Arts and Crafts Stack Exchange
Arts and Crafts Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
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8 answers

How can I make a sketch under a watercolour painting and have it not be seen?

I usually use a regular pencil to sketch what I would like to paint very faintly, but I find that no matter how light it is, it can still be seen under the painting. Once the paint is dry, I can't seem to erase the pencil marks. Usually I end up…
EmRoBeau
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What are good options in colored pencil blending, especially for a traveller?

I generally use the Faber-Castell Colored Pencils, which are vegetable oil based, but I also use PrismaColor Premier from time to time. I normally use Odorless Mineral Spirits to blend, but it is a toxic substance and so not something I normally…
Joanne C
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How do I cut the bottom off a glass wine bottle?

Recently at a party, I saw empty wine bottles that had the base cut off so it could be placed over a candle. It made an elegant and interesting centerpiece, and I have some very pretty wine bottles that I'd love to convert to candle covers. How do I…
Erica
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What is the difference between cheaper oil paints and more expensive ones?

I use Winton oil paint that I get for £8 for a 200ml tube (for any colour). Some tubes from other ranges (from the same shop) cost up to £160 for a tube the same size - and there is different pricing for different colours. There are several…
Tom Medley
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How do you choose a stitch length when straight stitching an arbitrary fabric?

When looking to sew a piece of fabric, what factors are looked at to determine the correct stitch length?
beattyac
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What can I do to smooth and polish hand cut glass edges?

I make small frames and boxes and I like to put in mirror and glass in those projects. In trying to avoid dealing with the question I usually frame in the mirror so that no one will see the clean cut but rough and sharp edges of the glass and…
Matt
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How to prevent the paper from getting damaged due to a steel compass?

I intend to draw nested circles for a Mandala drawing. When the compass point is placed on the paper, it creates a tiny hole. How do I keep the point from damaging the paper?
Aquarius_Girl
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What's the difference between crochet, knitting, and tunisian crochet?

What's the difference between crochet, knitting, and tunisian crochet? At the end of the day it seems to me that all three crafts results in similar knitted texture fabrics. What makes the key difference(s) between these crafts, if anything?
StackExchange What The Heck
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How do I know when my sewing machine needs a service?

I have inherited a sewing machine from my grandmother and have just started sewing. How do I tell that my machine needs a service? Is there a recommended schedule or some tell-tale sign that it's time for one?
user18
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1 answer

Making thin brittle sand design that holds together

I'm trying to make pretend coins out of sand, so that they are solid enough say, to hold it by the edge and it not bend, but brittle with so that if I crushed it in my hand it'd crumble back into sand. At the minute I'm trying to do this by mixing…
Dan
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How to prevent "tufts" in paper when cutting fine details?

In the winter I'm big on making detailed, six-sided paper snowflakes. I use crafting knife to cut everything out. Usually I use printer paper or origami paper. My issue is when cutting inside angles. If the cut isn't exact, I have to either tear…
user24
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3 answers

What are food safe finishes for woodworking projects, e.g. turned bowls?

There are many different products to finish your projects with. What types are food safe and what should one look out for when finishing a project that needs to be food safe?
bowlturner
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Can I use an airbrush inside?

I'm looking into buying an airbrush for painting miniatures, but one thing I can't figure out is if it's safe to use it inside and if I need to use any protection for breathing if I'm going to spray inside. Do I have to set up some kind of…
andreasnico
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How do you bond clear acrylic to wood?

I am trying to glue a piece of clear acrylic 2mm thick to a piece of plywood that is 5mm thick. They are both 76mm by 50mm and rectangular in shape. They have some cutouts in the middle. It's supposed to be a keychain. Both are laser cut pieces, if…
Darren
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Determining a station point for a perspective drawing

For simple perspective drawings, you don't really need to get into having a station point (or vantage point, not vanishing point) at all. As I'm looking at more complex methods, a station point becomes necessary to map your plan to to perspective…
user24
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