Active Arts & Crafts Posts
How To: Craft a very easy origami gift box for beginners
Don't get us wrong: We adore gift boxes, as they let us both conceal a gift and make the gift look more appealing by wrapping up the box in pretty wrapping paper and smacking a bow on top, but there's one big gripe we have about them. They either come in Small, Medium, or Large. So if your gift doesn't exactly fit one of those predesignated sizes, then the box is either too small in areas or too large, which is a pain.
How To: Make an easy back flipping origami frog for beginners
We've all seen origami frogs, as they are typically some of the easiest animals to make in origami. We've even seen jumping origami frogs that leap forward when you press down on the frog's back. But we bet you've never seen an origami frog that can do backflips.
How To: Crochet a large purple swirled Afghan
For those of you who are knitting beginners, an Afghan may sound difficult but it's actually just a fancy schmancy term for a crochet blanket. The blanket's texture varies according to your choosing, from thick wool yarn to light and airy summertime yarn.
How To: Make a simple canoe with covered stern and bow from one sheet of paper
This isn't your ordinary canoe. It might not be a canoe at all. But it's roughly shaped like one, only the ends have a small splash cover on the bow and stern decks not typically seen on canoes. But that's not the point, the point is you can recreate this cool paper boat with only one sheet of origami paper. If you know the name of this type of boat… speak up!
How To: Make yarn for a scarf from recycled strips of silk
If you're a habitual knitter, then you probably go through spools of yarn faster than you can buy them. And while rolls of yarn aren't all too expensive, purchasing many of them frequently does take its toll on your wallet. So why not opt for a cheaper and more eco-friendly approach to your knitting?
How To: Upcycle an old bed sheet into yarn for knitting
We enjoy the fuzzy wool yarns at craft stores as much as any other knitter, but did you know that yarn doesn't have to be made from wool or any of the typical yarn fibers? In fact, you can make your own yarn at home. Don't worry, we're not going to put you in front of a weaving machine.
How To: Wind a skein of yarn into a usable ball
Like getting your watercolor papers and paints ready before you unravel a Monet-worthy masterpiece for the ages, knitting takes some prepwork that many beginning knitters may forget about. While it may seem that alll you need are two knitting needles and a ball of yarn, skeins of yarn often need to be unwound and then wound back up into a ball of yarn to make them usable.
How To: Read yarn to examine its texture and consistency
Have you ever marveled at those knitting doyennes at Michael's who can just run up to the yarn aisle and speedily pick up some yarn because they know exactly what type of of yarn they need for their project without reading the yarn label? Most of us struggle with different yarn consistencies, scanning the label to get a feel for how the yarn would play out if knitted.
How To: Knit an invisible tubular cast-on with Eunny Jang
Are you 90% done with your lace shawl but have no idea how to finish the edges so they look rounded, complete, and not raggedy? Then a tubular cast-on may be just what you need to finish up the hems of your project in a professional manner.
How To: Do cast-ons to knit a hat in the round with Eunny Jang
If you're a knitting beginner who wants to challange yourself with an impressive looking project, then you've hit the right how-to video. While there are many different ways you can knit a hat, the method presented in this tutorial is one of the simplest. You can simply vary the yarn color to produce different effects.
How To: Apply provisional cast-ons to your knitting project
Hard edged cast-ons in knitting are difficult to remove, so it's important to also know how to complete loose cast-ons that easily remove themselves from your knitting project. Loose cast-ons allow you to hold a knit in place so you can return to it later (so, for instance, you want to knit the sleeve of a sweater first and want the chest area, which you are currently knitting, to stay in place).
How To: Remove a provisional cast-on from a knitting project
This may be a really short tutorial, but it teaches you a skill that you'll need to use in many future knitting projects: removing provisional cast-ons. Cast-ons are basically the latticework and frame of your knitwork, allowing you to create complex designs without any threads coming loose. These cast-ons are a third hand, if you will.
How To: Knit a pretty tulip buttonhole with Eunny Jang
These tulip buttonholes are both pretty and all-purpose, usable for just about any knitting project that requires buttonholes. Composed of a petal-shaped hole rimmed at the edges with a briaded knit, this tulip buttonhold project is simple and great for knitting beginners.
