Hot Arts & Crafts How-Tos
How To: Make a tiny Japanese katana or ninja sword out of paper
Make your own tiny katana out of paper! All you'll need is some durable printer paper or origami paper, double-sided photo album squares, quick drying craft glue, a small craft knife (like an x-acto knife), a straight edge and a cutting mat.
How To: Fold origami Freddy Krueger monster claws for Halloween
Out of ideas for Halloween, or simply don't feel like blowing all your cash on a costume you're only going to wear once? Then take a look at this tutorial for creating origami Freddy Krueger monster claws.
How To: Knit the Garter Stitch
There are two basic stitches in knitting. One is the KNIT STITCH, the other is the PURL STITCH. The GARTER STITCH itself is quite simple. You knit every stitch on every row of your knitting. It's the first stitch one learns in knitting. It's the easiest of all the knitting stitches and one that you can use for many projects. It's an especially good stitch for knitting something when you want both sides of the work to look the same.
How To: Make a shadow box to display baby shoes
Got precious items you want to keep safe, but are too beautiful to keep wrapped in storage? Then a shadow box is the perfect way to both preserve your item and show it off. Shadow boxes are boxes are enclosed cases used in dioramas that are designed to let light pass in only through one angle so the object will less likely be damaged by light.
How To: Coil wire to create links for weaving chainmail
If you don't want to buy your links pre-made, you can coil your own links. You'll need wire (sixteen gauge is the most common), metal dowel rods in the diameter you want, variable speed drills, wire cutters and at least two pair of pliers.
How To: Join the front and back pieces when building a chain mail shirt
If you're halfway through making a chainmail shirt, and confused on how you can join the front and back pieces together (or any two large pieces of chainmail), this tutorial gives you a few hints on how you can seamlessly bring two pieces together.
How To: Weave a suit of dragonscale style chain mail
No, it doesn't use actual dragonscales. This technique actually uses two different sizes of rings with the proper aspect ratio (at least three of the larger rings have to fit through the smaller ones). If you have enough rings, then just follow along to master this challenging technique.
How To: Attach a chain sleeve to a chainmail shirt
It can sometimes be confusing for new armorsmiths to figure out the best way to attach a sleeve to a chainmail vest. However, the technique is actually quite easy, and this tutorial demonstrates how you can add a sleeve to a four in one style chainmail shirt.
How To: Make chainmail in a European six in one pattern
This tutorial is a variation of the traditional European 4 in 1 pattern and uses a 6 in 1 chain. Using this method uses more links, but gives you greater coverage and creates a much fuller look for the whole piece.
How To: Tailor your chain mail armor for the best fit
Tailoring isn't just for fabric! To have the best chainmail shirt, that doesn't pull or hang too losely, you'll want to tailor it. Tailor your shirt around curves by slightly altering the pattern of your weave, and this video demonstrates how.
How To: Use the European 4 in 1 method for making chainmaille
This tutorial shows you how to make chainmail following the tradition European four in one method. You'll need many small metal rings of uniform size and some metal pliers (work gloves are also recommended!) Afer you make each individual unit, you're also shown how to bring them together in a larger piece.
How To: Weave a suit of elven chain mail
This tutorial shows you how to make an elven style of chainmail. This is an intricate style of chainmail that is nevertheless very sturdy and gives good coverage. Good for anyone looking to make their own armor for Renaissance Faires, larps, the SCA or other historial costuming events.
How To: Make chainmail jewlery using the Persian style of chain linking
This tutorial shows you how to make pieces of chainmail jewelry by using the Persian style - also called the woven-V style. This is a simple pattern that builds off the tradtional four in one style, which you can use to make any number of jewelry pieces.
How To: Make chainmail jewelry using the Byzantine chain pattern
The Byzantine pattern is a variation on the box chain pattern, it just has two extra links per unit. This tutorial shows you how you can make a string of chainmail using this beautiful pattern, that you can eventually turn into jewelry.
How To: Make chainmail jewelry using the box chain or great queen chain
You can make jewelry out of chainmail! It will be bulky, unless you use incredibly tiny rings. This tutorial shows you how to make the box chain out of many small metal rings, which you can expand to a necklace, bracelet key chain or any other type of jewelry you can think of.
How To: Make the classic Roman lorica segmentata armor
Make an authentic piece of Roman armor! You will need quite a lot of metalworking tools, including hammers, drills and rivets. But if you have access to a workshop and the raw materials, you can make a replica of classic Roman armor, the lorica segmentata.
How To: Create a jewelry organizer with a cork board
If you're anything like us, then it takes you forever and a day to find that perfect earring and necklace you want to go out, not because it's hard to decide which one, but because everything's so tangled up together you can't make out one necklace from another.
How To: Knit the Knit Stitch
Once you have learned to Cast On, you will need to learn the Knit Stitch. Once you have learned the Knit Stitch, you will be able to start a project!
How To: Make a simple friendship bracelet with thread
Looking for your next craft project? Why not a friendship bracelet? It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this video tutorial can present a complete overview of the process in just three minutes. For all of the details, and to get started making your own custom friendship bracelets, take a look.
How To: Make a candy-stripe friendship bracelet
Looking for your next craft project? Why not a candy-stripe friendship bracelet? It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this video tutorial can present a complete overview of the process in just three minutes. For all of the details, and to get started making your own custom candy-stripe friendship bracelets, take a look.
How To: Add style to your flats with magazine cutouts and mod podge
When it comes to flats, a girl can never have too many. Comfier than high heels and a hell of a lot more fashionable than running shoes or sneakers, they strike the perfect balance between form and function for everyday use.
