First of all, we're not going to lie: This butterfly ball origami project is not a simple one to fold. In fact, you should only attempt it if you're an intermediate or advanced origami student. Second, we have no idea why this star-like object is called a butterfly ball (perhaps because it looks like a cacoon?), but either way it's a very cool modern shape.
Love folding origami? Then what better shape to fold for Christmas and the New Year than a star? A symbol of divinity as well as light and life during the dark days of winter, a star also makes great decor for Christmas trees and garlands.
One of the most impressive and unique ways of crafting a Christmas card is via origami folding techniques. Using a few simple triangular folds, you can easily make the boughs of a beautiful Christmas tree out of paper, ready to be assembled onto a card.
During the holiday season most of us have a Christmas tree up in our living rooms, filled to the brim with sparkly ornaments and twinkly lights. But the Christmas spirit tends to be a bit damper at work, where the most jolly it gets is making a makeshift post-it note Christmas tree on our cubicle wall.
Are you sitting in class the last day before holiday break, simply dying over how long each minute is before that last bell rings and you get to head to Big Bear? Pass the time (though obviously do so discretely) by crafting these simple origami t-shirts. Each t-shirt is folded from a monetary bill, which we're pretty sure you have in your pocket.
The holidays are all about giving and glitz and glamour, so combine them all together by crafting this cute modern Christmas tree card. A very geometric 3D Christmas tree stands out from its red background, adorned with sparkly glitter dots.
Sure, it's tiny, but it can still fly farther than many larger paper airplanes! This tutorial shows you how to make the world's smallest paper airplane out of some plain white paper and pair of scissors. You can get four airplanes out of one sheet of paper.
Out of balloons? You can use plain white paper to make a water bomb! All you will need is some fairly waterproof paper (printer paper works well for this), and some Scotch tape. And, of course, some water to fill it with!
This is a great gift for a baby - crochet a small afghan for them! This tutorial shows you how to use the slanted shell technique, and has been designed for use by those who prefer to use their left hand to crochet.
Keep your favorite pet cozy this winter season by making them a dog coat! This tutorial shows you how to follow a crochet pattern for a Bernat dog coat that will fit a medium sized dog (like a terrier or beagle).
Rosettes can be used to add a little extra touch to nearly any craft project. You don't need to spend a lot of money to buy them - you can take a stack of scrap paper and recycle it into lovely, colorful paper rosettes!
You don't have to spend a fortune on expensive gift wrapping when the means to make them yourself are right at home! This tutorial shows you how to take a collection of old envelopes and recycle them into fun and cute gift bags for small holiday gifts.
This is a fun and festive craft you can use to dress up your home or give away as a gift. All you will need are some of your favorite vintage graphics, your chosen cardboard box, a craft knife and a hot glue gun.
This is an easy and fun craft you can use for just about any gift, and can be made with any fabric and to any size. Just start with two pieces of cut fabric, and follow along with this tutorial to end with a traditional Danish heart basket!
This makes a great gift for anyone who is into recycled crafts. Start with a lightweight scarf you don't use anymore (square or rectangular) and some cording or ribbon, and then follow this quick sewing tutorial to transform it into an eco-friendly produce bag.
Start with a basic wicker round, and then use scraps of recycled fabric to make holiday rosettes. This tutorial uses red and white fabric, but you can make your wreath using any festive, colorful cloth or trim in your scrap basket.
Did you recently lose some weight, or do you have some jeans from years ago that you love but are slightly too loose fitting for your tastes? While you can certainly toss them, why not simply make them skinnier?
Jeggings are quite possibly the most awesome fashion piece invented. First of all, jeggings are essentially jean leggings. They look like jeans, but they wear comfortably like leggings. So you can look like you give a damn even if you don't!
A high waisted skirt is one of the most flattering skirts you can wear. Because it's cinched in directly at the smallest part of your midsection - your waist - you automatically get an hourglass figure silhouette.
You know all those t-shirts that you accumulate randomly? Like that XXL t-shirt you got from Subway during their holiday promotion, or that Key Club t-shirt you wore once and never touched again?
Without a doubt this is the biggest bow you can ever wear on your body - ever. And best of all, it's not slightly tackly like a Lady Gaga hair bow or bow clip-on accessory. In fact, this bow is so big it barely looks like a bow at all.
Chiffon is one of those naturally feminine fabrics. Soft, airy, and breathable, it ruffles easily and sashays with the breeze, giving potential suitors just a peek of your sexay curves.
Doesn't this feminine and romantic halter top look like something you'd see at a high end retailor like Ann Taylor? Silky and soft, this halter top is actually made from an old oversized t-shirt.
Knee high socks are totally school girl chic and help warm up your legs on a cool fall day when you want to stay toasty while looking fashionable. But if you've ever walked around a shopping center for more than half an hour with your knee highs on, you know that they've now quickly turned into mid-calf socks.
Let's face it: Rock stars wouldn't be half as cool without their hardware. We're talking those tough studded leather jackets, piercings, and of course rings.
Dark, punky glamour has never been more in on the runways. From YSL's blood red lipstick to the harsh stud and leather detailing on the clothes at Philip Lim, it seems that rock stars are the newest fashion role models.
You've heard about origami cranes before - they are, after all, the primer for all other origami projects. But what about crane eggs? That's right, crane (pre) babies! Sort of. Check out this video to learn how to fold crane eggs/love knots that are cute for putting in jars and gifting to friends.
Now you can literally count your lucky stars. Take a gander at this origami video to learn how to fold cute origami straw lucky stars. They're beautiful and adorable on their own, though they can be made quickly in large quanities to put into a pretty jar as a gift for a friend.
