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Crafter's Corner HOW TO WORK IN SUMMER (June 01, 2009)
The long, hot, dry, summer weather is great for drying the washing (OHH JOY!) - it also has weird effects on our crafting habits, and perhaps we need to change our ways a little bit?
So here are a few tips and thoughts to help
(This list will be added to and extended as the summer evolves - ideas welcome)
- Working with any kind of thin surface of ink or acrylic is a huge chore - it dries out so quickly. If you are a scribe like me, or a water colourist - it's a constant battle to keep it 'wet'. Add as much extra water as possible - or just don't fight the battle. Use washes and expand your techniques!
- Stamping with ink pads can be difficult as the results are unpredictable - add a 'huff' of breath on the stamp to re-moisten the ink. And make sure you close your pads quickly.
- Paper/card can become 'difficult' to work with - that's because the moisture in the air has dropped and they become 'harder', cracking can be a huge problem in hot weather - a very fine water spray on the card before you emboss can help, or just going over once instead of the normal twice (and making sure!) can really help the card stay in shape.
- Be VERY aware of your ink pads - make sure you keep them in a cool, dark place, DON'T leave the lid off the pad for any more time that can be helped (and yes - a TINY spray of water (on a water friendly ink pad) on the pad surface can help protect it). The something goes for all the felt tip pens we use. Gel pens are fine!
- Also be very aware of your skin surface! Sweaty hands will spoil the paper/card surface - always use a scrap piece or (even better) blotting paper, under your hands to protect the surface of the paper while you work.
But it can be a plus
- Glitter and glue (liquid pearls) etc - dry really quickly - so you don't have to wait
- If you want to paint - and add a second coat, this dries really quickly too
- The evening light lasts so much longer - and is so much better to work in
- You can sit in the garden and sketch!!!
- You can skive off - hay! sun is so rare here!!! - Go get the vitamin D and enjoy!!!
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