You love crafting and receive a lot of enjoyment from making wreaths. This hobby relaxes you while triggering the creative parts of your brain. What you may not know is that when you use the wrong materials, you’re risking health problems. Some products can trigger allergies or worse. Here are three tips for healthier wreath crafting.
Use Glue Sticks
Image via Flickr by ShardsOfBlue
This list will include several crafting materials to avoid and suggestions on the best ways to replace them. The first issue stems from adhesive materials. Several of the items that you might use have health risks. For example, rubber cement, model glues, and epoxy are all health hazards. All of them have carcinogenic properties that you might inhale while working. They also have an acetone that could cause damage to your nervous system.
By using any of those substances, you risk an allergic reaction or even respiratory problems. You can avoid these concerns by picking safer materials. Glue sticks, white paste, and adhesive tape are all free of carcinogens. When you need something stronger, white wood glue is also fine. You can attach anything that you want to a wreath with these materials, and the adhesion is still invisible to the naked eye.
Put Down Those Markers
Many DIY enthusiasts like to add a personal flourish to wreath designs. An illustration is often the final touch that perfects a new keepsake. The problem is that you’re likely using the wrong things for drawing. Permanent and dry-erase markers are easy to buy and even simpler to use. They come in a rainbow of colors and are cheap.
The problem is that many markers contain industrial solvents. Think about that strange feeling you get when you sniff a marker. That’s your body signaling that it’s come into contact with something dangerous. You can avoid that odd sensation by buying water-based markers. Companies even sell unscented ones to avoid that weird contact high. Crayons and colored pencils are also great options, and they come in even more colors than markers.
Pick Paints Carefully
Painting is a fun activity that adds a special touch to wreaths. You can add a splash of color to any piece with the right paint. Alas, some paints have volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that have a high vapor pressure. The Environmental Protection Agency believes that these VOCs do damage to the environment. They also have potential long-term health risks for people. You may feel skin irritation, headaches, and nausea when you breathe VOCs.
Many popular brands of paint contain VOCs. Spray paint, acrylic paint, and powdered paints all have this issue. Oil-based paints can as well, and most paint thinners have a high ratio of VOCs. Using any of these products is dangerous to your health.
Shop for children’s paints instead. Government regulations call for greater safety with children’s products. Water-based children’s paints such as paint pans, poster paints, and tempera are all safe and free of VOCs.
Making wreaths is a fun hobby. You don’t want to suffer an allergic reaction while you’re doing it, though. Follow the suggestions above to craft wreaths safely.
