Make A Frog Tessellation Out Of A Square

Tessellations are an art form that most people know as mosaics. It is the art of arranging shapes to make pictures. M.C. Escher was an early 20th-century artist famous for his tessellation art that included frog shapes. Crafters young and old can make their own frog tessellations with a few simple craft supplies and a little creativity. All it takes is knowledge of simple shapes such as triangles and squares.

Instructions

1. Cut four squares that are 2 x 2 inches out of the green construction paper. Paste one of the squares down onto the center of a piece of construction paper. This is the body of your frog tessellation.

2. Cut one of the squares in half. Butt the triangle up against the top of the square on your paper so that the point of the triangle is facing up. Glue it down. This is the head of your frog tessellation.

3. Take the other triangle and butt it up against the bottom of the square so that the point of the triangle is pointing at the square like an arrow. Glue it to the paper. This is the bottom of the frog.

4. Cut the remaining square in half. Cut the resulting triangles in half and then cut those triangles in half.

5. Place one of the small triangles so that it is pointing at the corner created by the head and the square body. Paste it to the paper. Do this on both sides to create the upper arm of the frog. If you got it right, then the triangle will look just like the square it is sitting beside, but it will look like it was chopped in half.

6. Place a smaller triangle against the upper arm so that the triangle is pointing up and the upper point is aligned with the right point angle of the upper arm. Paste it in place. Repeat this step on the other arm.

7. Place two small triangles into the gap between the square body and the bottom triangle. They should fit just like a puzzle piece. Paste them in place. These are the thighs.

8. Place a small triangle so that it is pointing at the bottom of the triangle you just placed. Paste it in place. Repeat on the other side. These are the bottoms of your legs.

Make Jewelry With Precious Metals

You can make rings using metal clay

One of the easiest and most fun modern methods of making jewelry is working with materials that have been made into metal clay. This new technology, which transforms traditional gold and silver precious metals into a soft, clay-like form, has sparked a whole new area of jewelry making. You can make your own gold, silver, or mixed metal jewelry items right at home without having to acquire and learn the more complicated techniques involved in becoming a bench jeweler or smith. Two of the most common brands of clay metals on the market today have become popular for making jewelry. The first one is called PMC, or precious metals clay; and the other is called art clay. Recently, bronze has also been made in to clay. By purchasing the clay and using a few simple techniques, you can start making your own jewelry with precious metals. For this article, we will learn make a ring.

Instructions

Making a Ring

1. Roll out the precious metal of choice onto a non-stick flat surface with the clay roller. If you purchased a precious metal kit, it may have come with some special cards to help you determine the thickness that you need to roll the clay out. Otherwise, bear in mind that you will be attempting to make a long roll for a ring. Therefore, do not make the clay too thick or short when rolling, and try to maintain an even layer of thickness. Coat the surface of the roller and non-stick flat surface lightly with some olive oil if need be to prevent the clay from sticking to it. Keep the clay moist by dipping your fingers in a small dish of water and dropping some water droplets on to it as needed.

2. Cut the length and width of the clay for the ring size that you need, using the ring sizer as a measuring guide. Try to use about ¼ to ½ of an extra length on the ring sizer gauge so that you can affix the ends together when the time comes. Keep in mind that when you heat the clay with the torch, because it is clay combined with precious metals, the moisture will cause shrinkage. Also, it will be somewhat brittle when finished, and you will not be able to re-size it.

3. Put the excess clay into a zip-locked bag or an airtight container. Add a little olive oil to the inside of the container to keep the clay moistened while it sits.

4. Carefully lift up the piece of precious metal clay that you rolled and cut out from the flat surface, trying not to smudge the flat ring shape or smear the ends. Stamp, impress, or make a design in the ring. Use toothpicks, a ballpoint pen, or whatever you want or find around the home to draw or make designs right into the basic clay flat ring form that you have. Make the design on the outside of the ring band, unless you also choose to make some impressions or hallmarks on the inside of it as well. Keep the clay moist with water.

5. Form the finished and designed flat clay ring band around one of the ceramic ring sizers that you purchased. Gently press the ends of the ring together on the ring sizer. Add precious metal slip on the seam or joint of the ring until both ends are affixed together solidly. Let the ring dry completely on the sizer for at least 24 hours. After 24 hours, if need be, file down any edges or joints of the ring while it is on the sizer. All finishing of the ring and other clay jewelry is done prior to annealing and curing with heat, or soldering.

6. Solder the ring using a butane torch evenly all of the way around the outside of it, making sure not to apply too much direct heat. Do not touch the hot metal with your bare hands. When finished, let the ring cool. Then remove the inner ceramic ring sizer piece. Clean the ring with a dry towel.

Make Animated Psp Icons

If you find the normal PSP animated icons to be boring, then it might be time for you to make your own. Making your own animated icons will spruce up your PSP and give it your own independent stamp. Using Adobe Photoshop will give you a wide range of tools and accessories to make a variety of animated PSP icons.

Instructions

1. Open Photoshop, click "File," and "New." Name the new file "PSPIcon" and edit the overall width to 80 pixels and the overall height to 140 pixels.

2. Click on the "View" tab, then then "Fit to screen" option.

3. Locate the "Fill" tool on the left side of the screen, choosing a background color and pattern for the icon. Click "OK."

4. Click on the center of the icon, right-click and select "Actual pixels" to see what it will look like on your PSP screen.

5. If the icon isn't pixelated click on "File," then "Save for web." On the right-hand side, select "PNG-24" then click the "OK" button. Choose a destination to save the file and, click "OK" again.

Make A Flag Out Of Wooden Fencing

Wood fencing is made from durable woods.

If you have old wooden fencing around your house, you can recycle it to make a wide variety of yard and home art. Wood fencing is particularly useful for outdoor art because the wood is generally resilient to the elements and is less likely to rot and mold. One project that is particularly appealing is making a flag out of wooden fencing. Old fencing also has a vintage look that some homeowners may want to keep when displaying their flag. You can purchase most of these materials at a hardware or home improvement store.

Instructions

1. Determine which flag you would like to paint and purchase the supplies. If you are painting the American flag you will need to purchase red, white and blue paint as well as paint primer.

2. Cut the two fencing panels so they are 23 inches long. This will create the correct proportions for a rectangular flag. Cut the boards so that they are 12 inches long if you are making a square flag.

3. Place the panels horizontally so that their long edges are touching. Place two of the 12 X 2s on either end of the flag and the third in the middle. Each of the three pieces of wood should be vertical.

4. Attach the vertical pieces of wood to the fencing panels with woodscrews. Screw four woodscrews into each of the vertical pieces of wood one, five, seven and eleven inches from the bottom. This will secure the flag panels. If you are working with a particularly hard piece of wood, you will need to pre-drill your holes to prevent the wood from cracking.

5. Flip the panels over, paint them with wood primer and let them dry.

6. Draw the flag's patterns with the pencil and paint the flag in the appropriate colors. Allow the paint to dry and display it in your yard or home.

Make Naruto Sandals

Naruto is the main character in a Japanese-manga comic book and an anime-cartoon adaptation. Naruto is an adolescent ninja trainee who aspires to be the best in the land. His distinctive, high-topped, open-soled sandals are a fashion craze among today's teens. You can learn to make a pair of Naruto sandals on your own.

Instructions

Create the Foundation of Your Sandals

1. Cut the thong off the flip-flops you want to make into sandals.

2. Cut the duck cloth in half and then fold a piece of the cloth in half to form a rectangle. Place the rectangle on a sturdy table.

3. Place the outside edge of your foot on the fabric rectangle, parallel to the long sides, with your ankle in the middle.

4. Use the fabric pen to trace the top of your foot on the cloth, from the tips of your toes, up your ankle and to the edge of the fabric.

5. Make a dark mark on the cloth where your toes meet your foot and another mark where your ankle meets your leg.

6. Use a short stitch on your sewing machine to stitch along the line on the fabric, from one dark mark to the other.

7. Cut the cloth, following the line you drew, but cut about 1/2 inch outside of it.

8. Cut a series of nicks into the edge of the fabric, just outside the stitching. Avoid cutting through the stitching.

Finish Your Naruto Sandals

9. Turn the stitched cloth inside out and match up the unsewn edges at the top.

10. Use the sewing machine to stitch from your first dark mark to 1/2 inch from the edge of the fabric. Make another stitch from the second dark mark to 1/2 inch from the edge of the fabric.

