Craft Questions Answered

Answers to DIY and craft questions submitted by readers of the Craftionary newsletter.

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5. How to make the hankies not wilt or flop over for a craft project?

Cornstarch, fabric stiffener and modpodge (or PVA glue) work great. Try Mixing 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 cups of water. Boil until it thickens slightly and let it cool. Dip the hanky, wring out the excess, and lay flat to dry. Iron for a crisp finish.

Alternatively, you can mist the hanky with a starch spray. You can also use glue stiffener (1:1 ratio mod podge and water) or gelatin stiffener (dissolve 1 tsp of gelatin in 2 cups of hot water). Method is the same as for cornstarch stiffener.

4. How you get the marbleized glasses to be see-through in the end?

Holly tested out opaque and translucent paints mixed with different amounts of glazing medium on a glass removed from old frame to give you varying see-through glass painting results. You can find all the details for the quantity mixes and their results to choose the one that works best for you.

Details: DIY Easy Glass Painting

3. Driftwood: Where can I sell driftwood that I find on the lake driftwood that has not been touched by an artist fresh off the lake?

You can sell it at a variety of places. Hoping someone who is interest can reach you directly when they read this article. Other than this, you can sell fresh driftwood from the lake through several different platforms, depending on your target market:

1. Online Marketplaces – Platforms like Etsy, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace are great for selling raw driftwood to artists, crafters, and furniture makers. Etsy, in particular, has a strong market for natural materials used in decor and art projects.

2. Local Craft Stores and Artisans – Reach out to local woodworkers, interior designers, and artists who might be interested in high-quality, untouched driftwood for their projects. Some might be willing to buy in bulk.

3. Garden and Landscaping Businesses – Many landscaping companies and garden centers use driftwood for decorative purposes, especially for aquariums, terrariums, and coastal-themed designs.

4. Farmers Markets and Craft Fairs – If your area has a farmers market or artisan fair, you could sell driftwood directly to customers looking for rustic home decor materials.

5. Consignment Shops and Home Decor Boutiques – Some home decor stores specializing in rustic or coastal themes may take driftwood on consignment.

6. Wholesale to Large Suppliers – If you collect large quantities, you can sell wholesale to businesses that resell driftwood for artistic and commercial use.

7. Social Media and Niche Groups – Join Facebook groups, Instagram pages, and Pinterest communities that focus on natural decor, DIY projects, or woodworking. These platforms can help you connect directly with buyers.

2. Resin: So I’m going to be giving resin crafting another go and would like a couple of questions helped with if possible.

First off is bubbles. I don’t have the money for a pressure pot as of right now so I’m looking into all different ways to remove bubbles from thin as well as thick molds. I know about a flame for surface bubbles and thin pouring to help eliminate adding bubbles in the first place but want to know if there are any other methods to help.

Mix resin slowly for amounted time, to avoid bubbles and make sure the working area is at normal temperature if not warm. A lot of resin problems are related to humid or cold area. You can also spray a little bit of isopropyl alcohol on the mold before pouring resin. Let your resin settle in the mixing cup for a few minutes before your pour it into the mold. After pouring you can either spritz it with the alcohol or once you poured it go around edges with flat end of skewer gently and then a few minute spritz on the resin in the mold. DO NOT TORCH AFTER ALCOHOL!!! Learn more about Beginners guide to resin crafts

1. Resin: I have a question about drying. I did 2 resin pours yesterday and the first batched was perfectly hardened this morning. The second batch is sticky. Did I not stir long enough? Is there something that can be done to harden the second one?

There are a few reasons for this happening, #1 being mixing ratio. Make sure to measure the hardener and resin accurately while you mix it. Secondly, any scraps from previous batch if not cleaned properly may lead to improper mixing of the second batch. So, always clean the mixing cups properly. The space where you allow the batches to be cured must be warm and not cold. It is also quiet possible as a final note that the colorant mixed should not exceed a certain amount. For example, a 100ml mixture should require 6ml of colorant.

For your second question, you can completely remove the sticky resin and pour fresh resin into a completely dry area and allow it to cure again! Learn more about resin crafting.