Hot Arts & Crafts How-Tos
How To: Add a corset look to your favorite dress using safety pins
You can create the corset look for your own wardrobe without having to resort to boning! All you need is your dress, a collection of small safety pins and your chosen ribbon or twill tape (make sure you buy several yards of this).
How To: Make a home made gift box for Christmas or holiday presents
These boxes are great for small gifts, and you can make them at home. You will need a craft knife, a square ruler, a cutting mat, heavy paper (approximately 6 inche by six inches) and Dura-Lar paper or sheets of clear acetate. Make a home made gift box for Christmas or holiday presents.
How To: Make a quillow without a pattern as a gift
A quillow is a blanket that, when folded, can serve double duty as a pillow. You will need fabric for the front and back as well as some batting and regualr sewing notions. This is a great Christmas or holiday gift even a beginner can make!
How To: Make Your Own Beeswax Candles at Home
Beeswax is a clean-burning and pleasantly scented wax for candles, and beeswax candles make excellent gifts. This tutorial shows you how to make your own rolled beeswax candles at home. All you need is your primed candle wick and a few sheets of beeswax.
How To: Make candles in tea cups out of soy wax
Teacup candles are a beautiful variation on candles. You will need soy wax, clean tea cups, wicking, your preferred candle dye and essential oils, a wick pin and a method for heating and melting your candle wax (a kitchen stove is generally good enough).
How To: Stretch your wrist and hand while sewing to avoid cramps
These wrist stretches have been cribbed from aikido, but they can be used as sewing stretches as well. Avoid cramps while sewing by using these three wrist stretches. Whenever you feel like your wrist is starting to ache, just use one of these stretches.
How To: Use a ruffler foot on a sewing machine to sew ruffles
The ruffler foot on your sewing machine allows you to sew ruffles far more quickly and easily than having to do it by hand. This tutorial demonstrates how to set up your ruffler foot and then how to use it when sewing ruffles.
How To: Make a leather or canvas snap fastener extender
A snap extender gives you a little extra room when attaching leather or canvas using snaps. It's very easy to make - all you need is your chosen leather or canvas, a ruler, pencil, scissors, snaps and snap attachment tools.
How To: Make your own yarn pom poms
If you can't find a pom pom in the color or size you like, why not make your own? It's very easy! All you need is yarn in your favorite color, a piece of stiff cardboard and a pair of scissors.
How To: Make an easy Christmas card
Want to make your Christmas just a little bit more personal? Try making Christmas cards this year instead of buying them. You'll save on money, and your friends and family will get the benefits of your creativity. All you need is paper and scissors to start.
How To: Fold an easy fox out of origami for beginners
This project is great for anyone who is new to origami, or a project you can do with your kids. Take a regular piece of origami paper (10 cm by 10 cm) and follow the instructions in this video to fold your own origami fox.
How To: Make a series of six Christmas cards easily and quickly with a cricut machine
Don't rely on the iffy cards you can get from the store - make your own series of holiday cards! You will need a cricut machine with a few holiday themed stencils, as well as your favorite cardstock and designer paper.
How To: Create Christmas tree napkins using a serger
You can make a lovely napkin shaped like a Christmas tree using just two fabric circles and a sewing serger. With a little folding, you can even make these napkins reversible! Great for a beginner to intermediate seamstress or sewer.
How To: Make holiday napkin rings out of gold ribbon and felt
Want to dress up your holiday entertaining this Christmas season? You can create your own elegant napkin rings from gold, wire-edged ribbon, green felt, pipe cleaners and a ponytail holder. Add a little glitter yarn or sparkly ribbon for some extra pizazz!
How To: Make a set of double sided holiday napkins
This is a project even beginning seamstresses and sewers can accomplish! Make a lovely set of double-sided napkins with a holiday flair. This craft can be used as a holiday gift, a home decoration or for use when entertaining guests.
How To: Make a beautiful embossed 'Christ is Born' Christmas card
This tutorial shows you how to make a beautiful green embossed Christmas card, featuring the words 'Christ is Born,' for those who celebrate the religious aspect of Christmas. Make sure you have enough stamping supplies and embossing powder for this project!
How To: Make little soldier Christmas ornaments out of clothespins
These little holiday crafts make a cute addition to any gift or stocking stuffer. Make a tiny soldier ornament - all you need is a wooden clothespin, some popsicle sticks, a pom pom hat, gold ribbon, red, blue and black paint, and a little bit of glue.
How To: Make your own trendy circle scarf
Want to be on top of the trends this winter season? Circle scarfs are in now, and they are super easy to make! All you need is two yards of your favorite fabric, then sew it into a tube to create your own scarf.
How To: Craft a person-sized spiderweb out of rope
You can also make this person sized spiderweb out of chain for extra sturdiness. Aside from the rope or chain, you will also need a solid frame (either wood or metal wil work) and 24 eye bolts to run everything through.
