Hot Arts & Crafts Posts
How To: Craft a Spiderman box favor and card
It didn't take Spiderpig from "The Simpsons" movie to convince us that Spiderman was cool. A staple comic and TV show from our childhood, he was a masked hero who always had a heart...and a taste for redheads.
How To: Recycle an old cardboard box into sheets of handmade paper
You can recycle your own cardboard boxes and get sheets of beautiful, handmade paper. It's quite easy. You'll need a paper mold, but those are very easy to make (you can use a cake pan or baking dish in a pinch!)
How To: Fold a handsome origami dolphin
This dolphin may not be able to swim and jump around magnificently out of water and back in again, but it is very cute and a great way to hone your origami folding skills.
How To: Make a Christmas cracker with toilet paper tubes & wrapping paper
In this video, you'll be shown how to make Christmas crackers for the holidays. It's a cheap, easy and fun art project you can make with the kids. All you need is wrapping paper, some toilet paper tubes and glue and you're good to go!
How To: Knit On Circular Needles Or Knit In The Round
Knitting on circular needles is called Knitting in the Round. You cast on to your circular needle in exactly the same way that you cast onto straight needles. The first row where you make your join will be the hardest. After that, it's easy.
How To: Fold a fun origami treasure chest
Hone your origami folding skills - as well as craft a pirate-chic treasure chest that can actually store your precious plunder - by checking out this origami video. Your finger dexterity will be challenged by the curved fold, an advanced origami fold that leaves the leagues of angular folds behind in the dust.
How To: Make a beautiful mini Christmas scrapbook out of paper bags
Start with a stack of plain brown paper lunch bags. Then, follow the steps outlined in this video to make a beautiful Christmas keepsake scrapbook album. A great gift for a loved one, or keep it yourself as a memory of the year.
News: Massive Origami Boat Floats Down the Thames
Everybody has some kind of calling in life and it looks like artist Frank Bölter's is the construction of life-sized origami boats. He's done it before, and he's at it again. His latest creation recently set sail on the Thames as a part of London's Drift10 art exhibition.
How To: Draft a Basic Bodice Pattern
Unlock the secret to clothing design. If you can draft and sew a basic bodice you can design virtually any kind of t-shirt, blouse or other top! Attach a skirt and you now have a dress! Take your measurements by using the guide in the " How to Take Your Measurements" section and let´s get started! If you would rather just whip up an easier beginners t-shirt go to How to Design a Quick T-Shirt.
How To: Make a beaded bookmark or "book thong"
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a beaded bookmark or "book thong". First, take a wire and add on a small horse shoe shaped bead. After you do this, use pliers to help bend the wire around this pin to keep it in place. Next, add on a peace sign pendant, then tie the wire around and push the wire into a cylinder bead. Continue to add on more beads to the wire until you reach the end. Use different types of bead to make it more unique and completely your own design. To finish, apply a cla...
How To: Make a beautiful pendant with a head pin
Pendants are like the stars of your necklace. Without them, you'd only have a boring necklace chain or cord. Pendants add excitement to a necklace as well as show off some of your individual style and charm.
How To: Make a square origami envelope that opens in the center
Do you know why we hate those envelopes that come with any greeting card you buy at Hallmark, Papyrus, or a drugstore? They're SO boring. Always the same rectangular shape, always the same opening mechanism, with the only innovation for each envelope being the color, which does vary to match the card.
How To: Fold an origami baby cradle for beginners
Just as night follows day, the summer and fall baby season follows wedding season in the spring. Lots of cute young ones seem to get popped out by the dozen during the summer, often prompting baby showers and other baby-themed events.
How To: Tie the Rising Sun decorative knot
In this tutorial, we learn how to tie the rising sun decorative knot. First, loop your string on the left side, then pull the right side over the top. Now, bring the bottom of the right side over and place the end into the first loop going over the other string. Next, remove the string from the last loop it was in, then bring the right over to the right loop and push through to the bottom. Next, bring the right string over to the left side and thread through the left loop closest to it. Next,...
