Active Arts & Crafts Posts
How To: Make a romantic origami beating heart
Ah, the heart. The eternal symbol of love and torment, the starter of wars and the locale of true victories. Heck, the heart is such an ingrained symbol in our culture that there's an entire holiday devoted to it.
How To: Make tea tree oil soap
Making soap is a great activity and proves great results to give as gifts or to adorn your bathroom with. In this video from Soap Making Resources, learn how to make a tea tree oil soap that's gentle on your hands and smells great! Give the gift of handcrafted soap next holiday or birthday by using this video as your guide.
How To: Origami a shiny bluefin tuna fish
Wish you could have your own version of the adorable rainbow fish from the childhood tale, "Rainbow Fish"? You can fabricate your own luminescent fish with this origami tutorial on making a shiny bluefin tuna fish.
How To: Fold a shiny ninja throwing star (shuriken)
What's better than a paper ninja star, or shuriken? A shiny paper ninja star, of course! Leave those blase plain white paper stars in the recycling bin or toss them to a frenemy.
How To: Make a modular origami pineapple
What's so great about a modular origami pineapple, you ask? Well, for starters, it doesn't poke curious fingers and hungry tongues nearly as much as the original.
How To: Make a modular origami Christmas tree
Due to the sour economy, folks have started cutting out or toning down unnessary expenditures. Miniaturize your Christmas tree - though not your Christmas spirit - by crafting this modular origami Christmas tree to adorn your home this holiday season.
How To: Fold a beautiful origami iris flower
The tradition of bringing a colorful boquet of dead flowers to your true love is old as balls, not to mention sort of morbid. Stop sending "let these deceased flowers signify the longevity of our relationship" messages by making paper flowers that'll last a long time if not forever (so long as you don't sit on them).
How To: Fold an origami lucky star (puffy star)
Talk about taking the adage "count your lucky stars" literally. This video demonstrates the birth and making of origami lucky stars, also known by their street name, puffy stars.
How To: Fold a simple, traditional origami paper goldfish
Forget Goldfish Crackers and the actual living, swimming ones. They both, one day, will disappear. The crackers will only last as long as your hunger, and the living goldfish will eventually die (or also last as long as your hunger— or your cat's hunger). But there's one goldfish that can survive the test of time— an origami paper gold fish.
How To: Make a paper Mardi Gras mask
Get the beads and masks out... it's Mardi Gras time! Instead of buying everything from a store and spending boat loads of cash, save by making this year's mask out of paper with help from this free tutorial. Learn how to make your own homemade Mardi Gras mask with help from this video presented by Learn How To.
How To: Make your own bath bombs
Add some fizzle and sizzle to bath time with a homemade bath bomb. Bath bombs make great holiday or birthday gifts.
How To: Make a small stitchbound book
Interested in getting started binding your own mini books? In this video from TV Weekly, Tricia stitches together mini file folders for the pages and covers the book boards with lovely paper to create a professional looking bound book. Fill this journal with photos and memories and keep it close as a perfect keepsake. Make a small stitchbound book.
How To: Fold an origami Pacman
Pacman is gaining in popularity lately due to the game's 30 year anniversary. If you would like to take Pacman out of the game and into real life, check out this tutorial.
How To: Crochet an iPod sock
Is your iPod getting cold? Warm it up with an iPod sock! ... huh? In all seriousness, an iPod sock is a cute and stylish way to protect your iPod, iTouch, or iPhone from get scratched or dented. In this Crochet Mania tutorial, learn how to crochet an iPod sock from start to finish!
How To: Craft an origami Kawasaki rose
Attention origami masters! Have you mastered the origami Kawasaki rose? If not, here's your chance. In this origami tutorial, learn how to fold your very own origami Kawasaki rose - perfect for a springtime project!
How To: Make a paper rose out of a napkin
Get in touch with your creative side with help from Janice of Paper Beads! In this video tutorial, learn how to make paper roses out of a napkin... a perfect embelishment to any scrapbooking project or paper craft creation. Spend your afternoon making these adorable flowers to adorn all over your creative projects!
How To: Crochet a solid heart pattern
Are you interested in doing crochet projects? Watch this arts and crafts video tutorial to learn how to crochet a solid heart pattern. You will need some yarn and a crochet needle.
How To: Crochet a chrysanthemum flower
In this tutorial, learn how to make a very simple, very cute chrysanthemum flower. Mums are classic signs of springtime and now you can crochet your own to add to gifts, clothing, hair..anywhere!
How To: Cast off loose crochet ends for right handers
Loose ends are never good, whether you're talking about who gets the kids and when once a relationship has ended or fixing a science project you did at the last minute five minutes before class.
How To: Change crochet colors without knots for left handers
Monocolor scarves, berets, and mittens may be worn by those high up in the fashion world for their modern, all-flattering chic quality, but for those of us who actually like to have fun, adding more color to our lives is often preferred.
