Crafts And Stuff - Be Aware of Toxic Chemicals in Art Supplies

Be Aware of Toxic Chemicals in Art Supplies

Art is a wonderful thing for children. It helps them develop creativity, cognitive skills and motor skills. It is also great for self-esteem. While these benefits are undeniable, art also poses some risks to children. That’s because many art supplies contain toxic chemicals.

It’s fairly well known that kids should not be exposed to certain types of paint. The chemical fumes are quite obvious, and the containers are clearly labeled with warnings about breathing those fumes and ingesting the product. But many parents are unaware that not every product that contains toxic ingredients is clearly identified. There are certain labeling standards that must be adhered to by law, but the label doesn’t always tell the whole story.

Every art supply sold in the United States must conform to ASTM D 4236 standards. This means that they must display warnings if they present an acute or chronic health hazard. Manufacturers are not, however, required to list each product’s ingredients on the label.

Some art supply manufacturers have their products tested by the Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI), which is a non-profit organization that conducts evaluation and testing. ACMI may approve the product or require the manufacturer to place a caution label on it. Products with caution labels are not recommended for use by children.

While these measures are helpful, some harmful products can still slip through the cracks. For example, in 2000, three brands of crayons bearing the ACMI seal of approval were reportedly found to contain asbestos. While asbestos was not used as an ingredient, it may contaminate talc, which was an ingredient. ACMI testing did not find asbestos, but the manufacturers voluntarily stopped using talc in their products.

Another concern involves ACMI’s standards for approval. They do not require that products contain no toxins whatsoever, but that toxins not be present in quantities that pose a hazard. That means that approved products may contain small amounts of solvents, heavy metals, phthalates and other substances that are known to be dangerous.

How to Choose Safe Products

Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee that a product we buy off the shelves contains absolutely no toxic chemicals. But we can make choices that are less likely to harm our children’s health. Here are some things to keep in mind.

1. Avoid oil-based paints.

They often contain solvents that can cause serious health problems. Watercolors are the safest choice for children, but even they can contain dangerous pigments. Make sure they bear the ACMI approved seal.

2 Keep kids away from anything with a strong smell.

This is usually an indicator that a solvent is present. In addition to paint, such solvents may be found in markers. Choose markers that are water-based if possible. Alcohol-based markers contain some toxins, but they are less toxic than solvent-based ones.

3 Steer clear of rubber cement and similar adhesives.

They contain neurotoxins. White glue and library paste are much safer choices.

4 Do not allow children to work with dry clay.

Clay contains silica, which can be harmful if inhaled. Wet clay is much safer. Children should be kept away from kilns, because some of the dust is released when clay is dried in them.

If you are concerned about toxic chemicals in store-bought art supplies, you can make your own. Finger paint and playdough are easy to make at home. Using all-natural ingredients can eliminate concerns about hazardous chemicals. Recipes may be found online. Be on the lookout for the post on this blog for a recipe.

It’s unfortunate that many art supplies can be detrimental to our children’s health. But if we make informed choices, we can greatly reduce the risk and concentrate on the good things about art for kids.

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Taking Custom Orders At Craft Shows without Overbooking Yourself

Taking Custom Orders At Craft Shows without Overbooking Yourself

For those who craft for a living (or to make some extra money), craft shows can be very profitable. They put your creations in front of a targeted audience, and they give you the opportunity to interact with potential customers and answer their questions. It's important to take plenty of products with you, because at a good show they will go faster than you think!

Another great thing about craft shows is that they are great places to get custom orders. They allow customers to take a close look at your work, and if they are impressed but want something different, they might ask you do make something special for them. It's important to be prepared for this.

Custom orders are wonderful, but if you're not careful, you might end up overbooking yourself. It is crucial to know how many projects you can realistically do, and how long it will take you to do them.

If you take on too much, you could fall behind quickly. Here are some tips to help prevent this:

1. Determine how long it takes you to do a simple project. If you truly have no idea, start timing yourself. You'll need to know this in order to accurately estimate how many projects you can do in a given time frame.

2. Take into account any extra work that will be required for a custom order. If a customer requests something that will require a great deal of extra effort or materials, we will usually consider that when quoting a price. But we need to make it a point not to forget to consider it when setting a time frame for the project, too.

3. Set limits regarding what you will and will not do on custom orders. Some requests might require expertise that you do not possess, and others might take up more time than you're willing to spend on a project. Sometimes it pays to say no.

4. Give yourself a little extra time for each project. You never know when there might be a delay in getting the materials you need, or when something else might come up and put you behind. It's better to give yourself a little too much time than not enough.

5. Remember that you have a life outside of crafting. When the orders are coming in, it can be tempting to book ourselves solid and not leave any time to do other things. But if we let ourselves get burned out, our work will suffer. Make sure you leave yourself room to take a day off every now and then.

For some crafters, custom orders make up a large portion of their business. But it's important not to let them take over your life. You need to make sure you have adequate time to do your non-custom work. Doing custom work can be a feat of scheduling, but if you schedule properly, you won't have to dread it.

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