Crafts For Less

For lots of hobbyists, beginning a new project feels much like the anticipation of cooking a gourmet meal. There’s the sense of buildup, and the gathering together of supplies and ingredients, and finally the meticulous but ultimately rewarding process of creating the object of your fascination. 

Losing control of the painting, however, is like finding the stove is broken, or the recipe’s ingredients have all gone mysteriously sour. There’s nothing like the disappointment – fortunately! – of watching the best-laid hobby plans go wrong through no deliberate fault of your own.

But there are solutions to even the biggest painting crises, and most of them require nothing more than a little forethought. The seven techniques presented below allow you the freedom to avoid mistake by getting around them in the first place. Prevention, after all, is the best medicine.

- Use a sealant before you paint. Sealants such as Dull-Cote give your subject material a slightly adhesive coating, meaning it better holds primer and other forms of spray paint. Coating with a sealant first is like primer for the primer.

- Plan to take your time, and use multiple coats. Sooner or later everyone gets ahead of themselves, applying paint like there’s no tomorrow out of enthusiasm for the finished project that’s already taking shape before their eyes. Going too fast is a mistake: use multiple, light coats, letting the paint thoroughly dry between coats. If you’re using transparent paint, don’t paint in the same direction each time but paint in a lattice pattern, to make a smoother coat.

- Don’t be afraid to use different tints of colors. You can mix most acrylic paints to get a different and original hue than the ones offered in the stores. Actually, the paint sold in hobby stores is cheap and lasts a long time, so don’t be afraid to pour a little out of several tubes and mix them together. You might be pleased with your “original” color shade creation.

- Stock up on brushes. Brushes are comparatively cheap, too, and can be found in the clearance sections of most hobby stores. Plan to buy a lot, so you don’t run out.

 - Accept that adhesive glue will likely be necessary.  Chips, edges and outright breaks happen all the time, especially when you’re working with ceramic, wood, and plastic. Have the super glue ready just in case, but remember to use it sparingly to avoid cleanups later. A little craft glue goes a long way.

 - Ask for help before you get stuck. There are hundreds (if not more) online pages and forums about using all manner of arts and crafts supplies. If you’re confused, or just want to get advice from people who’ve likely had the same problems you’re having with your project, check there first. You can always benefit from someone else’s experiences.

- Make time to do your hobby thing. Because hobbies aren’t “essential,” they’re often the activity first bumped from any hectic schedule. But painting and other hobby pursuits recharge us mentally and give us a real sense of gratification that easily carries over into the rest of our busy lives.

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