Being a lifelong crafter, I'm always looking for shortcuts or inexpensive ways to do common things. And by "things" I mean storing small items, sharpening scissors, spray painting, etc. Creative people have a lot of tips and tricks, called craft hacks, and I'm going to share 20 of those with you today! Bookmark this page and then the next time you bust out the craft supplies, reference this article for some great craft hacks to make your life easier. Enjoy!
Use a binder clip on the edge of a glass jar to direct your yarn and keep your ball from going all over the place. Don't forget to set this up before you start knitting!
Sandpaper will sharpen your scissors easily - just by cutting through it several times.
We all know how hard glitter is to pick up! If you have a place with glitter that you can't easily clean, use a lint roller to get it up.
Living in a condo, I don't have anywhere to spray paint out in the open. If you live in a small space, use a cardboard box stood up on its long side as a makeshift booth.
It takes several minutes for me to get to my glue each time I use it - so I started storing it upside down in a glass and the glue is right there in the bottle when I need it.
It's hard to tell what color acrylic paint is by looking at it in bottle - so use popsicle sticks to make paint chips so you can always color match easily.
To make it easier to cut duct tape, wipe your scissors with a baby wipe beforehand.
Want to know what helps glue sticks from stringing as much? Keeping them in the freezer before using!
A plastic ice tray is a perfect place for holding teenie tiny items that have no other place to go - you also don't have to buy multiple storage containers.
If you want a cheap way to make your own sewing patterns, look no further than the recycling bin - newspaper is perfect!
I love my huge collection of craft punchesbut it's hard to keep them sharp. The easy way to do it is to punch aluminum foil.
Another option for minimizing hot glue strands - use your hair dryer with the project is done. You'll see them melt away.
To make small fabric pieces easier to store, wrap them around cut pieces of a cereal box. You can then sit them up in a drawer and sort through them easily.
I'll never forget when I dropped a ton of pins on the floor during a late night sewing session. Easily pick them up with a strong magnet.
It's very easy to store ribbon and still access it on a paper towel holder. Simply push the roll down onto the holder and layer them (works best for cardboard rolls).
Protect yourself from an accidental stabbing by putting wine corks at the end of your knitting needles.
Use an old chip container (rinsed out) to store brushes and other long items, such aschenille stems.
Use a recycled plastic lid as a makeshift paint palette - any kind of plastic lid will do. You can also rinse it and save it for the next time.
Do you have a tape roll that you haven't used in awhile? If it's hard to peel the end off, put it in the microwave for about 10 seconds and it will loosen up.
Do you have any other craft hacks you can share with me? I'd love to hear them in the comments below!
It's hard to make sure a nail goes in straight sometimes. Use a comb to help guide the nail as you hammer - and then simply slide off when the nail is secure.
