The Latest on Arts & Crafts

Three new LEGO Botanicals sets launched June 1, and two of them have little in common with the cut-flower arrangements that built the line's reputation. Woodland Mushrooms (11505, 806 pieces, $79.99) and Water Lilies (11511, 259 pieces, $29.99) are the ones breaking new ground. The first recreates a forest floor with six fungal species; the second is, according to Jay's Brick Blog, the first time the line has tackled aquatic plants.

Eastern bluebirds are picky enough that a wrong entrance hole diameter, an imprecise floor size, or a poorly chosen location means they move on and don't come back. As Family Handyman put it earlier this month: "Get any of that wrong, and they'll skip right past your yard."

12 3D Printing Projects That Are Perfect For Beginners

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.