11. Turn the cloth inside out again and slide it onto your foot. Match up the two edges along your heel, pin the edges of the cloth together and draw a line where the heel seam will go.

12. Take the fabric off of your foot and stitch along the heel seam line to about halfway up your ankle. Then, trim the cloth about 1/2 inch outside the heel seam, turn the cloth inside out and stitch the seam the rest of the way.

13. Roll back the cloth at the toe and at the top to form cuffs.

14. Stand on top of a flip-flop and pull the fabric you've been sewing down tightly over your toes. Using the pins, pin the cloth all along the edges of the flip-flop.

15. Remove your foot and cut through the cloth about 1/2 inch below the bottom of the flip-flop. Then, fold the bottom edge of the cloth over 1/2 inch and stitch it.

16. Get the remaining duck cloth and cut a 5 by 4-inch piece of it, folding it lengthwise.

17.Stitch the short sides of the cloth together and turn the cloth inside out.

18. Center the piece of cloth on the bottom of the heel of the modified flip-flop. You should leave 1/2 inch of the open side of the piece of cloth to hang over the edge of the flip-flop, stitching around the top three edges of the piece of cloth. Then, fold the bottom edge over the bottom of the shoe and stitch it.

19. Remove one or two tacks at a time and put down a line of hot glue along the edge of the flip-flop between the holes. Push the fabric back down firmly onto the glue. Repeat this process around the entire flip-flop.

Make A Figurine Made Of Styrofoam

Styrofoam is something that is ubiquitous in our everyday lives. It comes with the packages that come in the mail, in the boxes of items bought at the store--everywhere. As you try to reduce, reuse, recycle, Styrofoam creates its own challenges; not all communities will allow you to recycle Styrofoam, which means it ends up in the landfill. You can break the cycle: Create a figurine from Styrofoam.

Instructions

1. Decide what figurine you wish to make out of Styrofoam. You can find inspirations in books or on sites like "stryofoam sculpture art" or Styrofoam Sculpture (see References below).

2. Draw a few possibilities on paper so you have a road map to follow. Take into account the level of your abilities. Making a figurine from Styrofoam is challenging, so you might wish to start with a simple design first, then make more complicated and intricate ones as your skill and confidence increases.

3. Gather pieces of Styrofoam from which to make your figurine. This will depend on the size of the figurine you wish to create. If you don't have one large piece of Styrofoam, glue pieces together to create one larger piece.

4. Use a sharp knife to carve the Styrofoam into the shape you've decided upon for your figurine. Take your time and carve little bits away at a time instead of larger pieces. It's far easier to remove more Styrofoam with your knife than add it back on.

5. Sand the Styrofoam with sandpaper when you are finished carving.

6. Paint your Styrofoam figurine. This step is optional, and the colors are entirely up to you. As you can see in some of the pictures in "stryofoam sculpture art," it is quite possible to make your figurine look as though it's been created from nearly any material imaginable.

Make A Fiberglass Subwoofer Enclosure

Fiberglass subwoofer enclosures present some real advantages for a custom car audio setup. First, they can be shaped to fit a specific vehicle or space within a vehicle, taking advantage of space that couldn't be used with a normal rectangular subwoofer enclosure. Second, if properly executed, they can present a real custom look that will make your car audio system truly "one of a kind."

Instructions

1. Determine the size of enclosure you'll need. Subwoofers are usually designed to operate in a specific volume of air. Put them in too small or too large an enclosure, and they won't perform well. Using the specifications given by the manufacturer, determine what the volume of your subwoofer enclosure should be.

2. Design your enclosure to match the sub's specs and your needs. Make preliminary measurements of where you'd like to place the subwoofer and match it against your sub's volume specs. You may find that you'll have to make adjustments in your original ideas. Sketch out possible designs and determine how well they'll work in your car. Remember, the volume of the enclosure is key to good performance.

3. Build a form to lay your fiberglass on. You can build the form by shaping foam, or by building a form out of wire and then layering upon that. Remember that you'll need an opening for both the subwoofer and the wiring terminals, and it's better to build these into the enclosure, rather than have to cut the enclosure later. Use a putty knife or spatula to smooth the fiberglass mixture as you go along. After mixing your fiberglass mixture, put down your first layer upon the form. Once the first layer is complete and dry, add another layer, checking for smoothness and a clean line as you go.

4. When you've completed laying the fiberglass on the form, smooth it with a heavy file or cheese grater so that it matches the shape you're looking for. Using progressively finer grades of sandpaper, smooth the fiberglass until the finish is smooth and consistent. Paint the enclosure the desired color and then add a layer of polyurethane gloss so that the box sports a sheen.

5. In the openings you've left in the enclosure, mount the speaker wire terminals, and attach internal wiring. Connect this wiring to the subwoofer and then mount the subwoofer. Test the subwoofer for operation. Now mount the enclosure in your car -- use brackets to hold the enclosure securely in place.

Make A Fiberglass Form

Fiberglass is exactly what its name implies: fibers made from very fine glass. It is popular for its ability to be manipulated into almost any organic shape and then hardened with a resin for lasting durability. Building with fiberglass is a complex, two-stage process, the first stage of which is constructing a solid form of the object you'd like to cast in fiberglass.

Instructions

1. Glue your sheets of Styrofoam together using the expanding foam, which will act as your adhesive. Spread an even amount of spray foam across the top of the sheet, staying approximately 1 inch from the edge--the spray foam will squeeze toward the edge and out the sides as you lay a second sheet on top. Repeat the process, adding more sheets until you create a block large enough to accommodate the object you are trying to create.

2. Once dry, rough-carve the foam with a keyhole saw or an electric carving knife. Refine the shape with your Surform tool until you've achieved the desired look. Finish the form with a coarse sandpaper.

3. Coat the entire form with drywall mud. Several coats are needed to thoroughly seal the Styrofoam from the fiberglass resin.

4. Wait for the drywall mud to dry, then smooth the form with the fine sandpaper.

5. Coat the entire object with several coats of fiberglass resin. Let it dry, and your fiberglass form is finished.

Make A Favorite Books Mobile

Mobiles are a form of kinetic sculpture. Mobiles may be hung indoors or outside, and make a great decoration for a multi-sensory garden.Mobiles are cousins to wind chimes, which also rely on breezes, but instead of making sounds, they simply spin, flutter, twirl, flap or wave. Mobile parts can be suspended by string or wire, or they can be balanced on one another to provide additional spin, whirl and wave.

Instructions

1. Using the Resources section at the end of this article, find printables or images from your favorite children's books--or better yet, make your own. Place each printable onto a piece of shirt cardboard and glue down, pressing well to ensure a good bond. Color the printable pages to match the illustrations in your favorite books. For example, Winnie-the-Pooh would have yellow fur; Clifford would be red; Pippi Longstocking would have red braids sticking out sideways from her head. Once your printables have been colored, cut them into interesting shapes. Young children can trace around cookie cutters, pot pie tins or plastic cups to get shapes. Attach a length of satin ribbon to the back of each shape with masking tape. Vary the lengths used for each shape. Mobiles are more interesting when they are not perfectly symmetrical and the attachments are not all on the same level. If desired, add glitter to the edges of your shapes.

2. Cut dowel rods into shorter pieces using a hand saw. This should be done by an adult. Sand dowel rod ends to prevent splinters. The top piece should be twice as long as the pieces for the next level down. Pieces for a third level should be half as long as pieces from the second level. Find the center of the piece for the first level of the mobile. Tie a length of gold cord to the center of the rod using a lark's head knot. Run the ends of the cord through a 1-inch diameter metal O-ring and secure with a double half hitch knot. See the Resources section at the end of this article for a video demonstrations of each knot.

3. Attach printable shapes to the mobile using a lark's head knot. Each shape should be about a third of the way from the opposite ends of the first level rod, and directly below the connecting lines to the next two or more levels. Each shape should flutter and spin freely without bumping into another shape.

4. Wind a 3/4-inch satin ribbon around each rod to cover it, securing at the ends of each rod with a double half hitch knot and a bead of clear silicone adhesive. Be sure to use adequate ventilation, opening a window and running a fan on high. If you can smell fumes, you do not have adequate ventilation.

