Active Arts & Crafts Posts
How To: Fold a cute origami fish that kisses
What a lovely present for your sweetheart on Valentine's Day. What better way to show your loved one that you can't get enough of him/her than by making this cute origami kissing fish?
How To: Fold an origami man in a hood firing a kamehameha wave
This is quite possibly the most awesome origami project we've ever seen, and trust us, we've seen A LOT of origami tutorials.
How To: Fold an easy origami leek vegetable for beginners
You may not enjoy eating leeks because you think they're icky vegetables, but you'll certainly enjoy folding them! Check out this origami folding tutorial to learn how to make a leek out of paper.
How To: Fold a simple origami pajarita (baby parrot)
A pajarita is Spanish for a baby parrot. And while you may not be lucky enough to own one, you can certainly fold one!
How To: Fold a simple open top Japanese origami gift box
With Christmas just around the corner, it's prime time to start thinking about what gifts you're going to get, as well as how to wrap them. Even a fancy schmancy iPad isn't going to look all that appealing if haphazardly wrapped in 5-year-old Rudolph wrapping paper, right?
How To: Fold a gigantic origami stellated dodecahedron for Christmas
You're probably wondering what the hell a "stellated dodecahedron" is. Well, in short, a stellated dodecahedron is just fancy jargon for a 12-sided star.
How To: Fold an origami pteranodon dinosaur
Love dinosaurs, or have kids who think they're just about the coolest things ever? Then revel in your dino fever on a lazy afternoon when you're snowed in by folding this origami pteranodon, which was an ancient flying dinosaur.
How To: Crochet a headband
Basic and simple steps yet elegant in making Crochet Headbands. Start with a chain of two, put the hook through the first chain, wrap the eye over and pull it through, wrap the eye over and pull it through once, and wrap the eye over and pull it through twice. Continue to make 54 foundation single crochet. Connect the two ends together. Work the shell and single crochet in the same space as the opposite side. If you want to add flowers. Chain three slip stitch in the loop. Complete five chain...
How To: Decorate a plain picture frame to give as a Christmas or holiday present
These are great, personal gifts that you can hand out to friends this holiday season. Find a picture and a quote you like, then dress them up in a picture frame! All you really need is the frame, some paint, a few old magazines and some paper!
How To: Make pendants and broaches out of tiny bottles
This is a great idea for anyone who's giving on a budget this year, or just looking for a unique and clever gift idea! You can take small bottles and fill them with tiny objects to create one of a kind jewelry!
How To: Use your Cricut machine to create etched glass
Create your own glass etchings! You will need some pieces of vinyl, your Cricut machine, etching solution and the glass you want the design on. It's very easy, and all you need now is to pick the right graphic or design!
How To: Craft funky Steampunk style goggles
Going to a masquerade ball where you know everyone is going to be wearing the same old Victorian corsets and top hats? Then stand out from the crowd by wearing a modern (sort of) get-up of Steampunk style gear.
How To: Craft a recycled ruffled lace brooch with a button
Need a way to dress up your plain white tee fast? Instead of wearing jewelry or adding a sparkly blazer, how about pinning on a pretty brooch?
How To: Craft a pretty origami butterfly mobile
Origami butterflies are truly beautiful, but what exactly do you do with them once you've made them? While individually they look pretty on your desk, once you have several they become more of a clutter inducer and dust collector than a piece of art.
How To: Fold a simple origami lampshade fairy light cover
You know those pretty twinkle light covers you can buy at Urban Outfitters or Home Goods? You can actually make them cheaply - i.e., with almost no money involved - at home.
How To: Wrap a round present easily using tissue paper and ribbon
You know those oddly shaped presents that ordinary wrapping paper just can't maneuver around without awkward bulges or rips? Rather than trying to wrap up your chocolate orange in traditional wrap, why not try tissue paper instead?
How To: Fold an intermediate vibrant origami lily
Given that Christmas is just two weeks away, you're sure to have a lot of time on your hands once your holiday break begins. Instead of twiddling your thumbs through two weeks of utter boredom, why not be a little productive instead?
How To: Make industrial Steampunk style bobby pins
Steampunk style, which is a funky hybrid of Victorian anachronisms (propellers, vintage watch parts) and industrial design, is sure interesting and cool when it comes to gadget design, but pulling off the whole googles-and-gears look clothing-wise is not quite...becoming.
How To: Craft a woven lanyard ribbon bracelet
Got a bunch of ribbon scraps lying around from old crafting projects and present wrapping? Instead of letting them sit there and collect dust for ages, why not put them to good use?
How To: Craft a 3D nature-inspired butterfly greeting card
You know those ancient, so old you could crumble them just by blowing on them greeting cards and postcards your grandma has? While vintage cards are gorgeous in their antiquity, if you're going for a vintage look without the delicacy then it's best you make a vintage inspired card yourself.
How To: Cut out perfect men's trousers patterns
You know how often times you'll find almost perfect jeans at the store, with the perfect faded wash, boot cut, and dark navy color, but they're just a wee bit too tight and a wee bit too long? Have you ever wished that the jeans company tailored those pants to you?
