Make A Manga Storyboard

Emphasize action and movement in your storyboard to engage readers.

Manga is the word for comics or printed stories in Japanese. Unlike Western comics, manga comics rely heavily on motion effects for storytelling. Reading a manga feels almost like watching a movie. Storyboarding is a process that can help you express your manga story fluidly and with movement. Good storyboards, which lead the eyes from scene to scene, should allow the reader to become completely engrossed in the story without being distracted too much by the unique format.

Instructions

1. Create your story. A script form will be great but an outline will suffice. The action and dialogue that will appear on each page should be written down in words. This is a crucial step. You will need to have at least some idea of what our storyboard will look like, since its format will depend on the content.

Having character pages drawn out will help immensely. These are sheets with characters drawn from many different perspectives and with different facial expressions. Knowing how your characters look and convey their expressions, will make the process of storyboarding easier.

2. Download a storyboard sheet from the Internet, or make your own with a ruler or straight-edge. Keep in mind that manga storyboards are not as fixed as storyboards for Western-style comics. For example, box sizes vary and some frames will not have borders. Because of this, you should only design one page at a time.

3. Write the general plan for what is to be expressed at the top of the storyboard. After that, write what should happen in each frame. Indicate with light arrows what frames should flow fluidly into the next. Storyboards usually have a lot of writing and markings, but don't worry about this, because a storyboard is only a draft of the final product.

4. Sketch your storyboard with a hard lead -- higher number -- pencil in the HB range. Higher numbers will make lighter lines. Do one frame or unbounded area of the paper at a time. Keep it very simple for now. Use basic shapes for objects and people, and broad, flowing strokes to show movement between frames. Draw very lightly with the pencil. Whatever you draw should be easily erasable. Revise as needed.

5. Go over your pencil work with a harder, darker lead. Use a softer lead like 2B, 4B or 6B. Soft leads create more expressive lines than harder leads. They are also easier to smear: use this feature to your advantage for shading. Do not be afraid to go outside of the boxes, as the entire storyboard is still a draft. You can always clean up the lines after you scan your work.

6. Scan or digitize your work in grayscale at 300 dots per inch and save it as a JPEG. Open up your file in Photoshop. Increase the exposure/contrast to white out any light pencil marks. Only dark pencil strokes should remain. Use the eraser tool to clean up any unwanted lines.

Make A Logo A Vector File

Vector graphics reduce image file size.

Many businesses and organizations have a logo that represents them in ads, stationary and on their website banner. Unfortunately, this logo is often in a raster format. Raster formats (produced by programs such Photoshop or Painter) are good for detailed images like photographs, but when expanded they lose their sharpness and resolution. If you need to expand your logo, such as for a large sign, you will need to convert it to a vector file.

Instructions

OpenOffice Draw

1. Load the logo image onto your computer by copying it from a digital camera or SD card. You can also scan it in if you only have a printed version.

2. Open Draw. Select "Insert" from the menu and choose "Picture." From the options, choose "From File." The image will appear on the canvas. Lock the layer and choose the layer above it.

3. Select the "Polygonal" drawing tool and use it to trace the outline of the logo. Hit "ALT" to close a line. Repeat this to draw all the lines in the logo

4. Use the "Paint Bucket" tool to fill each section with the appropriate color. Save your work.

Illustrator

5. Load the logo image onto your computer by copying it from a digital camera or SD card. You can also scan it in if you only have a printed version.

6. Open Illustrator. Select "Insert" from the menu and choose "Picture." From the options, choose "From File." The image will appear on the canvas. Go to the "Layers" palette and lock the layer. Click on the "New Layer" button.

7. Select the "Pen" tool. Use it to trace the outline of the logo. Click the first point you create to close a line, or hit enter.

8. Select the "Paint Bucket" tool. Use it to fill each section with the appropriate color. Save your work.

CorelDraw

9. Load the logo image onto your computer by copying it from a digital camera or SD card. You can also scan it in if you only have a printed version.

10. Open CorelDraw. Select "Insert" from the menu and choose "Picture." From the options, choose "From File." The image will appear on the canvas. Go to the "Layers" palette and lock the layer. Click on the "New Layer" button.

11. Select the "Pen" tool. Use it to trace the outline of the logo. Click the first point you create to close a line, or hit enter.

