Arts & Crafts: Page 38

Okay, so we have to admit something to you: This isn't actually an origami craft in the strictest sense of the term. Origami dictates that an object be folded into being from a single sheet of paper, but for this goldfish we take a bit of a shortcut, literally. Instead of folding to get all the pieces in place, we make a few cuts to facilitate the fish-forming process.

Whatever happened to the mix tape? A few years back, there wasn't a better and more meaningful gift to give someone than a mix tape full of jams specially tailored to his/her tastes. But with MP3s and internet streaming being the most popular forms of music listening these days, we suppose it's no surprise the mix tape has died out like the dinosaurs.

We don't know where the penguin trend started, but for the past couple of years the arctic animal has been getting some serious loving. From "Happy Feet" to Club Penguin, penguins are flopping around everywhere in the public conscoiusness. And who can really blame our fascination with penguins, given their chubbiness and adorable waddling?

The basic tenet of origami is to create an object - a bird, cube, monkey, etc. - using a single piece of paper. And while for the most part this is possible, there are notable exceptions, including modular origami and this menacing red bull.

Thanks to popular folklore, few of us would be happy to cross paths with a black cat or a raven on our way home. The creatures supposedly bring you bad luck (though, frankly, we've seen our share of black cats who were chubby and adorable).

It's safe to say that this is one ape that you won't soon see climbing the side of the Empire State Building, terrorizing Wall Street snubs and taking damsels in distress at his whim.

Seriously, how could you NOT fold this adorable kiwi? Chubby, tiny, and totally kawaii, this origami kiwi is a proud and beautiful mascot for its indigenous habitat of New Zealand.

Think the crane is the end all be all of origami birds? Think again. While folding cranes is an excellent way to build finger dexterity for future projects, if you are already at an intermediate level in origami folding then it's time to start challenging yourself!

Origami is a lot of fun (okay, and also a lot of frustration), but what often turns beginners off from the Japanese art form is simply that it requires special origami tissue paper. While it's true that thin paper made exclusively for origami is preferable for any origami project, you can substitute plain old printer paper instead if you're low on money or just out of origami tissue paper.

Tired of paper airplanes? Make a paper helicopter! You can download and print out a pattern off the Internet to make a toy helicopter with a real spinning paperclip propeller! Use colored paper and colored pencils on your rig, and hold contests with your friends.

Do you need some ideas for nature-inspired decoration? All you need for this craft are some balloons, paper and a little painting skill to make a fun, crafty balloon apple. Add this project to your next hobby day!

In this video tutorial, you'll learn the ancient art of clay tablet making. Back in the old, old, days, before paper and pencil, there were clay tablets. Sumerians used these clay tablets to communicate, record business expenses and more. In this video, you'll learn how to make your own cuneiform clay tablet magazine! Spread the word!

When we were five years old, there was nothing better to do at recess than to whip out a bag full of popsicle sticks of all sizes, some glue, and then piece together the pieces as if solving a puzzle. We'd make forts, bridges, and even stick people.

We know how hard it is to buy a present for a woman during the holidays. 99% of the time she's not going to wear what you buy her, and giving her a practical gift like a blender or a new microwave - despite your best intentions - is just cause for a good talkin' to. So how do you indulge that special woman in your life this Christmas without getting slapped?

P.S.- I Made This offers resourceful, crafty tutorials that stretch the imagination. With projects ranging from jewelry to accessories to clothing, founder and creator, Erica Domesek has been featured in Teen Vogue, Glamour, Vogue Nippon, Domino, GQ, InStyle, and Marie Claire. Her brief tutorials also include collaborations with both Helmut Lang and Who What Wear.

It doesn't make common sense for most people to use irons on anything other than cloth, but if you'rea (really) careful you can actually employ irons to flatten and straighten paper products, as well.

Granny squares are not in fact grannies who can't think out of the box. When it comes to knitting, granny squares is the terminology for a knit square project. They're termed "granny" because they look old and soft and remind us of that stereotypical image of an old cat lady knitting in her home.

Ah, this dinosaur origami project takes us back to the good old days, when Power Rangers was the bomb and all the girls wanted to be pink ranger kelly with her skirted pink costume and pink pterodactyl robot thingy.

Bunnies are the last things you'd expect to eat your face off, but behind those cute, beady eyes and fuzzy fur lies a ferocious monster just waiting to get out. Or at least that's the case with this fiendish rabbit monster.

This crafty project is inexpensive, it's easy to do and it's really handy for attaching things like letters, photos and to-do lists. This isn't like a cork memo board, because you won't need any push pins or cork pins! Watch and learn how to make this French memo board. This is the pretty alternative to drab store-bought memo boards.