Active Arts & Crafts Posts
How To: Crochet a thick fuzzy baby blanket
This film shows how to make a thick fuzzy baby blanket using crochet. The presenter takes some soft red wool and starts using a simple chain stitch. You need a basic knowledge of the stitches before you start. Then you chain stitch three more times before double crocheting, wrapping the three chains together. You yarn over the needle once it is through the hole and repeat the process along the rows. You can use different colored wools to create a stripy effect. You use popcorn stitch several ...
How To: Make an 8 point origami star
Origami is a creatively fun and entertaining artform that can relieve stress and help you with your hand eye coordination. This video will demonstrate how to create an 8 Point Origami star.
How To: Fold an origami mandala design
This video tutorial teaches you how to make an origami mandala, which looks very much like a many sided star. The tutorial requires 16 pieces of paper. First, it starts out teaching you how to fold a single piece of paper into one of the many sides of the mandala. She provides a tip on how to make the folding creases more apparent by using pointy objects and scraping it along the folds. After repeating the other 15 pieces of paper in the same way, she teaches how to assemble each of the 16 pi...
How To: Fold an origami seahorse
This video explains the way, how to make a paper sea horse. For making this he took a square blue color paper. At first he folds the two corners of the paper inwards so that it forms a triangle. Then he unfolded that. After unfolding he got a middle line impression.
How To: Turn old jeans into a skirt
Summer is just around the corner and those jeans that seemed perfect for winter aren't looking so hot. Put those jeans to use, and make your very own jean skirt. Grab a pair of scissors and a sewing machine and get started.
How To: Make a paper boat that sails
Folding paper into shapes is fun. Folding paper into a toy that you an actually use is even better! Making a paper boat is not only a great rainy day activity but works just as well on a beautiful summer's day.
How To: Craft a paper-bag apple
Show up the other kids at school and bring your teacher a super-sized apple, well, paper-bag apple that is. Great project to do with the family or in the classroom. Create a festive apple using just paper-bag and some newspaper.
How To: Craft a duct tape rose
A bouquet of fresh roses is wonderful but real roses soon fade and die. Make a rose that will last forever, or at least a lot longer that a freshly cut one. Give your rose to someone special or use it as a decoration.
How To: Craft a button brooch
This cute and colorful flower button is a perfect Spring craft project for the kids. Not only do you get rid of unwanted buttons but you can keep the kids busy and make a cheerful brooch all at the same time.
How To: Dye leather
Dying leather is a great option to revamp or change the look of an existing leather piece. Choose a dye that provides the qualities you are looking for, be it flexibility or depth of color. The possibilities are endless.
How To: Make kissing cards
Nothing says you care like a hand-made card. Show that special someone what they mean to you or just have fun with this cute arts and crafts project. Get your markers and colored pencils. Get your glitter and glue. Get creative.
How To: Make an origami candy dish
The video shows how to make an origami candy dish. Fold your origami paper in half diagonally. Put the four points into the center area. Turn over and fold all four points into the center. Move the tip out to the edge for the feet. Turn the paper over and fold the flaps out to the edge of the square. Fold the flap again and leave a bit of overlap. Do it on all the flaps. Put fingers into the corners to fluff it out.
How To: Make a Yoshimoto cube
FK describes how to make a Yoshimoto cube. First, print out the template. Then, trim the paper with scissors along the perimeter and glue the edges into a 3D pyramid. Repeat these steps until you have 48 cubes. Fix 3 pyramids together 16 times. Arrange pyramids in groups. Repeat 2 times and color 8 of the pyramids. Place adhesive on the joints of the cubes. Arrange the pyramid groups into a cube. Now, you can perform neat tricks with the cube, like changing the cube from white to colored with...
How To: Make a wire loop
Starting out with a brief summary of what type of pliers to use when making a wire loop with tips on how to prevent markings on wire when using a certain type of plier. This video is used to teach crafters on how to make loops with wires that are useful for many jewelers Making the loop requires 2 certain types of pliers, one called needle-nose plier used to create the loop. Tips near the end on how to fine-tune the loop so it ends off perfectly as well as explanation on why a 45 degree angle...
How To: Make a floral bow or tying ribbon
This video teaches the secrets of making a floral bow or tying a ribbon in simple steps. First take a piece of ribbon, make a loop, twist and hold it. Now make a loop to the side, twist and hold and make another loop to its opposite side. Now make two more loops in the same way and hold it tightly. Secure the loops made in the ribbon by using a wire. Finally pull out the loops to make a floral pattern and finish.
How To: Do the half-double crochet stitch for a scarf
Beth from New York teaches how to make a basic half double crochet. You will need: Yarn and hook. Look carefully at your job, and make sure that you see the hole where you should insert your hook clearly. Yarn over once, then insert your hook to the hole you already seen before with two threads above your hook and one thread below it, yarn over again and draw the loop pass the hole. You will have three loops on your hook by now. Yarn over, draw the thread pass through all three loops, and rep...