How To: Crochet a 2 tog decrease pattern for right handers
Make lovely fans and circular knits by learning the 2 tog decrease crochet pattern, the opposite of the 2 tog increase pattern. Whereas the 2 tog increase pattern helps fan a stitch out and even bring about ruffles, the 2 tog decrease pattern brings the fan in, closing the fan to a small point.
How To: Crochet a 2 tog increase pattern for right handers
Add complexity and intricacy to your next crochet project with the 2 tog increase crochet stitch. The 2 tog increase is not a crochet pattern but rather a way to jam more stitches into a single stitch so you add more oomph to your projects.
How To: Crochet a 2 tog increase pattern for left handers
Here's a helpful crochet pattern that'll turn your next crochet project into something truly spectacular. Called the 2 tog increase, the crochet stitch involves simply increasing the number of stitches you're working on.
How To: Cast off loose ends when crocheting for left-handers
The beauty of crochet patterns can only be compared to the delicacy of snowflakes. A talented crochet veteran can craft motifs that mimic and rival patterns found in nature.
How To: Make a "Thank You" card with a Cricut cartridge
A thank you coming from you is sweet, but your gal pal will absolutely explode with delight if Pooh bear does it. Watch this video to learn how to make a "Thank You" note card for a friend using Cricut and the "Pooh and Friends" Cricut cartridge.
How To: Do the 2 tog decrease crochet stitch for left handers
You go to elementary school to learn the basics of the skills you'll need for the rest of your life. So why not take a quick course on the basics of crocheting if you're a fan of the knotty sport?
How To: Do the right-handed version of a child crochet cap
Summer is just around the corner, and though many of us are going to dash out of our schools in relief and joy and then head straight out the pool in our skimpy bikinis, we should be covering up with sunblock and hats to prevent noxious nasties like cancer.
How To: Make a tribal, "good time" cardboard drum
Having a congo drum there for those impromptu African dance groove sessions at your pad is a smart idea, but authentic drums are quite costly.
How To: Tie a snake knot out of rope
Don't worry, this tutorial isn't for tying a knot around a snake. Rather, this particular knot is based on the undulating, serpentine curves of a snake.
How To: Do the left-handed version of a crochet cap
About the only time in a human being's life when he or she can not only get away with, but also look really cute wearing, a ruffled crocheted cap is during babyhood. Create everlasting torture for your baby son or daughter by crocheting a V-stitch cap with ruffles.
How To: Make a traditional Chinese stab binding book
This two-part video demonstrates the ancient Chinese book binding technique called stab binding. If you do a lot of calligraphy, you can use this technique to put all of your sheets together into a really attractive and traditional book. Make sure you line the pages up correctly!
How To: How Do You Embroider Wonder Bread? Very, Very Carefully
Or so says embroidery artist Catherine McEver. The quirky creator also says: "How long do they last? I have a couple of slices that are over four years old that look just like new."
How To: Make a paper origami balloon
Looking for a fun, functional craft project? This video tutorial will walk you through the process of making easy inflatable paper balloons using origami, the traditional Japanese folk art of paper folding. For detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started making your own working paper balloons, watch this free video guide.
How To: Make a paper origami shoes or heels
Love shoes and easy craft projects? Make miniature paper shoes using origami, the traditional Japanese folk art of paper folding. This free origami video lesson presents complete instructions on how to make your own paper shoes from folded paper. For more information, and to get started making paper shoes yourself, take a look!
How To: Make an easy origami rose
Love roses and easy craft projects? Make a paper rose using origami, the traditional Japanese folk art of paper folding. This free origami video lesson presents complete instructions on how to make your own roses from folded paper. For more information, and to get started making paper flowers yourself, take a look!
How To: Fold an origami jet
Love jets and easy craft projects? Make a paper jet with origami, the traditional Japanese folk art of paper folding. This free origami video lesson presents complete instructions on how to make your own paper planes from folded paper. For more information, and to get started making paper jet fighters yourself, take a look!
How To: Fold a simple origami butterfly
Make a paper butterfly with origami, the traditional Japanese folk art of paper folding. This free origami video lesson presents complete instructions on how to make your own paper butterflies from folded paper. For more information, and to get started making paper butterflies yourself, take a look!
How To: Make an origami sweetsbox
Love candy and easy craft projects? Make a paper sweets box using origami, the traditional Japanese folk art of paper folding. This free origami video lesson presents complete instructions on how to make your own paper candy dish from folded paper. For more information, and to get started making paper candy bowls, take a look!
How To: Make a paper origami frog
Love frogs and easy craft projects? Make a simple, barebones folded-paper frog with origami, the traditional Japanese folk art of paper folding. This free origami video lesson presents complete instructions on how to make your own miniature toy frogs from paper. For more information, and to get started making paper frogs yourself, take a look!
How To: Fold an origami cup
Looking for a craft project as easy as it is useful? This video demonstrates everything you'll need to know to make simple, functional paper cups using origami, the traditional Japanese folk art of paper folding. For detailed instructions, and to get started making your own paper cups, watch this free video arts-and-crafts guide.