5. Hang your mobile using a cup hook screwed into the ceiling, or hang it outdoors. Enjoy your "favorite books" mobile while you read! Add book reviews to your mobile by gluing lined paper to a shirt cardboard and cutting it into shapes. Reviews can be written before finishing the mobile or afterward. Young children who are not yet able to write on their own can dictate their reviews to older children.

Make A Translation Tessellation Template

Make a Translation Tessellation Template

Many people and businesses create websites. Some are commercial sites designed to make money, while others are personal sites that might serve a variety of purposes. Tessellations are interlocking repeating patterns. A translation version of a tessellation entails a stacked tessellation, with each section mover one space to the right of left. These images can make an interesting background image for a web page.

Instructions

Photoshop

1. Open Photoshop. Select "File" from the menu choose "New." In the dialog, enter the width and height you want for the tessellation and click "OK."

2. Select the "Rectangular" shape tool and set it to "Shape Layer" mode. Choose the color you want and draw a small square on the screen. Select "Layers" from the menu and choose "Rasterize."

3. Select "Edit" from the menu and choose "Transform." From the options, choose "Distort." Use the tool to move the shape so it looks like one half of a roof. Then right-click on the layer and choose "Duplicate Layer."

4. Select "Image" from the menu and choose "Adjustments." from the options, choose "Brightness/Contrast," adjusting the "Brightness" down slightly.

5. Use the "Flip Horizontal" function under "Transform" and the "Move" tool to place the two parts back to back. Right-click on the top layer and choose "Merge Down."

6. Use the "Copy" and "Paste" function and the "Move" tool to place copies of this object in a line across the canvas. Then create a second line below this, but offset it from the one above. Continue this process to fill the screen with this tessellation. Save your work.

Photoshop Elements

7. Open Photoshop Elements. Select "File" from the menu, then choose "New." Select "Blank File." In the dialog, enter the width and height you want for the tessellation and click "OK."

8. Select the "Rectangular" shape tool and set it to "Shape Layer" mode. Choose the color you want and draw a small square on the screen. Select "Layers" from the menu and choose "Simplify."

9. Select "Image" from the menu and choose "Transform." From the options, choose "Distort." Use the tool to move the shape so it looks like one half of a roof. Then right-click on the layer and choose "Duplicate Layer."

10. Select "Enhance" from the menu and choose "Adjustment Lighting." From the options, choose "Brightness/Contrast," adjusting the "Brightness" down slightly.

11. Use the "Flip Layer Horizontal" function under "Image." and the "Move" tool to place the two parts back to back. Right-click on the top layer and choose "Merge Down."

12. Use the "Copy" and "Paste" function and the "Move" tool to place copies of this object in a line across the canvas. Then create a second line below this, but offset it from the one above. Continue this process to fill the screen with this tessellation. Save your work.

GIMP

13. Open GIMP. Select "File" from the menu and choose "New." Select "Blank File." In the dialog, enter the width and height you want for the tessellation and click "OK."

14. Click on the "New Layer" button at the bottom of the "Layers" panel. Select the "Rectangular" selection tool and draw and small square selection on the canvas. Use the "Paintbucket" tool to fill the selection with color.

15. Select "Tools" from the menu and choose "Transform." From the options, choose "Perspective." Use the tool to move the shape so it looks like one half of a roof. Click "Transform." Then right-click on the layer and choose "Duplicate Layer."

16. Select "Colors" from the menu and choose "Brightness/Contrast," adjusting the "Brightness" down slightly.

17.Use the "Flip Horizontal" function under "Transform" and the "Move" tool to place the two parts back to back. Right-click on the top layer and choose "Merge Down."

18. Use the "Copy" and "Paste" function and the "Move" tool to place copies of this object in a line across the canvas. Then create a second line below this, but offset it from the one above. Continue this process to fill the screen with this tessellation. Save your work.

Make A Fan Sign

Get the crowd going with a funny sign to cheer your team on.

Show your team some encouragement with a clever fan sign. Take the time and thought to create a unique sign that will excite your fellow fans and/or make them laugh. A particularly ingenious sign may even get you on the Jumbotron or on TV.

Instructions

1. Decide if you want your sign to be funny or serious. Funny signs--such as the "Hack a Shaq" signs that encouraged other teams to foul NBA player Shaquille O'Neal because of his bad free throw shooting--are very popular at sporting events. Some fans, however, prefer to bring inspirational signs such as the "Unleash the Fury" signs that are popular at Washington Capitals NHL games.

2. Incorporate a popular concept or saying into your sign. One of the most familiar concepts that fans like to use is from the Visa "priceless" commercials. An example would be "Tickets $75. Sodas $5. Being here to watch us whoop the Marlins--Priceless."

Another recent sign used the name of the movie "Bend it Like Beckham" to mock him when he sat out a game. It read "Bench it like Beckham."

3. Make a funny sign mocking an opposing team player. Some players are known for certain behavior. Fans whose team opposes the NHL Pittsburgh Penguin's Sidney Crosby often depict him in signs as a baby because he allegedly whines a lot.

4. Incorporate a network's acronym, such as NBC, ESPN or CBS, in your sign if you want to get on television. For example, "Nobody Beats Cincinnati" written with each word stacked on top of each other and the NBC made larger than the other letters may possibly get the cameraman's attention and show the world your support for your team.

5. Rhyme words or use alliterations to create your own clever signs. Examples of rhymes are "The Pack is Back" or even "Nix the Knicks." Alliteration is when you use words starting with the same letter close together, such as "Dominate Dem Dogs!"

6. Make your sign in the shape of something to highlight a point you are trying to make. For instance, you can make a sign in the shape of a buffalo laying on its back with its legs stiff in the air and write the words "Kill the Bills" on it if you are playing the Buffalo Bills.

Find Out If A Brass Statue Is Worth Money

The most important component about finding out if your bronze statue is worth money is research. What may seem like an old, worthless relic could really be a priceless piece of art. There are many resources to explore.

Instructions

find out if your Bronze Statue is worth money

1. Inspect the bronze sculpture carefully. Search for any stamp marks, insignias or carvings on the statue. If the statue has a certificate from an artist that is even better. It will make research easier.

2. Photograph the statue from every angle, i.e., front, right side, left side, back, top, bottom. Make sure to include any carvings, stamps or insignias you found while inspecting the statue.

3. Conduct research online or at a library on any insignias or markings you found. If none were found, do comparison research--that is compare it with bronze sculptures already on the market. If a replicate sculpture is found and a value specified, then you've found a potential price.

4. Research appraisers. Once a credible appraiser has been found, send the photos for an estimate. Different appraisers have different techniques, so adapting strategies will be important.

Make A Fake Puncture Wound

Create a realistic wound without a team of surgeons at home.

Whether it's for a Halloween costume or a low-budget horror film, if you need a puncture wound, you need it to look believable. Too much oozing ketchup or a wound that looks more like a hole punch and you're the laugh of the party instead of the life of the party. The good news is that it's possible to create a realistic look regardless of your budget, whether you're working with professional theater make-up and FX wax or just have a few household supplies.

Instructions

1. Use rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball to thoroughly clean the area you plan on placing your gory, realistic puncture wound. Items will adhere better to a clean surface free of dirt and debris.

2. Chew bubble gum until pliable and shape into the shape of a wound or use FX wax to shape the wound. Stick either to the area that you have cleaned with alcohol. Shape with your fingers for the desired shape and effect. Smooth the outside edges of the wound to force them to blend in with the skin and raise the center of the wound for a more realistic swollen look.

3. Shape the wound with a sharp object to make it look like as much like a real wound as possible. Create a hole in the wax or gum that appears stabbed or scratched at.

4. Create a sense of depth on the wound with makeup. Color the center of the wound with black or charcoal-colored makeup and add red over and around that for a 3D look.

5. Apply clear or light powdered makeup over and around the wound to dull the wax or gum. A wound should not be shiny. A dull look will make the wound look much more realistic and scary. Apply dark blue and purple eyeshadow or dark blue and purple theater paint around the wound to make the area around the wound appear to be bruised and damaged. This will create a more realistic effect.