How To: Recycle & reconstruct your denim jeans
Learn how to recycle and reconstruct your denim jeans: Craft side Look, Learn and Create with Stefanie Girard and Jean Therapy with Scathe G. Allison demonstrate how to recycle and reconstruct your denim jeans. You can make a bag out of your jeans by using the leg as the strap. Customize jeans by adding patches to the legs and ruffles to the bottom. All the projects use simple sewing machines and stitches and don't require extra tools. A skirt can also be made by sewing together 14 pairs of d...
How To: Tie a Rorschach style decorative knot
The Tying It All Together team, or TIAT, explains the origin of the Rorschach knot and demonstrates the techniques in order to make the decorative knot. The Rorschach knot, associated with psychological testing of a subject's perception of inkblots can become a decorative knot with just one string. TIAT shows how to make "bunny ear" loops consecutively around one another while repeatedly matting and firming the string to keep it in place. TIAT also pauses periodically for the viewer to keep t...
How To: Make simple paper flowers
This video demonstrates how to make paper flowers. She lays a silicone mat on the table. She shows how to use distress inks by stamping some red and yellow ink onto the mat, sprays water onto the mat with a mister, and lays punched-out paper flowers into the wet ink. She turns them over and uses a heat gun to dry the ink. After the flowers are dry, she layers them on top of each other, putting a piece of foam tape in between the layers. She shows how she used the layered flowers to decorate a...
How To: Make a stair step card using Cricut Storybook
Once you get started with the concept of "stair step" cards - it is hard to stop! It would be fun to try a double set of stairs, add another row for five letter words and cut letters into the bridging circles. Cut the extra panels for the front and emboss them with the Divine Swirls 'Cuttlebug' folder. Then use the Stardust 'Stickles' on the swirls to really make them pop! The extra letters from the name cutout were perfect for the envelope. Emboss the envelope with the Birthday Candle 'Cuttl...
How To: Make a paper origami photo frame
Create a photo frame out of an origami paper or any art paper in minutes! 1) Lay the paper down on a flat surface. 2) Fold the paper in half with the shortest ends together. 3) Fold in half again so that you get quarters. 4) Unfold step#3 and with the first fold at the top, fold the top corners down along the center fold. 5) Unfold the corner flaps, open up the original fold and fold the corner flaps inside, now close the original flap. 6) Fold the lower edge up as far as it will go, do the s...
How To: Origami a big angular flower
Bring a simple paper to life by making it into an origami flower. This video shows you how to literally add life to a flat white sheet of paper with simple folds and precision you'll make a beautiful origami flower. You can give these hand made beauty to your mother, grandmother, wife, girlfriend, or even your boyfriend. Perfect for any occasion this is a sweet and simple gesture right from the heart. It may take you a few tries to perfect, but like with everything practice makes perfect.
How To: Make a Halloween mini tag album w/ Cricut TBBM
Cardcrazy09 teaches you how to make a Halloween mini tag album using Cricut. The album itself is made using different types of double sided cardboard. They're stuck together using a metal spiral. Each of the elements use different types of cartridges for Cricut. Simply cut all of them and stick them in place on each page. You can also add photos to give it a more familiar look. Multiple tags are inserted in little cardboard pockets. There is also a demonstration of the Cricut Gipsy, a useful ...
How To: Make a paper gift box
To make a paper gift box is one of the simplest projects that you can create on your own. In order to do this you need some materials: a Square of Paper, a Pencil, a Ruler & a Folding Bone. Take any size square of paper and draw two lines diagonally from corner to corner. This will form a large X, marking the center of the square. In turn, fold each corner into the center of the square. Firmly crease the fold. Fold the first corner to the line of the first fold made on the opposite side. Repe...
How To: Make a square origami paper box
This instructor teaches you how to make a square origami paper box or container with simple instructions. The video gives you beginning skills in the Japanese art of paper folding. The folds demonstrated are well demonstrated and simple to perform. Also offered are tips to make the creasing of your hand folding more precise with ease. In less than three minutes you can learn to make a useful container to hold all your odds and ends by using a simple sheet of paper. Make a set for yourself or ...
How To: Fold an octahedron with Post-It notes
This is an instructional video on how to fold an octahedron with Post-It notes. Use 3 different colors of Post-It notes. Take 2 Post-It notes in the same color, fold it horizontally and diagonally to make four squares. Fold diagonally the sticky side, you will end up with a cross or a star. Put the tight corner between the gap, alternating the color. That's it! You will end with an octahedron Watch this video and make an octahedron using Post-It notes by yourself.
How To: Make a mosaic leather cuff bracelet
Alea Mosaic shows you how create a beautiful stone-inlaid jewelry bracelet. This video clearly and concisely lays out the steps. First, you affix a pattern underneath clear adhesive foil. Next, you peel the the cover off to expose the adhesive. You then place the stones according to the pattern, and fix a transparent foil on top. Once that is done, trim the plastic from around the stones. Then, you apply glue to the bracelet base, then place the stones inside.
News: Gameboy Goes Papercraft
Papercraft video game art by French design duo Zim and Zou. The insertable cartridge is particularly awesome. Don't miss the Tetris (all the way at the bottom).
