Active Arts & Crafts Posts

News: Microscopic Origami

Wowee, origami artist Mui-Ling Teh has the skills of a DaVinci Robot. To view more of her work, check out her artist profile on Red Bubble. Inspired? Scroll all the way down for a demonstration on the folding of a teeny, tiny origami crane.

How To: Fold an origami praying mantis

Fold an origami praying mantis! You need two sheets of paper to join to first sheet on square base. Start folding after making rectangle, after folding the rectangle again from the other direction grebe than on fold. Make a triangle than fold on other direction to make a triangle. Neat into square shape take a bottom edge folds to increase both the same on the other side. Now take this top corner folded on guide line backup. To push the paper up folded down to same on the other side. Bottom e...

How To: Make a paper mache cave

A short informative video showing how to make paper mache. A great arts and crafts project for some simple fun or your child's school science project. Easy to make with just flour, water, salt, and some old newspaper. Apply the mixture to a wire frame or a box like in the video to make a paper mache cave. It's very easy to make and you can create a range of things from masks, volcanoes, and most obviously caves!

How To: Make a heart-themed card with a treat/candy cup

You will need the following materials: a Green Galore #101768, cut at 4 1/4" by 11' scored at 5 1/2", a piece of Whisper White #100730 cut at 2 1/2" by 1/4", Real Red #102482 cut at 2 3/4" by 1/2", a piece of Whisper White for the door to release the treats from the card, cut at 2" by 2/12", a strip of Real Red cut at 1" by 5 1/2" and a circle of Green Galore with a 1 3/8" circle punch #104401. First use the larger piece of white and the stamp set #120780. Use the clear block #118485 and Gree...

How To: Make a large recipe card file

In this video, you will find out how to make a large recipe card file from Emerald City Elegance Paper Crafting. Anyone who loves to collect recipes knows how quickly you can fill up a little recipe box so make this file to keep all your treasured recipes together. You can easily make this divided file to hold four by six recipe cards. To create this file you will need a large piece of card stock, a printable template from the website, scissors, a scoring tool, adhesive, a ruler, and your cho...

How To: Make your own memo book with paper bag

This video teaches the viewer how to make a memo book with a paper bag. For this craft you will need two paper bags, memo paper, adhesive, ribbon, and scissors. To begin, you'll need to cut off the bottom of the bag and discard it. She explains where to make decorative edges on the bags before sewing them together or using hot glue. Fold and crease the open end down about one third of the way. Open and then fold a little farther down to allow room for the spine of your memo book. Repeat this ...

How To: Make a five petal paper flower with Stampin' Up!

This art and craft video shows us how to make a five petal paper flower with stamping up. One can make this pretty card easily by following the instructions which is given clearly in the video. One can come become aware of various modern craft materials like different papers, punches available in the market and how to use them creatively. By watching this video one would be more interested in such craft work as it is done neatly without any mess.

How To: Fold a beautiful origami cicada

Ana Maria, an art student and origami expert, delicately explains and exhibits how to fold an origami cicada. The only material required is a perfectly square piece of paper, which is also known as origami paper. There are only seven easy steps or folds to create the paper-crafted bug; all of which are shown in plain detail by the artist. Every fold has another fold or edge to use as a guideline, so this simple creation should result in being very neatly accomplished.

How To: Make cross friendship bracelets

Learn how to make cross friendship bracelets with this wonderful and informative video. The color of the threads is chosen to understand what is going on there. The watcher gets the basic knowledge of making thread bands or thread bracelets. The Cross Friendship Bracelets looks so colorful and makes great fashion accessories for anyone. The helical structure of the bracelets mentions the crossing of two friends.

How To: Make a lollipop candle with Stampin' Up!

Dawn is all ready to show you how to make an adorable lollipop candle using just a few basic craft supplies and some handy items from Stampin' Up. With a tea-light candle, lollipop stick and cellophane bag you can turn an ordinary candle into the perfect gift. Learn how to use the Stampin' Up stamps and accessories to customize your lollipop candle to fit any occasion. Dawn's video will even cover tips on how to match your ribbon to the color of your stamp ink. These lollipop candles are the ...

How To: An origami paper snowflake

FusionAlliance has a great how-to video to make origami snowflakes for the holiday season. The video has step-by-step instructions on folding the paper, with diagrams included. The background music will help get you into the holiday spirit while you are making your origami snowflakes. The video shows someone folding the paper as instructed, so all you have to do is fold like shown in the video. All you have to do is fold your paper like instructed in the video and you'll have yourself a fun d...

How To: Use a scallop trim corner punch with Stampin' Up!

In this video, Dawn, an arts and crafts expert shows you how to work with stamping and stenciling. She goes through two different styles that can be created with stamps/stencils. The first is a "scallop trim border" on card-stock paper. She takes you through various steps to complete this. She then goes on to show you how to make a "scallop trim corner punch" with stamps. The process is quick and easy, you need card-stock paper, various stamps, and stencils.