12. Select the "Paint Bucket" tool. Use it to fill each section with the appropriate color. Save your work.

Make A Living From Winning Sweepstakes

Make a Living from Winning Sweepstakes

Believe it or not, there are many people who make decent side money from winning sweepstakes and contests. Some people who devote enough time entering contests can actually make this their primary source of income! Whether the prizes are cash or products, your winnings can help you pay off bills or build up savings. Here's get started.

Instructions

1. Set up a free email account to keep your sweepstakes correspondence separate from your other business and personal accounts. Receiving more spam is a side effect of entering contests. You may also want to consider renting a separate PO box to contain all the junk mail you're about to get!

2. Use internet search engines to find contests online. Google key words and phrases such as "sweepstakes," "enter to win," "no purchase necessary," "promotional giveaway," and "contest" to find sources of prizes. The more you enter, the higher your chances of winning, so make sure to enter many many contests!

3. Don't forget to enter contests whose prizes are not cash. If you win a product, you can sell it on ebay or amazon for good money, especially if it is a new item.

4. You have a better chance of winning a more obscure contest than a well known one, say Publisher's Clearing House for example. Also read the fine print to make sure no purchase or other obligation is required. You want to make money, not spend it.

5. Look for promotional giveaways that offer products or free samples without a contest. If you collect 10-15 free samples of a similar product, cosmetics for example, you can sell the bundle of samples on ebay for $$.

6. Besides finding sweepstakes and contests online, you can often find offers and prize drawings in grocery stores, malls, and fairs. Fill out all the cards you see, especially the ones for big ticket items. Think of what you could do if you won a new car or dream vacation. Remember, if you don't have a use for the items you win, you can sell them.

7. Another source of prizes is radio contests. If you have a radio station in your area that does a lot of drawings, give them a call between filling out forms.

8. Remember that many contests are just an attempt to collect names and addresses, that's why it's important to have a separate email and PO box. Don't give out any personal info besides your first and last name, email, and PO box address. Avoid giving your phone number if you can, or use your work phone. When you win, you will most likely be contacted by email or mail.

Make A Light & Sound Show

A light and sound show can be a fun and interactive way for you to make a presentation or simply entertain some friends. Touching many of the human senses, a sound and light show can be much more impressionable than a traditional presentation. It can also add some flair to a musical act or a play. Creating a sound and light show can be done using many materials, but often contains a few core, fundamental elements.

Instructions

1. Consider the atmosphere that you want to set with your sound and light show. If you want something dark and mysterious, choose darker colors with low hues such as black, purple, dark, red, and blew.

2. Consider what sorts of sounds you want to accompany the show. The auditory experience you want to create should be congruent with the ambiance that created by the lights. If the lighting and audio clash, the show could be hard to understand and may give off conflicting messages.

3. Set up the lights in the locations where you feel they would be most effective. Be sure to consider factors such as the audience's view, as you do want want the lights to obstruct their vision.

4. Set up the speakers for your sound and light show. Consider the location of the audience when you place the speakers. Direct the sound towards them, but not so close that it will interrupt their hearing and detract from the show's experience.

Find Cd Sales For An Artist

Use four approaches to find CD sales reports.

Finding CD sales for an individual performance artist or band can be a bit tricky. At best, reported numbers are estimates based on physical store sales, online CD purchases and music downloads. When searching for sales for a band or individual, a few avenues are available. Use each source combined to gather the best information possible. Also consider individual song sales along with full CD sales, as song downloads are a fast-growing facet of the music industry.

Instructions

1. Visit the artist's official website to find reports on CD sales. Read any additional articles available to find sales statistics.

2. Contact the artist directly or their management group to inquire about CD sales reports. Locate the phone number, email address and other contact information on the artist's website. Explain why you are interested in finding out the number of CD sales.

3. Read any "Billboard" publications or search Billboard.com for weekly CD sales reports and other information on current artists and performers.

4. Contact your local radio station or a local agent to see if they have access to Neilsen SoundScan information. The Neilsen website is accessible only by corporate account holders. Explain why you are seeking the CD sales report for the artist to create dialogue and ask politely for the statistics.

