Discover our top 5 tips for a successful craft project. These tips and tricks ensure that your craft projects turn out great every time.
Today, we will discuss my top five craft tips for successful projects. These aren’t life hacks. These tips and tricks will ensure you get the best results from your craft projects and avoid failures.
Craft hacks are everywhere, but this information needs to be included. It’s not geared to make craft projects quicker, cleaner, or prettier, but simply better. Better quality, better results, better craft projects. Today, we will be discussing this topic.
Change your blade
This is something that no one has ever mentioned. Changing your blades more frequently than you might think would be best. Ask me how I can tell, but dull blades will also ruin your craft project in a fraction of a second. Worn blades can cause tears, pulling, and jagged edges, which you cannot fix. The blades can be easily changed and are inexpensive. They will ensure that your cutting project is smooth and beautiful.
Change the blades of these tools frequently:
When it becomes dull, it will become duller faster with different materials (foamboard dulls it very quickly). I constantly change the blade of my craft knife at the beginning of each project. Yep. Be sure to dispose of sharp edges safely!
Rotary cutter: If you see it is skipping during cutting or if it takes an extra pass.
You were cutting machine (Cricut/Silhouette: After six months of regular usage or AS SOON AS you notice any tears, snags, or jagged edges.
If you notice that it is taking more effort to cut materials, or if the knife breaks or chips.
Always Sand
Even if you are told you do not need to sand before applying paint or coatings, I still say you should. The lack of sanding causes paint coatings to fail. It is essential to do this if you’re painting a glossy or smooth surface. Sand bare wood first before you paint it to get a smoother finish.
It’s unnecessary to sand down the entire surface before painting or coating. Just roughen it up enough so that the paint can grab onto it. You will never regret sanding, but you might regret not doing it!
Yes, you should sand the surface before applying chalk paint. Shocking!
Apply thin coats
I am an impatient craftsperson. I’ve learned that thin coatings are better for almost anything. Spray, acrylic, polyurethane, or chalk paint are good options. A light, even coating will prevent drips and pools and give a better result. You might have to spend more time, but the result will be well worth it. Since you have already sanded, this is the second step in ensuring your craft project looks fantastic.
Cleanup
Grab some baby wipes and a package of paper towels before you begin unless you do a craft like beading. You’ll overpaint. You’ll spill. And you’ll smudge. Having the right cleaning supplies on hand can make all the difference in whether your project is saved or if it becomes permanently stained. Baby wipes are great because they don’t let the paint and other things bleed onto your hands, and the dampness helps remove items.
You can Google any problem or question you have if you are working on a craft project and need help understanding how to solve it. You can be sure that SOMEONE else has experienced the same issue. There will likely be a YouTube clip about it. The internet is a great resource. Google can help you avoid a craft failure and ensure your project succeeds.
Subscribe to Little Red Window
Subscribe to Little Red Window’s newsletter and receive updates about the latest posts, events, and more.
Bonus tip Do not give up halfway through. Everyone thinks their project will fail or won’t work halfway through. It’s so typical and expected. Keep the vision in your mind and continue. You will learn something even if it doesn’t work out.