How To: Knit basic cables with Eunny Jang for beginners
Chances are, if you have some elder relatives who have paid you a visit during the holidays, then you probably have more than your fair share of cable-knit sweaters in various ugly Christmas designs. While we're certainly not a fan of these types of sweaters, the cable-knit technique is one that is used very commonly in knitting and is one of the most basic.
How To: Knit a pretty pillow with large needles and oversized yarns
Here in America, we have this idea that the bigger, the better. Why purchase large fries when you can get them supersized for just $40 extra, for instance, and why not buy the value pack of salsa to save some money when compared to buying individually?
How To: Make a hexagonal illusion cube blanket with Kathy Elkins
Want a knitting project that looks really impressive and complex but is actually much simpler than it appears? Then this hexagonal illusion cube blanket, made with an array of variously colored hexagons. The blanket is made of 100% wool, so it's perfect for covering up and then snuggling with your partner during cold winter nights.
How To: Make a crocheted swirling bag with Kathy Merrick
It's flattering enough to be complemented on your pretty bag. So how awesome would it be to get compliments on a bag you made yourself? Not many people endeavor to craft a homemade bag (for fear of loose ends, things falling out of random holes, etc.), even though it's actually pretty easy.
How To: Reuse an old t-shirt by turning it into a grocery bag
Got a pile of old clothes collecting dust in the corner of your closet? Before you get the incentive to finally donate that lump to the Salvation Army, consider reusing some of those seemingly "useles" clothing.
How To: Reuse screens to screen print t-shirts at home
Screen printed t-shirts cost you quite the chunk of change at most clothing stores. Whether it's to prove your street cred with a screen-printed Nike shirt or to wear a screen-printed tee promoting a major cause like the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation, you probably already have a few in your closet.
How To: Upcycle an old t-shirt into a reusable shopping bag
Old t-shirts really don't get the loving they deserve. Most of us would either toss or donate our old clothes, thinking there's really no use for them other than the obvious clothing purpose.
How To: Make a quick ruched tank top from a t-shirt
Old t-shirts can be given new life when you take a gander at this upcycling tutorial. Using nothing but a raggedy old t-shirt, you'll learn how to make a cut here and put a stitch there in order to magically transform the shirt into a wonderous tank top.
How To: Make a DIY eco-friendly shopping bag from an old t-shirt
These days, everything is about efficiency. We're always looking for the fastest way to do things, from producing faster cars to faster internet. This need to get things done fast also extends to home organization, where we basically have a "keep" and "toss" pile.
How To: Make creative calendars with stamps, calligraphy and photographs
Calendars are usually pretty drab, lacking creativity and focusing on the basics… year, month, day, and holidays. Besides a usually visually striking picture for each month, these store-bought calendars are nothing to look at, but they can be with a little modification!
How To: Create bangle-licious bangles with wood, acrylic paint, glaze and glass beads
Love bangles? Even know what a bangle is? Well, it's a rigid bracelet or anklet, and can be made from metal, wood or other rigid surface. They're quite fashionable, and what's even more fashionable? -- homemade bangles!
How To: Create homemade zigzag mosaics for DIY greeting cards
Homemade greeting cards are a great way to show the people you love that you care. You can come up with any style card, completely personalized and beautified to meet you recipient's needs. This zigzag mosaic pattern adds a wonderful touch to any card! Try it out...
How To: Make a clear and trendy homemade photo album scrapbook
Clear is a great way to go when it comes to scrapbooking. It's trendy and looks cool, and that's exactly what you'll learn in this how-to. It's a scrapbook photo album in one, plus more! Check it out.
How To: Create a custom card and envelope with watercolors, paper and rubber stamps
Art should be playful, not intimidating. And with this video tutorial, you'll see just how easy crafting can be. Learn a basic watercolor technique that will make your creations stand out and sparkle.