How To: Use buttonhole scissors
Couture designer Kenneth D. King is an expert in what you would need to fill up your sewing box. Here, he discusses buttonhole scissors. Buttonhole scissors are made for making buttonholes without stretching or damaging the fabric. By watching this video you can learn how to adjust your buttonhole scissors so that you can make different size holes. Make sure to never to use these scissors to cut through paper as it will make the scissors dull and make it a lot harder to cut through fabric.
How To: Make a giant paper flower
This video takes us through how to create a paper flower. To begin you will need between 5 and 8 pages of colored tissue paper for each flower you want to create. There are multiple options for the paper so mixing and matching is definitely okay for this project. Next, you want to lay the paper one on top of the other so it creates a neat stack, the neater the stack the easier it will be to fold. Now fold the paper stack like you would to create a paper fan until you reach the end. You want t...
How To: Make a paper hat from newspaper
In this video Anthony teaches you how to make a hat from newspaper. If you want to make a hat out of newspaper, do the following: Take the middle section of the newspaper, where you have two pages that are attached. Fold the two pages at the center crease. Make two triangles inward, towards the crease. Fold part of the bottom area of the triangle up. Flip the page and do the same thing on the other side. Open it up slightly and place it on your head.
How To: Make an instant book
Do you want a unique way to display your vacation photos or present your holiday newsletter? Try making an instant book. This video, you will guide through the simple process. The presenter starts by referencing Esther K. Smiths book: How to Make Books. You do not need a lot of materials, just scissors, paper, and some pictures. After showing examples of different types of paper you can use, she demonstrates the step-by-step process of folding and cutting the paper. She even shows a slow moti...
How To: Make a simple paper flower
This video describes how to make flower with the help of paper. Take a card paper, one cutter and screw. Firstly cut the paper with the help of cutter. The cutter cuts paper in form of flower, then cut this paper from corner and then make a hole in the middle of this paper. Now take a another piece of paper of a different color and cut this paper in the shape of a small flower. Now put this small paper in the middle of the first paper and tighten with screw. Now your paper flower is ready you...
How To: Crochet chain stitches to start rounds on a beanie cap
Learn how to make crochet chain stitches to start rounds on a beanie cap with the help of "Shred Betties" Things you need: hook and yarn. Instructions: To start round 2 you need to chain 3 now. Insert your hook into the last loop you made making the yarn placed over. Pull yarn through the loop. Repeat the steps (yarn over, pull yarn through). Make sure the yarn hugs the hook comfortably. Pulling it too tight will make small stitches, making it too loose. It causes unwanted bagginess. Repeat t...
How To: Tie the Diamond Ring decorative knot
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to tie a diamond ring knot. The name refers to the similar appearance of an actual diamond ring. The Diamond Ring knot is the fusion of an Overhand Knot and a tying technique called circling. Begin by making a loop; put one end of the string through the loop and pull it to form a pretzel shape. Continue putting one end the string through the loop. Eventually it will build up and it will just need to be tightened. This video tutorial will benefit those...
How To: Make silk glimmer misted flower for your scrapbook
Kathryn shows how to Glimmer Mist silk flowers for an additional decoration in scrapbooking. In this tutorial, she uses the Red Velvet and Cherub Pink Glimmer Mist colors. The flower is made with strips of silk. The strips should be cut to your own desire. Using a white gel pen, trace circles onto black paper, which will be the center of the flower. Use a dye to add color to the strips of silk. Before beginning this process, place the strips on a piece of foil to make sure the spray does not ...
How To: Make a box made out of paper
The video begins with a piece of card/thick paper in front of the person who is making the box. The maker then shows a small box as an example of what the finished box will look like. The maker then takes the top left corner and folds it over so that it is against the right edge of the paper and so the two edges are straight. Then she takes some scissors and cuts the excess paper (the area which is just a single thickness, not double) to leave a folded triangle. Next she unfolds the paper and...
How To: Make a paper bird
Watch this step by step tutorial to learn how to make a paper bird. Fold your paper in half so that it forms a long rectangle. Ensure you really fold down the crease--run your finger or a pencil along the top of the crease. Unfold the paper, turn it 90 degrees and repeat the fold. Your square should be divided into four squares by the creases. Flip the paper over to the other side and fold it into a triangle. Again, make your creases tight. Turn the paper 90 degree and fold again. You should ...
How To: Build a superfast paper airplane
Follow this video to learn how to make your own paper airplane that can really fly. Acquire a sheet of A4 paper and fold it in half. Afterwards fold two of the edges towards the center line set out when folding. These should be folded in the form of two triangles. After doing so fold them downwards, towards the center line lower down. Fold another two triangles towards the center, one from each side. At this point a small edge will be formed at the tip of the two folds. Simply fold it upwards...
How To: Make a paper hat and boat
This is a great tutorial on how to make a paper hat and boat. To make a Paper Hat follow these steps: Take one large newspaper sheet that consists of two pages on each side. Fold in half lengthwise (the way it comes in the newspaper). Fold in half again (bringing the top of the paper to the bottom). Fold corners (on folded side) to middle. This will make a pointed top to paper. Fold one piece of bottom of paper up to the bottom of the pointed fold. Fold bottom again until it overlaps a little...