Arts and Crafts Stack Exchange
Arts and Crafts Stack Exchange

Most Popular

more tags
1500 questions
16
votes
2 answers

How do I get a blur (blended) effect in pencil drawings?

When drawing pictures with a pencil, I often want to create a more or less solid darker colour in some region. It's easy to shade an area so that it appears a solid dark colour from a distance, e.g. by hatching or cross-hatching, but I'd like to be…
Rand al'Thor
  • 2,006
  • 3
  • 14
  • 39
16
votes
3 answers

What should I use to draw under oil paint?

I was drawing onto my primed canvas in pencil, in preparation to paint over the top in oils, but a friend told me that I shouldn't do that, since over time the graphite will rise to the surface of the painting. What should I use instead?
Tom Medley
  • 1,798
  • 1
  • 15
  • 22
16
votes
1 answer

What are the little pieces of wood that come with pre-made canvas for?

I buy pre-made canvases, and they always come with a little packet of wooden things: What are they for? How should I use them?
Tom Medley
  • 1,798
  • 1
  • 15
  • 22
16
votes
5 answers

What criteria should I be considering when looking at a second hand sewing machine?

I understand the basic concept of how a sewing machine works. I also know there are many varieties of sewing machines e.g. they are capable of doing their own sets of stitches and what not, supporting different materials. If I was going to pick up a…
Matt
  • 11,012
  • 2
  • 40
  • 93
16
votes
5 answers

What is the way to clean a kneaded eraser?

I can see black patches on my kneaded eraser. What is the right way to clean the kneaded eraser so that it doesn't leave any marks on the paper?
Aquarius_Girl
  • 3,711
  • 5
  • 24
  • 45
16
votes
4 answers

What is a good technique for drilling holes in glass bottles?

How do you drill holes in glass bottles (safely)? Do you need special drill bits, or tools? High speed drill or extra slow? I tried once on my drill press and I shattered the bottle. I've seen really cool things done with empty wine bottles…
bowlturner
  • 1,153
  • 12
  • 33
15
votes
3 answers

How can I prevent watercolor paper from buckling?

Watercolor paper comes in various weights and the lighter variants can buckle (also known as cockling) when they get wet. How can I prevent or reduce this from happening? Is there a preferred technique or should I just buy the really heavy paper?
Joanne C
  • 3,423
  • 3
  • 15
  • 39
15
votes
10 answers

What are some waterproof materials that meet my criteria for folding origami stars and cranes eggs?

One of my future projects involve folding A LOT of origami stars and crane eggs and turn it into a curtain. However, I want to insure that my hard (and very tedious) work do not go to waste by making it waterproof. Here are images of both the…
Jay
  • 555
  • 1
  • 5
  • 14
15
votes
10 answers

What can I do to ensure I only erase the smaller details without affecting the area around it?

I don't draw much and can't even call myself an amateur yet. As a result I make a lot of mistakes and also many test strokes when drawing. For small touch ups and mistakes the eraser is my best friend. However, my big white eraser does not help…
Matt
  • 11,012
  • 2
  • 40
  • 93
15
votes
1 answer

What is the difference between linen and cotton canvas?

I am painting in oils, and I normally paint on cotton canvas. I've often wondered what the difference is between cotton and linen canvases - linen canvases appear to have a slightly different texture, but is there anything else that differentiates…
Tom Medley
  • 1,798
  • 1
  • 15
  • 22
15
votes
2 answers

Durable T-shirt design methods

I would like to compare the durability of different methods for designing T-shirts (printing/drawing), where I would like to restrict myself to print methods that can be achieved at home (with a little practice). T-shirt marker heat transfer foil…
Earthliŋ
  • 624
  • 5
  • 18
15
votes
2 answers

How do I choose which adhesive or material to repair action figures?

I have several types of action figures that need minor repairs (small details broken off) and major repairs (limbs broken). Some of these parts are soft, flexible plastic, some hard, and some are right on pressure/articulation points. How do I go…
user24
15
votes
6 answers

How to plan a drawing?

When I am drawing, I have a lot of good ideas to use, but I always have trouble envisioning the drawing I want to make! I end up starting to draw and then erasing it countless times before I get close to making the picture in a satisfactory way, and…
Numi
  • 533
  • 3
  • 11
15
votes
1 answer

Is there a way to determine the fiber content of a yarn if I've lost the label?

I try to keep the label that comes with the yarn I buy but I do have a few balls of yarn where the label has disappeared and I don't have an additional, unused ball (that would still have the label). Is there a way to tell what fiber(s) a yarn has…
BSMP
  • 595
  • 3
  • 15
15
votes
3 answers

What is the conversion for UK and US crochet hooks to mm?

The UK and US use numbered or lettered hook sizes in their patterns rather than a standardized measurement. What are the conversions between the hook sizes depending on whether I'm using US or UK patterns?
Catija
  • 3,506
  • 2
  • 22
  • 45
1 2
3
…
99 100