Tips & Techniques

General Tips Courtesy of i-craft.com

 

- Cover cardboard rolls in acid free tissue and then wrap your ribbon around them for storage.

- Heat from a blow drier causes strings of hot glue to disintegrate immediately.

- 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 working with cardboard and glue, lightly wet the underside of the cardboard and it will dry flat.

- Use a damp Q-tip to pick up small beads. They stick to the Q-tip and make loading a needle much easier.

- Break mirrors, plates, or tiles for projects by sealing them in a heavy-duty zip lock bag and breaking with a hammer.

- Use plastic party table covers for messy crafts. They protect better than newspaper and can be used more than once.

- Try using tiny rubber bands, such as dental bands, to hold small crafts together. You can substitute the rubber bands for wire.

- Use tweezers to hold small supplies and reach tight areas when crafting. Tweezers act as an extension of your fingertips.

- Prevent paper from ripping when affixing tape by applying the tape to clothing first to reduce its stickiness.

- When doing decoupage, use rounded lacquered chopsticks to smooth out any air bubbles or wrinkles after gluing.

- Make small bows by tying the bows first before cutting the ribbon.

- Lubricate craft punches before using them by punching wax paper.

- Cut Styrofoam by using a serrated knife well waxed with a candle stub or paraffin.

- Clean rubber stamps after each use with a mild soap. Avoid getting any wood parts wet, and dry completely when done. Store with the rubber side down out of direct sunlight.