Find out what out top 5 craft tips for successful craft project are; these tips and tricks will make sure your crafts turn out awesome every time!
Today we’re going to talk about my top 5 craft tips for successful craft projects. And no, these are not life hacks. These are tips and tricks that will help you make sure that your craft projects turn out well and do not turn into craft fails.
There are lots of craft hacks out there, but there’s a missing hole for information like this that isn’t geared towards making craft projects faster, or cleaner or cuter but just better. Better quality, better results, better craft projects. So that’s what we’re going to cover today!
Top 5 Craft Tips for Awesome Craft Project Results
- Change your blade
I feel like this is a crafting tip that no one talks about. You need change your blades MUCH more often than you think you do. Dull blades are not only a lot more dangerous (ask me how I know), but they also will ruin a craft project in half a second. Dull blades will give you tears, pulling and jagged edges that you won’t be able to fix. Replacement blades are cheap and easy to change and will make sure that any cutting you need to do for your craft project looks fantastic and smooth.
You should change your blades for the following tools often:
-Exact/craft knife: As soon as it’s dull, different materials will dull it faster (foam board dulls it really fast). I try to change my craft knife blade at the start of every project. Yep. Make sure you dispose of those sharp blades safely!
-Rotary cutter: As soon as it begins to skip during cutting or you notice it’s taking an extra pass to cut through.
-Cutting machine (Cricut/Silhouette): About 6 months of regular use or as SOON as you notice any tears, snags, jagged edges or corners not being cut through.
-Utility knife: Whenever it becomes dull or you feel it’s taking extra effort to cut through materials OR if it breaks or chips. - Always sand
Ok, I’m saying it, even if the instructions say you don’t need to sand something before painting or applying a coating, you should do it anyway. In my opinion, lack of sanding is the number one reason paint coatings fail. This is especially important if you are applying paint to a smooth or glossy surface. You should even sand bare wood before painting because you will get a better smoother result.
You don’t have to completely sand the surface bare before you start, just rough it up a little so the paint or coating has something to grab onto. I 100% promise you will never regret sanding but you definitely might regret not sanding!
And yes, I think you should even sand before using chalk paint. Shocking! - Apply thin coats
I am a seriously impatient crafter. But one thing I have learned is that thin coats of pretty much anything are always better. Spray paint, acrylic paint, polyeurethane, chalk paint, even glues. Thin even coats prevent dripping and pooling and will result in a much better final result. It might take you a little more time but it will be worth it. And since you sanded FIRST, this is a second step to making sure your craft project turns out awesome! - Prepare for cleanup
Unless you’re doing a craft like beading, before you start, grab some paper towels, or a rag or a package of baby wipes. You will overpaint, you will spill, you will smudge. And having cleanup supplies right there can mean the difference between permanent staining and saving your craft project. I personally love baby wipes for this purpose because paints and things won’t bleed through them onto your hands and they are damp which helps get things off. - Google it
If you don’t know how to do something or run into a problem while working on your craft project, Google it. Seriously, I guarantee that SOMEONE has had that exact same problem before. There will probably even be a YouTube video about it. This is probably the best thing about the internet. Google can save you and keep your craft project success from turning into a craft project fail.
Bonus tip: Don’t give up halfway through. EVERYONE thinks their project is terrible or isn’t going to work out halfway through. That is so so common and normal. You have to keep the vision in mind and keep going. Even in the rare case that it really doesn’t turn out well, by finishing you will have learned something and that’s worth it for sure!
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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