Never sewed before? Not a problem. This DIY ribbon flower, which can be made in any color of your choosing, is incredibly easy and only requires a few basic stitches to complete.
Have you ever been in a Madonna mood but didn't have the guts to rock full-on padded shoulders and leather glovelets? Then these lace fingerless gloves are the perfect balance between '80s cheekiness and wearability.
If pop superstar Ke$ha ever saw these star cutout leggings, she'd totally be rocking them in a heartbeat. This crafting project requires absolutely no sewing skills, just a pair of leggings (with stars or some other pattern on them) and scissors.
This shows you how to make a beautiful and simple halter dress. You will need at least one scarf (more if they are sheer), a few yards of your favorite fabric, scissors, a needle and thread, and a measuring tape.
This video shows you how to take a pair of leggings (PVC works best, but any tight fabric will do) and turn them into a pair of trendy triangle cutout leggings. You will also need some thin ribbon and a sharp pair of scissors.
This tutorial shows you how to make a snowflake out of washers and other bits of hardware to make it look like a steampunk Christmas ornament. This only takes a few minutes, and is an easy accent to any gift or tree.
These crafts are ideal handmade gifts, especially if there is a belly dancer on your list. You will need a needle, sturdy thread, scissors, small pliers, clear nail polish and craft glue. And, of course, the medallion you want to use!
This small charm makes a great accent for any gift. Turn it into a wine charm, a cell phone charm or a jewelry charm. All you need is a plain pendant style charm, clear craft glue and your favorite craft glitter.
Looking for more interesting things to do with your Copic airbrush? This technique shows you how to master the art of airbrushing on a very small canvas, using markers that have been designed to work with this airbrush. Great for holiday projects!
This is a great holiday project that also encourages recycling! Take a few old cereal boxes and repurpose them into either tags (which you can use for gifts) or glittery photo corners that you can attach in your albums or scrapbooks.
This cute project makes a great holiday gift - a tiny hand sewn book bound with buttons. You will need some pattern or designer paper (2 3/4 inches by 5 3/4 inches), about twenty pieces of smaller white paper (2 1/2 inches by 4 3/4 inches), and basic paper crafting tools.
These ornaments make a great embellishment to any Christmas gift or present, and are easy to make out of scrap fabric. You can also use them as a tree decoration! All you need, besides a few sewing notions, is some heavy cardstock.
This tutorial features the Peachy Keen stamp line, and shows you how to punch out, color and use your own embellishments. These make great accents, decorations and gifts, especially for the holiday season. All you need besides the stamps are your favorite paper crafting supplies.
This craft shows you how to use the burnt brown bag technique with some embossing and decorating techniques in order to create a distrseed, vintage look. A great craft project for a steampunk Christmas look, or as faux vintage decorations.
If you're on a budget this year, you can still gift your kids something special that they'll enjoy for years to come. Check out this video to learn how to craft animal hand puppets easily, with minimal sewing.
If you need to decorate your house fast for the holidays, then supersized decor is the way to go. Yeah, you could buy those tacky big Christmas ornament balls fastened with big red ribbons at the store, but if you're looking for elegant Christmas decor then making it is the way to go.
What's Christmas without a tree topper? To make your own unique tree topper, try this paper plate angel tree topper. Decorate however you like with glitter and markers, and you'll soon have a special tree topper that no one else hads. This is a great project to do with your kids.
This is a great scarf or accessory inspired by the Fefe Dobson music video, and a great touch for your New Years' Eve celebration. All you need is a regular oversize T-shirt - ideally one which has a V-neck and solid color.
This skirt will take only about an hour to make. You don't need a pattern, just your measurements! Pick a fabric that has only a little bit of stretch, and then follow this tutorial for your own high waisted skirt.
You can also use this as a method to make some easy gift boxes! All you need are three sheets of plain paper, some scotch tape, a pair of scissors, a knife and some markers (or your favorite paper decorations).
This is a lovely idea to decorate for the holidays, and it also makes a wonderful gift to give. This uses a special pin technique to keep the project in place, and also uses glitter for a little extra added glitter.
So you have finished your crochet or knitting project, but now there are a few tails of yarn hanging loose. What to do with them? This video shows you how to sew in those tails and keep your project from unraveling.
Whether you want to make your own placemats for holiday entertaining or give them away as gifts, this is a tutorial for any intermediate quilter looking for some holiday ideas. Create a matching set of beautiful, holiday themed quilted placematas.
It's easier than you think to make soap at home. This tutorial shows you a few good methods you can use to make completely natural, organic and Earth friendly soaps. Always make sure you wear glvoes when you're working with lye!
This process, called variously French milled, triple milled or rebatch, is a happy medium between the cold process and melt and pour soap making methods. It's easy, and you can do it at home to make clever and creative gifts this holiday season.
This isn't a real Moebius scarf, since it has not been stitched in the round. However, you can use this knitting technique to turn a regular straight scarf into a Moebius scarf (named after the Moebius strip, a paper loop that has only one side).
There are many beautiful stitches to learn in knitting. Some are harder than others. Some look hard, but really aren't. The RASPBERRY STITCH (shown in the header) is a quite easy. Once you get into the rhythm of doing it and practice for awhile you'll agree.
This is an easy bag to make, and you don't even need a sewing machine to create it. Get a few yards of canvas, your favorite tribal or global fabrics, a decorative trim, an iron, a glue gun, a pair of scissors and Stitch Witchery.
You can create the corset look for your own wardrobe without having to resort to boning! All you need is your dress, a collection of small safety pins and your chosen ribbon or twill tape (make sure you buy several yards of this).