6. Drip a few drops of fake blood from the middle of the wound and let them drip downward. Do not use too much blood. Let the blood dry to make the wound look older or apply a small amount of blood every once in a while to keep it looking fresh and open.

Make A Drum Mix On The Piano

The MicroKorg functions as a MIDI controller.

MIDI, or "musical instrument digital interface," lets you send note and velocity data to your music production program in order to program and record melodies, beats and sound effects. Typical MIDI controllers take the form of a miniaturized piano keyboard. This provides an intuitive interface for sending note commands for traditional keyboard instruments, such synthesizer, piano and even xylophone. It provides a less intuitive, but equally functional interface for creating MIDI drum beats. The benefit of using the MIDI piano for drumming is that you can play with natural rhythm, rather than manually entering drum data into a step sequencer grid interface.

Instructions

1. Connect your MIDI controller to the computer. The type of cable required varies according to what type of controller you use, but it is typically a USB cable or, on newer models, a Firewire cable. Connect the cable to the relevant port on the computer.

2. Open your preferred music production software program, for example, Fruity Loops or Logic.

3. Open a session. Click "File" and select "Open New" for a blank session or "Open Recent" to open a work in progress.

4. Click "File" and select "New MIDI Track." This assigns your MIDI controller as the default input device, as opposed to a microphone or instrument cable.

5. Click "Instruments" and select a drum kit from the drop-down menu, for example, "808 kit" or "big band kit. Play around on the MIDI controller piano keyboard to familiarize yourself with the layout of the drums.

6. Click the "M" icon to mute any other instruments that you've recorded, so that you can hear the drum kit in isolation.

7. Double click where it says "120 BPM" and enter your preferred tempo setting. 120 beats per minute is the default tempo for digital audio production programs, such as Cubase and Logic. If you are not yet sure of your preferred tempo, press the "metronome" icon and hit "Play." Then play along with the click. If it is too slow, increase the tempo by 10 bpm until you find the right feel for your beat.

8. Click the "M" icon to unmute the backing instruments, so you can hear the full context of the drum mix as you play it.

9. Click the "R" icon on the channel strip to make the MIDI track record-ready. Click "Record" and play your drum beat. The computer interprets the notes you play as MIDI data and assigns the sound to the note after the "MIDI event." This means if you play a great beat but don't like the sound, you can change instruments after.

Make Your Photo Into Vector Art

When you take a photograph with a digital camera, or scan a photo into your computer, the image is stored as a raster, or "pixel-based" image, meaning it is composed of thousands of individually colored pixels. If you want to edit the elements in the picture, you'll need to draw over the existing photo, changing the pixels. To create a picture with elements that can be easily moved, enlarged or otherwise edited, you must convert it to a vector image (an image based on mathematical formulas). This can be done using a vector conversion program or the conversion function in a vector graphics program.

Instructions

Adobe Illustrator

1. Download and install "Adobe Illustrator" (see Resources section below). Launch Adobe Illustrator. Click the "Print Document" option from the "Create New" menu, then click "OK" to create a new image artboard.

2. Click the "File" menu and choose "Place." Click to select the raster photo image from your hard drive, then click "Place." Click and drag the corner arrows while holding the "SHIFT" key on your keyboard to make the photo fit the dimensions of the artboard.

3. Click the photo to select it, then click the "Object" menu. Click "Live Trace," then "Tracing Options."

4. Click to select "Photo High Fidelity" from the "Preset" drop-down menu. Click to select "Color" from the "Mode" menu. Click the "Trace" button to convert the photo into a vector image.

5. Click "File" and "Save." Type in a name for the new vector image file, then choose a format from the "Save as type" drop-down menu. Click "Save" to save the image.

RasterVect

6. Download and install "RasterVect" (see Resources).

7. Launch the "RasterVect" program. Select "Normal Mode" and click "OK." Click the "Wizard Mode" button. Click to select "From File" and click "Next."

8. Click to select the photo you wish to convert to a vector image, then click "Open." Click "Recognize as color image." Click "Next." Click "Skip this step," then click "Next."

9. Click "Next" to begin the vectorization process. Click to select "Few errors," then click "Next." Click "Skip this step," then click "Next."

10. Click "Vector file," then click "Next." Type in a file name and choose a save directory. Click to choose your preferred vector image format from the "Save as type" drop-down menu. Click "Save" to finish the conversion process.

VectorMagic

11. Click the "VectorMagic" link in the Resources section to open the VectorMagic.com website.

12. Click the "Upload Image to Trace" button.

13. Click to select the photo you wish to convert from your hard drive, then click "Open."

14. Click the "Download Result" button in the top right corner of the web page. Type in your email address and click the "I accept. Create my account." button.

15. Check your email inbox and click on the message from "VectorMagic." Click the "Click here to access your auto-traced result" link, then click "Enable Download." Click one of the image format buttons, then click "Save" to download your vector image.

Make A Diptych Collage

Diptychs and triptychs ask you to examine relationships.

Diptychs and triptychs are works of art in two or three parts. Collages are composed of disparate items. You could say a diptych collage is a collage of collages. They may be hinged or placed side by side, and they may be made by one or several people. The only criterion is that there must be some connection between the parts. Artists who have explored them are Andy Warhol and John Baldessari. An exhibition catalog states: "Baldessari revels in juxtapositions: his imagery conveys harmony and discord, security and disruption."

Instructions

Preparation

1. Have a definite idea in mind. One might be "How do others see me?" vs "How do I see myself?" Another could be "The world as it is" vs "The world as I would like it to be."

2. Make two piles, one having to do with the first question, one having to do with the second. Raid files, magazines, drawings, photocopies, printmaking papers, poems, your diary, maps, photos, extremely thin, flat and dry leaves or flowers for items to place in the two piles.

3. Think of how you might enlarge some of the items or reduce some of the others. Scan or photocopy accordingly.

4. Plan out where you will place the various items by using two papers the same size as your panels. These are your trial sheets. Know where things will go before you paste.

5. Use your support as your background.

Cutting

6. Cut items out. In case of mishaps, have more than one copy of each.

7. Mark off 1/4 inch all around on the panels if you plan to frame them. Trace around the items on the panels lightly so you do not lose track of where they will go.

8. Number the items on your trial sheet if there are a large number. Avoid numbering the actual items. You don't want anything showing through.

Pasting

9. Brush matte medium on the backs of the items and also on their places on the panels and glue them down. Matte medium is an excellent adhesive as well as a medium for acrylic paint. You can overlap things to some extent.

10. Be careful not to let the medium dry out on the brushes.

11. Place waxed paper or freezer paper over the panels and cover them with heavy books. If you are using freezer paper, place the waxy side down to rest against the collage items. Leave overnight. Rough edges can be smoothed over with more matte medium.

Make A Diorama Of M C Higgins The Great

A diorama helps illustrate an important moment in a story you've read.

"M.C. Higgins The Great" is a novel for young adults written by Virginia Hamilton and published in 1977. Main character Mayo Cornelius Higgins is 15 and lives on Sarah's Mountain, named for his ancestor who escaped slavery to claim the land. M.C.'s family and their life on the mountain is threatened by a "spoil pile" of trees and dirt from strip-mining that looms above them. The book received critical acclaim and numerous awards for Ms. Hamilton, including the prestigious Newbery Award. A diorama is a three-dimensional model that showcases a scene from the book.

Instructions

1. Choose a moment or scene from the book that you want to portray in your diorama. It could be the landscape of Sarah's Mountain around the Higgins' home or maybe the Killburn's unusual homeplace. You might show a dramatic moment between two characters. The fight between M.C. and Lurhetta or the meeting with Ben Killburn would be good choices. You could also show something important to M.C., such as his seat atop the forty foot pole or the retaining wall he built.

2. Sketch your design on a sheet of paper. Make sure the layout will fit your box or board. Think of the box turned on its side as a miniature theater stage. Your idea should include a background with other items layered in the foreground. If using a board, it will be a base from which to build your scene up.

3. Gather the materials you'll need. Some of the most common are listed, but you may need others to get the effect you want. Your scene might require a special item such as a dowel to represent M.C.'s sitting pole.

4. Paint your background or draw and cut shapes from craft paper. Scenery from magazines can also be used. Fill the blank panels inside your box or cover the top of your board.

