15 Crafting Hacks That Are Secretly Wasting Your Supplies
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Having so many resources online, crafters are being bombarded with tips, tricks and hacks to help them improve their projects, get the best out of their materials and of course save money. But what if some of these popular hacks are actually working against you, silently draining your crafting supplies instead of saving you? Some shortcuts may sound good in theory but in practice they can waste your time and materials, two things no crafter wants to waste.
In this post, we’ll explore some of the crafty secrets that might be destroying your stash. We’ll help you steer clear of the pitfalls and keep your crafting game strong from popular shortcuts that are no good.
Overloading Your Glitter
We know the power of a sprinkle of glitter. However, when you put too much it makes a mess and it also tends to waste more than you need. Little glitter goes a long way. To spread a fine, even coat, try using a glitter glue or adhesive spray and tap off the excess onto a clean sheet of paper so you can pour it back into the container.
Use Of Too Much Paint On Small Items
Painting small items can be difficult and it’s easy to want to dump a load of paint on your brush to get the coverage you need fast. With small items, however, extra paint simply pools up and takes forever to dry, and often leaves a lumpy finish. The way to make your paint go the furthest and have a smooth result is to apply thin coats and let each layer dry before adding the next. That will give you a better finish and you will use less paint.
Using Scissors to Cut Felt instead of a Rotary Cutter
Felt is a great fabric, but it can be a pain to cut smoothly. Scissors can leave jagged edges, meaning that if you need to keep trimming to get a clean line, you’re wasting material. Cutting felt with a rotary cutter on a self healing mat will give you a much cleaner cut, less felt waste and less time taken to touch up.
Working With Thick Layers of Mod Podge
Many crafters have a go to product for decoupage and that is Mod Podge. Using thick layers won’t speed up the drying, it will just make the project sticky and wasteful. Thinner coats won’t have you sitting around waiting for ages. Plus, you won’t use up as much on Mod Podge over the course of time.
Using Excessive Washi Tape
Washi tape is colorful, fun, but very easy to overdo. Using large strips can quickly eat up your supply, especially for smaller projects where less is more. Instead, cut the tape into smaller strips or cut it up into accents to be wrapped around surfaces in whole. Without blowing through your whole roll, you’ll get a similar effect.
Pouring Resin Without a Mold
For the most part, pouring resin onto your project may seem simple, but without a proper mold, you’re likely going to spill and waste quite a bit. Resin can be quite expensive, and a little bit of miscalculation can require starting from scratch, using up your supplies. Get good quality molds, or make your own with household items like bottle caps.
Full Sized Stamps on Small Items
Stamping is a quick way to add flair, but when you’re stamping smaller items, a full size stamp often leaves a lot of ink on the edges, creating smudges and uneven prints. Try using smaller stamps or only inking the part of the stamp you need. It will also save your ink pad and reduce the amount of materials you waste cleaning up.
Fabric Glue on Paper Projects
Fabric glue is made to glue on fibers, but is too thick or sticky for paper projects. It can warp or make the paper soggy, which means waste while you try to fix the mess if you use it on paper. Use glue sticks or liquid glue made for paper, and leave fabric glue for fabric projects.
Sanding in Between Every Paint Layer
Sanding between layers will leave a smooth finish, but sanding every single coat can quickly chew through sandpaper. After the primer, most projects only need a light sanding and then one final sanding before the last coat. By limiting your sanding, you will save time and materials, without sacrificing quality.
Using Hot Glue for Everything
It is easy to think that hot glue is good for every project, but it’s not always the right choice. Hot glue will melt or become brittle over time, and it doesn’t always stick well to certain materials like metal or glass. Using it on everything can make parts of your project fall apart, and you end up redoing them. Use hot glue for lighter materials like paper or fabric and reserve your sturdier adhesives for heavy duty stuff.
Too Much Embossing Powder
Embossing powder creates a lovely raised effect, but if you’re trying to get everything covered, you can easily overdo it. Instead, sprinkle sparingly, then tap off the excess onto a piece of paper to funnel it back into the container. This will prevent clumping and will keep your powder longer.
Large Batches Mixing Dye or Paint
It sounds like it would be easier to mix a huge batch of dye or paint to avoid making colors again, but you often end up with leftover amounts you can’t use up. Wasted material can result from dye and paint drying out or changing consistency. Rather than mixing large amounts, mix smaller amounts, even if it means remixing colors, which will help save your colors and your supplies.
Using Double Sided Tape for Heavy Items
Double sided tape are super handy but not always strong enough to hold up heavy material. If it’s for heavier items, you’re going to need to double layer the tape or have to reattach it later on, which just wastes more tape. Use a sturdier adhesive for heavier pieces and save the double sided tape for lighter items.
Buying Pre-Cut Stencils
Convenient, but pre cut stencils are more expensive and restrict your design options. You can cut your own stencils from plastic sheets or card stock, so you can make custom shapes and reuse them without the feeling that you’re wasting extra money. It’s also a great way to use up small scraps that are going to go to waste anyway.
Applying Too Much Sealant
Sealant is nice to use to protect your DIY project, but too much can cause bubbles or an uneven finish. One thick coat will build up and waste product, a couple of light coats will be better and not build up.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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