We welcome any and all tips and tricks that have helped you in the past. Please send them to Kathy Price.
- Put a wet wipe between the lid of your Yes glue and the glue pot. You'll never struggle to get the lid off again. A paper towel might work as well but it might not be as strong.
- If you have a small glue bottle that is constantly plugging, put a small damp (NOT dripping) piece of paper towel in the bottom of a yogurt container or pill bottle and store the glue nose down in the bottle. It will not plug until the paper towel dries.
- If you are doing a water scene, invest in some two part epoxy from a hardware store or craft store. You'll go broke using Realistic Water from Woodland Scenics.
- Use a drop of superglue or Zap a Gap with regular tacky for a sturdier bond that sets up faster.
- Wipe a small amount of Vaseline around the threads of your new glue bottle tops to keep them from gluing shut.
- When you lose the top closure for your tacky glue, use a piece of plastic wrap and a plastic electrical nut as a substitute. Save the little tops from your old glue bottles for the next time you lose one. They also make good 1" coffee cups.
- Those same tops also make a good mold for making clay pots for 1/4 scale flowers. Just form your clay around it. The pot you form will easily slide off.
- Use old lids from margarine tubs, peanut butter jars, and carry out food for paint and glue pallets. They clean up easily or can just be disposed of.
- If you prefer to use artists' pallets, cover your pallet in aluminum foil for easier clean up.
- Squish a couple of toilet paper tubes side by side into a jar or coffee cup to keep paint brush types separated.
- Very Small knitting needles make good precision glue spreaders. They’re easy to handle because of the length.
- Mix matte Mod Podge half and half with water in a spray bottle and spray it over loose sand to set it up securely.
- You can realistically drape fabric by spreading a thin layer of glue on the back of it and applying it to tin foil. Once it dries it will hold almost any shape you drape it in.
- You can also drape quilts, tablecloths, and curtains by sewing a thin cloth covered floral wire into the border or the hem. It will hold pleats and folds indefinitely.
- If you run out of strip wood for your small scale project, try using quilling paper. You can paint it, or you may find just the color you need.
- Cut the vinyl makeup brush cleaners from the dollar store to fit the bottom of your paint water cup. Swish your brushes clean while you’re painting. Use it with soapy water after painting to clean your brushes.
- The brushes from your used mascara can be cleaned and painted and/or flocked to make 1/144th scale bushes and trees.
- Sandpaper makes great small scale shingles. It’s also good for texturing clay baked goods like cookies and cakes.
- Crumpled tissue paper glued to a project and painted when dry makes a great fast, lightweight medium to use as stucco.
- Small snippets of pulled bunka make a woolly coat for your wooden or plastic sheep. Flocking can make them look like they were just sheared.
