This is a sponsored guest post.
Arts and Crafts time can be a nightmare for the average mom. A lot of the stress involved in a DIY project stems from our lack of time and our aversion to clutter. My friends and I have always expressed interest in starting craft events between our families, but we never used to follow through due to a lack of time and a worry that it would create a lot of unnecessary junk in our homes. I, however, decided to buckle down and invest in the right materials (through A LOT of trial and error!) to host some fun nights in with the kids.
Crafting can seem like a money sucker in the beginning because you can easily get roped into buying unnecessarily expensive products. It’s really all about knowing where to invest your money and what products are truly worth the extra income. I’m going to break down the three types of ways you can group materials and budget efficiently for any DIY Project!
1. Proper storage/containment
One of the best ways to combat the clutter from arts and crafts is by investing in some inexpensive storage containers. Since crafting involves a lot of paper products and sticky stuff, it’s a good idea to have at least three separate drawers for different wet and dry products. If you want to go the extra mile, I’d suggest having a drawer for found/recycled materials (which we will discuss next!) It wouldn’t be a bad idea to invest in some additional plastic airtight containers, but Ziploc bags can be just as effective for repackaging.
2. Found and Recycled Materials
The key to making a DIY project stand out is transforming found materials in a creative, unconventional matter. You can repurpose a newspaper, cardboard, even materials like glass and wire. This is where a lot of us get misguided because we feel compelled to shell out money for high-level artistry materials. If you look at a lot of DIY projects featured on Youtube or Pinterest however, they transform things like toilet paper rolls and plastics. My personal favorite would have to be wine bottle corks because they’re a versatile item that can be used for sealing, stuffing, and mounting. This is also a great way to reduce waste in your home and teach kids the importance of recycling!
3. Paints,Adhesives and Removers
The idea of letting your kids loose around anything sticky and messy might send you reeling, but you can effectively prep your home and find a number of non-toxic paints and adhesives that are easy to clean! If you’re worried about the mess, it’s best to invest in a washable tempera paint that won’t stain your carpet. Acrylic is also an effective paint for hard surfaces but can easily chip off as long as you don’t seal it. Even with this in mind, it’s never a bad idea to keep paint or polish remover around. Acetone and nail polish remover can do you just as well in some instances, but blotting an acrylic stain with laundry detergent can aid in getting it out of a carpet. The right adhesive depends very much on what kind of surface and strength you’re dealing with, so it might take a few tries to get the right one. For bonding plastic materials, you must need strong glue that bond plastic to plastic or plastic to other materials. For finding plastic bonding glue you should visit ToolsGeeks.com. You always want to make sure paint and adhesives are stored in a cool, dry area away from heat as some of them are combustible!
And while the following items may not fit into the essential three categories, I’ve found that they aid in clean-up quite well:
- Disposable tablecloths
- plastic gloves
- Goo-B-Gone
I understand why so many parents are stressed at the idea of taking on new projects for the home, but creating a good DIY space is all about proper organization and materials. The best thing about DIY projects is that you’re really supposed to make them your own, so do your best and try not to get discouraged! Happy crafting!
