Hot Arts & Crafts How-Tos
How To: Make elegant, hand-sewn fabric flowers out of lace scraps
Add an elegant touch to your next crafting project! You can turn scraps of lace fabric, cut into circles, into beautiful little flowers. Fold your circles into small wedges, sew them together at the base and then attach them to a string necklace or your favorite piece of clothing!
How To: Carve lovely wooden decorations with the Dremel stylus tool
The Dremel Stylus tool is ideal for any wood worker or wood crafter. This versatile and easy to use tool can let you carve or whittle any number of projects out of wood, such as a wooden relief. This video demonstrates how to carve a piece of ivy onto a wooden box.
How To: Make DIY hemp bracelets
Hemp is a great and underutilized fiber for making all sorts of things. Watch this video to learn how to make a really cool hemp bracelet or necklace quickly and easily from twine, beads, and knots.
How To: Make DIY curtains for any window
Having trouble finding curtains that fit your decor and your price range? Why not make your own? Watch this video to learn how with a little sewing skill you can make curtains yourself that will match any decor and fit any window.
How To: Fold an origami heart using paper money
Give your heart this year to your Valentine. But more than likely, your lady friend is looking for a little more than that. That's why this origami heart is perfect for a gift. It involves you putting effort into the present, it's symbolic of your love for her, plus— it's made out of MONEY!
How To: Origami a cootie catcher (or paper fortune teller)
We all remember these neat little devices from elementary school. It has many names, the paper fortune teller, the scrunchie, chancer, chatterbox, but the most notorious is the cootie catcher. It's easy to fold, but funner to play with it. Watch and learn this origami masterpiece! Remember your youth!
How To: Make a pillowcase and re-cover a pillow
Pillows are one of the most important things you own. If you've had the same pillowcases forever and they are threadbare and faded, why not make new ones? This video will show you how to make a fun pillowcase from scratch.
How To: Make a red and white ombre shirt with loose flapper fringe
The ombre fashion trend began a few seasons ago on all the biggest fashion runways, from Alexander Wang to Michael Kors. And the fun, colorful trend is still going strong. Ombre simply describes the fading of one color to another, from high saturation to (usually) white or another lighter color.
How To: Knit a blanket from scratch
Knit blankets are comfortable and scream home and security, but they are expensive and making them is an arduous task. If you want to get started on a major knitting project, watch this video, and learn in general terms how to knit a blanket.
How To: Crochet seven different kinds of hats using a double stitch
This interactive tutorial series shows you how to make a basic double crochet stitch, and then expands on this technique to show you seven different variations. Learn how to make a turned cuff, ribbed cuff, slouch, beanie, wiggie, kippah and child's hat.
How To: Make an autumn-themed mini scrapbook
Leaves are changing colors, the weather is getting cooler and people are talking about pumpkins. It must be fall! This tutorial shows you how to create a beautiful mini scrapbook celebrating everything there is to love about the fall and everything in it!
How To: Make a three dimensional shadow box card
A shadowbox card is a lovely three-dimensional card you can use to showcase a particular design or picture. Starting with some card stock and cutting tools, this video demonstrates how you can create your own elegant shadowbox card the next time you need a gift.
How To: Make a Halloween themed waterfall card
A waterfall card is a cute and clever interactive card you can give your friends. Pull the tab at the bottom, and watch a series of small cards cascade down the card. Starting with a series of card stock and your own stamp collection, this explains how to make a lovely waterfall card using Halloween stamps.
How To: Use the Scotch 3M Advanced Tape Glider to apply glue to chip board
Scotch 3M manufactures an incredibly useful tool, the tape glider or ATG gun, that you can use to apply glue to chip board. Here are a few special techniques you can use when crafting with your own tape glider gun!
How To: Crochet a pair of earrings (for left handed artists)
This tutorial has been specially designed for left handed artists. Make your own pair of crocheted earrings using leftover crochet thread left on your spool - all you need is a #9 crochet needle! This video shows you how precisely how to make yourself some elegant and crafty jewelry.
How To: Crochet a pair of earrings (for right handed artists)
This tutorial has been specially designed for right handed artists. Make your own pair of crocheted earrings using leftover crochet thread left on your spool - all you need is a #9 crochet needle! This video shows you how precisely how to make yourself some elegant and crafty jewelry.
How To: Lay out your color squares to create a color burst pattern afghan blanket
Using separate knitted squares in five different colors, this tutorial shows you how to lay out each square on the floor of your craft room in preparation for creating a seven by seven granny square blanket. End the tutorial with a beautiful and colorful blanket!
