Active Arts & Crafts Posts

How To: Do an English-style slip-slip-purl or SSP decrease

The ssp (slip, slip, purl) is a decrease made on the purl side of your knitting, and is a mirror decrease to the p2tog (purl two together). In this clip, it's demonstrated in the English style. The ssp (slip, slip, purl) is a decrease made on the purl side of your knitting, and is a mirror decrease to the p2tog (purl two together). In this clip, it's demonstrated in the continental. style. For more information, including complete, step-by-step instructions, and to get started utilizing this d...

How To: Do a continental-style slip-slip-purl or SSP decrease

The ssp (slip, slip, purl) is a decrease made on the purl side of your knitting, and is a mirror decrease to the p2tog (purl two together). In this clip, it's demonstrated in the continental. style. For more information, including complete, step-by-step instructions, and to get started utilizing this decrease in your own knitting projects, watch this free video knitting lesson.

How To: Perform an English-style PSSO decrease stitch

This clip demonstrates a left-leaning decrease sometimes used in knitting. It is usually called the "pass slipped stitch over" decrease (PSSO), or the K1, SL1, PSSO (knit one, slip one, pass slipped stitch over). In this clip, it's shown in the English style. For complete, step-by-step instructions, and to get started using this stitch in your own knitting projects, take a look.

How To: Perform a continental-style PSSO decrease stitch

This clip demonstrates a left-leaning decrease sometimes used in knitting. It is usually called the "pass slipped stitch over" decrease (PSSO), or the K1, SL1, PSSO (knit one, slip one, pass slipped stitch over). In this clip, it's shown in the continental style. For complete, step-by-step instructions, and to get started using this stitch in your own knitting projects, take a look.

How To: Make a flirty purse card with alcohol ink

In this how-to video, Patti Behan shows you how to make a cute and darling flirty purse card with alcohol ink. She uses the Ranger's Adirondack Alcohol inks. She'll take you through each step of the card, from painting it purple to decorating it with dots. Make this card for your mother or your best friend!

How To: Origami a paper heart with your kids

Origami is one of the simplest crafts you could teach your children. It's costs nothing, but provides hours of fun and excitement. The thrill of creating something wonderful is enough to keep the kids coming back for more. And the best paper folding project to start with… a heart. Folding paper hearts is one of the easiest origami items ever, which means it's great for young children. All you need is origami paper.

How To: Fold a box from a square sheet of paper with origami

Watch a person fold an origami box. This is an open box, like a drawer, but not like a cube. First step is typical, just make creases between the opposite corners. next step is to fold all four corners to the center point where the first two creases cross. next two opposite flat sides are folded over to the center so the fold is parallel to the sides. then unfold these last two folds, and redo it with the other two perpendicular sides. then unfold everything but two of the corner-to-center fo...

How To: Make a recycle bag from newspaper

Sporterbumi, teaches you how to make a recycled bag from a newspaper. You need two sheets of newspaper, preferably a large one, a stapler and a ballpoint pen. Also get two thick pieces of card stock with two holes, 8 centimeters apart. Lastly, you will need 2 pieces of 40 centimeters rope each. Use the stapler on the top, opened, side of the newspaper, stapling 2 centimeters apart from each other. Fold 5 centimeters on the side that you put the staples on. Flip it and fold it again. Do the sa...

How To: Use paper scraps in order to make a paper flower

In this tutorial, we learn how to make a paper flower using paper scraps. To make this, you will need: 3 pieces of small pink scrap paper, 1 piece of small green scrap paper, 1/16" brad, adhesive, hole punch, ink, and a sponge. First, you will draw one different size circle on the 3 sheets of pink paper. Next, draw leaves onto the green scrap paper. Now, start tearing the shapes out of the paper leaving no pencil showing. Crumple the paper up several times, then get your ink and put it on you...

How To: Make a baby blanket

In this tutorial, we learn how to make a baby blanket. First, cut out a pattern (you can used old shirts and jackets) and line it against a liner fabric, and cut it out. Now, take the ends of the fabric and sew them 1/2 inch in. Then, sew both the liner fabric and the original fabric together on all the sides that are open and use pins to hold it together while you are sewing other sides. You can do any type of stitch that you like, just make it all your own. When you're finished, you'll have...

How To: Crochet an easy pom pom flower

Tracey shows us how to crochet an easy pom pom flower in this tutorial. First, wrap your yarn around four fingers several times, and then wrap another color around as well. Last, wrap one last color on top of the middle color still wrapping around your fingers. Now pull the yarn off your fingers and tie a piece of yarn down the center of the wrapped yarn. Pull this as tight as you can and make as many knots as possible with this piece of yarn. Now cut your loops open with scissors through the...

How To: Fold an origami chicken and egg

This video tutorial is in the Arts & Crafts category which will show you how to fold an origami chicken and egg. Take a square size paper and fold it in half across the diagonal. Now fold the triangle in half. Lift up the top fold and fold it back in to a square. Repeat this step with the bottom triangle also. Now you have a smaller folded square. Turn the paper around so that the open ends are pointing away from you. Fold the two top edges on to the centerline. Now fold the bottom triangle i...

How To: Crochet a rub-a-dub duckie finger puppet

In this tutorial we learn how to crochet a duck finger puppet. In order to make the bill, start with three stitches on the front where you crochet a front loop to work with. Start with the open end facing you, and pull a loop up with your yarn, like a slip stitch. Now, chain one and single crochet into that on your first stitch. Single crochet in the next stitch and in the last one as well. Now, go into the center stitch and single crochet in that making a point at the beak. Now, slip stitch ...

How To: Make a handforged silver clasp

Jessica VanDen shows us how to make a hand forged silver clasp in this video. Start off with two pieces of sterling silver wire. Now make a simple S clasp with pliers. Then grasp the wire at the thick end and wrap it around until the long piece meets the curve you made. Next, wrap a curve around the end of the wire with pliers to make the clasp. You will need to put the chain through it to attach it. Make sure your chain can fit through the loop that you have made. Now you're finished and mak...

How To: Apply sharpening compound to a hone

In this tutorial, we learn how to apply sharpening compound to a hone. First, remove the old compound by scratching the hone on scotch bright. Keep doing this until the compound is off and the hone is soft. To reapply, start coloring the compound on. Work your way from the top to the bottom, moving in an up and down motion quickly. Make sure you apply enough to where the hone is a darker color of green instead of a light green When you are finished, you will have newly applied compound within...

How To: Make a growing flower pot card

In this Arts & Crafts video tutorial you will learn how to make a growing flower pot card. First you make a flower out of a tea bag. Then cut out a piece of paper in the shape of a flower pot. Now take a couple of sheets of 8x4 card of the same color. Score one card in half and fold it. From the other card cut out a piece equal to the size of an A5 card, which is 14.85 x 10 cms. Now glue the flower pot shaped paper on to this card. Now cut a long strip of the card, 30 x 3 cms and fold it in h...