Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Amazing Craft Tutorials

Hi folks! Here is a list I intend to continue updating anytime I find a great craft tutorial that demands to be shared. I've tried a number of them, and shared some of the results.

These blogs have lots of nice tutorials for crafts you might like to try, and they usually update often.

A Little Hut- This is Patricia Zapata’s blog, and she focuses on paper and recycling crafts. She also has a book that looks really great but I haven’t bought it yet so I’m not certain about that. I just know I want it!

How About Orange- Jessica Jones writes this blog, and it has many tutorials, but also links to neat artists’ pages and posts occasional freebies like downloadable backgrounds for your desktop. Very clear instructions, varied difficulty.

Folding Trees- This blog is no longer updating but is so full of fun things it doesn’t matter. You’ll find a lot of origami here, but other paper specific crafts as well. I recommend the lucky stars for ease and charm, and the origami box lights look really neat, too. I tried one, and it was pretty simple to follow. Look at the Flickr photo group for Folding Trees if you want to be amazed at what paper can do! She had a book, too, but it’s out of publication.

Creative Jewish Mom- You needn’t be Jewish to enjoy this wonderful site! Lots of different craft media here: crochet and knitting, basic sewing, stamping and printmaking, paper and cardboard sculpture, basketry, and more beyond all that. She links to lots of tutorials on other sites, too.

The Painted Fish- The painted Fish isn’t solely tutorial based, but this is a link to the ones she does have. Very sophisticated style.

Polka Dot Pineapple- This happy go lucky blogger lives in Hawaii and has some Hawaiian themed crafts. She is big on sewing and fabric, but there are other types of crafts here, as well.

Totally Tutorials- Enormous database, growing daily!

Martha Stewart Crafts- Varied difficulty, taste you may rely on. Great stuff from guests on her show as well, including videos which are much easier to follow than the written word.

Not Martha- Nice tutorials and HUGE raft of crafty links.

That Artist Woman- LOTS of well described tutorials for projects to do with kids from an elementary art teacher.

Aunt Peaches- Terrifically innovative tutorials, focusing often on charming jewelry and accessories, but there are things here that would be wonderful to do with kids. I love her coffee filter flowers and pipe cleaner crowns.

Alisa Burke- Whimsical artist and teacher with ideas for fun clothing, accessories, and decor. If you are a fan, you can sign up for a class, or buy her book.

Modern Art for Kids- Another tutorial blog by an art teacher, nice ideas here.

Made by Joel- A wonderfully creative, playful artist father creates toys for his kids, offering up amazing ideas and tutorials. This guy is really something! I'm so glad to see he is getting work from major magazines.


Origami Database Links

Origami Resource Center- There are a lot of modular (multiple pieces combining into a whole) origami designs here. A few of them are simple to build, but if you are very ambitious there are amazing ones that are rather complicated. I tried the rose curl model and had to start over at least four times, but the result is really awesome! This site’s diagrams are vague and sometimes difficult to decipher. I created the above Sonobe ball from diagrams on this page.

Origami Club- Origami site with varied levels of difficulty.

Oriland- More origami, varied difficulty. Lots of great plant and flower diagrams.

Kusudama Me- These are very challenging but beautiful kusudamas designed by a Russian origami artist.

Canon Chiyogami- This is a site with free printable origami paper.


Other Excellent Tutorials

For Your Kids

Monster Feet from me ;)

Fall Tree from me, naturally

Starburst Wrapper Bracelet from Fluffyland- 10+

Paper Bag Gingerbread Village from Disney Family Fun- 6+

Egg Carton Fish and Rocket- from Paper Crafts- 8+

Newspaper Hut from Pepper Paints- 10+ to build, younger can play in it and help

Crayola- Full of crafts, coloring pages, and games.

Magic Sparkle Playdough from The Crazy Gecko

Fall Tree Painting from No Time for Flash Cards 5+

Bubble Art from the Lovely Paper Blog 3+

Make Your Own Bouncy Balls from Scribbit

Jackson Pollack Painting from Jacksonpollock.org- your cursor is the paint brush, and a click of your mouse changes paint color. Mess free painting!

Watercolor Initials from Plum Pudding 3+

Recycled Robot Monsters from AlisaBurke 7+

Painted Puzzle from AlisaBurke 7+

Matisse's Painting with Scissors from Modern Art 4 Kids

Surrealist Collage from Modern Art 4 Kids

Best Playdoh Recipe from Dried Figs and Wooden Spoons

Valentine Crayon from The Long Thread

Silk Tie Dyed Eggs from Our Best Bites


For Your Home

Magazine Paper Coasters from How About Orange

Flower Ornament from How About Orange

Paper Mache Bowl from Painted Fish Studios

Paper Mobile from Design*Sponge

Decorative Rope Design from Design*Sponge

Faux Capiz Shell Chandelier from Design*Sponge

Recycled Scrap Paper Notebook from Design*Sponge

Coil Basket from Plastic Bags from Lucky Ladybird (Very challenging!)

Newspaper Woven Basket from Craftstylish

Pom-Pom Wreath from Bleubird Vintage

Decorated Paper Lantern from Not Martha

Tree Stump Trivet from Martha Stewart

Giant Paper Poppy from Martha Stewart

Recycled Paper Ornament and Garland from Martha Stewart

Victorian Beaded Flower from Craft Cove

Felted Eggs from My Eclectic Mess

Floral Paper Towel Tube Art from Paper N Stitch

Denim Tree Pencil Case from Michele Made Me

Toilet Paper Tube Pincushion from Michele Made Me (humble beginning, I know, but ends up super cool!)

Yarn Pom Pom Mobile from Hausfrau in Melbourne

Japanese Temari Ball from Abigail's Crafts How To

Japanese Paper Tape Basket from Abigail's Crafts How To

Canvas Layers Wreath from AlisaBurke

Fall Fiber Wreath from AlisaBurke

Reversible Rick Rack Napkins from Film in the Fridge

Coffee Filter Flowers from Aunt Peaches


For You

Paper Beads from Creative Jewish Mom

Wrapper Purse

Felt Dahlia Corsage from Not Martha

Tee Shirt Yarn for Knit and Crochet from Polka Dot Pineapple

Fabric Carnation from Little Carnation

Rolled Fabric Roses from A Scrap of Fabulous (video)

Fabric Covered Buttons from Michele Made Me

Felt Needle and Hook Book from Michele Made Me

Japanese Kansashi Flowers from Abigail's Crafts How To

Altered Hoodie from AlisaBuke

Marbled Paper from Design*Sponge


For You to Fold

Origami Lily from UHandbag

Paper Box and Lid from UHandbag

Kusudama Flower from Folding Trees

3D Moravian Star from Highhopes.com

Origami House from Origami Club

Modular Origami Ring from PaperUnlimited, by Mette Pederson

Cherry Blossom from Style of Japan


Paper Party Decorations from Creative Jewish Mom