How To: Sew an easy centered zipper onto clothing with a sewing machine
If you already know how to sew a lapped zipper, than it's time to move onto the centered zipper, and that's exactly what you'll learn in this sewing tutorial. There's easy-to-follow directions for sewing lapped zippers using a basic sewing machine. If you don't have a sewing machine, check out all of the other zipper sewing tutorials. A center zipper is easy on any type of clothing fabric!
How To: Pick a sewing machine and thread a sewing machine and serger
Did you think sewing was complicated? Then don't even get us started on threading a sewing machine. Each sewing machine is slightly different in the way it's constructed, which makes threading a puzzle (read: pain in the butt).
How To: Fold an origami cherry blossom ball
Want to create a neat looking decorative item using just paper? Origami is the answer. The Origami Cherry Blossom paper ball created in this video by Tomoko Fuse requires papers, dexterity and a toothpick if the presenter is to be believed. The first steps consist of creating precreases on the paper. This step makes the subsequent folds easier to make as the fold lines also double up as markers. The second step consists of creating a complex shape. The same design is then repeated 30 times. F...
How To: Crochet a round shell Catherine's Wheel left-handed
In this tutorial, we learn how to crochet a round shell Catherine's Wheel left-handed. For the first round you will start by doing four single crochets after the slip stitch. After this, do seven double crochets, then a single crochet followed by seven more double crochets. Make two more chain stitches, then a single crochet and three double crochets. After this, start the next row which will be a chain stitch, then three double crochets. Next, you will do seven double crochets, followed by a...
How To: Crochet a dainty angel
In this tutorial, we learn how to crochet a dainty angel. Start out with the first round where you will work 6 single crochets through the chain. Then, work the first single crochet at the top of the next stitch. For round 2, work 2 single crochets in each single crochet until you have 12 single crochets. For rounds 3 and 4, you will work one single crochet in each single crochet for 12 times total. In round five, you will work six single crochets at a decrease, then add filling to the head. ...
How To: Fold miniature 3D origami lucky stars from long paper strips
The smaller your origami gets, the harder it is to fold, but not in the case of the lucky stars. The miniature 3D stars are easy to fold, and you just need a long strip of paper. You could buy pre-made strips of paper, or cut your own with scissors, box cutter or paper cutter. On you fold these mini stars, you'll have to fluff it out for that 3D look and feel.
How To: Shorten jeans length by cutting, measuring and using a sewing machine
Are your jeans to long? How about your khakis? Corduroys? No matter what kind of pants you have, if they're too long, you can easily shorten the length with a few snips, a few marks and a basic sewing machine. The Brother LX-3125 compact sewing machine is used in this video, but any will do. See how to take a pair of jeans, cut and resew them like new again!
How To: Change thread colors in a Singer Finishing Touch serger sewing machine
If you have yourself a serger sewing machine, and you've already learned how to thread a Singer Finishing Touch serger sewing machine with differential feed, then you're eventually going to have to change the thread colors. This tutorial will show you how easy it is to rethread (without unthreading) the Singer serger (14SH654), which has 4/3 thread capability. Singer also has a PDF available with detailed threading instructions.
How To: Make a blind hem stitch using a sewing machine
In this sewing tutorial, you'll need a sewing machine to make a blind hem stitch. The sewing machine used is a Brother LX-1325 compact and lightweight model, but you can use a similar brand and model. To make a blind stitch, you'll need to fold the fabric the way you normally would when sewing a hem stitch, then you'll pin it in place on the inside. Watch and see how it's done! Then you start sewing. This stitch will be hardly noticeable.
How To: Sew a lapped zipper with a sewing machine
These are some easy-to-follow directions on a sewing technique fore sewing lapped zippers on garments and clothing. You'll use a basting stitch to close the zipper seam from the hip to the waist, then you'll serge the center back seam edges separately. To see the rest of the sewing process, watch the video!
How To: Make beautiful acetate butterflies
In this video, we learn how to make beautiful acetate butterflies. First you will need to make sure you have alcohol inks on hand for the colors you want to make. To start out, stamp the butterfly with black ink onto a piece of plastic acetate. After you have done this, use different colors to fill in the butterfly how you prefer it to look. After you do this, cut out the butterflies and then you will be able to use them for what kind of craft you want to do. These are cheap and easy to make ...
How To: Join a crochet round left-handed
In this video, we learn how to join a crochet round left-handed. First, join with the top level of the crochet. After this, half double crochet of the shell and join with the beginning of the shell. Now, join with the beginning of the double crochet. Go around to the beginning and join with the beginning of the single crochet using a slip stitch. Then, slip stitch between the joining. Now you will want to join with the slip stitch in the beginning of the double crochet. To finish, join with t...
