Hands-on how-tos for your home, your hobbies and the road.
Crafts · 66 guides · Page 2
Salt dough offers a safe, non-toxic option for kids' crafts, letting them build figures, jewelry, or ornaments and reuse the dough as needed. Drying can be done in the oven or by letting pieces sit out in the air; the oven approach tends to preserve finished items longer and reduces the chance of bubbling.
Quilling, also called paper filigree or paper rolling, involves rolling narrow paper strips into coils that are then attached to a flat base. Producing your own strips can reduce the cost of starting this craft. This guide covers cutting strips with a rotary cutter or a paper cutter.
Tea staining offers a gentle and accessible method for adding color to glass items, such as beads. This approach avoids harsh chemicals and can be done with basic household supplies.
Spray paint offers a way to give your snowboard a completely new look that goes beyond what stickers and decals can achieve. This guide walks you through the entire process, from prepping the surface to applying a protective topcoat.
Deoxyribonucleic acid serves as the fundamental molecule of heredity, with its base sequence along the sugar-phosphate framework encoding instructions for biological functions. Constructing a physical representation of DNA's structure can aid in comprehending how the molecule operates during transcription and replication, as noted by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Inexpensive materials such as colored modeling clay and floral wire make it possible to assemble a hands-on DNA model.
Discover how to repurpose an old twin headboard into a comfortable, custom bench using basic tools and materials.
Create a portable, shatterproof mirror in just half an hour using a plastic mirror sheet and bias tape. Ideal for purses, gym bags, or lockers, these mirrors are safe for all ages and can be customized with colored tape.
Caricature has a serious artistic pedigree, counting Leonardo Da Vinci and Monet among its practitioners. The form relies on exaggerated bodily proportions, typically pairing oversized heads with compact, energetic bodies shown skateboarding, bowling or battling villains. Long used to mock politicians by rendering them absurd, caricature calls for specific tools and an understanding of the person being drawn.
Kilz offers multiple oil-based primer formulations, and the manufacturer's suggested drying windows span from 15 minutes to an hour, though real-world conditions often shift those timeframes.
Vinyl stickers can enhance the look of a car or a room, but their staying power depends on proper surface preparation and application. This guide walks through the steps for both automotive and wall surfaces, including the tools you'll need and the techniques that help the adhesive bond securely.
Store-bought custom wreaths often carry a hefty price tag of fifty dollars or more. With just a wire hanger and a box of cheap sandwich bags, you can assemble a surprisingly refined wreath at home. This project uses common household items and allows for personalized touches like ribbons or seasonal ornaments.
You can create a water-based ink that gives paper an aged, antique appearance by using walnut shells and a few household items. This guide walks through the process of extracting color from the shells and turning it into a usable ink.
You can create your own lamp fuel by combining isopropyl alcohol with distilled water, and optionally adding essential oil for scent. The alcohol should be the 91 or 99 percent variety found in stores selling rubbing alcohol; rubbing alcohol itself is not suitable. Always label the storage container to avoid mix-ups with rubbing alcohol.
Adding your own touch to a workspace can boost both how much you get done and how you feel during the day. These ten decorating projects cover plants, storage, color and more.
Tie dye involves folding and binding fabric with rubber bands before applying dye to selected areas, which leaves undyed white spots. Common pattern types include spirals, circles, stripes, rosettes, and scrunch, each offering distinct visual effects and varying levels of difficulty.
Found throughout North American wetlands, cattails stand out with their tall, flat foliage and unique flower spikes that can grow 3 to 10 feet tall. The U.S. hosts two varieties: broad-leaf and narrow-leaf cattail. Indigenous peoples traditionally crafted mats, baskets, bags, shoes, military gear, and toys from cattails using finger weaving and braiding. Modern makers expand this repertoire with hats, place mats, and chair seats.
Rather than throwing away disposable Bic lighters once they run dry, you can repurpose the empty casing into a compact hidden container for small items.
For artists, capturing the right atmosphere means knowing how morning and evening light differ. Both times of day share certain visual qualities, yet the hues, the activity around you, and the behavior of light itself give each one a distinct signature that can be translated into paint.
