Well, I haven't been doing anything for red strips atm. I've just been focused on the blue strips. I'm leveling one class to 60 after I hit 56 at a time right now and will worry about red strips later. But what I do for blue strips is basically (triple check I have the collectable buff on >.>;; ):

Use a maker's mark and flawless synth macro for whatever it takes to get the free flawless synth's. I don't use any other skill at this time (even to collect CP back with a good.) Then I'll use a careful synth 2 if needed so that I only need one hit to finish it. IF, CZ, and SH2, using TotT if it comes up. I'll do hasty touch and use TotT for the first couple good's. After that, I use precise touch (it gives two stacks of IF) if it comes up. I found around 59 that I can relax this policy just a bit. I start eyeing the CP around 90-ish, depending how high my IF stack is. I want 7+, if possible. I try to have SH2 stack up and will use the two buffs if I have the CP. Then I hit BB and finish up.

I generally almost always get past the collectable quality mark. Really, the trick is to keep an eye on your CP so you'll be able to have enough for the BB. If you get a good before you're at the second to the last step and you know you don't have enough CP to mend, then you your BB then (if you also don't have the CP for the two buffs.)

I dunno. I could be doing this wrong (fellow crafters, please tell me if I am!) I'm a new crafter too. I've only 3 up to 60 atm. Weaver is almost there though.