How To: Quickly make a paper snowflake

This video is about how to make a paper snowflake. These are just amazing shapes made out of sheets of paper. They are used for decoration. We can make a paper snowflake in just 2 minutes. First take a plain paper sheet and fold the sheet to make a triangle out of it. Now just make 3 more triangles in similar fashion and after that make a half triangle and cut the extra edge from it. And now it is up to us how we to want design our snowflake. Open and see the nice and beautiful flake.

How To: Fold an awesome origami elephant

This is a video about how to fold an awesome origami elephant by the help of paper only. For this you have to complete the following step (1) Fold half of the paper. (2)Again fold in two outer edges. (3)Fold corner across middle and then fold edge into center(4)Collapse triangle inside and fold corner inwards.(5)Create the ears and trunk also, at last create the body of elephant. This is a very good origami to use or play.

How To: Use jump rings while making earrings

This video is about jump rings and making earrings. Jump rings have a cut in them so that they can open. To open, hold ring on either side of split with pliers. Add a slight twisting motion. Do the opposite to close. Rubber rings have no split and stretch. To make an earring, take a surgical steel French hook, open and attach jump ring to French hook. Add 3 more jump rings in succession. Add a bead on a head pin.

How To: Make an origami 3D stick-tail peacock

Ready to move past simple cranes into amazing stick-tail peacocks? In this great tutorial, master origami artist Jewellia7777 offers a step by step guide, color ideas, tips, and helpful advice on folding your own origami peacocks. This video teaches how to take this simple structure and construct an amazing 3D origami sculpture that will dazzle your friends and family. If you are having problems unraveling the complexities of modern 3D origami, then this great video is a must-see.

How To: Create an origami heart

This video is about how to make an origami heart out of paper. Origami is the ancient Japanese technique of folding paper into shapes. To do this, you only need to have a piece of paper and follow the brief demonstration on the video. There is no narration. When you learn how to make origami hearts, you can do several things with them, including using them to decorate a package, giving them to friends to show you care, and writing on them to make them greeting cards.

How To: Create a mosaic jewelry box

This video demonstrates making a mosaic jewelry box. A plain jewelry box is decorated using different shaped pieces of glass. First, round flat glass pieces are glued in the center of the top and sides. Then a ring of glue is put around the circle and rectangular pieces are glued around that. Square tiles are used around the top edge, and odd shaped pieces are used to fill in the rest of the surface area of the box. After it has dried for two hours, a glaze is applied to the entire box. This ...

How To: Make a "The 2 of Us" scrapbook paper bag mini album

About a minute into the video, the narrator/instructor, Kathryn, shows the viewers the items that were used in making the mini album scrapbook. She shows the layers in which the contents are placed. She also shows what the finished product should look like, in the beginning of the video. A little past halfway, she shows her audience how the scrapbook is organized. Her prime examples were having a picture on one page and the person's written thoughts on the adjacent page. With each page, Kathr...

How To: Make a flower out of tissue paper for cards

Lay several layers of tissue paper on top of each other. At least 10 You can use different colors to make a colorful flower or one color to make a flower that is one color. Multiple color flowers are great for 4th of July celebrations (red, white and blue). And single color flowers are great for wedding receptions or graduation parties.

How To: How to make a box friendship bracelet

Ever wonder how to make a box friendship bracelet? Want to make one for a good friend? Well, this video provides a detail step by step explanation as to how to make a box friendship bracelet. The video is very detailed and thorough with its instructions. The video also shows the viewer exactly what to do at each step. Therefore, most viewers should be able to make their own bracelet by the end of this simple and yet, helpful video.

How To: Make custom buttons out of paper & clear buttons

In this video, Marion shows you how make your own custom buttons. She first picks-out a piece of scratch paper, a clear button, and glue (glassy accents). You then apply some of the glue onto the button and lay the button onto the paper and let it dry. Next you would cut the paper around the button as close as you can with precision scissors. You would now use a file to sand the edges of the paper down. That is how Marion shows you, how to make a customized button.

How To: Make a six-sided snowflake

GunterAgency reveals to his viewers how to make a six-side snowflake. In nature, snowflakes aren't four sided, so why continue to make them in that fashion? Through a series of simple folds, the viewer can attain a shape that will allow them to begin making a six-sided snowflake. After using scissors to make the folds even, the viewer can then begin cutting patterns along the sides of the snowflakes as he or she pleases. Once the viewer is done, all that is left to do is to simply unfold and ...

How To: Make the perfect snowflake

Looking to make some affordable winter decoration? Need a winter's day craft for the kiddies? Learn how to make a paper snowflake. In this video our hosts Lauryn and Cameron show you step be step how to make the perfect paper snowflake. With just a piece of paper and a pair of scissors they will instruct you on how to correctly fold and cut to make original and creative paper flakes. They will give you tips on how to make different shapes and more complicated types of flakes.