How To: Craft a bohemian Chinese letter embellished jade pendant necklace
Tribal jewelry, as seen on the runways at Peter Som and Stella McCartney, is very much on-trend right now. But don't waste your hard earned cash paying for a piece of your own.
How To: Craft a simulated wood (faux bois) tribal necklace
Besides crushed velvet clothing and accessories and anything with a lot of sparkly sequins, tribal jewelry is very in this holiday season. While it isn't necessarily as festive or as glitzy as the other fashion trends, it's uniquely, naturally beautiful and really makes a statement.
How To: Craft a vintage studio metal holiday container
This embossed, brass finish metal container is perfect for storing beautiful amaryllis or paperwhites during the holiday season, but they can be used year round to enhance flowers or even to act as a storage bin.
How To: Origami a box with a window
Watch this origami tutorial to make an origami box with a little window. You will need one large piece of sturdy origami paper to complete this box. You can cover the window with clear plastic to make a unique candy box. Add ribbons and decorations to personalize your paper box. These origami boxes make great gifts for bosses and teachers.
How To: Craft silk fabric mini rose hair pins
The best part about this silk fabric rose craft is that you can use the mini roses for anything, from adorning your cashmere sweater as a brooch to pinning one on a tote bag to attaching one to a hair pin.
How To: Sew a ruffled floral crop top
Want to get the bohemmian look for less? Then look no further than this ruffled bohemian top. You can fabricate this out of old scraps of vintage floral fabric.
How To: Sew a simple spring floral romper
During the spring, all you want to do is romp around beautiful fields of wild flowers while blowing bubbles and making garlands out of dandelions, right? So what better outfit to wear than a romper?
How To: Sew a simple flouncy high-waisted skirt
High waisted skirts may seem rather unflattering - after all, the last high-waisted trend we've heard about was high-waisted pants, and after Jessica Simpson's mom jeans controversy that trend has swiftly burned out and died. But because high-waisted skirts fall at your waist, they help create an hourglass silhouette that's flattering on everyone.
How To: Sew a large, lacy feminine bow belt
A bow - whether pinned onto your shirt or tied around your waist as a belt - is a quick and easy way to add instant feminine pizazz to any outfit. Even if all you're wearing is a standard white tee and shorts, donning a bow belt will turn that outfit into a pretty look.
How To: Upcycle an old t-shirt into a puff-sleeved shirt
Got a bunch of old, too large t-shirts lying around that you don't want to throw away, but that you also can't seem to wear? Then take the high road by upcycling it into this on-trend puff sleeved shirt.
How To: Sew an easy shirred empire waist summer halter top
Summer time is the best time to have fun with fashion. And since you're probably going to be spending most of your time beachcombing, nomming on large ice cream sundaes, and attending hot late night parties, your clothing choices should be as comfortable as possible.
How To: Tint brass stampings using Gilder's Paste
Gilder's Paste is what distinguishes a so-so piece of jewelry from a truly dazzling, memorable one. That's because Gilder's Paste, which comes in a wide variety of colors and tints, is a type of colorant for brass that can be mixed and applied for a unique look.
How To: Tint brass findings and stampings with Gilder's Paste
Jewelry made with untreated brass findings and stampings looks just fine, but if you're going for an impressive, interesting piece that stands out and shows personality, then Gilder's Paste is where it's at. Gilder's Paste comes in a large variety of colors and is used to color brass jewelry pieces.
How To: Color brass flower findings with Lumiere paints and GIlder's Paste
Want to make even the newest of jewelry look antique? Then you've stumbled upon the right jewelry crafting video. Take a gander to learn how to color brass flower findings using Lumiere paints and Gilder's Paste.
How To: Hack a Brother KH-930e knitting machine to receive any digital pattern
The Brother KH-930e knitting machine is an old but reliable device. It's age means that it doesn't like interfacing with modern computers though, so it's hard to get patterns from your computer to your machine so it will knit your project. Without this video it's hard, that is. Watch on to learn how to hack a Brother KH-930e to receive any pattern from your computer.
How To: Make wire-wrapped flower brooches and jewelry
Wire wrapping is like the bread and butter of jewelry making. It doesn't matter if you're into vintage inspired, assemblage necklaces or Steampunk pieces - wire wrapping is essntial for securing everything in place and often times is even used as part of the decor.
How To: Craft a designer charmstring with beaded wire clasps for your purse
Lots of designer purse companies, especially Coach and Kate Spade, LOVE attaching beaded charms to their purses and clutches. Sparkly little bits and pieces add extra pizazz to anything they're attached to.
How To: Purpose and repurpose vintage necklaces and brooches
If you're a habitual thrift store and consignment store shopper, then you know that every now and then you'll stumble upon a vintage necklace or ring that has one part that's sooo pretty, but the rest looks pretty tacky or too old. Give new life to the little bits of vintage jewelry you've collected by repurposing them into a brand new necklace.
How To: Make an awesome propeller Steampunk brass ring
Add instant art school style to your outfit by crafting this propeller Steampunk brass ring. Steampunk style, which fuses Victorian/industrial age style with anachronisms like old watch parts and propellers, is on trend right now with Hollywood as well as the indie craft scene.