How To: Make DIY Scrabble tile charms and pendants with glaze and glue
Scrabble charms and pendants are gaining popularity in the world of crafts, because they're easy to make and fun to wear. They make great gifts, can be fully personalized and turn Scrabble into more than just a board game!
How To: Make monogrammed coasters and napkins with a monogram stamper and ink
Creative gifts are the way to go, and personalizing them is even better. That's where monograms come in. They're perfect for things like napkins and coasters, and that's exactly what you'll learn in this video— how to make monogrammed coasters and napkins with stamps and ink.
How To: Transfer a printed photograph onto trading card-sized watercolor paper
Make homemade trading cards of your family! These won't look exactly like baseball cards, or even feel like them, but they're cute and somewhat artsy depictions of your favorite photographs. You only need a few items (listed below), but make sure you have a nice photograph to transfer over. It won't look exactly like the picture, but it will look roughly hand drawn, but not quite. Definitely an interesting paper craft. Try it out. Experiment.
How To: Sew together a creative felted cuff bracelet with a needle felting machine
Make a creative and fun felted cuff bracelet! This could be a difficult task for beginners, but overall it's an easy craft. You'll need a needle felting machine for this though, which means you might have to hunt one down or improvise. Watch and learn how to use the needle felting machine to create a cool felted cuff.
How To: Make a homemade bracelet with Grungeboard
If you're interested in making bracelets in an entirely new way, this is your answer. It uses Grungeboard from Tim Holtz and makes a funky and fun bracelet that has a stamped pattern on it (any stamp of your choice). Follow along and make one yourself.
How To: Make the best paper airplane glider
Make one and see for yourself how much fun it can be.
How To: Texture, shape, and antique wire jewelry with Ronna Sarvas Weltman
Wire jewelry is one of the most beautiful types out there. With a delicate appearance and ability to bend into gorgeous curvalinear patterns or wrap endlessly around necklace pendants, wire jewelry is also easy to maneuver for beginners.
How To: Design with bead frames with Katie Hacker
Bead frames are pretty simple to understand. Rather than simply stringing beads onto a pendant or necklace, you can attach them to bead frames, which come in all shapes and varieties, to make a novel design that can take advantage of negative space. It goes without saying that elaborate bead frames make the entire design more ornamental, whereas a simple round wooden bead base helps put the spotlight on the bead in the center for a subtle glamour.
How To: Create marbelized polymer clay beads with Ronna Sarvas Weltman
Polymer clay is a favorite material for many crafters because it's so versatile. Those interested in creating miniatures - like small version of Domo Kun or tiny, hamster-sized apple pies - can easily mold the clay into any shape they wish, while jewelers enjoy polymer clay because you can experiment with different colors to produce all types of effects.
How To: Learn five basic seed beading terms with Melinda Barta
Consider this Beading 101. In this video, you'll learn the five basic beading terms used in many beading magazines and beading patterns. These terms refer to how you pass needles through your beeds (from the back or from the front), how you separate irregular beads out of your main beading inventory, rounds and rows (different ways of beading), waxing your thread, and thread tension.
How To: Make a portable lap-sized beading studio for beading on the go
You know those long drives home in the car after you've spent a weekend at a cousin's house, or back from visiting Las Vegas? With more than a few hours at your disposal, what do you do to fill up the time? If you're an avid crafter and enjoy making jewelry, that you can turn those usually idle hours into productive crafting time by making this portable beading studio.
How To: Make a simple origami paper wallet for beginners
When you muse on the topic of origami, you're probably imagining some pretty advanced stuff that sends your head - if not your fingers - for a spin. Modular dodecahedrons (what?) and magic squares, done by the more advanced origami artist, make the art seem too difficult for common butterfingers like us. But fear not; no matter how clumsy you are with crafting, we've got an origami project that you can do easily.
How To: Make a miniature origami sea horse for beginners
Ever since we saw "A Little Mermaid" in second grade, we've been enamored with sea life (who knew that fish could be such cuddly little things with some nice pipes, too?). And let's admit it: If you, like us, grew up on a steady diet of Disney princess films, you probably wished at some point that you were a mermaid or a beautiful princess.