How To: Make a paper football with a 20$ bill
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a paper football with a $20 bill. First, take the bill and fold it in half length wise. Next, take the bill and fold one of the ends into a triangular shape. After this, fold the triangle over and keep doing this until you get to the end. When you reach the end, and tuck the flap on the end into the pocket you created. After this, you can hold the bill up with your fingers, and flick it with your other fingers. You can use any type of bill to make this, ...
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: Thread a bobbin on the Brother LS 2125 sewing machine
Many habitual sewers like to sew by hand if possible for smaller projects, since all it requires is some finger dexterity, a needle, and some form of thread. Sewing machines can create stitches and embellishments of great beauty, but as with all electronic devices sometimes their constituent parts have complications. The bobbin, which holds the thread beneath the machine, is one of those pesky things sewers have to deal with.
How To: Craft a green ribbon banner gift bow and tag
Sure, you could hit up Target and purchase a large bag filled with cookie cutter ribbons and bows, but why not adorn your next special gift with something a bit more, well, special? In this beginner origami tutorial, you'll learn how to craft a green ribbon banner that can be used to top anything from gift boxes to gift bags.
How To: Make your own rub-on transfers for card design
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to make their own rub-on. This allows users to transfer any designs onto card stock. Users will need to first print the design onto a sheet of acetate. Simply place the acetate paper over the card stock. Then use any kind of tool and simply rub it over the design on the acetate. The transferred design will be lighter in color than the original. Make sure that you if you want to use letters or numbers, print it backwards. This video will benefit those ...
How To: Craft a Harry Potter wizard wand box
Is your little boy or girl dressing up as a character from "Harry Potter" this Halloween, or are you just an obsessive "Harry Potter" devotee, despite the preponderance of vampire novels and movies as of late?
How To: Build a Harry Potter wizard style ink pot and quill
Send an owl to mum carrying a term update letter handwritten with on a parchment with a quill using this wizard style ink pot and quill. While the quill pot is just for show and you shouldn't actually pour any ink into it, the pot looks very authentic and is a cool prop for the quarters of any Harry Potter fan.
How To: Origami a dove for Easter or Earth Day
Doves are peaceful symbols of the spiritual rebirth that Easter centers itself on, and are springtime animals that herald the coming of a new season. Celebrate these cute springtime birds by crafting an origami dove.
How To: Origami the adorable Twitter bird
Here's a question many have asked but few have had answered: Just what species of bird is the Twitter bird? For those of us who are Twitter addicts, we encounter this plump blue creature on a daily basis. But do we really know who - and what - this bird is?
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: Make an origami envelope from paper
Looking for a craft project that's as beautiful as it is useful? With this guide, you'll learn how to make an ornate paper envelope using origami, the traditional art of Japanese paper folding. For more information, including a step-by-step overview of the folding process, as well as to get started making your own paper envelopes, watch this free origami lesson.
How To: Fold an origami fortune teller the easy way
Want to know what the future holds in store for you? With this guide, you'll learn how to make a fortune-teller toy with origami, the traditional art of Japanese paper folding. For more information, including a step-by-step overview of the folding process, as well as to get started making your own paper fortune tellers, watch this free origami lesson.
How To: Make a folded-paper cat with origami
Looking to add specimens to your paper menagerie? Make a folded-paper feline (neko) with origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper folding. This free origami video lesson presents complete instructions for making your own cats from a sheet of folded paper. For more information, and to get started making your own paper kittens, take a look!
How To: Make your own magnet bracelet
Make a cool piece of jewelry out of magnets with help from this video! Learn how to make this adjustable bracelet, that doubles as a fun toy, for under five dollars! Get dressed in unique homemade creations and begin your journey into DIY fashion here.