5. Create your foreground. Use clay to create a mountain. Use sticks to build log cabins. Dirt or pebbles scattered on glue becomes land and boulders. String can become rope. Shiny foil might be water. Layer these items from the background toward the front of the box or attach items to your board.

6. Add miniatures. If people and animals are in your scene, make them from modeling clay or draw and cut them from paper or a magazine. Pre-made miniatures from building sets or doll houses can also be used.

7. Make a title card or banner from strip of paper that lets viewers know what scene from the book you've depicted. Attach to the top or back of your diorama.

Make A Digital Portrait

Different techniques can produce an array of digital portraits. Apply a digital filter, learn the process of vectoring, trace a photograph with a mouse pen or digitally paint it with multiple layers of complicated digital brushes. By using one or two digital brushes, skillful layering and a color palette, you can create a basic portrait.

Instructions

1. Open the photo editing software and reference photo. Create a grid over the entire surface of the reference photo. Make each grid box 1-square inch and save the photo with the grid under a different file name. This preserves the original photo and lets you make mistakes while you work.

2. Open a blank workspace the same size as the photo. Reproduce the grid over the blank workspace.

3. Select the software's standard line brush and set the hardness to "0" with about 30 percent opacity. These settings become available to you for manipulation in any editing software when you select the brush.

4. Block in the major shapes presented in the photo using the grids for perspective and relative placement. Keep the lines loose and flowing. Don't worry about detail yet.

5. Frame in the facial features and hairline. Some artists superimpose a mini-grid for this, but it's not necessary if you pay strict attention to relative line and curve placement in the grid.

6. Flip the reference photo and grid and your working space and grid on their sides to check the relative line and curve placement. This helps your eye look past the picture and focus on the work as just a series of lines and curves. Flip it back to continue.

7. Block in the color and shade tones to add depth and realism to the portrait. If you're having trouble with the gradations, trace the individual gradients on a copy of the photo. Break the gradients down into defined shapes, transfer those shapes to the portrait in the form of shade color blocks and then blur the transitions between the blocks.

8. Flip the reference photo and grid again to refine the portrait even more. Flip it back when you are satisfied with your changes.

9. Darken the darkest darks and purify the highlights (lightest lights) to create the greatest depth in the digital portrait.

Make A Candle With Kids Using Crayons

Turn old unwanted crayons into new candles.

Children will often discard the nubby bits of crayons for newer, sharper crayons, leaving their parents with a plentiful bounty of wax scraps. While these could easily be thrown away without hesitation, there is another solution -- turn them into something else. Crayons are made from wax, which makes them ideal for recycling into candles. Kids can also get involved in certain aspects of the activity, allowing them to bond with their parents, as well as become introduced to the concept of recycling firsthand.

Instructions

1. Have your kids gather up their old unwanted crayons and put them together in a pile.

2. Cut your wax carton so that it stands only six inches high.

3. Cut your string so that it is 8 inches long.

4. Put your paraffin wax into a coffee can, and then put the coffee can into a pan filled with water. Boil the water, which will indirectly melt the paraffin wax. This is much safer than heating the paraffin wax directly over the stove's heat, as paraffin wax is extremely combustible. The barrier between the wax and pan is a safety precaution.

5. Have the kids tear off all traces of paper from the crayon stubs while the paraffin wax melts. Have the kids break the crayons down into smaller chunks during this time to help the crayons melt more quickly.

6. Add the crayons to the coffee can, once the paraffin wax has been completely melted. Heat the mixture until the crayon chunks have been completely melted.

7. Wrap your string around the end of your scissors and then dip it in the melted wax to coat it. Meanwhile, have your kids fill the carton with ice cubes.

8. Tell the kids to step back while you add the melted wax to the carton. Before you pour the wax, hold the string down the center of the carton, dangling it from the pair of scissors. Pour the hot wax over the ice cubes, filling the carton. Let it sit for a few hours, notifying the children that it's unsafe to touch, and that it must cool.

9. Pour any melted water (from the ice cubes) out of the carton, and then tear the carton apart. Your old crayons should now be in the form of a new candle.

Make A Diagram

Diagrams can be made on the computer or by hand.

A diagram is a chart that simplifies information and displays a relationship. Diagrams are often created in order to help students learn information. Students also create diagrams in order to demonstrate their understanding of the subject material and to study. When creating a diagram, you should have a given topic that you desire to analyze. You can either make the diagram on the computer or by hand. In order to make a diagram, choose the subject, outline the information you want to portray, sketch the diagram, and then write in the information.

Instructions

1. Choose the subject that you desire to create a diagram for. In order to make a diagram, you have to select a general idea of what you desire to analyze. For example, you may decide that you want to diagram the parts of the atom.

2. Outline the information that you want to portray. For example, you can write on a separate piece of paper that you want to display the nucleus, the protons, neutrons and the electron cloud, the region where the electrons are most likely to be found.

3. Sketch the diagram. In order to make a diagram, you have to sketch it before writing in the information. Most diagrams have a picture. For example, when creating a diagram of the atom, you may draw a small circle, which represents the nucleus. You will then draw smaller circles inside this circle, which will represent the protons and neutrons. Then you will draw a large circle around this structure. This will represent the electron cloud.

4. Label the information in the diagram. When making a diagram, you have to clearly label the structures that you have drawn. For example, you can write "Atom" at the top of the paper to indicate that the diagram is of the atom. Then you can label the small circle as the "Nucleus." Label one of the smaller circles "Proton" and another smaller circle as "Neutron." Label the large circle as "Electron Cloud."

5. Color the diagram. You can color the diagram for clarification. For example, since the protons and the neutrons are practically the same size, located in the nucleus, and illustrated the same way, then you should color them differently. You can color the protons blue and the neutrons green.

Make A Detailed Origami Bird

The origami bird with movable wings can be created in a variety of colors.

Origami is a paper art that was introduced to the world by the Japanese. The name origami originates from the Japanese words "oro," meaning, "to fold," and "kami," which translates to "paper." Since its introduction, the art of origami has become popular because it requires only a single sheet of paper to create designs that range from the simple to elaborate. One of the most basic origami designs is the bird, however a few steps beyond the basic pattern will yield a more detailed animal. The following design describes construct a bird so elaborate that the wings will move up and down.

Instructions

Fold Detailed Bird Base

1. Fold the origami paper in half to crease and unfold. Rotate and fold in half to form crease and unfold. Turn the paper over. Make a diagonal fold and unfold, leaving a crease.

2. Make a diagonal fold, bringing the top right corner to the bottom left corner and press to crease. Unfold and repeat with the top left corner.

3. Rotate the paper so that the square resembles an equilateral diamond and fold in half. Use the pre-formed creases as a guide and invert the right side tip into the folded paper to create a flap. Repeat on the left side. The paper should now resemble a smaller equilateral diamond.

4. Fold the top flap on the right side toward the center. Repeat with the left side top flap. Turn the paper over and fold the both flaps toward the center in the same manner. Unfold all four flaps.

5. Use the creases created by the previous folds to invert the right side flap into the body. Invert the left-side flap into the body. Turn the paper over and repeat on the other side. The paper should again form a pointed diamond.

Construct Flapping Bird

6. Fold the top flat upward from the bottom to create one wing. Turn the model over and repeat to form the second wing.

7. Grip the bottom right flap and fold it up and on a diagonal. Repeat with the left flap. The preceding folds should make the origami resemble a sombrero. Press to crease and unfold.

8. Open the right side of the model. Push the right flap inside the space created and press down to secure. Repeat on the left side. The origami should once again resemble a sombrero.

9. Open the right side flap on the newly created fold and push the tip into the flap to create the bird head.

10. Fold the upper right flap down to crease and repeat on the left side. These folds form the wings. Gently grip the neck and tail of the bird. Pull in opposite directions to flap the wings.

Make A Desk With Comic Book Covers

Make a Desk with Comic Book Covers

Like many things, comic books can invade your life. And why not? The colorful graphic covers were designed to be eye catching. For many, they don't just represent what's in the book but are works of art.

But let's face it. Not all comic books are collector's items. If the pages are falling out, the cover is ripped or scuffed, or if you find a few dozen at a local thrift shop, these are not going to make you a millionaire down at the local comic shop. In that case, why not reinvigorate them and give them new life as a cover for an old desk.

