Learn how to bead a necklace with this jewelry making tutorial. This lesson teaches you which tools you'll need, how to create your own necklace design, and how to successfully complete your beading project. Take what you've learned here to design your own handmade bracelet and necklace set!
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Succulents come in a variety of shapes and stunning colors, and are versatile enough to fit in deep or shallow containers. Create a beautiful container garden showcasing these gorgeous plants, and add interest to your porch or patio! Learn how to prep your container, what kind of soil to use, and how to maximize the 4” pots of succulents you’ll buy. Single-container succulent gardens also make unique and thoughtful gifts—whether your creation is for a friend or yourself, it’s sure to be enjoyed.
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Want to try a new needlecraft? A cross between needlework, crochet, and latch hook - locker hooking is a unique craft that is equally fun for kids and adults. In this introductory video, Teresa Pulido will cover the basics of locker hooking with yarn, ribbon, recycled silk, and fabric. She will also present various projects you can make with this technique, including baskets, trivets, and wine carriers.
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Learn to make a classic fashion accessory - the bow tie! Hone your sewing skills with this easy lesson, and make this easy and customizable tie. Professor Pincushion explains the necessary materials, how to prepare your fabric, and finally how to pin and sew your tie together. Whether the tie is for Dad on Father’s Day, groomsmen in a wedding party, or your prom date - your sartorial creation will lend class and distinction to whoever is wearing it, wherever they go. Free pattern included!
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A sewing machine is a wonderful piece of machinery, if you know how to use it correctly. In this lesson, Tova from Professor Pincushion explains how to set your machine’s thread tension correctly, by first demonstrating what too loose tension looks like, then what too tight tension looks like, before finally showing what ideal thread tension looks like. With Tova’s help, you’ll be able to diagnose any thread tension issues you encounter, and calibrate your machine accordingly.
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Learn how to create unique and elegant gifts by etching designs into mirrors and glass! This is the first of two lessons on glass and mirror etching from Royal Design Studio and gets you started by teaching you: what tools you will need; how to prepare your materials; basic safety tips; and how to apply your patterns to the mirror or glass. The techniques shown here for burnishing vinyl patterns can be used to secure any sticker or taped design you want etched into a mirror or glass.
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Looking for a great do-it-yourself way to add interest and color to your home? Thinking about painting a statement wall? Consider stenciling—with elegant designs and easy to use stencils, your paint project just got easier. In this lesson, Cutting Edge Stencils demonstrates how to use an interlocking stencil to update a wall. Learn how to align stencils, make sure your design is level, and how to use the registration to ensure correct spacing. Beautiful just got easy.
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Patina is the result of the process of oxidation on certain metals and glass; changing the material’s appearance over time, making it appear aged or tarnished. But with the process of patination you can also intentionally create beautiful designs or patterns on a surface, by using chemicals to speed up the oxidation process. Learn how make attractive custom art pieces for your home in this three part series from Royal Design Studio. Begin by familiarizing yourself with the chemicals and tools!
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If you’ve just begun exploring the world of sculpting with polymer clay, learn about the basic tools you’ll need. Priority number one? Finding a pasta machine for flattening sheets of clay. Invest in a brand new machine that will run you $50-$100, or pick one up at thrift store or garage sale for a song. Other helpful tools include a blade, and an instrument that can be used to poke holes or add detail (you can even make this tool yourself, out of clay and a couple needles).
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The Japanese art of origami has been around for centuries, proving itself captivating due to the intricate and endless creative potential. This potential is the result of a limited number of basic folds that can be combined in infinite combinations for limitless creations. Master some valuable origami techniques in this lesson from John Porter. In minutes, John shows you how to make an origami triangle star, beginning with the outer ring and ending with the inner triangles of the design.
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Cleaning out your closet gave you a ton of room—so many old and tired pieces were taking up valuable space! But don’t despair, and certainly don’t go buy a whole new wardrobe. Instead, learn how to rework an old and tired outfit. In this lesson from Boat People, learn how to turn an old fitted dress or tee into a chic and modern new look, without sewing a stitch! Your wardrobe will be updated in minutes, and your wallet will thank you for not making an expensive trip to the mall.
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When it burst on the scene, the mini skirt was the height of fashion as well as a demonstration of women’s liberation. The 1960s may have been the most popular decade for the skirt, but it has remained a staple of the female wardrobe ever since. In this lesson from Stitchless TV, learn how to make an easy and attractive mini skirt. All you need is a piece of fabric, a sewing machine, and a measuring tape to make sure your skirt fits you like a glove (and helps shape all the right places).
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Learn how to create a journal as unique as you are, with customized pages and cover. In this lesson from Aly is Writing, discover the basics of bookbinding. Start by folding index cards and nesting five cards at a time to create a “folio;” put three to five folios together to form a “signature.” Then learn how to punch holes in your signature and bind everything together before creating a custom cover and spine. The finished product will be perfect for displaying and capturing your creativity.
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Preserve the memories from an amazing trip with a scrapbook! Whether you visited the the country of your ancestors or spent a week at a nearby beach, preserve the memories and share your experiences by creating a unique scrapbook of your trip. According to Aly, your scrapbook starts even before you depart (so pack a Ziploc bag to collect important bits of paper like maps or photos from your journey). Once you’ve enjoyed your vacation and gathered the pieces, Aly will show you how to make a beautiful scrapbook of your trip.
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Scrapbooking is an excellent way to preserve memories for future generations. Although typically scrapbooks are graphically focused (with pictures, ticket stubs, cards, or other memorabilia creating the bulk of the contents), consider enhancing your books with creative journaling. In this lesson, Susan shows you how to add journaling to your scrapbook. Your life and your memories are unique; ensure that those once in a lifetime moments truly are unforgettable with creative journaling.
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If you scrapbook, chances are you have a pretty good stash of paper. Don’t let those resources go to waste—instead, learn how to make a paper kit. In this lesson from Kiwi Lane Designs, Susan shows you how to sort your paper by color and pattern, and how to assemble a kit that contains paper for a background, photo mats, borders, and accessories. Not only will making these paper kits save you money, you’ll also save time by utilizing and organizing the materials you already have.
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Is someone special's birthday coming up? Are you tired of the same old store-bought holiday cards? In this lesson from Catherine Pooler of Life Scraps, learn to make a fabulous homemade tri-fold shutter card! You'll need only a 12 x 5.5 inch sheet of card stock, a paper cutter, a scoring tool, and a ruler—and you can cut and fold an accordion-style card that your lucky recipient will love!
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Drilling through ceramic is a useful skill, whether you’re hanging decorative plates on a wall, creating a fountain from terra cotta flowerpots, making wind chimes, or creating your own project. All it takes is a drill, some diamond drill bits, and a container of water. In this video from Supergokue1, learn how to safely operate your drill to avoid injury while quickly drilling through whatever ceramic material you’re working with.
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If your creativity can't be constrained to a single ink color, try sponge daubing on stamps - where sponges are used to blend many colors directly onto the stamp. This lesson from Fabulously Artsy Studio reviews the different types of sponges and offers tips on how to sponge daub. Be sure to apply the lighter color first, followed by the darker colors!
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