How To: Make a fun and spooky origami witch for Halloween
Who said that you couldn't have a trick and a treat at the same time for Halloween? When you first take a look at this project, you just see a folded and pleated piece of paper. But upon closer inspection, you'll find that this is no ordinary piece of paper but an evil green witch complete with pointy hat and crooked nose.
How To: Understand the Differences Between Knitting Needles
There are different kinds of knitting needles to choose from for different projects. You will find wooden, plastic or aluminum in different lengths and shapes. There are straight, circular or double pointed.
How To: Create an elaborate floral nymph crown for Halloween
Thanks to Sookie Stackhouse, whose fairy lineage was revealed recently in season 3 of "True Blood," fairies are hotter than ever, and after so much blood, gore, and overall gruesomeness with our culture's fascination with vamps and werewolves, it's nice to finally bring pretty back.
How To: Make a beautiful glittered pumpkin for fall home decorating
Give your home an autumnal sparkle! This tutorial shows you how to glitterize pumpkins as a home decorating tool. This uses the very small pumpkins, but the techniques can be applied to larger pumpkins if you wish. Paint the stems gold for some added glitz!
How To: Join crocheted granny squares using a five chain flat braid method
This tutorial is aimed at those who have at least some moderate experience with crochet. Here, you'll learn how to join two granny squares together using a five chain, flat braid continuous join method that will make your project lay flat all the way around.
How To: Make your own long sleeved draped cardigan
This look goes perfectly with jeans, and is ideally suited for cold weather. All you need is to find a length of your favorite knit cloth and then follow along with the demonstrations here in the tutorial for your own comfy cardigan.
How To: Make a bubble background for your next paper crafting project
Here's a fun technique you can use to create a unique background for your next greeting card, scrap book or other paper crafting project. All you need is some bubble solution and a few drops of re-inker in your favorite color.
How To: Create welded shapes with your computer using the Craft Robo
Want to create complex paper cut outs that a die cut machine just can't handle? One option is to use the Craft Robo, which will let you create your own welded shapes and patterns on your computer and then cut them out on your paper.
How To: Make the same outfit Beyonce wore in the Telephone video
Loved watching Beyonce in the music video Telephone? You can replicate her outfit quite easily! This tutorial goes step by step through the process of creating Beyonce's dress. You don't even need a pattern, just fabric in the right colors!
How To: Make your own Lady Gaga diamonds from the Poker Face video
Lady Gaga wears some pretty fantastic bulky diamonds in her Poker Face music video. Want to wear the same kind of diamonds on your shoulders and hips? This tutorial shows you how make the same kind of diamonds out of simple cardstock. You can download the diamond template here. For more information on the steps, visit Tasita.
How To: Draw out metal in blacksmithing
When getting into blacksmithing, learning proper hammer strikes and heat levels for your metal and forge are good to know, but one of the most important techniques to know when hammering your metal is "Drawing Out", which is a method that you use to make your metal thinner and longer or thinner and flatter. In this video you will get a full tutorial on how to implement this basic, yet important, technique.
How To: Crochet a left handed large size beanie cap for a man
In this tutorial, we learn how to crochet a left handed large size beanie cap for a man. For the first round, you will work 10 single crochets through the loop, not joining. Then the cap will be worked into a spiral or round shape. Next, you will work in two single crochets in each single crochet. Then, you will do 20 single crochets total. For round three, you will work one single crochet for 20 more total. For round four, you will do the same for fourty more single crochets. For round five ...
How To: Learn knitting basics
In this tutorial, we learn knitting basics. To knit, you will start out by selecting your choice and colors of yarns. After this, you will need to grab two knitting needles and then make a slipknot from the yarn with your finger. Attach this to one of the needles and then start a chain one on this. From here, you will continue to wrap the thread around the needle and then squish it all together. Then, take the other needle and wrap it into the first part of the thread. Then, continue to work ...
How To: Do a left handed mesh crochet pattern stitch
Are you looking for a new way to crochet while being left handed? Then watch this video, where we learn how to do a left handed mesh crochet pattern stitch. Start off with the first round, where you will double crochet in the fourth chain from the hook. Then, double crochet in the next chain and skip two chains. From here, you will do one double crochet in the next two chains and continue across from the start for the width, ending with two double crochets. For the next and last round, you wi...
How To: Make a great 3D paper snowflake
In this video, we learn how to make a great 3D paper snowflake. First, fold a square blue piece of paper into a triangle. Then, draw lines from the middle to the top going in the triangle shape. Cut these lines on both sides, avoiding the middle and the very top. Make sure you don't cut in the middle either. After this, open up the folder and take the inside. Roll it up and then tape it together so there's a ring on the inside. Flip it over, then make another ring on the top side and tape it....
How To: Make Kitana's sexy fighter costume from "Mortal Kombat" for Halloween
Kitana from "Mortal Kombat" was the original gal whos looks literally could kill. Killer curves plus killer butt-whooping skills? The girl knew how to work it.
How To: Join crocheted granny squares using the flat braid joining method
The flat braid join is a method of stitching granny squares together using chain-3 loops. This tutorial demonstrates how you can use the flat braid technique to easily and quickly join your own granny squares together for your next crochet project.
How To: Crochet a cap with ear flaps using the puff stitch
Want to make your own hat now that winter is coming up? Or crochet one as a gift for a friend or loved one? This tutorial shows you how to crochet a fun cap, complete with ear flaps, using the puff stitch.
How To: Crochet a baby hat for left handed crocheters
This tutorial is aimed primarily at those who crochet and are left hand dominant. Learn how to make a cute little baby hat using the puff stitch! It will even have an adorable little yarn bobble at the top. All you need is some yarn and a crochet hook!