Once Upon A Time . . .: September 2008

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