Old tape roll
  • Microwave-safe bowl
  • Microwave

Tape is one of the most common and useful items in the world of crafts. However, if stored for too long, the tape can harden up and be difficult to use.

A solution for this is putting the tape in a microwave-safe bowl and heating it up for 5-10 seconds, depending on how powerful the microwave is. The tape should soften up and be as good as new.


8. Using a Plastic Container Lid as Palette


Materials needed:
  • Paint
  • Plastic lid

Palettes are a must-have when we paint in order to properly mix or organize paint from tubes. However, we usually find ourselves without one just when we’re about to paint. Especially when we want to craft on lazy weekends without a pre-plan.

Using a plastic container lid serves the same purpose and once the painting is done, it can be cleaned to be used as a lid again.


9. Storing Paintbrushes in Used Potato Chip Containers


Materials needed:
  • Cylindrical potato chip container
  • Paintbrushes

If you run out of containers to store your paintbrushes, simply use a cylindrical potato chip container to store them as well as other supplies. This not only cuts down on waste but the container can also be decorated to match your craft room.


10. Use a Comb to Pin Nails


Materials needed:
  • Comb
  • Nail
  • Hammer

Are you scared to hammer a nail thinking you might hurt yourself? A simple comb from your dressing table can solve this problem very easily.

All you have to do is place the nail in between two bristles of a comb in the place you want to pin the nail and then hammer it. By doing this, you’re keeping your fingers safely out of the way. As this process is absolutely safe, children can also do this without an adult's help. However, adult supervision is still recommended.


Final Thoughts

Crafting for kids and adults alike is thrilling and full of excitement. But there is always a chance to get messy. You can pour glitter all over, struggle to keep your tools organized, or even hurt yourself.

If you are looking for a mess-free crafting session, follow our top crafting tips for making DIY projects at home without any hassle. Remember, to create something, there will be a mess here and there. But with our tips, you know how to keep it tidy!