These crafting bad habits we all have might be causing total Pinterest fails, it’s time to break them!
Just like in regular life, we all have bad habits. Everyone. We all know it’s true and we all have a hard time breaking them, right?
Well, crafting and DIY is no different, we all have bad habits with when we craft too and they can make our craft projects take longer, make more messes or even end up turning a great project into a total craft fail.
So, today we’re going to chat about the bad crafting habits we all have (and what to do about them).
It does take about 2 months for something to become a new habit so breaking some of these bad crafting habits might take some conscious effort to work on at the beginning but it will be worth it in the end!
Bad crafting habits to break right now
- Not protecting your work surface
I can’t even tell you how many times I have done this thinking I won’t make a mess. Spoiler alert: I always regret it. The two seconds it take to protect your work surface, even when it’s a surface you aren’t worried about ruining, is always worth it in clean up time saved alone. I like to use things from the recycle bin like newspaper, grocery bags and even a cut up cardboard box - Not wearing old clothes
Just go ahead and keep a smock in your crafting area. Accidents happen…accidentally. No matter how good a crafter you are, you can end up with paint on your favorite shirt. - Not cracking a window
Ventilation really is important. Seriously. You might think, oh I’m using this stinky glue just for one second, it will be fine. But it’s not good for you. If possible, take it outside or open a window. Consider a good quality mask. Let’s take care of ourselves! - Not sanding
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, even when it says sanding before painting isn’t necessary, sand it anyway!! Nothing bad ever happens from a little extra sanding but boy can bad things can happen if you skip it. And if your paint or surface treatment goals and peels or cracks or bubbles because you didn’t sand, it will be about five times more work. - Thick coats
Applying anything from glues to paints to finishes in thick coats is pretty much always a recipe for disaster. And yet we all do it. I can’t even tell you the number of times I’ve been spray painting something and thought I could add a thicker coat only to have it drip. You’d think I would learn. Multiple thin coats is always better. Let’s break this bad habit! - Leaving the top off
Seriously, you’ll forget. And that extra exposure to air adds up and will cause your paints or glues to dry out faster. So just put the cap on tightly ever time. - Messy glue tips
Ok, I know this sounds extra, but taking 2 seconds to wipe the tip of your glue bottle before you put the cap back on will change your life. I promise. No one does it but we all should, it’s 100% worth it! - Not washing paintbrushes
I know, I know, you can wrap it in saran wrap and stick it in the fridge. Or you can leave it in the jar of water so the paint doesn’t dry. Ok, yes, you CAN do those things with your paintbrushes, but it’s not good for them! They’ll wear out faster, the wood will split, the brush hairs will get wonky. This is one bad habit I broke a long time ago and it has paid off tremendously. It’s worth it to have nice brushes that are always ready to go for the next project.
So now I’m curious, what are your bad crafting habits that you want to break? Are there any that you’ve already broken that you’re proud of?
If you liked this, you may also like some of my other posts…
- Easy DIY Knit Halloween Costumes (Just Add Pajamas) - October 10, 2024
- Witchy Black Cat Hat Knitting Pattern - October 7, 2024
- Big Squishy Pumpkin Knitting Pattern - October 2, 2024
Audry Flinn says
Thank you for these bad habits to break for easier crafting. One of my habits is not getting organized. I love to use leftovers or recycled materials, but if you are not organized, you won’t be able to find the items you want when you are getting ready to craft.
Reuse shoe boxes to accumulate recyclables by type or material, and label & organize alphabetically! That one-of-a-kind item you thought you could re-use, but inspiration hasn’t come and you can not store it, maybe it is time to throw it away.