I love crafting, but sometimes, I do not finish my craft projects. In this post, I want to challenge myself to finish four of my unfinished craft projects.
Why Unfinished Craft Projects Happen
There are several reasons why I personally have unfinished craft projects.
Time. With my blog, YouTube, and daily life responsibilities, I have a limited time to craft. After a day of work or other responsibilities, you may want to spend your free time doing something else besides crafts, such as watching a movie, reading, gaming, or focusing on another hobby.
Procrastination. I will gather all the materials needed for a craft and then set the project aside to start another day. Then months go by, and the project is still not started and remains unfinished.
New skill. If I want to try a new craft, the thought of learning a new skill can deter me from even starting the project. It can seem time-consuming and also intimidating to learn the new skill.
Forgetting. I will have an idea for a craft and buy any materials needed. Then, due to time or procrastination, I put off the project. I then end up forgetting about the idea entirely until I look through my materials and am reminded of the idea.
My Unfinished Projects
Over the course of two days, I decided to challenge myself to finish my four unfinished projects.
1. Solar Prints
I bought a set of cyanotype papers, and I made one print with leaves. I had other ideas for the remaining papers, but I just never did them. It does take time to gather the items to make the prints, and it also needs to be a sunny day. Furthermore, the papers need to sit in the sun for at least 10 minutes, and it takes time for them to dry after being rinsed.
On a sunny day, I decided to go to the garden to finish the prints. I gathered flowers for the remaining prints and arranged them on the papers. I then let them sit in the sun, and then rinsed the papers and set them to dry. Now, I have completed all the solar prints.
2. Bracelet
I bought a jewelry-making kit that had the materials to make two bracelets. I made the first bracelet for my Trying Sims 4 Hobbies in Real Life post, and put off making the other bracelet as I would get to it one day. It has been a year since that post, and I still have not gotten around to making the bracelet.
I decided I would no longer put off making the bracelet, and the process was fairly straightforward. I had to string the piece of quartz and connect it to the chain, and then add the clasp. The most tedious part was dealing with the jump rings, but I completed the bracelet, and I do think it looks nice.
3. Wax Seals
I have seen videos of people making intricate wax seals, and I wanted to try out making my own wax seals. I did buy a kit that came with two colors of wax, the melting spoon, the handle, and two stamps of a flower and leaves. However, since I have never made wax seals before, it did seem a bit intimidating to start.
I was not going to let the thought of learning a new craft hold me back anymore. To make the wax seals, I melted 4 pieces of the wax, poured it on a piece of baking paper or silicone mat, and let the wax sit for 5 seconds before stamping it for 10 seconds. You can also pour the wax directly on envelopes to seal letters, but I was not planning on sending any letters at the time. I first made a set of wax seals with the plain colors, and then I mixed the colors, and it was an enjoyable process. I have used all the wax, and I am happy with how the wax seals turned out.
4. Wood Slice Coasters
A while back, I bought a set of four wood slices, and I immediately had the idea that I wanted to paint them based on the seasons and turn them into coasters. However, I put the wood slices away with my other craft materials and completely forgot about my idea.
When I was gathering my unfinished crafts for this post, I found the wood slices and remembered my idea. I then painted the wood slices with a cherry blossom, lavender, chrysanthemum, and snowdrop. I added smaller details with a drawing pen, then covered them in Mod Podge and acrylic varnish. Overall, I do like how the coasters look.
Tips to Complete Unfinished Crafts
My first tip is to figure out what unfinished crafts you have. They can be crafts you have started and not completed, or crafts you have all the materials for but never got around to. Then, you should set a block of time aside specifically for crafting. It can be a time when you have no other plans, such as during the weekend, and you can focus on crafting. I then recommend starting with an easy-win craft. For example, it can be a craft you have almost completed, or it will not take much time to finish. Once you finish the craft, it keeps your motivation up to continue other crafts. Lastly, you do not have to rush to finish all your craft projects at once. You still want to be able to enjoy the process and the craft you make.
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