How-To Guides about Arts & Crafts

The best ways to reuse old mason jars start with one question: what is this jar actually capable of? Condition and size determine the answer. This guide covers exactly 15 reuse ideas, organized by a simple framework: inspect first, sort by condition, then match jar size to job. By the end, you'll know which jars belong in the pantry, which go on a desk or countertop, and which should be redirected to decor or discarded.

Reviewed by: Y. Garcia

Reviewed by: Y. Garcia

You know that wonderful feeling when you receive something handmade? That spark when you realize someone carved out time just for you. Mason jars provide a perfect canvas for DIY gifts that capture exactly that sentiment. They're versatile, charming, and surprisingly affordable to work with.

Difficulty: Novice Time: 15 minutes Cost: ~$8

Difficulty: Novice Time: 10-15 minutes Cost: Free (with optional Canva Pro features)

This paper airplane doesn't just fly — it comes back to you like a boomerang.

With its sharp angles and sleek design, this stealth-inspired paper plane is built for speed and style.

Ever wonder how to cast on with work in progress when knitting? Well, wonder no more with this knitting demonstration video!

Have you ever been curious about how glass beads are made? Or are you interested in getting started in the glass bead business? In this video, see how one bead maker creates beautiful glass beads.

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to fold and assemble an MP40 gun out of paper. Using just paper, scissors and tape, you can make a toy replica gun with working parts. (Of course, it will lack the firepower of a real MP40!)

Un-dull your crocheted sweater with a little creativity. Adding some decorative details and features to your clothing will do wonders for fashion, and could hide unsightly holes! Embellishing with crochet can be a creative way to repair a piece of clothing, and it can add flair to a piece by inserting a neckline or a hem.

This is a great project for beginners - sew your own knife edge pillow with a zipper. If you can, use a rotary cutter instead of scissors to get better, cleaner lines for your project. Also get a sturdy zipper.

In this video, the author teaches us how to cast on with serenity: wrap your material around twice, grab the back and then up (around your fingers) forming a slipknot. To start off, we will focus on the inside of the loom, pulling the material towards the outside (using a grochet hook). Take needle between two pegs, pulling material through and put the needle down and pull up (rotating towards you) and repeat. This forms a tier duct and if this is done properly, you should be able to do this...

When making these knit newborn mittens use 2 strings at the same time for warmth. Wrap the string around your finger twice to create a slip knot (back loop over the forward, and then pull it down to leave the loop). Use only 7 pegs from the 24 peg loom. Use the anchor as the starting point. Put the slip knot over the first peg. If you're right-handed, work towards the left; and likewise, if you're left-handed, work towards the right. Now, wrap over and back down the peg beside your first peg....

The very first banknotes were used by the Chinese in the 7th century, during the Tang Dynasty. Before it was used as an actual currency, paper money was part of a deposit system in which merchants would leave large amounts of coins with a trusted associate and receive a paper receipt for the transaction. The reason was simple — the copper coins used as currency then were heavy.

Keep the kids learning and entertained with this fun pinwheel project. Summer is a great time for family activities, and these Fourth of July pinwheels are a math lesson, craft project and decoration-making session all-in-one.

To play off Gertrude Stein's famous quote, a rose is a rose is a magic paper cube. And with this paper folder's guide, you'll learn how to make your very own magic rose cube from paper using the Japanese art of origami. This design by Valerie Vann, and folded by YouTuber German Fernandez, is great for Valentine's Day or any other day where a paper puzzle rose is needed. Just be prepared... it's a not just a puzzle origami rose, it's a puzzle folding it.