How To: Make a Pentacle Wreath Out of Ribbon
This is a perfect gift for the Wiccan or pagan on your holiday gift list - make a wall hanging or wreath shaped like a pentacle. A perfect blend of Christmas and Yule! You will need 16 gauge wire, along with your favorite ribbons and beads.
How To: Crochet a cell phone pouch for an iPhone, iPod or Droid
This is a great gift idea for anyone on your gift list this holiday season who has an iPhone, iPod or Droid. Crochet a cell phone pouch for their smartphone! This tutorial is for someone who is already familiar with the basics of crochet.
How To: Knit the Like Lace Stitch
The Like Lace Stitch
How To: Use the V stitch for your next crochet project
This tutorial is for those who are at least intermediate crocheters. Make sure you have the basics down before attempting this crochet stitch, called the V stitch, which uses a 13 + 3 stitching pattern and produces an elegant finished project.
How To: Stiffen or harden crocheted snowflakes
Snowflakes are a beautiful touch to any winter decoration scheme. You can use a crochet hook to make the original snowflake, and then use the process outlined in the video to stiffen it and add some extra color and sparkles to your project.
How To: Recycle your old clothes into a trendy fringe scarf
This is a great DIY project you can do without having to sew. Find a knit garment you don't wear anymore, like a dress or a t-shirt, and then follow the steps in this video to quickly and easily make your own trendy fringed scarf.
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.
How To: Make a beautiful handmade gift box for your Christmas presents
All you need is some stiff paper, like craft paper or card stock. Then follow this video to fold two pieces (make sure they are roughly the same size) into a lovely and easy gift box. Then wrap it and stick it under the tree!
How To: Make a strawberry out of 3-D origami
Make sure that you already know the basics of 3-D origami - the folding of triangles. Once you have enough red, white and green triangles, you can form them into a fat, juicy strawberry! Practice also rounding out your corners.
How To: Make a juicy lemon out of 3-D origami
You will need to have mastered the art of folding the triangles and a base before attempting this. If you have, then follow along and learn how to make your own lemon halves out of yellow and white origami paper!
How To: Fold a Christmas tree fairy or angel with origami
Why buy an expensive tree topper when you can fold your own lovely Christmas tree fairy or angel? This also makes a great ornament! Start with a piece of origami paper, 18 cm by 18 cm, and follow the folding instructions in this video.
How To: Crochet a Christmas trivet for serving hot holiday dishes
A trivet is something that you put a hot dish on top of, to protect your counter or table from damage. This trivet uses bottlecops covered in crocheted yarn to make an effective and cute holiday trivet. Use it yourself, or give it as a gift!
How To: Make a mini album for Christmas out of paper bags
You don't have to be a scrapbooking wizard to make this! All you need are 32 brown paper lunch bags, and a small collection of paper crafting supplies. Make your own seasonal Christmas album, and record every day of the month!
How To: Upcycle an old A-line skirt into a "Harry Potter" wizard cape
When it comes to "Harry Potter" movie premieres, it seems that you just can't get through one without wondering if the movie theater you're at has turned into Hogwarts. The true fans always dress up in their wizarding best, from long cloaks to striped ties to Harry's famous glasses and lightning bolt scar.
How To: Craft a "Harry Potter" style wand that lights up
With the first installment of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" out, don't be surprised if you find yourself more than ever wanting to whip out a twelve inch phoenix feather wand and wrist twirl your way to defeating your own personal Voldemort. While this video won't teach you how to do magic (so sad), it will teach you how to craft a very cool-looking "Harry Potter" wand that can do the "lumos" spell.
How To: Make a chain out of Starburst or other candy wrappers for jewelry
Starburst are famous both for their amazing flavor and their colorful but ecologically-reprehensible wrappers. Don't throw them away! Make stuff out of them! Watch this video for instructions on making chains out of Starburst wrappers, which can then be used to make jewelery or for other decorations.
How To: Sew an urban chic pattern lined hoodie
Plain hoodies are among the most versatile pieces of clothing you can own. But while they're comfortable and chic, plain hoodies can also look a little dull, especially if all you're wearing is sweats or blue jeans with them.
How To: Knit An I Cord
Knitting an I Cord seems like a mystery, but it's quite simple. There are lots of uses for an I CORD. Some ways to use an I Cord include using them for handles on a purse or bag. An I Cord can also be used for ties on hats or it can be used as a decorative add-on to embellish a garment.
How To: Make a holiday lace ornament with thread crochet
This is a great craft project to dress up your plain Christmas tree ornaments! Take a basic round holiday ornament, measure it, and then use some sturdy white thread to crochet a lace cover with beaded flowers around it. A beautiful addition to any tree!
How To: Create an "I Love You" Valentine's Day card
Want to show your love in a creative and heartfelt way? Make a handmade I Love You card using Ippity stamps! This tutorial shows you how to make a basic, flowery card to show the people you love how you feel about them.
How To: Make a little paper pilgrim out of a Top Note die and cardstock
You can use this little paper pilgrim to decorate scrapbooks, as place cards or to include with thank-you notes. You will need a Top Note die cutter, card stock in black, white, beige and brown and a few paper craft supplies as well.