14 Ingenious Mom Hacks to Make Arts and Crafts Less of a Headache

Anything with compartments to avoid spilling and cross-contamination works!

Being able to pump or squeeze the paint will give them a little independence and help to avoid wasting paint and having it all dry out.

You can mix and match markers of similar hues to make a more concentrated watercolor.

Having the eraser right there for them on each marker means a more seamless crafting session that will hopefully last more than a few minutes (the dream!).

Kids can dab pieces of paper — or anything that needs gluing — directly onto the sponge and you can seal the container afterward to keep it from drying out before future uses.

Whether they were crafting with glitter, feathers, or beads, run a lint roller across the table and underneath it to collect the tiny mess (this also works for Lego pieces!).

You can cut the shape they want into a potato, or let them explore texture by using oranges or lettuce as paint brushes.

Pro-tip: press and seal wrap will stick to the table and ensure a clean surface when they're finished with their work of art.

Let the mess-free fingerpainting commence (just be sure to take the paper out before it all dries)!

A happy, organized mama equals a happy, organized little artist.

Friendship bracelets for days, rather than hours of untangling.

This keeps everything organized and makes it easy for little fingers to thumb through their choices, rather than ask you for the one book on the bottom of the pile every time.

You can use these pictures to make a photo book that you'll both cherish long after the art was created, and you’ll actually be able to see the doors of your refrigerator for once. Frame the best ones that you can’t part with as kid room decor.

H/T What’s Up Moms