A true crafter does not look for shortcuts in making a product if it means that product will decrease in quality. But a true crafter can surely appreciate good crafting tips that may lessen the working time while still providing excellent quality.

Below are seven crafting tips that one may find useful to have:

1. A thin layer of plaster may be used with stencils to create a raised effect. Be sure to clean the stencils immediately.

2. To spread plaster when using stencils anything stiff will work. I use an old insurance card!

3. If you need to measure an item but cant find your ruler then pull out a $1 bill. A $1 bill is six inches long, so obviously when folded in half is three inches long.

4. When working with polymer clay, if you need to create a small dome shape, then slightly press the polymer clay into a paint pallet.

5. Paint brushes when cleaned with hand soap and rinsed well will become very soft.

6. If you have several containers full of ribbon, cut a small strip from each roll of ribbon and tape the strips on the front of the container. This way you dont need to open every container to find the ribbon you are searching for.

7. Place a plastic sack over a freshly painted area, and press down on the sack to cover the area. Then lift the sack off the painted area to reveal an unusual design.

These seven tips will not decrease the quality of your craft item and may make your crafting more creative!