There's nothing like the satisfaction of enjoying a beautiful object which you have made yourself. But smart habits and tool care are as much a part of the creative process as clever ideas.
Candlemaking tips - Beeswax candles
Beeswax sheets stick to themselves so, when making rolled beeswax candles, use cookie cutters to make decorative shapes, then press them to the surface of your candles.
Candlemaking tips - Easier stitching
To ensure your thread glides through the fabric when working quilting stitches, first run the needle and thread through a piece of beeswax. The beeswax will tightly coat the thread to ensure that stitching is a breeze.
Candlemaking tips - Make your own moulds
Household items such as empty milk and drink cartons and left over pieces of plumbing pipe make excellent candle moulds. Make sure one end is securely closed so that no molten wax escapes when it is poured in.
Candlemaking tips - Meltdown magic
Save all your candle stubs and melt them down in an old saucepan. Remove any pieces of wicking, tint the molten wax with candle dyes and pour it into prepared moulds to make new candles.
Clever cover-ups
Use leftover pieces of dress fabric to cover notebooks and diaries. Fur fabrics, velour and crushed velvets make sumptuous covers. The fabric can be glued in place with bot glue from a glue gun, and you can buy animal and flower motifs to use as trims.
Easy reference
Crochet hooks, circular knitting needles and standard knitting needles can all be stored easily in plastic pages tape to secure the tops of the pages, label them and place in a folder for easy reference.
Floral finish
Fake flowers can be used to great effect on gift boxes and bags. Just mass the flowers on a box lid and glue them in place for a fabulous floral effect.
In the short term
Children's jeans and pants that are too long can be turned up to the correct length and the hems held in place with press-studs. These can easily be undone when washing the garment and removed when the child grows.
Laced up
Odd shoelaces can be put to good use as stitching holders for knitting. Tread, shoelace through the stitches then tie into a knot or bow to secure the ends.
Needlework tips - Decoupage
The weather can play havoc with the finishing coats on a decoupage piece. Wait for a fine, dry day to start applying the layers of varnish. If the air is too moist, your project may take on a clouded effect.
Needlework tips - Keep it white
Always work the white areas of a tapestry or needlepoint design first before any other colours are added. White threads that are worked later can easily become discoloured by the threads surrounding them.
Needlework tips - Needle pointer
Never leave a needle in your cross-stitch, tapestry or needlepoint, only in the margin of your work. A brief interruption can lead to weeks away from your work and a needle can rust in that time, discolouring the threads around it.
Needlework tips - Needle pointer
Never leave a needle in your cross-stitch, tapestry or needlepoint, only in the margin of your work. A brief interruption can lead to weeks away from your work and a needle can rust in that time, discolouring the threads around it.
Needlework tips - Perfect transfer
Pieces of tulle or net fabric can be used to trace patterns. Place the tulle over the design, trace the pattern, then position the tulle and trace the design again. Remove the fabric, then join the dots to transfer the design.
Needlework tips - Quick craft
Save all the coloured tissue paper you receive, then tip it into small pieces and glue it to boxes to create a colourful collage effect hen day, apply a decoupage glaze, which provides a thick, glossy protective coat, then use the boxes for storage or give them as gifts.
Needlework tips - Save your scraps
Keep all your small scraps and squares of Aida cloth or other cross-stitch fabric. These can be used to create stitched decorations for greeting cards and gift tags.
Needlework tips - The right cut
When cutting images from paper for your decoupage pieces, move the paper into the blades of the scissors to produce a bevelled edge-finish on the paper. This will assist you when gluing the pieces in place and will create a smoother finish on the edges.
Needlework tips - The right length
When working needlepoint or tapestry pieces, ensure that your thread is no longer than 45cm (or approximately the length from your fingers to just below your elbow). This will prevent knotting and fraying of your thread.
Needlework tips - Thread tip
Your thread should never be shorter than twice the length of your needle - any shorter and your stitches will become tight as you attempt to work the thread.
No more fingerprints
When you are working with modelling clay, wear disposable plastic gloves. This way you will not leave fingerprints over the surface of the clay.
Painting tips - A lighter shade
When working with acrylic paints, remember that they dry darker than their undried colour. If you have worked an object that dries much darker than planned, try applying a wash of equal quantities of soft white and cream over the top of the area you wish to lighten.
