10 Great Crafts to Learn- UPDATED 4/21! My top 10 crafts to learn NOW.

Posted by Janine Design Admin on

Making my way down the aisles of Michaels or Joanne's Fabrics, I see so many crafts I wish I could do. Anyone who knows me knows I am all about a new craft! 

With the time and money it takes to start a new one, I want to make sure it's something I can really enjoy. I especially like crafts I can bring with me, ones that are really portable. I like to do crafts on my day off or on vacation. I bring a bunch of crafts and work to Maine when I visit family. It's so relaxing to painting or bead by the lake.

Some up and coming crafts such as diamond painting and paint pouring really catch my eye.

 

1.Paint Pouring

 

For inspiration, I am following the paint pouring hashtag on Instagram and it comes up with some of the most unbelievable paintings. This technique is done by putting an additive into the paint to make it the right texture to pour. Done right, it makes patterns called "cells" almost like popped bubbles on the surface or a crackled texture. Once the paint is thinned, it is added to a cup in specific layers and flipped upside down onto the canvas. There are many ways to do this, pouring or straining it through a strainer. One person even uses a turntable for the canvas and a swing to get a swoosh effect.

I am going to invest in some paint pouring materials because I have on hand acrylic paint and canvases. Make sure you do your research on coupons for canvases. Sometimes the craft stores have huge sales on them including the once a year sale at Michaels where you buy one and get two free!

This is where I am going to get my kit:

 

2. Diamond Painting

 

Diamond painting is a paint by number on a sticky surface with crystals. Once completed you get a gorgeous sparkly picture that you can frame. The image below is an example of one I completed last year. The new one I am working on has square crystals so there is no exposed area around the crystals. They come in kits with the crystals, and a crystal setting pen and sticky wax. You take the wax and put a tiny bit in the tip of the pen. This helps you to easily lift up a crystal and stick it onto the canvas.

 

Click here to learn more and 42 diamond painting tips: 

https://paintwithdiamonds.art/blogs/diamond-painting/tips-tricks-techniques

To get your kit: https://paintwithdiamonds.art

 

3. Silk Flowers

 

Not your Grandma's type of silk flowers. Today's silks look and even feel like the real thing. From simple daisies to more complex ones like orchids, I have always loved silks. Years ago when I was a floral designer, I got my silks from Jacobson's flowers in Boston. Today there are readily available at craft stores and online but beware of the quality in some craft stores. I used to do silk designing for Michaels and the quality just isn't there in my opinion. One way I can tell quality is how the petals are joined onto the stems, blobs of plastic or wire sticking out of a plastic stem isn't a good sign. The look of the hydrangea blossom is also a good indicator of quality. Are they realistic looking or are the petals cut out and frayed? Check out petals.com to order stems of silks that are pretty good in my opinion.

Make sure you have the right equipment such as hot glue gun, baskets or wreaths, ribbon, wire cutters, knife and floral wire. Youtube videos are a good place to start. Stuck on a project? Bring it by my shop and I'll let you know what you can do. I even have silk flowers on my bed. Here's an example:

 

4. Crochet

 

My friend Kristy just taught me how to do basic crocheting.  I know how to do a simple chain. I use that to make one of my types of necklaces, a braided crochet chain of wire with beads added. One of the most portable crafts, you can do this anywhere! This is a little more complicated for me but I am going to keep on trying. It is relaxing once you have the hang of a few rows.

Here is an example of what you can make crocheting and a few beads:

 

5. Jewelry Design

 

Well of course I am going to mention this. My specialty.
I love making jewelry anywhere. Especially while on a porch on vacation. My happy spot! Want to learn how to make simple but elegant necklaces, bracelets and earrings? Want to know the secrets of where to get jewelry tools and parts and the best beads around?

Classes are coming soon once we can have people back inside. I am also keen on the idea of zoom lessons as well.

I am always looking for a fun quiet place to have classes, please email me your ideas at: info@janinedesign.com

 

 6. Window Stickers

 

I don't know thy the process of making window decals was so cathartic during the lockdown but it definitely was. My daughter got a kit for her birthday but wasn't as interested as I was. Using the tiny squeeze bottles and having a squishy sticker all cured the next day was just so fun for me. Brings back the old days of Mrs. Grossman's stickers when I was a kid.

You squeeze the glue-like paint onto a plastic surface which is over a template you trace. You can get really crafty and make your own templates or print out another design.

Here is where I found one similar:

Ooly Creatibles DIY Window Cling Art Kit | BLICK Art Materials (dickblick.com)

 

7. Kitsungi

 

kitsungi is "... the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum, a method similar to the maki-e technique. As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise."-Wickipedia

I started a Kitsungi kit recently. A few tips- wear gloves, don't use good paintbrushes because you are painting on glue, try not to break the bowl too vigorously- mine broke into a hundred pieces instead of 20-30.

This is the kit I bought and it was a treat to open. So beautifully packaged.

here is the link to check it out: KINTSUGI KIT: with Black Onyx Bowl | Etsy

 

8.Chalk Painting

 

This one I just recently started. I never embarked on furniture painting because it was too daunting. Removing paint and sanding are not things that I enjoy. So, when I found a paint that you can just paint over wood with out prepping and sanding you could say I was excited!

I picked up the paint at  Amazon but most hardware stores carry chalk paint and wax sealer. I highly recommend taking your time buffing in the clear or tinted wax after to keep it sealed. I used Minwax to seal the paint. The chalk paint is the blue/green paint. I kept the original cream color on the back panels for now on this vintage pantry from my Great-Grandmother. I don't have a before picture but it was all the cream color before. My friends get side tables or other small furniture from yard sales and repaint them with the chalk paint. You wouldn't believe how amazing they look after.

here is the paint I bought:Amazon.com: Chalk Style Paint - for Furniture, Home Decor, Crafts - Eco-Friendly - All-in-One - No Wax Needed (Wanderess [Teal], Pint (16 oz)): Home Improvement

 

9.Sunprinting

 

I have LOVED this quick, fun craft since I was a little kid. Sun printing or Cyanotype. Place objects on the specially coated paper and leave it in the sun. So many beautiful possibilities! I am purchasing a new kit and showing this to my kiddo. 

Here is the link:Amazon.com: SunPrint Paper Kit: Toys & Games

 

10. Reverse Tie-Dye

 

Last week I did some laundry with towels and added bleach. I didn't realize my favorite grey shirt was stuck in there and it has some bleach spots. So, instead of throwing it out I folded it up in an accordion style. I wrapped the folded up "tube"  with rubber bands every few inches and took it outside in the sun. I then made a small spray bottle with 1/4 bleach and 3/4 cup of water.

I sprayed the folded up shirt all around and watched it transform before my eyes! Don't mind the wrinkles in the photo- I just unwrapped it and its ready for a run in the washer, by itself of course!

 

 

Those are my top 10 crafts.

 

There are so many I will try in the future that I didn't want to overwhelm you. Some crafts like, silk painting, raku pottery, glassblowing, quilling and more. Let me know what kind of craft you are working on!

Happy Spring-


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