You’ve been waiting all day for that precious block of time that’s just for you. It’s finally here, and with a sigh of relief you get out your new grown-up coloring book and your fancy markers and start your “me-time”. Happily coloring along, you uncap your pretty robin’s egg marker and get a patch of barely-there blue. What? No, the blue can’t be dry. Aargh, dried markers aren’t relaxing at all!
There’s nothing worse than discovering broken craft supplies mid-project. Here are some tips to fix the supplies and save the (crafty) day. This page may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through my link, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Can your craft supplies be saved?
Watercolors. Yes! Watercolor cakes are one of the easiest craft supplies to fix. Simply add a few drops of water to the broken cake (adding more drops as needed) and mix with an old paintbrush, craft stick, or other handy mixing tool. As the water evaporates, the cake will be good as new.
Craft Punches. Have a craft punch that sticks a bit or no longer cuts cleanly? Punch through a sheet of waxed paper several times to make it smooth again, and through aluminum foil to sharpen.
Brushes. When it comes to paint brushes that are no longer holding their shapes, there are a couple options to try. Success will depend on how much abuse the poor brush suffered already.
- If the bristles are separated into wonky bunches, the problem is likely dried paint in the ferrule (the metal part that holds the bristles to the handle) keeping the bristles apart. Try
Acrylic Paint. Well, that depends. (I know. Super-helpful, right?) Nothing will make acrylic paints new again, but you may be able to get a few more uses out of the container.- If you’re using artist acrylics, Name Your Link
“>glass dropper bottles for easier use in projects.
Ink Pads. Dried out ink pads, on the other hand are easier to fix. Manufacturers often sell small re-inker bottles that you can use to add more ink to the pad. It’s more cost effective than buying a new pad and well worth it, especially for your favorite colors. Well-loved pads that are peeling away from their bases can be easily be reattached with fabric glue or superglue.While being careful with craft supplies is ideal, we all know life happens. Sometimes trays get dropped, caps are accidentally left open or not clicked in place, and some supplies get used less often than others. Before you throw away those broken supplies (or throw them across the room), see if they have life left in them!
Until next time…
Carla
- If you’re using artist acrylics, Name Your Link
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