Arts and Craft Tip and Technique Page

Please find the arts and craft tip or technique you need in the list below, then click on the link to go to detailed instructions. These helpful suggestions flesh out certain instructions provided for various arts and crafts projects found throughout the website.

Batik Tips and Techniques

Choosing and Preparing Fabric for Batik

Read about batik fabrics to learn which fabrics work best and why it is important to wash your fabric before beginning a batik project.

Removing Wax from Batik

Here is a link to information on how to remove wax from batik.

Candle Making Tips and Techniques

How to Remove Candle Wax

Candle making is great fun but it's impossible not to make a mess. Spilled wax is par for the course! Here are tips on how to remove candle wax.

Temperature of Beeswax Sheets for Rolled Candles

For best results, the wax sheet should be room temperature. If it is too cold, it will crack. If it is too hot, your fingerprints may show on the honeycomb. (Use this tip for the Bees Wax Candles and Beeswax Taper Candles projects.)

(I have not tried it myself, but I have read that if beeswax sheets are too cold and brittle, you can warm them with a hair dryer. If you try this craft tip, take care not to melt the wax or let it get too hot.)

How Much Wax to Use When Making Candle Using Granulated Wax.

As a rule of thumb, before melting the wax granules, fill the mold you will be using one and a half times with granules. That amount when melted down generally is just the right amount to fill that particular mold.

Ornament Crafts Tips and Techniques

How to Paint Inside of Glass Ornament Balls

You will love the way your glass ball ornaments look when you paint them on the inside. This technique gives them smooth, even color that will not chip off. The hardest part is waiting for the paint to dry! Click the link above for detailed instructions and suggestions for this great craft tip.

Ornament Cap and Spring Wire Design

Some of the ornament instructions featured on this site require using glass balls equipped with a particular style of cap and spring wire. Click this link to learn more.

Ornament Storage Box

Here's what I use to individually stack and store the ornaments I make that are wider than usual (because they have pipe cleaners sticking out all over the place) -- recycled plastic containers from the salad bar! Click link to read more.

Stock Up on Glass Ornaments in the Fall

Many craft supply stores consider making ornaments to be a seasonal craft and only stock glass ornaments for a few months preceding Christmas. If you want to make glass ornaments throughout the year, stock up on these supplies in the Fall while you can. (Some glass ornaments are available online but I would not want to depend on getting them that way.) Buy various sizes and shapes. Right after Christmas, craft stores usually put what's left of the ornaments on sale. The selection might not be vast, but the price is right, so be sure to return to the store after Christmas and buy more!

To Handmade Ornaments for All Occasions.

General Painting Tips

Craft Painting Tips

These craft painting tips will help you set up and use your acrylic and enamel craft paints.

Opaque Paint Markers

For many projects, using an opaque paint marker is a great alternative to painting with a thin brush. For more information, see Permapaque and Decocolor Paint Markers and Sharpie Pens. All three brands are excellent.

Also, most paint markers need to be shaken before each use, and they also can get clogged between uses. For craft tips on what to do in these situations, see the Acrylic and Oil Based Paint Marker page.

How to Paint Leather

For paint to adhere to leather, you need to prepare the surface properly. Here's how.

Scratchboard Art

How to Prepare Your Scratchboard Surface

Read how to apply India ink to your scratchboard paper.

Tips for Crafts Using Wire

Craft Wire Width Conversion Table

This conversion table lists various gauge numbers and provides the width of each in inches and millimeters. Basic rule: The higher the gauge number, the thinner the wire.

I hope you have found these arts and crafts tips and techniques helpful.

Be sure to also read these important Arts and Crafts Safety Tips.

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