Active Arts & Crafts Posts
How To: Craft a cheap and chic popsicle purse for summer
You don't need to spend mad amounts of money to carry a chic purse. While every gal covets her Dior satchel and Chanel quilted purse, toting around a bag you made yourself speaks volumnes about your ingenuity and individuality.
How To: Make wire wrapping jewelry for beginners
The basics of Wire jewelry making are extremely easy to learn, and it's easy to get started quickly making your own earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, but excelling into harder wraps and loops is something only seasoned jewelry makers can do.
How To: Do pearl knotting for beginner jewelry makers
Are you a big jewelry fanatic who's looking to venture into making some jewelry of your own? Well, this video is the perfect place to start off making professional quality jewelry off the bat.
How To: Crafted a beautiful beaded dragonfly pendant
Decorative dragonflies are usually associated with little girls' shams and pink backpacks also plastered with iron-on hearts and happy faces. But you don't have to be ten years old to enjoy the dainty beauty of these winged creatures.
How To: Make a beaded wire mandala for meditation or jewelry
A wire mandala is basically a wire halo of sorts, meant as a geometric configuration which contains the image of a deity. For some, a wire mandala can be used for meditation and stress relief, while for others it is a beautiful religious pendant that can be attached to earring clasps and chains to make necklaces.
How To: Craft a beaded peace sign pendant for jewelry
Wearing a peace sign pendant is the perfect way to celebrate the harmony and integration of nations occuring right now at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. While known as soccer's clash of nations, the World Cup also presents a way for disparate countries to play together on a fair, comraderie-filled basis.
How To: Make your own personalized rings using buttons
Rings add a chic finishing touch to any outfit, but quality rings can be expensive and affording more than one or two is difficult for girls on a budget. If you're a big fan of wearing some bling on your fingers but don't feel like spending your entire paycheck on them, watch this video to learn how to make your own.
How To: Sew a pretty embroidered design to your T-shirt
Plain tees are indispensable because you can match them with anything, from the plain to the outrageous. But sometimes you get tired of wearing the same old gray tee shirt time after time and want to spice things up a little.
How To: Turn bootcut jeans into skinny jeans with ModCloth
Skinny jeans are by and large the most popular cut of jeans in the fashion world right now, but purchasing a solid pair (from JBrand or William Rast) could set you back upwards of $300. And really, who wants to drop $300 for a few strips of denim that happen to have a name brand label sewn on the butt?
How To: Knit a simple fair isle stitch on circular needles
See how to stitch a simple fair isle on circular needles when knitting, with this easy, up close demonstration by Judy Graham, Knitter to the Stars. Judy's knits have appeared in movies, television, and concerts for over thirty years. She herself has been hand-knitting for over fifty. Watch as she teaches you how to knit a simple fair isle on circular needles when stitching.
How To: Create a jewelry display fixture from a hanger
Picture this familiar scenario: You've just gotten yourself a ginormous jewelry haul from Forever 21 and excitedly rip open all the tags and stickers, squeeling in glee as you try on that new semiprecious jeweled necklace and metallic stud earrings. But like shreds of Christmas wrapping paper left under the tree the afternoon after the big holiday, everything must organized.
How To: Create a branch display tree for bracelets and rings
You've already got your clothing hanger plus scarf earring holder in place to organize your huge collection of earrings, but how do you deal with the leftover pile of bracelets and rings?
How To: Turn winter's turtleneck into spring's cute tube top with Gianny L
This tube top is the literal way to transform your winter wardrobe into your spring/summer wardrobe. Using a bland turtleneck which you are sure to have in stock from all those Christmas presents from older relatives, you can create a breezy tube top that's perfect for going to the beach.
How To: Repurpose last season's skirt into a cute tote bag
Vintage is in right now, but that doesn't mean everything you can dig up in your mother's closet is fashionable (we're thinking her neon '80s balloon pants here). If you happen to find a skirt in her collection that's dyed a nice color but cut entirely wrong to look good on anybody, repurpose it rather than throw it in the trash.
How To: Make a DIY chic tube dress with Gianny L
Nothing says chic like DIY. With spring and summer just around the corner, this breezy and elegant tube dress is all you need to stay cool. See how to make a DIY chic tube dress in this video from GiannyL.
How To: Make a tattered heart V-Day T-shirt with Gianny L
St. Valentine's Day is coming up soon in February, but do you have a special outfit planned for that special someone? Well, even if you don't have a valentine, this tattered heart black shirt will show the world you care. See how to make a tattered heart Valentine's Day T-shirt in this video from GiannyL.
How To: Create comfortable and cheap pajama tops with Gianny L
One of the most important things in a person's life is sleep (some of us don't get enough of it, and some of us get too much). Why not make it one of the most comfortable things, too? Having the right sleeping attire is great for comfort, especially when you make them custom yourself. See how to make pajama tank top in this video from GiannyL.
How To: Make cheap and cute pajama pants with Gianny L
Sleep is one of the most important things in a person's life. So why not make it one of the most comfortable things, too? Having the right sleeping attire is great for comfort, especially when you make them custom yourself. See how to make pajama pants in this video from GiannyL.
How To: Add pizazz to your flip flops with Gianny L
God knows there are a lot of shabby sandals around today. The only solution to the perfect pair of flip-flops is to mod them yourself. Add a little glamour to your sandals and see how to glam up your flip-flops in this video from GiannyL.
How To: Make a cheap Tinkerbell costume from a T-shirt
The alluring and stylish GiannyL is the DIY fashion design guru of the web. Do-it-yourself has never been so sexy before. Her fashion design video tutorials make new outfits not only hot, but cheap and easy. And recycling and reusing old clothing is not only practical, but eco-friendly.