Instructions

1. Obtain a desk. Use one you own or go to a thrift shop. Old metal desks work the best, but wooden desks can also be used. Avoid laminates if possible as all your hard work might peel away. Place the desk on a drop cloth inside a well-ventilated area.

2. Remove the comic book covers from the books. Discard the books or give them to an organization for kids. Map out how you want the covers to be arranged or stack them in order of precedence.

3. Apply paste to the backs of the covers using the 4-inch brush and attach them to the desk. Don't worry about drawer seams. Paste right over these. Ensure you do all four sides and the top of the desk. Allow to dry. Ensure that there are no raised edges and apply paste over the surface of the edges until transparent. Allow to dry once more.

4. Apply polyurethane following directions on the can, completely covering all covers. This will serve to protect the comic book covers and to reduce the chance of an edge coming loose. Use the entire can.

5. Cut the seams for the drawers with a putty knife and open them. If there are some raised edges, use paste and spray as triage.

Keep A Notebook Journal

Be as fancy or frugal as you please when choosing a notebook for your journal.

One of the best ways to understand who you are and to watch your personal growth over time is to keep a journal. Keeping a journal is not a precise science. Its power is in its flexibility. It can be as simple as a spiral notebook where you jot down your daily thoughts and experiences, or it can be as extravagant as a folio-sized hardbound tome. You decide because it is all about who you are.

Instructions

1. Look at other people's journals for ideas: People get excited about their journals, and some will even share them with you. Look for journal examples on the Internet. You can see many styles of personal journals such as visual journals, daily diaries and artist journals. After looking at some of these, you will start to form ideas about what you want to do with your journal.

2. Choose the right book: It is important to feel comfortable writing in your journal. If you are used to writing on lined paper, buy a cheap spiral notebook or a three-ringed loose leaf notebook. These are the easiest to write in because they open up easily and lay flat. As you progress you may want to try unlined paper in a hardbound journal. The key is to use a book that makes it easy for you to get your thoughts down. If your journal is cumbersome, switch to some other type of notebook. Experiment until you find what works for you.

3. Develop a system for entries: You should read your old journals as if they are your favorite books. After a while you will find that you have enough of them to fill a shelf. It is important to have a system for placing your entries in time. The simplest way is to put the date for each day you make an entry. If you want to get more involved you can add the time and even cross-reference different entries. Just don't get so complex that you lose the freedom of the pure writing experience.

4. Feel free to write whatever you want: In order to get the most out of your journal you should be comfortable writing anything on its pages. You are only writing for yourself. No one else has to see it. If you feel like drawing a picture or a doodle or taping a photograph onto a page, do it. Let your mind roam freely when you interact with your journal.

5. Challenge yourself to improve: One of the reasons for keeping a journal is to improve yourself. This ethic should carry over into the journal. Be aware of grammar and penmanship. Work on developing your ability to use words. A dictionary and thesaurus are good tools to have to help you write effectively. However, don't let the systems of language interfere with getting your your thoughts and ideas down on paper. Don't rewrite. If you see areas where you can improve, incorporate those improvements into future journal entries.

Make A "Death Note" Cosplay

The main character in Death Note writes the names of people he wants dead in a cursed notebook.

Cosplay is a term that combines the word costume with the word play; cosplay means to dress up in a costume as a character, and act like it. Fans often dress as their favorite characters at conventions. Death Note is a comic and animation series with gothic overtones and relatively simple character designs. Light, L, and Misa are the three main characters from Death Note.

Instructions

1. Buy a top that matches Light, L, or Misa's clothing. Light wears a white button-up shirt and tan suit jacket. L wears a long-sleeved white T-shirt. Misa wears various outfits, but they all involve a black, lacy top with spaghetti strap sleeves.

2. Purchase bottoms that match the character's clothing that you are cosplaying. Light wears tan suit pants that match his jacket. L wears dark, baggy jeans that are too long for him. Misa wears different skirts, but they are all black and lacy, some have a tutu shape. Misa also wears fishnet tights.

3. Wear shoes that match your character's. Light wears basic brown mens' dress shoes, Misa wears large, black, goth boots. L does not wear shoes. If you cannot go barefoot, sandals are a good compromise for L cosplayers.

4. Wear a wig that matches your character's hair. Light's hair is a short, light-brown men's haircut. Light has big, black hair that sticks up at every angle. Misa has blond hair with bangs, and she usually wears it with a black bow or a headband.

5. Style your wig like the character's haircut. Light's wig needs little styling, his hair is a simple mens' haircut. Misa's hair can be combed, curled at the ends, and pulled back into a large bow or left down with a headband. L's hair is large and poofy; hold it upside down and spray with hairspray to create a gravity-defying look.

6. Wear the appropriate makeup for your character when you cosplay. Light is a normal looking boy, and does not wear makeup. Misa is a pop star and wears makeup with pink or brightly colored lips, blush, eyeshadow, and long, black eyelashes.

Make A Death Note Book

"

Death Note," a popular Japanese series of manga, anime and live action films, is also the series primary plot device--the "Death Note" (name given to notebooks owned by Shinigami "Death Gods" that can be used to take the lives of mortals simply by writing down their names upon the notebook pages). Although these supernatural notebooks don't exist, here is a way to make your notebook or journal look like one.

Instructions

1. Buy a non-ring style, generic 8 1/2 by 11 inch notebook containing at least 80 pages of lined paper and a large outside cover.

2. Visit the Death Note website to see the Death Note font often associated with the characters Light Yagami (Kira) and the Shinigami Ryuk. Keep in mind that although many fans associate the look of a Death Note with this type of font. Other font styles exist and can be used (for example, Misa Amane's Death Note had a different font and title, but in the same silver on black).

3. Measure your notebook's outside cover and order two sheets of black printed semi-heavy paper to those dimensions from a print center, but 1/4-inch larger at either end. You could print at home, but given the high cost of printer ink following this step is quicker and more cost effective. While there, also buy a packet of black printer paper.

4. Affix tape along the edges of one sheet of paper and then wrap the paper lengthwise around your notebook. You have completed this step correctly if the paper sticks to the outside of the original cover and to the inside of the cover at either end and the tape can not be seen through the paper. If you make a mistake, pull off the paper and use the second sheet.

5. Create a font stencil by drawing or printing out the words Death Note in the font style of your choice and then cutting out the negative spaces from the paper--the inside part of each letter leaving only the outline).

6. Place your stencil flat on the outside front cover of your Death Note and apply your paint with light even strokes. Allow the paint to dry at least 24 hours before removing the stencil.

7. Follow the Death Note Rules link to review the rules as compiled from manga, anime and films by Death Note fans. These rules (both real and false) appear as white font on black pages inside of each Death Note. Write or print these rules on your black pages and tape them to the inside of the notebook to complete your Death Note.

Make A Cool Animated Twitter Avatar

make a cool animated Twitter avatar

While officially Twitter has stated that they did not support animated .gif images for avatars in user's profile, there is a way to take in Twitter and put an animation as your profile picture. Read this short article and attract new followers to your Twitter by beautiful moving avatar.

Instructions

1. Searching animated .gif file in Google.

There are plenty of places where you can download creative animated pictures, the most obvious solution is to find them in Google. Go to the advanced image search and chose "GIF files" option in Filetypes section. You may refine your request with "animated" or "animation" words to get better results. Notice! You need to chose and download rather small image - up to 700 Kb.

2. Making .gif avatar yourself online

The other way to obtain cool animated avatar is to create it yourself. There are lots of easy-to-use online services, I'm using online avatar creator from Pho.to (http://avatar.pho.to). Here you can chose among more than 60 templates and all avatars will be made from your own photos. There are several types of avatar templates: at some of them you will wink, at some your eyes will swing from left side to right side, at some it will be an endless flight through your own eye. Service also has simple frames like animated flowers, hearts and other stuff and ability to create slideshows. And a set of special effects: your photo will fall to pieces or turn into puzzle or pencil drawing. You'll never get bored at this service where everything is free.

Don't forget to save your resulting animated image at your PC. Check the image size: it must be less than 700 Kb. On a page with result at Avatar Photo! service you can adjust avatar's size and add your text. I strongly advice you to make the picture smaller than 100 pix for largest side.

