Contrary to what Jackson Pollock's mother might have thought, childhood creativity (and a parent's sanity) rarely thrives when paint is being strewn with abandon. Your best bet is to assume your kids will make a mess, and then prepare for it in advance. If you're not worrying about paint drips on the carpet, you--and your kids--will have more fun while crafting. Here are a few keep-it-clean tips:

• Before you begin, cover work surfaces with newspapers or, better still, a covering made from a single sheet of material, such as an old shower curtain, plastic tablecloth or even a big beach towel (you can fold it up to carry it, shake it out easily, wipe your wet fingers on it, then throw the whole thing in the wash).
• Wear smocks or Dad's old T-shirts to protect clothes. To make one super-easy homemade smock, just cut arm and head holes out of an old pillowcase, then slip it over your child's head.
• If the project involves small pieces, give each child a shallow container, such as a shoe box lid or muffin tin to hold his or her personal supply.
• Use throwaway or easy-to-clean work palettes--paper plates, paper cups, scrap cardboard, or old yogurt containers.
• Limit the amount of glue on the table by pouring small amounts onto individual paper plates and letting kids apply it with a cotton swab or a small paintbrush.
• To minimize hand mess during glue or painting projects, give each child a bowl with a wet sponge or folded damp paper towels inside for quick finger wipes.