How To Make A Craft
Craft Making For Absolute Beginners
So you want to know how to make a craft? That's a tall order, young padawan. But not to worry -- in this article I'll show you how to decide what crafts to make, what craft materials to use, and where to find instructions and tutorials on how to do crafts of all kinds.
What Craft Can I Make?
Good question! There are a million different crafts you can make, and first you'll need to narrow it down. Crafts to do when bored, crafts to make for friends; things to make for Christmas, or things to make for a craft fair; crafts to make out of paper, and crafts from recycled items. Here are some questions to consider:
- What materials do you have on hand?
- What do you want to do with your craft?
- Where do you want to work on your craft?
Easy Paper Crafts - How to make crafts out of paper
If you went to kindergarten, you probably already know how to make a craft from paper. The following projects are a little more sophisticated than handprint turkeys, but almost as easy. These tutorials will teach you how to make a book, fold origami, design your own paper dolls, and more.
- Journal For Kids
Make a small notebook using paper and brads. - Making Mini Scrapbooks
Instructions for dozens of different types of scrapbooks or journals. - Covered Composition Book
Decorate a plain composition notebook. - Mirkwood Designs Templates
Printable templates for different cards, envelopes, and boxes to make out of paper. - Origami Box
Fold a lidded box out of paper. - Origami Fortune Teller
An easy-to-make folded paper toy. - Easy Origami
Lots of origami patterns with animated instructions. - Folded Paper Stars
Cute little 3-D paper stars. - Paper Dolls
Design your own paper doll. - Paper Beads
Make beads out of rolled paper scraps. (Then make jewelry out of the beads!) - Page Corner Bookmarks
A fun paper bookmark.
Easy Yarn Crafts - Crafts to make with yarn
Another popular material for making crafts is yarn. Even if you can't knit or crochet, you can learn how to make a fun craft from yarn, floss, or string, from DIY jewelry projects to party decorations.
- Yarn Covered Headphones
Wrap yarn around your headphones cord to dress it up. - DIY Friendship Bracelet
Make a friendship bracelet in the classic chevron pattern. - Friendship Bracelets
A wide variety of friendship bracelet designs. - Hemp Necklace
Step-by-step instructions on how to make hemp necklaces and chokers. - Braided Hex Nut Bracelet
Create a trendy bracelet out of twine and hardware. - Spool Knitting
Knit a long round cord that you can use for various projects. - Finger Knitting
Knit on your hands! - God's Eyes
Woven decorations based on indigenous Mexican art. - Worry Dolls
Create tiny dolls from toothpicks and embroidery floss. - String Balloon Decorations
Make ornaments or lanterns using string, glue, and balloons.
Easy Fabric Crafts - Crafts with felt and fabric
Sewing is one of the most popular crafts to do at home. If you don't have a sewing machine, don't fret -- there are lots of fun crafts to make that require only a needle and thread, and you can do many felt crafts without sewing a stitch.
- Sewing Kit
Make a needle book or sewing kit out of felt. - Pretty Pincushions
Tiny pincushions made out of bottle tops. - Colored Pencil Roll
Store pens and pencils - no sewing required. - Woven Potholder
Weave a potholder on the classic loom. (DIY tip: make your own loops out of old socks.) - Ribbon Bookmark
Design a pretty, adjustable bookmark. - Felt Pouch
Make a small coin purse or wallet from felt. - Fabric Yo-Yo's
Sew little flowers out of scrap fabric, then sew them into other things... - Yo-Yo Bracelet
...like a cute bracelet or a headband. - Sachets
Little scented pillows for your drawer. - Organizer
Make your own pocket sized organizer with six pockets.
Recycled Crafts - DIY crafts to do at home
These days it's easy to be green, and fun too! Here are just a few tutorials on how to do a craft project using old or recycled objects, from cute toys to cool accessories.
Photo credit: Christoph Brill at Open Clipart
- Button Earrings
Old buttons + paper clips = earrings. - Pencil Holder
Empty soup can + fabric = pencil cup. - T-Shirt Headband
Old T-shirt + some sewing = stretchy headband. - Tins
All kinds of cool kits and toys to make out of empty mint tins. - Bottle Bracelets
1-liter bottles + scissors + fabric = bangles. (Tutorial is in German, but has plenty of photos.) - Paper Bag Books
Brown bags + paint = fun journal. - Safety Pin Bracelet
Just add beads and elastic. - Paper Clip Jewelry
Several ways to make jewelry out of paperclips. - Paint Chip Bookmark
Make a bookmark from paint samples. - Newspaper Basket
Weave a basket out of old papers or circulars.
Make And Do - How to do crafts of every kind
This nifty book was a staple of my childhood. The craft projects are all easy enough for kids to do, and most of them are just as much fun when you're older. Keep this at your side for a whole treasury of crafts to make when you're bored.
Even More Crafts To Do
- Cut Out + Keep
A huge collection of step-by-step craft tutorials. - Random Tutorial Generator
Click the button, get a craft idea. - Craftster.org
Hundreds of thousands of free craft projects, craft patterns, craft tutorials and more.
