Art project mess - how do you contain it?

Every time I set up painting or markers with the kids it looks like a hurricane hit the house afterward. Paint on the floor, markers on the table that won't come out, glitter (why did I think glitter was a good idea?) literally everywhere. I've tried the tablecloth thing, the dropcloth thing, even set up outside once but somehow it still spreads. Do I just accept that this is the price of art projects or is there an actual system that works? Asking for my sanity.