Active Arts & Crafts Posts

How To: Make a collage necklace

In this Threadbanger tutorial, designer Desira Pesta shows you the steps to make a collage necklace. Made of scraps of fabric, a collage necklace is a colorful accessory for fashion-conscious folks. It's also cheap and pretty easy to make, ideal for crafters who are still learning.

How To: Make an origami flapping bird

The famous origami crane is an impressive design, but it's even more impressive when you can bring it to life and make it flap its wings. Surprisingly enough the origami flapping bird is actually slightly easier to make than the crane, involving fewer folds. Even beginners shouldn't have too much trouble creating this interesting, animated work of art.

How To: Make an origami paper butterfly

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to use the ancient Japanese art form of origami to make a butterfly. This is a fairly simple design that's good for beginners, taking only a few minutes to learn. But the results are impressive, making for an elegant decorative item or small gift.

How To: Make an origami paper dragon

In this video, we'll learn how to make a little dragon using the ancient Japanese art of origami. This is rather complicated projected for beginners to attempt, but if you've already made origami cranes and other relatively simply shapes, this is a good project to take your skills to the next level. All you need is some printer or origami paper, and you're ready to get started.

How To: Make a paper origami rocket ship

This tutorial will show you how to make a rocket ship using the ancient Japanese art form of origami. It's a rather complicated process for beginners, and it's a good idea to work your way up to this project by first making origami shapes that involve similar folds, such as the crane and the water balloon. But once you've mastered the steps in this tutorial, you'll be able to make a very unusual and distinctive origami design.

How To: Make cable knits

Cable knits are sometimes considered too complex for hobbyist knitters to attempt, but this video tutorial from the folks at Make Magazine will introduce you to this classic technique. Pioneered in Ireland by the wives of fishermen, the look of cable knits actually reflects fishermen's ropes and other aspects of their lives. While cable knits look complex, in this video you will see that they really don't have to be that much more complicated to create then the patterns you're used to working...

How To: Make a friendship bracelet using a cardboard wheel

Want to give your best buddy something to show them how much they mean to you? Why not a friendship bracelet? Friendship bracelets are made through a form of macramé, a textile-making knotting process. Very simple once practiced. In this tutorial "Nana" takes us through the knot process of making this symbol of friendship, while her two adorable grandchildren look over.

How To: Wire a candle holder into a lamp

Have a candle holder that would make a great lamp base? You can wire that candle holder and turn it into a working lamp for your living room's newest decorative piece. This video takes you through the process of how to do so... However, with no narration, this how-to tutorial falls a tad short of being helpful. Wire a candle holder into a lamp.

How To: Origami an azalea

Step-by-step instructions for how to make an origami azalea (flower and stamen). This video is for intermediate or advanced folder, as it may be to difficult for a beginner to make an origami azalea.

How To: Origami a three headed crane

Origami cranes are supposed to be lucky, so this little guy has three times the luck. Follow along with this video origami guide and fold up a three-headed crane. Watch this instructional video and learn how to fold a mutant three-headed origami crane.

How To: Origami Dialga from Pokemon

This video tutorial shows how to make an origami Dialga, a famous Pokemon of the Pocket Monster Diamond and Pearl. Follow along with this video and learn how to fold your very own Dialga Pokemon. Make it a gift for the pokemon lover in your life.

How To: Make an origami water bomb to soak your friends

In this tutorial, we learn how to use the ancient and honorable craft of origami paper-folding to make a water bomb we can then employ to soak our poor, unsuspecting friends and families. The materials are very simple, just some printer paper and water. But the results can be devastating. (Of course, you could also just make a paper balloon without filling it with water and throwing it at somebody. But where's the fun in that?)

How To: Knit a Möbius strip scarf

In this video, noted knitting writer Cat Bordhi ("A Treasury of Magical Knitting") will walk you through the cast on and first round of how to knit a scarf based on the Möbius strip. This strange and confusing shape was discovered by German mathematician August Ferdinand Möbius. It looks complicated, but even beginning knitters can figure it out with a little practice.

How To: Knit a pentafold Möbius scarf

The Möbius strip is a perplexing shape discovered by German mathematician August Ferdinand Möbius. In this video tutorial we learn how to make a scarf based on the Möbius strip, but with a few extra twists. The pentafold Möbius design loops back on itself five times, making it one of the more confusing-looking things you'll ever wear. (Fortunately, it's not that confusing to knit!)

How To: Knit a Möbius scarf

Learn about math and knitting at the same time, in this video video about making a scarf based on the Möbius strip discovered by German mathematician August Ferdinand Möbius in the 19th century. Popularized by the work of artist M.C. Escher, the Möbius strip is a curious shape that folds back on itself. It makes for an unusual and eye-catching scarf design.

How To: Make the crown/mask from Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance"

Those weird and creepy crown/mask things were one of the most memorable parts of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" video. But they're actually pretty simple, and you can make them yourself with stuff you probably already have at home. This video shows you how. (Of course, if you're planning to wear this to a party or something, bear in mind that you won't be able to see anything!)

How To: Making a Möbius scarf

When German mathematician August Ferdinand Möbius (also known as Moebius) discovered the weird, seemingly parodoxical shape that would later be known as the Möbius strip, he surely never imagined it would go on to be featured everywhere from the work of artist M.C. Escher to the recycling logo we now see on the back of milk cartons. In this video, we watch as a scarf is knitted based on the Möbius strip. This interesting and eye-catching scarf design looks more complicated than it really is.

How To: Knit 1 below when knitting

Having trouble with your knitting? Specifically, the k1b? What exactly is the k1b anyways? It means knit one into the stitch below, and is also referred to as knit 1 below or knit one below. But this is actually showing how to knit 1 below increase, which is knitting into the front and back of the stitch below the next stitch.

How To: Knit one below on a knitting loom

Knit one below, also referred to as knit 1 below or k1b, means exactly what you think it would mean (unless you know absolutely nothing about knitting or stitching). It means "knit one in the row below", and it could be a little tricky when using a KISS loom. So, if you want to learn about knitting in the stitch below, just tune into this crafty video tutorial.

How To: Make paper flower ornaments

This video demonstrates how to make gorgeous paper flower ornaments for home decoration, special occasions, or gifts. These are made using Japanese papers, and f you hang them in the window, the light reflects through the translucent paper. You can even use them to hold photos!

How To: Make a duct tape book cover

Duct tape is versatile and can be used for anything. But did you ever imagine that it can be used for making a book cover? Protect your books with sturdy duct tape. This tutorial shows you how to make a general book cover for a paperback using duct tape, but the process can be extended to cover any type of book. Protect all your books from damage with duct tape.

News: Knit the Periodic Table

Science geeks everywhere: the ultimate knitting pattern. Creator apinnick made this amazing sweater displaying the Periodic Table of Elements for her husband, a microbiologist working in the pharmaceutical industry. Click through to her blog for her periodic table knitting chart, to learn how to knit-it-yourself.