Let’s talk about 3 really important craft project instructions to ignore when you start your next craft project!
Ok, so I recognize that this is starting off with kind of a controversial click-baity title. Bear with me for a minute! My goal here at Little Red Window is to teach you how to successfully make things. Whether it’s knitting or crafts, the ultimate goal is a good end product for you. With that in mind, there are some craft project instructions that you should ignore if you want your crafts to turn out well. There, I said it. I see these instructions all over the internet and I cringe every time.
And, as I have been doing this for a while, these are the things I have learned that I want to share with you so that hopefully your projects will turn out well. And hi, if you’re new here, in addition to being a craft blogger since 2013, I also have a Master’s degree in architecture. And if you’ve never been to architecture school, you basically make things all day long for years. So much so that we often called it a “Master’s of Cutting and Gluing”. So hopefully I kinda know what I’m talking about here.
And of course, as a craft blogger, I must include this disclaimer: if you don’t follow a tutorial exactly as written, you may end up with different results (but hopefully, in this case, they’ll be BETTER results). But take my advice with a grain of salt, proceed with caution and use your common sense.
3 Craft Project Instructions to Ignore
- Do not sand
Just, no. No, no, no. I have never, in all my time crafting heard of someone’s project turning out worse because the sanded before applying paint. But I have, MANY times, heard of people’s craft projects failing because they didn’t sand. And yes, EVEN chalk paint. I know it says you don’t have to sand. I know! And I know you did it last time and it was fine. But paints of all kinds, even chalk paint, will adhere better to a sanded, scuffed up surface. And when paint fails, it often fails spectacularly badly. Especially if you started with a smooth or glossy surface. You may not see it right away, but if you skip sanding, your paint job just won’t last as long or be as smooth. - Clean it in the dishwasher
If your craft project tutorial tells you it’s safe to clean your project in the dishwasher. DON’T. Dishwashers get super hot, plus dishwasher detergent is harsh and often contains bleach. Could your lovingly handmade craft project possibly be ok for a few trips through the dishwasher. Maybe. Will it last as long as if you hand wash it? NO. I mean, I put my Yeti mug in the dishwasher and the industrially applied enamel coating came off. Your sharpie or paint or whatever craft supply you used, doesn’t stand a chance . Just hand wash it. - Use fire
Will fire work for this fun craft project? Maybe. Will it be dramatic and exciting? Maybe. Could you burn your house down or hurt yourself? YES. Not worth it. Are there a lot of craft projects using fire out there? Maybe not, but I’ve seen a few making the rounds recently including one where you wrap string dipped in lighter fluid around a wine bottle and light it on fire to “cut” the glass and another where something used a glue stick to glue fabric to a wood shape and then lit the excess fabric on fire to “trim” the excess. Just don’t. Seriously. And if you’re doing a craft project like woodburning with a tool that in genuinely meant to produce smoke/heat keep your fire extinguisher nearby. Better safe than sorry!
Ok, I’m dying to know if there are any craft project instructions that you ignore every time, what words of wisdom do you have for me??
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
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