Make A Large Screen For Silk Screening

The tradition of silk screening is usually attributed to the ancient Chinese and Egyptians, who used stencils for printing on fabrics and walls. Today, the process is somewhat changed, although the basic concept remains the same. Modern silk screening requires the use of a framed mesh screen, on which a chemical stencil is created. Most art stores carry basic supplies for silk screening, including small frames suitable for printing on clothing. Larger frames, often used for printing on walls and full fabric sheets, however, must be made by hand. To make your own large screen for silk screening, complete the following instructions.

Instructions

1. Determine the size of the screen that you will need for your silk screening project by length and width. Add 2 inches to each measurement to account for the width of the wood, then determine the wood thickness that you will need. The larger the screen, the thicker your wood pieces must be in order to hold the frame's shape. For example, a small, photocopy paper-size screen needs wood only 1 inch in thickness, but a large 6-foot by 6-foot screen will require wood that is at least 4 inches thick.

2. Cut 4 lengths of 2-inch-wide wood pieces in the dimensions you need for each side of your silk screening frame. Mark the center width of each piece and create a straight 1/8-inch by 1/4-inch groove there, along the length, using the router.

3. Cut each corner of the wood pieces into a diagonal edge, so that the pieces fit easily together. Glue the corners together, making sure that the grooves match perfectly and that you do not get glue into the grooves. Let the glue dry, then staple the corners on each side of the groove, on both sides of the frame, with the staple gun.

4. Sand any rough edges of the frame, then coat the frame with polyurethane and let it dry completely.

5. Stretch your screen tightly over the groove side of the frame, and tack it in place with thumbtacks on the far side of the groove. Cut away some of the excess screen material, leaving a little on the edges. Take a stretch cord for your screen in the dimensions of your groove, then work the cord into the groove with the cord setter. Pull the thumbtacks out of the wood, and trim away the rest of the excess material from the edges.

Make A Kinetic Sculpture

Make a Kinetic Sculpture

Kinetic sculpture was made famous by artist Alexander Calder. Creating kinetic sculpture does not require that you be a renowned artist. Kinetic means movement so sculptures that move are kinetic sculptures. Building a kinetic sculpture or mobile is fun and easy for adults and children. With simple materials like paper, glue and wire you can make a kinetic sculpture that is simple and beautiful.

Instructions

1. Gather the materials so making the sculpture will be easy and simple.

2. Create the shapes you wish from the paper and decorate them using glitter and gemstones. You can draw freehand shapes, use stencils or trace geometric or whimsical shapes. Animals are fun too. Butterflies, insects and birds can hang from a mobile and seem to fly.

3. Begin wiring or stringing the shapes together by punching a small hole and using the thin wire to attach them to each other. You can construct a simple mobile by hanging a single paper shape on a wire or you can design an elaborate mobile by connecting small shapes together with thin wire, then connecting them to the middle size shapes to form a system of hanging units.

4. Connect the middle units with their attached small pieces to the wire hanger using the thin wire.

5. Hold the sculpture up or hang it at eye level so you can see if the pieces hang together and balance. You can experiment by moving units closer together or farther apart to create an asymmetrical shape that still balances.

6. Hang the sculpture indoors or outdoors in a gentle breeze and watch its gentle movements.

Identify A Signed Andrew Wyeth Print

Authentic prints are usually hand-signed by the artist.

Best known for his realist style, Andrew Wyeth was one of the most well-known American painters of the last century. If you come across a Wyeth print at a gallery sale, you will want to authenticate it first so you're not taking home a forgery. Moreover, insurance companies will not cover your print unless you can verify its authenticity. There are a number of examples of his works, as well as his signature, which are available online.

Instructions

1. Contact the dealer from the gallery that is selling the print, and ask to see the print's certificate of authenticity. The dealer should also be able to answer any other questions about the print's authenticity and where it came from.

2. Examine the print itself and look for the number designating where the piece stands in the series of prints Wyeth released. This is an especially important step in identifying a print that is not being sold at a gallery.

3. Compare the signature from the print to Wyeth's signature from one of his authentic prints, which you can likely find on his website or in various online art databases. You also can try to go back and compare this print to some of his earlier works to see if you can draw any parallels. You might also want to have an art appraiser examine the print and authenticate it.

Make A Kaleidoscope Out Of A Pringles Can

A kaleidoscope is a children's toy that is shaped like a cylinder. You look into the viewing side and rotate the end piece to see changing shapes and colors. A kaleidoscope is basically a tube containing two or more mirrors that reflect images of colored beads that are also in the tube. Making your own kaleidoscope out of a Pringles can is a simple crafts project, and once complete you'll be seeing your own shifting symmetrical patterns.

