Tips and Tricks

If you’ve been a crafter for any length of time, you probably have your own list of do’s and don’ts.  However, I want to give you a few tips you may not have thought of just yet.  This is not an exhaustive list, but I want to save you time, trouble, and maybe even money by helping you avoid some of the disasters I have encountered.

Tips and Tricks

1. Do not wear shorts when working with hot glue.  A burn on the leg can be serious business.  It’s better to ruin a pair of pants or jeans than to risk a third degree burn on your leg. Don’t be in denial about this; you know freak accidents can and do happen!  Keep a glass of ice water handy for those burns you might get on your fingers!
2. If you have dinner in the oven while you are crafting “for just a few minutes”, please, for the love of your whole family, set a timer on your phone.  Don’t count on the oven timer in the kitchen to wake you from the concentration of trying to hand tie a bow.  You know how lost in the moment you can get while painting, cutting, or decoupaging.  By the time someone smells dinner burning, it’s too late!
3. Buy a self-healing mat for your table.  Mats are not expensive.  I know people who have ruined good furniture by thinking they can use a rotary cutter on any surface.  A mat with measurements marked on it comes in so handy for many projects.  I just replaced my old mat, which I’ve had for several years.  Here’s the one I got from Amazon:  https://a.co/d/1YpBSFG Fiskars is a brand you can always trust. When painting, just use old newspapers, recycled copy paper, or a flattened cardboard box to cover the mat.  You can still use the measurements, but you won’t ruin the mat or your table.
4. When purchasing supplies, have a budget in mind.  That kind of goes without saying, but not surprisingly, all reason goes out the window when we are looking at beautiful ribbon or row upon row of gorgeous paint colors.  The fabric isle may be calling your name, but if you do not have a specific plan for that cute print, it may be best to go home, do some research, then go back to the store with a plan.  You may only need two yards when you are prepared to guess what you’ll use it for and buy three yards!  We all know where that extra yard of material most likely goes – in a bin brimming with other forgotten leftovers.
5. Keep an envelope in your purse or in the glove box of your vehicle to put receipts in.  It’s a great habit, but one that takes a bit of discipline to develop.  Ask the store clerk to give you the receipt and hold on to it until you reach your vehicle.  That way, you can immediately put it in your envelope before you even start unloading your cart. You probably want to keep track of purchases whether you sell your creations or give them as gifts.
6. When working on a wreath, it is important to not show the “mechanics”.  One way to hide wires, glue, etc., is to use a large leftover leaf on the back of the wreath.  I save some of the bigger leaves I don’t use, so I always have plenty to cover the back of my wreaths.  This is also a good way to “cushion” some of the rough points of the branches, which might be present on the back of a grapevine wreath.  You don’t want the wreath to scratch the door or wall it’s placed on!  If you see gaps in an evergreen wreath, which you feel is just about as full as you want it to be, you can use a leaf on the back to block any little bit of light showing through.
7. Stay true to yourself.  Especially if you sell your creations, know your lane and stick to it until you feel you have perfected your favorite style.  Then, you can explore other styles and techniques because you will bring experience and knowledge with you. Otherwise, you kind of become a “jack of all trades, a master of none.”  Until you gain that experience, keep pictures of the styles you would like to try and then try them one at a time.  You will find all kinds of inspiration by looking at pictures of other styles!

Check out my YouTube videos for more tips and tricks.  I’m learning all the time and I’m happy to share with you what I’ve learned.  Please send me your Tip and Tricks so I can pass them along.  info@prairiedreamsdecor.com

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