How To: Make fashionable leggings with minimal sewing
The alluring and stylish GiannyL is the DIY fashion design guru of the web. Do-it-yourself has never been so sexy before. Her fashion design video tutorials make new outfits not only hot, but cheap and easy. And recycling and reusing old clothing is not only practical, but eco-friendly.
How To: Make an adorable Pucca costume for Halloween
Pucca is an adorable Japanese girl whose always chasing after her true - but reluctant - love, Garu, in her Pucca comics and on zillions of branded accessories. Her distinctive two side buns and upturned eyes make her an easy character to love, and lots of young girls enjoy reading about her adventures in love.
How To: Make fashionable harem pants with Gianny L
Fashion doesn't have to be restrictive or uncomfortable, we swear. Thanks to the recent high fashion runway trend of harem pants seen at multiple shows in Paris, Milan, and New York, we now have a fashionable clothing item that doesn't (literally) take our breath away or suffocate our baby toe.
How To: Craft a breezy bat sleeve blouse with Gianny L
No, you're not going to look like a cheesy impersonation of Batman when you don this "bat sleeve" blouse. Composed of wide sleeves that encourage free air flow (always good, especially for sisters with sweaty armpits. Yes, we went there) and a nipped in waist, this blouse is flattering and comfortable at the same time.
How To: Transform an old T-shirt into a cool formfitting tank top with Gianny L
T-shirts are practical and unfailingly comfortable, but not particularly known for looking either sexy or fashionable (they're more, shall we say, frumpy, than anything else). But did you know that within the ugly duckling that is your blank gray T-shirt is a beautiful swan of a tank top just waiting to get out?
How To: Create personalized boxer shorts for Valentine's Day
Before you know it, Valentine's Day will be here. Or your boyfriend's birthday. Or your two year anniversary. And while buying the newest techie gadget for your boy will earn you a gold star on your head, you can truly get his heart racing by making him a pair personalized boxer shorts.
How To: Make a miniature backpack out of old jeans
Recently gained some weight (or lost a few pounds after getting yourself hooked on an intense exercise routine)? We've all been there, and know that your clothes probably aren't fitting the way they used to. But don't just throw your outdated threads into a plastic bag and toss them to Goodwill.
How To: Follow stitch set instructions in crochet patterns
Need help figuring out what a pattern means when it refers to a stitch set? This free video crocheting lesson from Internet crochet superstar Mikeyssmail provides some much needed help and presents a walkthrough of an exampe involving a Catherine Wheel stitch. For more information, and to get started using stitch sets in your own crochet projects, take a look.
How To: Make a sleeveless draped cardigan in 30 seconds with Gianny L
Do you remember how to work a pair of scissors from 5th grade art class? Then you can definitely make this unbelievably easy sleeveless draped cardigan. Taking less than 30 seconds to make, all you have to do is trace two circles the size of your upper arm onto a piece of fabric.
How To: Make a girly, dainty cocktail dress for cheap with Gianny L
Got about two to three yards of a slinky cloth? Then that's all you need to make yourself a flirty cocktail dress in time for your next big soiree!
How To: Make a jewelry organizer out of a scarf and hanger
It's a common snafu: You're running late to a date with this cute guy you met at your English class last week, and you just HAVE to put on earrings. But as soon as you pick one out of the landfill-like dump, the rest of the earrings fly up with your selection, tangled and impossible to separate.
How To: Recycle an old T-shirt into a 2-piece bikini
Fashion a bikini absolutely no one else at the beach this summer will have by watching this sewing tutorial by GiannyL. Using only an old T-shirt, you'll learn how to cut the T-shirt into pieces and refashion it into a two-piece bikini.
How To: Repurpose plastic shopping bags into weavable plarn
Plastic bags on their own aren't quite strong enough to hold anything too heavy (at least not for an extended period of time), but when broken down into "plarn" - plastic yarn - they can be woven into some very sturdy fabric.
How To: Create a drawstring halter/dress out of old T-shirts
A drawstring halter dress is so perfect for summer. They're cute and breezy, allowing your skin to breathe, and aren't too boxy, so they don't visually add extra pounds to your silhouette.
How To: Create recycled origami magazine flowers
Are your magazines piled so high they're spilling over your desktop? Throwing so much paper away is a waste, so recycle your old magazines instead by making the origami flowers presented in this video.
How To: Do a Continental-style knit stitch
Knitting Continental (or "European") style is fast and comfortable – once you get the hang of it! It's also not so very complicated. It's so easy, in fact, that this free video knitting lesson can present a complete, step-by-step overview of the process in just over three minutes' time. For complete details, and to get started using Continental-style knit stitches yourself, take a look.
How To: Repurpose an old T-shirt into a pillow
Due to the current bohemian/indie trend in music, film, and fashion, vintage and recycled wares are in high demand and sell like hotcakes in many stores. But don't waste your hard-earned money on overpriced vintage goods when you have the materials lying around the house to make them yourself.
How To: Knit old T-shirts into a T-shirt rug
T-shirt rugs and placements exactly like the one presented in this tutorial sell for upwards of $150 at home decorating stores, so why not save money and reduce your consumption by simply repurposing old T-shirts yourself?
How To: Turn T-shirts into cotton tube yarn
Yarn is certainly not the most expensive fabric-making material world, but why would you spend $5 for a roll when you can spin together yarn yourself?
How To: Dye fabric items with coffee or tea
We've all heard of dying paper with tea dye for an aged, vintage effect. But did you know you could use tea (and coffee) to dye other things as well, including T-shirts and yarn?