General Craft Tips

• Break mirrors, plates, or tiles for projects by sealing them in a heavy-duty zip lock bag and breaking with a hammer.
• Looking for the right adhesive? Check out www.thistothat.com where you can select the two object types you want to adhere together and learn what the best adhesive is to use!
• Heat from a blow drier causes strings of hot glue to disintegrate immediately.
• Coat burned out light bulbs with a water-based varnish, tissue paper and metallic paints. Add a colorful yarn string to create a holiday ornament (And it’s safe – if the bulb breaks, the varnish and tissue stay intact).
• For patio projects such as painting on concrete, use old brushes, then throw them away.
• Make small bows by tying the bows first before cutting the ribbon.
• Spread just a hint of color by dry brushing with old paintbrushes.
• Tape or staple swatches of ribbon or fabric to index cards. This makes it easier to get extra supplies at the craft store.
• Use plastic party table covers for messy crafts. They protect better than newspaper and can be used more than once.
• Use toothpicks to apply expensive brand name glue. You will never put too much on your project and more will stay in the bottle.
• When doing decoupage, use rounded lacquered chopsticks to smooth out any air bubbles or wrinkles after gluing. You can usually find lacquered chopsticks (which are smoother than un-lacquered sticks) in Asian markets or gift shops.
• When using metallic paint, brush one coat in one direction to cover. (The particles all lay in one direction.)

I hope that a few of these are going to be helpful for someone. I know that I have used a few of them. So go out and get crafting.