How To: Crochet a left handed knobby granny square
In this video, we learn how to crochet a left handed knobby granny square. First, work a chain four, then join and make a chain one. Do three half double crochets, and then chain two and repeat the process twice more. Chain one, then end with a single crochet in the beginning to put you back in the corner. For round two, work in the same space you just ended. Chain one and pull up, then do a half double crochet. Do a quadruple crochet next, then pull your yarn through two, doing this four tim...
How To: Make an origami dollar heart
This video shows viewers how to create a heart out of a simple dollar bill. First, you should take the dollar bill and fold a triangle from one corner to the bottom edge of the bill, repeating this step on the next closest edge. Then, create a pyramid-like fold to make a smaller triangle in the paper. This is repeated on the other corners of the bill as well. Next, fold the bill in half and take the small pieces of the bill which are not part of the triangle and fold it over to create a squar...
How To: Crochet a left hand snowflake
In this tutorial, we learn how to crochet a left handed snowflake. Start out with a chain 7, then join. For round 1, you will do a chain 6, then single crochet in the loop five times. Then, chain 3 and join at the beginning of the chain. For round 2, chain 3 in the next loop, then chain 8 and single crochet in the same loop, five times total. After this, chain 3 a single crochet and then triple crochet at the base of the beginning loop to join. For round 3, single crochet in the same loop, th...
How To: Make custom chipboard buttons for scrapbooking
In this video, we learn how to make custom chipboard buttons for scrapbooking. First, take a scrap of chipboard and use a circle trimmer to cut circles out. Cut circles out of patterned paper in different sizes using many different patterns. Now, apply glossy finish onto the papers and wipe off the excess liquid. Ink the edges after this, then put adhesive onto the back of each of the different circles. Now, you can punch holes into the center of the circle to make it look like a button. Now,...
How To: Create an easy origami paper rose
In this video, we learn how to create an easy origami paper rose. First, take a piece of paper and fold it into a square. After this, unfold it and then reverse the fold the opposite way. Now, take the middle of the paper as you are folding and make a square out of it. Fold down the flaps from the middle down in the front and the back. Next, flip the paper over and push down all the creases. Then, fold the paper into a triangle on all sides and push the creases down. After this, pop up the mi...
How To: Make a "purt" or a "shirse"
In this video, we learn how to make a "purt" or a "shirse". To start, grab an old shirt with buttons and measure out an area from the top to cut down. After this, cut the area out cutting the top and the back of the shirt. Then, take a sewing machine and sew the sides together. After this, grab a tie that you have and wrap it around the front of the shirt that you have just sewed. Now, when you want to look like you are wearing a shirt and tie without actually wearing one, you can slip this o...
How To: Make your own sterling silver headpins
In this video, we learn how to make your own sterling silver headpins. You will first need a torch (one from your kitchen will work fine), a heat protected surface, bowl of cold water, and fine silver. Next, cut out two inch pieces (or longer if that suits you best). Put on safety glasses and turn on your torch. Now, pick up one of the piece you cut and put it into the tip of the flame. Quickly, the silver will ball up at the end of the pin. When it has balled up, place it on the cooled surfa...
How To: Recognize a backwards knitting stitch
In this tutorial, we learn how to recognize a backwards knitting stitch. Sometimes if you have to undo stitches, you may need to recognize where the stitches are so you can fix the problem. The front leg will be sitting in front of the one in the back when it's done correctly. If done backwards, you will be able to see the front leg in the back of the back leg. To fix this, you can simply take the stitch off, turn it around, and orient it correctly. Or, you can knit through the back loop to t...
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: Quickly make an origami kusudama
In this video, we learn how to quickly make an origami kusudama. This only requires six pieces of paper to make. First, fold one piece of paper into a triangle, then open it up and fold it in a triangle on the opposite side. Open this back up then flip over. Bend in the edges to make a new triangle, then press down the creases on the side. Bend the middle of the triangle up to the point on both sides. Bend these back down, then fold over the side and make a crease. Open up the bottoms where y...
How To: Knit cables
In this tutorial, we learn how to knit cables. You will need to place stitch markers where you are going to begin your pattern for the cable and end it. Now, take a double pointed needle and make sure it's not bigger than the needle you are knitting with. Work your pattern throughout the middle of your project by making a robe one, then begin the cable knit. Purl the first two stitches, then knit the next six. After this, purl one stitch and knit three other stitches. Continue to do this proc...