How To: Make your own laundry soap

To make your own laundry soap you will need washing soda, borax, and a bar of pure soap. Any bar of soap will work. You just don't want to use a moisturizing soap or other soaps with added ingredients. Take your bar of soap and grate it into a storage container using a cheese grater. Add two cups of borax and two cups of washing soda. Use a large spoon and mix it up. As you are mixing the ingredients up make sure that you break up any clumps in the mix. For a front loading washer you will use...

How To: Do the coptic stitch to bind your own book

Want to learn how to bind your own books? For aspiring publishers, or artists and fashion designers looking to bind a small quantity of look-books for prospective retailers, this tutorial will be of use. Learn how to do the coptic stitch to bind a book in this two-part video tutorial.

How To: Easily bind your own booklet

Get creative and make your own writing accessories! In this two-part book binding tutorial, learn how to make a simple leatherbound soft booklet to either take notes in, draw in, or just carry around as an adorable school accessory. In part one, learn how to prepare for the sewing of the page signatures, and in part two, how to sew the actual signatures is gone over. Good luck with your project!

How To: Make a flapper coin purse

Need a new purse but no money in the budget to go out and by one? Missa from fashionclub.com will show you a do-it-yourself option. In this instructional video, you will learn how to make a flapper 1920's style purse. Step by step instructions take you through the materials you will need, how to make a pattern for the purse and how to construct the purse. You will need a basic sewing machine and sewing skills to complete this design.

How To: Make a great looking 3D paper snowflake

The video creator teaches us how to make a three dimensional snowflake. He plays some rather Christmas-y music in the background and goes right into explaining the process. He briefly explains what he will do but as the video continues, he focuses on showing rather than explaining. This is difficult to follow for those not used to arts and crafts. He fluently and rapidly makes the snowflake and lets the music do all the talking. There is again, no explanation as to how to make the snowflake, ...

How To: Make oversized/giant photo corners

This video shows Joanne McKenzie working at her table talking about making her oversized/giant photo corners for her paper cutting projects. Using an assortment of different sized and colored punches, she explains how to use the punches, saying the smaller one is the better one to start with. She talks about using the next size up and then centering the paper to be cut from corner to corner and layering the different cut out corners for decoration. Very clear and professional.

How To: Make a six pointed paper snowflake

This video shows you how you can easily make a simple but beautiful 6-pointed paper snowflake. The video starts with all the things you need to make this snowflake, like a A4 size paper, a scissors etc. The instructions are shown on the screen as the skilled hands show you how easily you too can make a paper snowflake within a couple of minutes. Can't say you will find a better video tutorial on how to make a beautiful paper snowflake.

How To: Create paper mache paste

For any artists who would like to know how to create paper mache paste for a project, this video is great to watch. For this project, you will need some Elmer's glue and water. After emptying an entire bottle of Elmer's glue into a bowl, add about 1/4 the amount of water to the mixture. You will then need to mix the paste and water mixture thoroughly in order to get an even consistency. You will then be able to stick your newspaper onto your mold using this paste mixture. Create paper mache p...

Make friendship bracelets: The wave

A strong and genuine relationship is something that should be cherished at all times. Learn how to make a wave friendship bracelet to give to your best friend as a gift. Wave friendship bracelets are not only simple to make, but they are absolutely beautiful to look at. Before you begin making your bracelet, be sure to choose the colors of yarn you would like to use in advance. Also, you'll want to follow the video's instructions completely to ensure that it turns out right. This friendship b...

How To: Fold an origami butterfly with a dollar bill

This video shows the viewer how to fold an origami butterfly using a dollar bill. The woman in the video demonstrates the step-by-step technique used to create the butterfly with the dollar bill. Overall there are seven required steps to take an ordinary dollar bill and fold it into a butterfly. The woman carefully explains and demonstrates each step with great detail, so that by the end, the viewer should also be able to fold a dollar bill into a butterfly.

How To: Make a holiday punch needle ornament

This video demonstrates how to make a holiday punch needle ornament. First choose an ornament design and fit cross stitch fabric to a small embroidery hoop. There are designs on the CyberSeams website that can be traced onto the fabric. Put the fabric with the traced design into the embroidery hoop, thread the needle, dial it to "2", and begin punching the needle through the fabric to make the design. You can choose embellishments that can be sewed or glued on. When the design is finished, re...

How To: Make a 3D origami watermelon

Origami is one of the oldest art forms. The uniqueness of this art is that it is made with only a single substance, which is paper. Paper is very common and cheap material. This video describes how to make a slice of 3D origami watermelon using paper of green, white and red colors. This can be used as a show piece with other fruits in a fruit basket. This is also a great gift idea. Make a 3D watermelon origami fruit basket to adorn your dining table.

How To: Make a 3D origami teddy bear

In this video, Jewellia describes how to create a 3 dimensional origami teddy bear. First, she lists the materials needed and the quantities necessary. She then begins the actual process of building the teddy bear, which is broken into steps. Step 1 is "creating the base". You will create 18 "pairs" out of origami paper which you then put small blue origami triangles on top. It looks circular. She then demonstrates how to repeat this circular pattern of triangles upward until you have a cylin...