Active Arts & Crafts Posts
How To: Craft a festive ornament gift card holder
While this ornament gift card holder is indeed intended for Christmas gift giving, it can be easily modified into an egg or heart shape for Easter and Valentine's Day, respectively.
How To: Craft a "Be My Valentine" trifold vintage card
Cards that fold open from the front? Pssh, that's SO last year. Make 2011 novel and interesting by sending this funky trifold Valentine's Day card to your lover.
How To: Craft a mini patterned clipboard
Clipboards may possibly be the most humdrum of office supplies. They're underwhelmingly plain, and serve no other function than holding a notepad steady.
How To: Sew a 42 block vintage inspired quilt
Now that winter has taken temperatures down below freezing, you're probably shivering in your pantaloons as you read this. Keep yourself warm by wiggling your fingers to craft this quilt, and then snuggle with it to keep yourself nice and toasty.
How To: Craft a cute "love bandit" matchbox Valentine's Day candy holder
Don't worry: You won't be actually handing your classmates and friends a matchbox for Valentine's Day. Instead, this adorable "love bandit" matchbox is just a slide-out box adorned with a raccoon holding a heart.
How To: Craft springtime candy boxes with scrapbook paper
Take your mind off the dreariness of winter by crafting for spring! These sturdy and beautiful candy boxes can be made in any color and design you'd like with simple - and inexpensive - scrapbooking paper.
How To: Make a simple Valentine's Day lollipop holder
At its core, Valentine's Day is about giving and getting sweet treats. While one could argue that the same idea applies for both Halloween and Christmas, on Valentine's Day these sweets are packaged in the most adoring, lovey dovey ribbons and wrappings.
How To: Craft mini lovebird owls Valentine's Day Nerds candy holders
Valentine's Day is coming up in only a little more than a month (we know, it seems like it was just Christmas a few days ago), so get ready to shower your amor - or amores - with love and candy by crafting this cute candy box.
How To: Tie a 3 lead x 7 bight turk's head knot
Think you're knot interested? Knot for long! This little video will show you a clear and easy way to tie a 3 lead x 7 bight turk's head knot. This lovely little decorative knot is a joy to look at and a pleasure to give to friends as well. You'll need 4ft of 1/4 inch solid braid nylon. Knot so hard is it?
How To: Turn those old unused sweaters into a new pair of mittens
You know that old pile of sweaters you've been looking at for ages? Well, do NOT take them to the dump! You can turn those sweaters into mittens with this simple, step-by-step video which proves that recycling is the way to go. You'll need some old sweaters, some scissors and a sewing machine.
How To: Tie the amazing corkscrew crown sinnet
The world of decorative knot tying is a compelling place and few sinnet cords are as compelling and beautiful as the corkscrew crown sinnet. This elegant step-by-step video shows you how to achieve one of the most desired knot cords out there.
How To: Craft a sweet "I Love You" Valentine's Day card
When it comes to Valentine's Day presents, let's face it: Non-handmade is best. It's not that we don't want that hand knitted heart sweater, but it's nice on the romantic holiday for a sweeter and couple-centric treat like a couple's massage or tickets to a play.
How To: Craft inexpensive mini blank cards with $1 supplies
These wee 3X3 cards may be small, but they sure do make a charming impact when sent to friends as Thank You cards or small "Just Because" notes. Made from craft supplies that can all be found at Michael's for $1 each, these mini blank cards are also wallet-friendly.
How To: Craft a laminated kid's spring bookmark
One way to get your kids to read more books is not by forcing them to do so, but by making the reading experience fun by giving them these cute handcrafted bookmarks.
How To: Craft an inexpensive skinny notepad
Got a case of the wintertime blues? Then use a snow day or just a boring Sunday afternoon to put together this simple and inexpensive skinny notepad. Yeah, we realize you can purchase notepads at just about any office supply store, but these pretty, beribboned notes will cheer up your day every time you write on them.
How To: Make a scalloped bright post-it note holder
Post-it notes are definitely not the chicest of accessories. After all, they spend 99% of the time grazing our office cube walls and computers and organizers. But they can be turned into a hefty decorative item when you slip one of the pads into this scalloped bright post-it note holder.
How To: Craft a dog bone and ribbon embellished binder clip
Is your dog the apple of your eye? Then integrate some doggy decor into your life by crafting this useful and highly cute binder clip. Embellished with an adorable scalloped stamp featuring a teeny blue bone in the center, this binder clip is possibly the chicest we've seen.
How To: Make a double-stitched switchback strap
If you've ever gone sailing, then you know that aside from knowing the tides, calculating the weather, and steering the ship, knowing how to tie different types of functional knots is one of the most important assets to maintaining a safe ship.
How To: Tie a decorative thorn branch sinnet with a zipper & caterpillar sinnet
Tying one on can be fun, so why not try tying two on! This clear and easy tutorial shows how to combine the Zipper Sinnet with a Caterpillar Sinnet to get the very smart looking Thorn Branch sinnet. You'll need 2.5 feet of 450 Paracord. Tie it today!
News: A Ski Mask Unfit For Pillaging
It won't be much trouble getting a decent police sketch if Andrew Salomone decides to knock off a liquor store.
How To: Perfect the wire spiral for jewelry making
If you want to make the perfect spirals, join Lisa Niven Kelly from beaducation for this quick demo on perfecting the wire spiral. Learn how to make open and closed loop spirals, and the proper tools to use for mastering this technique. Watch as Lisa shows you how to make one of her favorite shapes that she not only incorporates into many of her designs but also showcases all over Beaducation.com! Learn how to make the perfect wire spiral for jewelry.