How To: Knit with a serenity loom
This video demonstrates how to knit with a serenity loom. A serenity loom can produce a blanket up to 10 feet. To start, thread a double loop of thread through a straw. Then use the loop of thread to pull through a piece of yarn. The straw will help you place the yarn around the pegs of the loom easier. Tie a loop around the anchor of the inside of the loom. Then loop completely around each peg, being sure to place the loops in the middle of the pegs consistantly. Wrap as far as you want your...
How To: Make a six-sheet 3D paper star with origami
In this Arts & Crafts video tutorial you will learn how to make a six-sheet 3D paper star with origami. Take three pairs of paper; each pair of different color or take six pieces of paper of the same color. The paper should be square size. Fold the paper in half, open the fold and fold one half up to the center line. Repeat this step for the other side also. Open up the paper and repeat these steps by folding the paper in the other direction. This will divide the entire paper into 16 squares....
How To: Make a paper heart
If you want to know how to make a paper heart to give to your love ones, you should watch this video. To make a paper heart: Fold your paper hotdog style twice. Fold these two sides together, making a rectangle half the length. This will help you avoid a lop-sided heart. Fold one of these sides into the center crease, making a right angle. Make sure the side you fold that toward is the open part of the hotdog. This will help you when tucking it all in at the end. Fold the other side to mirror...
How To: Make an origami gift box lid
Barbabella shows how to make a modular origami hexagonal box lid with star design. Fold a two-sided square sheet of paper to form a triangle, unfold it and fold it in the opposite direction. Using the guidelines fold the paper on three sides forming a small triangle and leave one end as it is. Turn over the sheet and fold the opposite side of the unfolded one as shown. Now mark the points as shown and fold it on one side. Now fold it to mark point below and the crease ends at the point marked...
How To: Make bows for your hair
Learn how to tie a perfect bow. To do a basic pony bow, place the gathered hair in the center of the ribbon and tie a single knot to secure it. Making two loops, cross one loop over the other and pull the loop on top through the hole you've created. Straighten out the ends and tighten so the two loops are on top and the two tails on bottom. Make a headband bow. Run the ribbon along the hairline, drawing the ends up on top of your head. Secure a knot and tie a bow. By tweaking the loops out a ...
How To: Make Opals and Fantasy Film glass paper for a gourd
Make a cool drinking or water container, or simply a great decorative gourd ornament. But before you can decorate the gourd, you need to make the decorations. Learn how to make Opals and Fantasy Film glass paper for a gourd.
How To: Use a sewing machine properly
Even if you never took home ec, you can create simple projects by learning the basics of sewing machine use.
How To: Origami a dollar bill peacock
Dollar bill origami is fun, simple & cute. All you need is a dollar bill and some origami folding skills. Spend your spare dollar on some creativity... and you will end up with a cute origami figurine. Watch this origami money tutorial to learn how to fold a dollar bill into a peacock.
How To: Crochet arms or legs for amigurumi stuffed toys
If you can single crochet stitch, you're most of the way there to amigurumi. Amigurumi is a Japanese style of crochet of making tubes and spheres to create stuffed animals. Watch this video crocheting tutorial and learn how to crochet arms and legs for amigurumi stuffed toys.
How To: Attach a Jewelry Clasp
One important part of jewelery making involves properly attaching clasps. This how-to video jewelry making tutorial demonstrates the proper way to attach them. Begin by threading the crimp bead and the clasp onto the bead wire. Using chain nose pliers feed the thread around and loop it back around through the crimp bead. Use the pliers to hold the crimp bead tight. Crimp the bead down securing the wire and clasp.
How To: Finish irregular quilt edges
This tutorial demonstrates how to finish your quilt that has irregular edges using a facing instead of binding. Review this quilting instructional video to quilt a complex border finish. The facing method allows you to avoid mitering every corner.
How To: Thread a vintage Kenmore sewing machine
Using a sewing machine entails knowing how to thread it properly. This sewing how-to video demonstrates how to insert thread on a vintage Kenmore sewing machine. Follow the user's instruction below to properly thread your sewing machine.