Active Arts & Crafts Posts

Make friendship bracelets: Zigzag with a background

Want to make a colorful zig -zag friendship band for your friend, or interested in arts and craft or wanted to spend your time usefully with your kids? Watch this video that shows you how to make a friendship bracelet with a background. Making a bracelet with strands of wool of various colors that are contrasting would make it more attractive. The steps in making it are clear and simple and could make anyone to try it out. Go ahead and be more creative in using it as a head band, etc.

How To: Tie four basic knots in jewelry design

To tie the overhand knot, make a loop and pass one end of the string through the loop and tighten by pulling both ends. To tie a double overhand knot, make a loop and pass one end of the string through the loop twice before pulling both ends to tighten the knot. To tie a surgeon's knot, take the left string and bring it over and around the right string twice. Then take the right string over and around the left string and pull both ends to tighten, leaving a complete loop of string below the k...

How To: Fold an origami crane with the DaVinci robot

Learn how to origami a crane with this demonstration by a Japanese surgeon. Watch as he makes origami with the DaVinci robot, a surgical tool powered by state-of-the-art robotic technology. The surgeon’s hand movements are scaled, filtered and seamlessly translated into precise movements of the EndoWrist Instruments. Making origami will never be more interesting. Check out the size of the origami paper crane!! Amazing!

How To: Fold an origami bell flower

Check out this two-part video tutorial on how do origami. Specifically, an origami bell flower. If you follow along with these instructions and watch every step, then folding this paper origami bell flower design will be a cinch. You just have to have complete patience to keep folding and folding, but it's well worth it.

How To: Make your own rub-ons

Erin shows you the ease and simplicity in producing your own style, font rub-ons.The simple personal touch for any scrapbooker or crafty whizz without the worry of getting the correct letter or phrases.Perfect for anyone with desire to create your own "letra-set".1-2-3 Easy. Low cost, little time yet still special.

How To: Use the scallop edge punch with Stampin' Up!

This well done video shows you how easy it is to use Stampin' Ups Scallop Edge Punch to make a really unique and stylish card. Dawn's video shows you that it much easier than you would think. In just four short punches you have gone from a simple square piece of card stock to a really fancy embellishment that you can use in your scrapbook or when making a card. The directions are so easy to follow you will be on your way in no time!

How To: Make a rosette using the Big Shot

If you don't have Stampin' Up's Big Shot yet, you will definitely want one after watching this video! In this video you will learn to make a rosette using this machine. You can make them out of paper, fabric or any of a number of mediums. These rosettes are great embellishments for many things such as scrapbooks or gift cards. If you are really adventurous you can even use fabric to make rosettes to adorn your table or maybe make hair decorations for a special little girl.

How To: Origami a bag

Do you like paper crafts? Like making things with your hands? Then you will love this excellent video of now to make a Origami bag. In this video you are taken through the process in a slow and clear manner so that you can easily follow along. By following the video in just about a minute you will go from a plain, flat sheet of paper to having a intricately folded bag perfect for holding a small gift. What a clever way present your gift!

How To: Make an origami bird and tree

This origami video tutorial will show you how to make an origami paper bird and tree. First, fold the square piece of paper in half diagonally. Then fold the paper in half again. Now, fold it in half and open the last fold back up. The flap that is unfolded now is the one that you open slightly and flatten. Flip the paper over and do the same thing you just did to the other side, as well. Now that the paper is a small square, you take one of the bottom corners (the open ones) and you fold it ...

How To: Fold an origami enigma box

For all origami enthusiasts, here is something new. This video details how to make your own origami enigma box. As with all origami pieces it can be made using just a single piece of paper. The paper is first folded, taking from two separate parallel ends, in such a way that both sides meet in the middle of the paper. This will make four rectangles when unfolded which are to be further folded into half to make eight. Now, the paper is to be taken from the other two ends and folded to meet in ...

How To: Make an expandable keepsake photo box

Looking to make a homemade keepsake box for someone special? In this two-part scrapbooking tutorial, learn how to make an adorable expandable keepsake box with help from A Piece of Craft. Marion shares a super girly version of this box she made for her young daughter and goes through how to build one yourself.

How To: Fold an origami samurai helmet

The kabuto, or Japanese samurai helmet, is a helmet worn by the ancient samurai to protect themselves in battle. It was also used to wordlessly display rank and title on the battlefield. Learn how to fold one of your own in this video tutorial

How To: Make a shopping cart chair with MAKE magazine

Kick back with John Park as he demonstrates how to upcycle a no-longer-usable shopping cart into an easy chair. This Make: magazine-based project offers an introductory look at how to cut, bend, and shape metal using metal cutters, saws, vice grips, and other tools common to home workshops. John also attempts a “deluxe” version of this project that employs motors and switches to transform it into a “go-kart chair.” View the clip to see his mixed results, and download the PDF.

How To: Braid string

Making a braid can be fast and simple. First start off with three pieces of string that are tied together at the top. Lay out the bundle of string flat so that all three pieces can be seen. Next, take the left string and move it over the center one so that the left string is the the middle string and the middle string is now on the left. After that, do the same with the right string and put that in the middle. Take the left string and put that in the center. Keep repeating these steps until y...

How To: Crochet a larger-sized beanie cap for a man

You repeat stitches each round, so once you get the basic sequence down you can do the whole thing. This is an easy pattern to crochet once you learn it and you can apply to lots of different projects with your crochet ventures. Not only that, you can make a fashionable hat without paying trendy prices at the mall! Learn this once and you can save money forever. This video will show you how to crochet a beanie for a man.