General Craft Tips

great craft tips to make your crafting easier and more fun

Crafting Surface

One of my best general craft tips is to cover a large piece of cardboard or a cookie sheet with sides with a piece of waxed paper. Pull it around the edges and tape it to the bottom.

This gives you a protected work surface to craft, paint and glue on.

When the waxed paper gets too messy, simply remove it and throw it away. Then attach a fresh piece of waxed paper.

Cut Down Cardboard Box Idea

One of my most used craft tips is to cut corrugated cardboard boxes shorter - 2 to 4 inches high, making them much less bulky and more usable.

Lined with waxed paper they can be used for crafting or to sort crafting supplies.

They can also be used for storing half finished projects and keeping all the parts together.

Gluing Idea

Use the pages of an old catalog or phone book for a gluing surface.

Tear the page out when it gets messy and you have a fresh surface to use.

Tool Storage

If there are certain tools you use constantly, keep them all together and handy in one box, so you can quickly pick up the box and start crafting.

Get Ready to Craft

Assemble all your supplies before you start so you don't have to jump up to get another tool or glue or paint.

Store Your Project Pieces Together

Keep all the items of your current project on a cookie sheet or in a cut down cardboard box.

If you don't have a permanent crafting spot, it will be easy to move them while keeping them together.

Protect Your Spraying Area

If you want to spray paint or an acrylic sealer on a project, set a cardboard box OUTDOORS, on its side.

Place a sheet of waxed paper on the inside bottom surface and set your project on it.

By spraying inside the box, you will contain the spray and help keep a breeze from blowing dust or debris onto your newly sprayed surface.

Assembly Line Crafting

If you are making a similar item for several people, do it in assembly line fashion. Cut out all your pattern pieces.

Put each complete project in a separate ziplock bag - or put all of each different pattern piece in one bag.

Do all the gluing at one time. Paint all items at one time. Embellish all items at the same time.

This will make it quicker and easier to finish several similar items.

Make an extra one or two for that someone you forgot - or for a new friend.

Write it Down

Keep a notebook handy for writing down your great ideas.

A busy lifestyle can cause you to forget a special project you may have thought of.

Using these general craft tips will help you finish your projects more quickly and with less clean up.

Return to top of General Craft Tips

Return to Craftlinky home page.