Instructions

1. Cut off the bottom and top of the Pringles can carefully. If doing this with a younger child this step should be supervised.

2. Cut an acrylic mirror into three equal-size strips that are about as tall as the can. Use an acrylic mirror that is 6" x 9", which is flexible and safe to cut (See Resources).

3. Arrange the mirror strips to form a triangle, with the mirrored side facing inwards (See Resources). Wrap duct tape around the outside of the strips--one strip on each end and one in the middle--so the triangle will keep its shape.

4. Insert the triangle securely into the Pringles can. Fill the gaps between the outside of the triangle and the inside of the can with wadded up pieces of scratch paper in order to secure the mirror.

5. Cut a circle out of cardboard to place over one end of the can, and cut a small hole into the circle for the viewing point (See Resources). Glue the cardboard to an end of the can.

6. Cut open the 2-liter bottle and the cut two circles that are the same circumference as the Pringles can. Cut a one-inch strip of cardboard and then wrap the strip into a circle. Glue one plastic circle to an end of the cardboard.

7. Fill in the cardboard and plastic circle with small colorful beads, marbles, glitter and any other materials that are colorful and slightly transparent. Glue the other circle to the other side of the cardboard. Glue this piece to the Pringles can and your kaleidoscope will be complete.

Make A Kaleidoscope Light

You can turn some common items into a kaleidoscope light.

A kaleidoscope is typically a toy for a child. When you hold the kaleidoscope up to the light and turn it while holding it up to your eye, the kaleidoscope creates different color and mosaic designs. You can buy a kaleidoscope at most major toy stores or science stores, but you can also use some common household items to create your own kaleidoscope. The project is relatively simple, so you can even work on this craft project with your child.

Instructions

1. Cut the paper towel holder so that it is eight inches long.

2. Cut a piece of black construction paper into a four-inch square.

3. Cut a piece of wax paper into a four-inch square.

4. Cut the plastic report cover into a rectangle that measures eight inches wide by four inches tall.

5. Place the rectangle on a flat surface and draw a horizontal line a quarter of an inch up from the bottom.

6. Draw two more horizontal lines on the plastic cover rectangle one and a quarter inch apart from each other so that the rectangle is divided into three parts.

7. Fold the plastic cover along the lines you drew so that it forms a triangle. The quarter inch side of the cover should fold over the outside of the triangle and tape it.

8. Push the plastic triangle into the paper towel tube.

9. Place the tube so it stands on one end on the black construction paper. Trace a circle on to the black construction paper.

10. Cut out the circle from the construction paper and use the point of your scissors or the pencil to poke a hole in the center of the circle.

11. Tape the circle to one end of the paper towel tube.

12. Repeat Steps 9 and 10 for the other side of the paper towel tube, but substitute the black construction paper with the plastic wrap.

13. Push the plastic wrap inside the end of the tube and the plastic triangle so that it forms a pouch. Pour the beads, confetti and sequins into the pouch.

14. Cover the end of the tube and the pouch with the square of wax paper. Fasten the wax paper to the tube tightly with the rubber band.

15. Wrap the exterior of the tube with wrapping paper and add stickers or other embellishments to decorate it.

16. Hold the tube up so that the pouch side is to the light and rotate the tube to create the light show.

Make A Kaleidoscope Lens

Making a kaleidoscope can challenge your creativity. When creating a kaleidoscope, you have to make each individual piece. The following will show you make the lens for a kaleidoscope out of transparency sheets.

Instructions

Making the Pieces

1. Cut a mailing tube with a small sharp knife until it is 2 inches longer than the glass you will be using inside the kaleidoscope. Cut 1 inch off the tube to make the lens.

2. Place that 1-inch mailing tube ring onto a transparency sheet.

3. Trace around the ring with a magic marker. Repeat this process twice so that you have 2 circles on the transparency sheet.

4. Cut out the 2 circles with a pair of scissors. The circles may not be exactly perfect, but it's all right if they are larger than the tracing since you can trim the transparency after you have installed it onto the lens.

5. Cut a piece of cardboard 1-inch wide and long enough so that when it is bent in the middle, it lays perfectly within the middle of the circle in a "V" shape. All 3 sides of the "V" should touch the circle.