Painting tips - Brush care
When brushes are bent out of shape, dip them into Clag glue right up to the top of the bristles, then smooth them back into shape. Dry overnight, then wash the glue from the bristles with warm water and continue to smooth them into shape.
Painting tips - Cleaner water
To keep your container of water clear for longer when changing paint colours, just dip your brush loaded with paint into the water, then wipe the bristles on a tissue or piece of paper towel to remove the paint. Repeat as many times as necessary to clean the brush.
Painting tips - Handy palette
When working with acrylic paints, remember that they dry darker than their undried colour. If you have worked an object that dries much darker than planned, try applying a wash of equal quantities of soft white and cream over the top of the area you wish to lighten.
Painting tips - No more gaps
Use masking tape to cover a stencil you do not wish to work. Apply the tape to the top of the stencil and ensure there are no gaps where paint can squeeze through.
Painting tips - Paintbrush stand
Store your paintbrushes in a container with a piece of florists' foam. The foam makes an ideal stand for the paintbrushes, so you can identify them easily while working
Painting tips - Sponging tricks
Household or sea sponges are the perfect tool for filling in tricky, areas of a stencil. Cut the sponge to the desired size and this will ensure no paint ends. up in the wrong place.
Painting tips - Stencil sense
Always use spray adhesive to hold stencils in place. it will not only stop the stencils from slipping, but allow you to move and reposition them.
Pressing flowers
When harvesting flowers for pressing, pick the freshest blooms and wait until the morning dew has evaporated. Then sort the flowers into ones that are fleshy or less fleshy before drying them in your flower press.
Revive potpourri
To revitalise old potpourri, sprinkle a few drops of essential oil into the dried petals and mix together gently. Add a few dried herbs from the garden, or buy them in delicatessens or supermarkets, to make a delightful new potpourri blend.
Rubber stamps
Don't use rubber stamps just to decorate cards and gift papers. They can also be used to add a decorative touch to candles, boxes, lampshades and even fabric.
Sewing tips - Better buttonholes
Apply sticky tape to the areas where you require buttonholes in a garment. The tape not only marks the position, but holds the fabric firm. Work the buttonholes over the tape, then remove it when they are complete.
Sewing tips - Cutting patterns
When cutting out sewing patterns, always remember to cut around all the markings so you can stitch the pieces together accurately. Cutting corners in the preparation will only result in an inferior finish for your garment.
Sewing tips - How to store patterns
Store paper sewing patterns that won't fit back inside their paper envelopes in snap-lock bags. This way you can ensure your pattern pieces will not be misplaced.
Sewing tips - No more tangles
Use plumbers tape to secure bobbin threads and ensure that they don't become tangled in your sewing box. The tape sticks to itself and can easily be peeled off.
Sewing tips - Non-slip pedal
Place your sewing machine pedal on a non-slip bathmat or rug with a non-slip backing. This way the pedal will never move away when you're sewing.
Sewing tips - Perfect pleats
Use sticky tape to hold pleats or tucks in place when selling. Stitch through the tape, then remove it to create perfect results every time.
Sewing tips - Sew your own stationery
Make use of the wonderful range of fancy stitches featured on many sewing machines by stitching onto paper and envelope flaps to create your own personalised stationery.
Sewing tips - Sewing machine care
Remember that sewing machines need servicing from time to time and needles should he replaced frequently so they don't become blunt, if the tension on your machine is causing trouble, check for lint, fluff or other material that may have built up between the tension discs.
Sewing tips - Sewing-box suggestion
Fishing tackle boxes make excellent sewing boxes, as there are plenty of compartments for storing everything from thread and bobbins to unpickers and needles. Label each of the different compartments for easy reference.
Sewing tips - Shoulder pads
Stitch old shoulder pads to both ends of fabric-covered coal-hangers to help your jackets and dresses to bang beautifully and keep in good shape.
Sharper scissors
Always ensure your scissors are sharp when cutting fabric. They can be sharpened by specialists for a lasting effect, but for a quick trick cut into a sheet of sandpaper two or three times.
Toaster trick
Instead of buying an embossing tool for heating embossing powder, use your toaster. Hold the paper, with the embossing powder applied, over the heat source of the toaster, being careful not to hold it too close, and watch the powder become transformed.
Travel tip
Use plastic film canisters as storage for needles, buttons, safety pins and other sewing aids. These containers are great for travelling and fit neatly into a handbag or car glovebox.