3. Renaming .gif file into .png

Now you have animated picture less than 700 Kb in size. Now make a right-click and chose "Rename" option. Now just change the extension from .GIF to .PNG. Make it in Windows, not in some photo editor!

4. Getting over the problems while renaming the file.

Some people can face the problem, that image file still have .GIF extension in spite of renaming. Most likely their file has the name "image.png.gif". This is because your access rights settings in Windows, but you can change them. Open any folder and in go to "Tools" -> "Folder options" -> "View" and uncheck the option "Hide extensions for known file types". Now you are able to rename your image correctly.

5. Uploading image to Twitter.

Do you already have Twitter? Of course, that's why you are reading this article. But if you don't, then spend 2 minutes for this simple procedure.

So, login to your profile at Twitter and go to "Settings" -> "Picture" section. Now upload your specially prepared image file and enjoy your animated avatar! Congratulations!

Make A Homemade Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscopes create bright colorful images.

A kaleidoscope is a simple classic toy children can look into and turn to see a variety of brilliant changing colors and patterns. Kaleidoscope crafts are an entertaining way to pass an afternoon. The resulting toy can provide endless discoveries and new ways to see the world. This homemade kaleidoscope is constructed from basic household supplies. The object chamber at the far end of the piece is changeable, allowing the user to try out new objects without building an entirely new kaleidoscope.

Instructions

1. Trace the end of a paper towel tube onto a piece of black construction paper. Cut out the circular shape. Punch a hole in the center with a hole punch.

2. Tape the construction paper circle over one end of the paper towel tube with tape.

3. Cut a plastic report cover down to a rectangle eight inches long and four inches wide.

4. Fold the piece of plastic at intervals of one and one-quarter of an inch to make a triangular tube. Wrap the last quarter of an inch around the top edge and secure with tape along the length of the shape.

5. Slip the plastic triangular tube into the paper towel tube.

6. Place an assortment of multicolored beads in a plastic zip top bag. Do not fill the entire bag. Use only as many beads as can fit over the portion of the bag which will fit over the end of the paper towel tube.

7. Place the plastic bag over the open end of the paper towel tube. Arrange it so that all the beads fall into the space inside the end of the tube.

8. Secure the plastic bag around the paper towel tube with a rubber band. Keep the rubber band near the end of the tube so that the beads stay in place. Wrap a second rubber band around the tube farther down to keep the remainder of the bag in place.

9. View the finished kaleidoscope through the hole in the black construction paper cover. Turn the tube to make the images change. When you want to change the colors and patterns inside the tube, remove the plastic zip top bag, change the beads and replace.

Make A Construction Paper Basket

There are many fun uses for a construction paper basket. Children will delight not only in making a paper basket, but in using it to carry and keep their precious belongings.

Whether an Easter basket or a May Day basket, making your own basket out of construction paper is an easy and enjoyable project. Learn make a colorful construction paper basket and then organize a fun crafting afternoon and help your children make their own paper baskets.

Instructions

1. Cut 27 3/4-inch wide strips from the long side of the construction paper. The strips must be cut straight, so it is best that this step be completed by an adult.

2. Cut 10 paper strips in half width-wise.

3. Arrange seven long strips side edge to side edge on a flat work surface.

4. Weave another long strip under and over the foundational seven strips. Arrange the woven strip so that there is an equal amount of strip on both sides of the weaving.

5. Weave six other long strips in the same fashion. When you are finished with this step, you should have a plus-shaped paper weaving.

6. Add four short strips on one side of the woven shape. To secure this weaving, place glue on both short ends of these strips after you have woven them. Allow the glue to dry completely.

7. Continue weaving the other short strips on the other three sides of the plus-shaped paper weaving.

8. Fold the remaining four short strips in half length-wise. Unfold each strip and dab glue on the inside of these strips. Fold the strips over each of the four long strip edges to finish these edges. Allow the glue to dry completely.

9. Fold up each of the four edges that you finished in Step 8 to create the sides of the basket. Crease these folds.

10. Glue the loose edges at the newly formed corners to secure the corners to create the basket. Allow the glue to dry completely.

11. Match up the long strips that are left by placing them on top of each other. Glue these strips together and allow the glue to dry completely.

12. Glue the strip made in Step 11 to two opposite inner sides of the basket as a handle.

Make A Comic Book Online

Personalize an Archie's Comic Cover

Comic books or “graphic novels” are more than just a simple line drawing and dialogue balloons. This traditional form of entertainment has reached new heights with more dramatic artwork and story lines. Whether you are a pre-teen in love with the Archie’s gang, or an adult addicted to horror comics, nearly everyone can appreciate the skill and talent involved in this type of publication. Want to try your hand at making your own comic book? The Internet offers plenty of ways kids of all ages can get involved!

Instructions

1. Let your kids do the work. Scholastic Canada offers the chance to personalize a free Captain Underpants comic that young computer users can do with your permission. Simply insert some personal information and your computer will do the rest! Fun and free for kids to do quickly and share with friends. Fun! See link below.

2. Personalize a comic with the Archie’s gang! Nothing is more wholesome than the antics of Archie, Veronica and Betty. Go to the Archie’s link below and you can personalize an Archie’s comic, or comic book cover! Free and easy.

3. Go to Marvelkids.com to create your own superhero! Sure, it’s not a full-fledged comic book, but what could be more fun than to create your very own graphic novel hero? You can easily piece together your hero with multiple selection options and even email him or her to friends! A great activity for summer or rainy days. See link below.

4. Buy and download the software program Comic Book Creator. This is an award winning product that let’s you create comic book after comic book, personalized for family and friends, or made from your own terrific graphic novel storyline. This is the gift that keeps on giving. Well worth the initial cost.

5. Head to Stripcreator.com to make a comic book three panes at a time. Here you can select characters and backgrounds, type in dialog and save and print your comic. It’s free and simple enough for young ones to try out with Mom or Dad.

Master Creative Writing

Creative writing is a craft that improves with practice.

Creative writing means different things to different people. To some people it means poetry, while to others it means short stories or novels. Mastering creative writing takes study, practice and trust in yourself and your imagination. Creative writing allows you to explore the world as you understand it, solving problems and finding solutions in a make-believe world. Creatively written stories not only entertain readers, they educate them too, allowing readers to experience events and situations outside their own sphere of existence. A writer's unique perspective on the world is what brings a new slant to the oldest of stories and makes creative writing original.

Instructions

1. Write what you enjoy writing. Don't force yourself to write in the latest best-selling genre if it makes you uncomfortable. Forced writing is unconvincing and stilted, and you will likely get discouraged and leave projects unfinished. Use your own voice and style rather than trying to copy what other writers are doing.

2. Discover your writing process. Try planning or not planning, outlining or not, and experiment with editing as you go or waiting until the end of a first draft to edit your work. Different people write in different ways and there is no strictly right or wrong method or process.

3. Join a writer's group and get used to sharing your work and being open to criticism. It helps to get feedback and share your frustrations and successes with others who understand the difficulties.

4. Take a creative writing course and be open to learning new ways of writing and pushing against personal boundaries. A writing course helps a writer to discover strengths and weaknesses, and helps to develop stamina and discipline through regular practice. A good writing course will open up the mysteries of structure stories or essays to get the intended reader response.

5. Send work to publishers. Whether the goal is to get published or not, professional appraisal gives a sense of validation and worthiness to writing efforts. No one likes to work for no purpose, and the reward of having a piece published will encourage more writing.

Make A Comic Book For Kids

Make a Comic Book for Kids

Adults and children alike enjoy reading and collecting comic books or reading comic strips. Comics are a good way to get children to begin their adventures in reading. The combination of graphics and text are ideal for keeping the interest of even young children. Creating a comic book for kids is fun to do and a positive way to reinforce a child's reading and comprehensive skills.

Instructions

1. Start by using Strip Creator to get a feel for creating comics and to help you work on a story for your comic (see Resources). Strip Creator is a free online resource that lets you create comic strip panels with drop-down menus that offer a wide range of backgrounds, characters and comic book effects. Because the comic book you want to create is for kids, keep the story line simple and something kids can understand universally. Create characters that kids can relate to, whether the characters are other children or animals facing the same issue that kids face.