Assembling the Pieces

6. Apply a thin line of glue around one side of the ring you have cut for your lens with a glue gun.

7. Place the transparency ring onto the glue. Clean off any extra glue and trim off any extra transparency that overhangs the ring once the glue has cooled and dried.

8. Lay the V-shaped cardboard piece you made into the center of the circle, laying on the transparency.

9. Put some colorful beads into the circle, making sure you have some in each area of the V.

10. Seal the beads into the lens by gluing on the second side of the transparency with your glue gun.

11. Attach the lens onto the tube by laying it flush on one end and taping it with packaging tape or strong transparent tape.

Find Out How Much Your Old Books Are Worth

Find Out How Much Your Old Books Are Worth

If you happen to have a few well-maintained, old books lying around, chances are you've considered selling them to make some extra money. Perhaps the most difficult part of the antique bookselling process is determining the current market value for these aging tomes. While figuring out just how much your old books are worth isn't always easy to verify, there are a number of ways to get a reliable ballpark figure.

Instructions

1. Start by figuring out the print edition and print year of each book; keeping an eye out for valuable first editions. This information can sometimes be found on the title page, copyright page or following pages. Also check to see whether the book is labeled either on the front or back cover as a "special edition" or a "book club edition." The older the book is, and the more unique it is, the more money it should be worth.

2. Head to the library and check out some book value guides, or invest in a few of these books to help determine how much your old books are worth. A couple of reliable book pricing guides include "Mandeville's Used Book Price Guide" and "The Insider's Guide to Old Books, Magazines, Newspapers and Trade Catalogs" by Ron Barlow and Ray Reynolds.

3. Use these book guides to check whether the particular books you have on hand are listed. Within the guides, suggested market values are given for each book, taking into consideration the printing edition plus the current condition of the book. For example, a book considered to be in "fine" or "good" condition would be worth more than one that is judged simply "acceptable." These guides usually include detailed descriptions of requirements for a book to be deemed "acceptable," "fine" or in "good" condition.

4. Visit as many antique bookstores and book fairs as possible, and ask booksellers how much they would be willing to spend on your books to get a more precise idea of their value. Keep in mind that booksellers will need to buy a used copy for less than they plan to sell it. Antique booksellers will also likely consider how quickly the book can be resold when deciding how much to pay for your old book.

Make Your Own Manga Character On The Computer

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Manga" is the Japanese word for comics, and in the West refers to a style of art most commonly seen in Japanese comic books. Even if you don't know draw in manga style, you can design your own manga character using online character creation websites. These sites allow you to click on graphic icons that customize and change the way your character looks. Once you have designed your character, you can save the image to your computer and use it as an avatar or on other websites and forums.

Instructions

1. Launch your Internet browser and navigate to a webpage such as Lunaii Dollmaker, Face Your Manga or Tektek Dream Avatar. Each of these sites provide free manga character creators.

2. Select your character's gender by clicking on the male or female gender icon.

3. Click the "Body" or "Shape" tab to change alter the base of your character. Click on the graphic icons provided to change things such as skin color, body shape, face shape and body features.

4. Navigate to each tab and further customize your manga character. Depending on the site, you can select options for hair, eyes, clothes, makeup and tattoos. Each tab provides icons that you click to add and change the features on your character.

5. Click the "Save" button to save your manga character as a file on your computer. If a "Save" button isn't available, you can right-click the image and choose "Save Image" instead.

Make Kinetic Mobiles

Most often associated with the artist Alexander Calder, mobiles are an abstract art medium that rely on weights and balances. You can create a kinetic mobile using wire and small objects with hooks that you would like to hang from the wire. The most difficult part of making a kinetic mobile is balancing the two weights on the fulcrum, or center balance. The most effective method to begin making kinetic mobiles is to design your weights first, then find the correct balance through trial and error.

Instructions

1. Find or create items you wish to hang on the mobile. If you are using found items, such as toys, you will need to make a loop hook with heavy gauge wire and attach the hook to each item. Be sure to sculpt a hook into the piece if you are designing strictly with wire.

2. Lay the pieces on a piece of white paper or card stock. A roll of butcher paper is useful for very large mobiles.

3. Draw lines between the pieces to indicate how you would like the pieces to be connected. Move around the pieces and start over as many times as you need to until you are satisfied with the placement of your pieces.

