Arts and Crafts Stack Exchange
Arts and Crafts Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
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4 answers

What material can I use to dye paper to look older?

My son wants to have a treasure hunt themed birthday party (we'll be geocaching at a local park). For the invitations, he wants pirate treasure maps to tell guests where to go. I'm going to be typing up the directions and information and map and…
Erica
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What paint works for "mock" stained glass?

I am pondering a project to make candle holders from wine bottles. I'd like to paint a "stained glass" style pattern on the outside, so it looks like a much more complex project than it actually is. What paint will provide color for the "panes", but…
Erica
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What kind of glue works for stones and shells?

I have a collection of many small stones and shells of different shapes and sizes picked up from various beaches, and it'd be nice to glue some of them together to make some sort of arty model. But these are unusual materials and I'm not sure what…
Rand al'Thor
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How to reuse a sewing pattern without damaging it

What's a good strategy for reusing a sewing pattern without damaging it? Say I have a pattern I like, I can fuse some interfacing to it to make it last longer. That said, the way I was taught to cut fabric from this pattern involves either using…
wyer33
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Is there a difference in stability between prestringing and placing a bead?

I am thinking about doing a knitted project with beads. I am wondering if there is a difference in stability between prestringing the beads and placing the beads. I would like for the beads to move as little as possible in the finished object. (If…
BSMP
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Multi-unit pottery kiln - how hot can it go?

I am inheriting an old electric kiln. It has three stackable heating elements and the data plates on each stacking ring says "Petterson Multi-Unit Kiln", I can't seem to find much about this on Google. The data plates each specify a maximum…
William S.
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How can I pre-wash/dry bolts of fabric in a way that will prevent the cut ends from unraveling?

Given large pieces of freshly purchased fabric, how should I wash/dry them before using them to create things? Every book, article, and other piece of advice I've heard is to always wash your fabric before cutting/sewing. I personally only use…
Eris
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Which kind of pencils should be used by a beginner for drawing?

I am curious what people would consider a basic / standard pencil type to have in their toolbox for pencil sketching. There are a ton of variants I see with different hardness/softness etc and I don't plan to do anything advanced just want to sketch…
Kozbot
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How can I finish stitching those last few inches?

I am a gifted amateur when it comes to sewing - at least with a blanket stitch. Never touched a sewing machine in my life and do it all by hand. My kids are naturally rough with toys and their clothes. Some are better designed than others. I hate…
Matt
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What name best describes this style of pen-and-ink art?

I have been working with pen and ink, doing pieces of this style for more than a decade. Many times, I have been asked for a name to describe what I do, and I'm continually left with stating that it is simply "my style." Is there a specific style…
Jeffrey Blake
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What is the name of Japanese printing which uses hammered leaves on white cloth?

I once saw on TV a type of craft work that used the shapes and colours of leaves arranged carefully in between folded white canvas cloth and beaten with a small hammer. The result was a beautiful copy of the leaf, showing the intricate detail of the…
lloowen
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What is an easy way to waterproof large pieces of cardboard?

I am building sets and props for an outdoor performance. We must use recycled materials as much as possible, and will thus use cardboard a lot since it is readily available. We plan on painting or sticking on some decor to build the props, where…
Darren
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Is there a kid-safe carving material?

I would like my oldest (about 3 1/2 years old right now) to carve something, because of the fun I had with my plaster carving. However, most carving requires sharp knives and firm materials that are difficult to cut through. I would like an…
user24
12
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2 answers

How do I know I've got the right amount of moisture in the paper to wet-fold origami?

I've only had experience dry-folding. The one and only time I attempted to wet fold, the paper disintegrated. How do I know when the paper's absorbed the appropriate amount of moisture for wetfolding, where it won't tear along the folds, yet remain…
inkista
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Do all sewing machines have the same needles (mounting wise)?

My mom has a Silvercrest 33B1 sewing machine and I am looking for an appropriate set of needles. She mostly sews curtains, tableclothes and chair covers. These I assume use thin fabrics, either synthetic or cotton ones (I am not doing the sewing, so…
Dimitrios Desyllas
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