2. Sketch the artwork for your comics in pencil first, then go back and color the illustrations. When you've drawn your illustrations, scan them to your computer and name them for the panel they will appear in.

3. Use Microsoft Word or a desktop publishing program, such as Adobe PageMaker, to pull your comic book together. You can also use Movie Magic Screenwriter, which has a built-in comic book template. Another option is Comic Book Creator, which is software that allows you to compile your text and graphics into a comic book (see Resources). You can use Comic Book Creator online or download a trial version of the software. If you choose to use Microsoft Word, you can download free comic book templates that will make formatting your comic book easy (see Resources).

4. Print your comic book on a good quality color printer using glossy photo paper for best results. Set the two-sided printing option through your printer's control panel. Use glossy cover stock for the cover of your comic and staple along the center of the comic to bind it. Save the comic file as a PDF if you want to take it to a professional printer to print large quantities.

Make A Comic Book Cover Using Photoshop

Create comic book covers in Photoshop.

Comic books are still one of the most popular forms of entertainment, as can be seen in the large number of comic book-based movies that have been released in recent years. Some people with a great deal of artistic ability now create their own comic book covers for their own amusement or to post online for others to see. But these days, you don't have to be a great artist to make a comic book cover. By using a 3-D posing program like Poser, Daz3D or Vue Infinite, you can render images of your characters in action and bring them into Photoshop to assemble your own comic book cover.

Instructions

1. Go to web sites like Daz3D, Renderosity and Animotions to download the figures and props you will need. Install them in the 3-D program you are using.

2. Open your program, and load the figures and props you want to use in the first image of your comic book cover. Pose the figures, and render the image as a JPEG. Repeat this process to produce all of the images for your comic book cover.

3. Open Photoshop. Select "File," and click "New." In the dialog box that pops up, choose whether you want to use "Inches" (best for printing) or "Pixels" (best for the Internet). Then make the width and height what you want for the overall comic book page. If it is going to be printed, set the resolution to 300 pixels; otherwise, leave it at 72. Name the image "yourname," and click "OK."

4. Select the "Paint Bucket" tool from the toolbar, and use it to fill the canvas with the color you want for the borders of your comic book panel.

5. Select "File," and click "Open." In the dialog box that pops up, browse to the first image you want to use, and open it. Right-click on the layer, and choose "Duplicate." In the dialog box, choose the "yourname 1" document as the destination. Select "Edit," then "Transform," and click "Scale." Resize and position the image where you want it on the panel page.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 to place all of the images on your comic book cover. Then select the "Custom Shape" tool. Set it to "Fill" with white, and choose either a speech or thought bubble from the "Presets" at the top. Draw in the bubble you need.

7. Select the "Rectangular" or "Rounded Rectangular" shape tool, and draw in boxes for narrator comments.

8. Select the "Text" tool, and type in the text for the bubbles and the boxes. Save your work.

Get Into Acting

Aspiring actors should take acting classes to hone their craft.

Film and theatre productions are constantly on the lookout to find the next big actor. The field of acting is quite competitive, with thousands hoping to break into the profession. Acting requires a number of skills such as good memory, improvisation and a range of speech patterns. Some roles may require song and dance or musical ability on an instrument. Casting directors have a long list of skills they require of an actor.

Instructions

1. Educate yourself about the fundamentals of acting. Check out books from the library on the theatrical genre that focus on the history and art of acting. Read about your favorite actors and actresses. Read plays and movie scripts to become acquainted with dialogue.

2. Take acting classes. Join an acting school where the lessons are hands-on and you will be given the chance to hone your craft in front of an audience. This helps aspiring actors overcome shyness, develop better articulation, maintain eye contact and overcome other acting challenges in order to stand out.

3. Join a talent agency. Talent agencies have the networks to book auditions for aspiring actors, set them up with acting lessons and act as a professional representative for the actor. Research to find the best talent agency for your style of acting.

Talent agencies are very knowledgeable about the business aspects of acting such as preparing an acting resume, doing headshot photos and audition etiquette. Talent agencies also educate aspiring actors on signing with entertainment unions such as Actors' Equity, which is the labor union that represents American actors.

4. Develop friendships with other actors. Learn about their experiences and gain access to their networks. Spend time reading over lines and getting critiques from your acting friends. Go to plays and movies together to get different perspectives on the craft.

5. Become a movie extra. This is an important step in gaining experience and moving closer to your goal. Aspiring play and movie directors as well as producers also need actors for their short works, and major films need extras on the set.

Check the newspaper, media networking and online sources to find listings for extras needed on projects or call your state film commission.

6. Educate yourself before signing any contracts and determine whether the job is for pay or free. Bring your headshot photo and resume with you to any auditions. This along with your talent improves your chances of getting noticed by film executives.

Make A Color Wheel With Frosting And Cookies

Learning the color wheel is a delicious experience when you experiment with icing and cookies. This hands-on activity lets children mix and match colors while creating a yummy snack. Since the lesson is so memorable, kids usually come away with a solid understanding of the color wheel.

Instructions

1. Give your child a plate with three globs of white vanilla frosting on it. Drip blue food coloring on one glob, red on another and yellow on the third and mix the colors. Don't mix the three colors together. Explain to your child that these are primary colors.

2. Spread red frosting on one vanilla wafer, blue on another and yellow on the third. Remind your child that they will eat the cookies once the color wheel is complete, but not before. Set the cookies aside in a triangular grouping.

3. Introduce secondary colors by mixing two of the primary colors on another part of the plate. When you mix red and blue, frost another cookie and place it between the red cookie and green cookie on your triangle. Do the same with red and yellow and blue and yellow. Spread the cookies into a circle.

4. Fill in the rest of your circle by mixing your secondary colors to make tertiary colors to frost more cookies. Add them to the wheel as you did in Step 3.

5. Take a photo of your color wheel, and then eat the colorful snack.

Make A Color Wheel

Make a Color Wheel

When you are learning to paint, or even if you just need a reminder of how colors relate to one another, creating a color wheel is helpful. You start with the primary colors, and then create the rest of the color wheel by mixing the secondary colors. Color wheels can be created with different mediums, but watercolor paints are probably the easiest to mix and use.

Instructions

1. Draw an equilateral triangle on a piece of paper.

2. Paint a yellow circle at the top point of the triangle, a blue circle at the bottom right point of the triangle and a red circle at the bottom left point of the triangle. Yellow, blue and red are the primary colors and are connected on the color wheel by this triangle.

3. Draw a circle around the triangle, passing through the yellow, blue and red circles.

4. Mix equal amounts of yellow and blue paint to make green, and paint a green circle on the line between the yellow and blue circles.

5. Combine equal amounts of blue and red paint to make purple, and paint a purple circle on the line between the blue and red circles.

6. Take equal amounts of red and yellow paint and mix together to make orange. Paint an orange circle on the line between the red and yellow circles.

7. Connect the secondary colors (green, purple and orange) with a line, creating a second, upside-down equilateral triangle.

Make A Color Photo Look Like A Watercolor Painting

Adobe Photoshop contains many interesting filters you can use to alter your photographs or artwork. One filter allows you to use a photo to simulate a watercolor painting. The process is easy, and you can adjust your settings to achieve the specific look you like.

Instructions Adjustments > Levels from the Photoshop menu. Click "Auto" and "OK" in the dialog box. This feature will correct any lighting or color balance issues.

2. Duplicate your original photo onto a new layer. This step will allow you to keep a copy of your original photo in tact until you are satisfied with your filter settings. Select your entire photo using the rectangular marquee tool. Choose copy from the Edit menu. Create a new layer by selecting Layer > New. Paste your photo into the new layer.

3. Add a Watercolor filter to your photograph. With the photo copy layer selected, choose Filter > Artistic > Watercolor from the Photoshop menu. You will see a preview of your filtered photograph in the dialog box. You may change the scale of the preview by clicking the "+" or "-" boxes in the lower left corner of the preview box. Experiment with your preferred settings for Brush Detail, Shadow Intensity and Texture using the sliding scales in the right of the dialog box. Click "OK" when you are satisfied with the look of your "watercolor."

4. Flatten and save your filtered photo. Now you are ready to use your digital image or print it.