How To: Knit in the round using a fixed circular needle
Learn how to knit in the round using a fixed circular needle. Use this technique to knit sweater sleeves, hats, socks, and scarves. There are many way to knit in the round, but this video demonstrates how to knit a hat shaped form with a fixed circular knitting needle.
How To: Apply fabric paint using the dry brush method
This tutorial uses a flower being painted on a piece of white fabric to show you how to use the dry brush technique to paint your fabric. Dress it up with beads, sequins or embroidery when you're done painting your design!
How To: Paint a Rangoli design using glass paint
This tutorial shows you how to replicate the Rangoli design onto a piece of glass using glass paint. You will also need a few stencils and a pen to trace your design onto. Great for dressing up windows and mirrors!
How To: Make an oval box
This is a video tutorial on how to make an oval box using card stock, rubber stamps, and ribbon. Decorate paper to use as surface to your cardboard oval box. You can also use an oval stencil to make varying sized oval shapes for the box and lid shape. Have fun crafting this nifty and elegant little container.
How To: Make a door wreath from antique book pages
Do you own a bunch of old looking books and have no idea what to do with them? Are you looking to spruce up a door in your home with some kind of decoration? Do you enjoy arts and crafts and want to tackle a project that is easy to make and results in something cool to look at? Have you done the math yet? Well if not, this video tutorial will show you how to make a awesome door wreath using old book pages. Enjoy!
How To: Make an indie beaded bird pendant necklace
This adorable bird pendant on a gold chain is a common sight at fashion forward indie stores like Urban outfitters, where similiar pendant necklaces sell for upwards of $30. While this necklace may look difficult to make, the materials are actually extremely easy to assemble (and no one expects you to cast and mold the bird yourself, so that saves a bit of time).
How To: Make eye-catching fashion rings out of craft buttons
Take some craft buttons, a little paint or glitter and some adjustable rings as the base, and you can glue them together to make your own fashion rings! Or, instead of buttons, you can use pendants, charms or any other small shape you want to wear on your finger.
How To: Add a zippered pocket to the lining of your designer handbag
This is a quick and easy tutorial, great for anyone interested in learning how to make their own designer handbag. Add in a zippered pocket to the inside lining of your handbag. You will need a window stencil and a craft knife as well as your notions. Add a zippered pocket to the lining of your designer handbag.
How To: Create a handmade pop-up Holiday greeting card
Make a pop-up Christmas card this holiday season and impress your friends and family with your creative skills! For this project, you will need double-sided tape, craft scissors, decorative hole punch, decorative stickers and construction paper. Keltie Colleen from Mahalo gets in touch with her resourceful side and shows you how.
How To: Knit a Triangle with Yarn Over Edge
The Yarn Over (YO) edge is a nice way to increase. Here's how to do it for a Triangle Scarf. WATCH THIS VIDEO TO SEE HOW TO DO THE YO BIND OFF.
How To: Make a zoomerang paper plane with origami
With this guide, you'll learn how to make a folded-paper "zoomerang" paper plane with origami, the traditional art of Japanese paper folding. For more information, including a step-by-step overview of the folding process, as well as to get started making your own colorful paper planes, watch this free origami lesson.
How To: Make half square triangle quilted coasters
In this episode of the Crafty Gemini Show you'll learn some quilting basics and make a small project out of what you learn. You'll be run through some quilting terminology, including what a pieced quilt is, what quilt blocks are, and how to make half-square triangle block units using a super easy method where you can make two blocks at once.
How To: Craft simple six-pointed paper snowflake decorations for Christmas
Remember when you were just a wee little kid and there was nothing better to do on a snowy winter afternoon than cutting out paper snowflakes and unfolding them to see what beautiful shapes and designs would appear?
How To: Craft easy wire wrapped jewelry for a Christmas present
These earrings, bracelets, and necklaces look expensive, but they're actually homemade and totally doable on a budget. With Christmas just a few days away, if you're looking to stay within your budget while giving out beautiful gifts then this may be the perfect craft for you.
How To: Make Homemade Microwaveable Foot Warmers
Well, Ol' Man Winter is upon us yet again, blasting us with his icy breath. When I was a kid, I loved wintertime because it meant the prospect of sledding, snowball fights & missed school days in which to enjoy both. Now that I'm 45, however, my attitude toward the season has taken a complete 180-degree turn: I find myself dreading it because of the likelihood of being snowed-in for days on end, and the certainty of being forced to endure the frigid temperatures.
How To: Make DIY Christmas Cards for the Holidays (Personalized Merry Christmas Wishes)
Christmas is just a few days away, which means everyone is out shopping for last minute gifts. But wait— you still need some Christmas cards! The stores are going to be packed and Hallmark's going to have huge lines— so now what?
How To: Make a "Tron" Legacy glow-in-the-dark costume
You know those cool skintight black bodysuits they wear in "Tron"? They seem like costumes only the best of movie costume designers - and CG artists - can produce, but you can make a pretty good replica at home.
How To: Sew your own set of blackout Roman blinds
This tutorial shows you how to sew your own set of black out or Roman blinds. You will need some heavy fabric in your chosen colors, a large work table, a steam iron and a heavy duty sewing machine or serger.
How To: Make a hoop shirt and arm warmers out of a pair of tights
All you need for this tutorial is a pair of tights (the stretchier, the better) and a pair of scissors! Take your tights and cut them in a few places to turn them into a top! Or, cut them a different way to turn them into arm warmers!