4. Attach the pieces together with the metal wire. Thread the wire through the loop hooks on each piece from front to back. Bring the end of the wire up and wrap it tightly around itself three or four times with pliers.

5. Continue wiring until each piece is connected together. Be sure to leave several inches of space of wire or a slim wire bar at the top of the mobile for hanging.

6. Lift the wired mobile and test for balance. Hold the mobile underneath the top wire with your pointer finger. Move your finger right to left until you have found the most pleasing spot for balancing.

7. Twist the wire into a loop at your preferred spot. Attach a length of string or wire through the loop and hang your mobile.

Make A Homemade Scrapbook

Scrapbooks have grown in popularity. It is a lot of fun to sit down with a stack of pictures and be able to put them in books for lifelong treasures. Scrapbooks in the store can be expensive, but with a little creativity, you can put together a beautiful handmade book and add your own touches.

Instructions

1. Cut your foam core to 6-inch squares. Make sure to measure them evenly, and cut them with precision with a razor blade.

2. Cover the foam core sheets with matching paper. Fold the corners like you were wrapping a gift; it will give a nice clean edge. These two sheets of foam core will be the covers of the book, and you can decorate them as you wish. Trace and cut out letters to name your book, or give it a date.

3. Cut a ribbon about 15 inches long. Pick a color that matches your front cover. This will ensure your book stays together when you are not showing it off. You want the ribbon to be long enough to wrap it around and make a small bow.

4. Fold three sheets of 12-by-12-inch matching scrapbook cardstock in half. Then, fold them the other way in half. Open all three sheets of cardstock and fold them all once diagonally. Once you have all three sheets folded, you can begin to assemble the scrapbooks.

5. Glue one sheet of cardstock to the backside of each cover. Use the third sheet of cardstock to attach the two sheets with covers together. Make sure that the diagonal folds are all facing the same way so that the book will fold up together like an accordion. Once you have the three sheets together, you can fold the book up together.

6. Embellish your scrapbook with photos, stickers and your favorite embellishments. Make sure you add some journaling so that your scrapbook tells a story to everyone who looks at it. Remember to use acid-free scrapbooking supplies so that it will not ruin your pictures over time. It will be something that you will look back at for a lifetime of memories.

Emboss Paper

Embossed paper makes a great arts and crafts project for kids or even adults. Once the paper has been embossed you can use it as stationary, to make gift cards, invitations or just use it as a nice alternative to sketch paper. The process of creating embossed paper is so easy that you’ll wonder why you never thought of it before. All you need is some paper, an embossing tool and a stencil.

Instructions

1. Lay your stencil down on a flat surface where you get some light. You may find it easy to use a window, while other people may prefer to use a light box.

2. Place your paper on top of the stencil so that the paper covers the stencil completely. With the light coming through underneath you should be able to see all of the stencil under the paper.

3. Rub the embossing tool over the top of the paper, pressing it firmly down on the areas where the stencil sits. Remove the tool and check to see how in depth the embossing is; if you want it to look a little deeper, rub the tool over it again.

4. Remove your paper and take a look at the embossing. The embossing will be on the surface of the paper and it will last for years to come.

Make A Cookie Monster Costume

Instead of dressing your child as a ghost, witch, power ranger or transformer on Halloween, add a little peace and happiness to the holiday with a Cookie Monster costume. Believe it or not, Cookie Monster is one of the easiest costumes to make. Consider the fact that Cookie Monster is really nothing but a big ball of blue fur.

Instructions

1. Determine what type of body to make based on time constraints and sewing skills. If you can't sew at all, go the easy route and just wear a blue sweat suit or floor length fuzzy robe. If you can sew, whip up a pair of fuzzy blue body coveralls with a zipper or Velcro down a front opening to make it easy to get on and off. Either will make a great Cookie Monster costume.

2. Make Cookie Monster's eyes using big white stiff foam or hollow plastic balls. Cookie Monster's eyes are the most difficult part of this costume and will take the most time.

3. Gauge the size of the irises (black centers) in Cookie Monster's eyes by the size of the white balls you use and the size of your costume.

4. Look at a picture of Cookie Monster to guide you in making the eyes. Use black buttons or circles cut from black construction paper to make the centers of Cookie Monster's eyes. Once you determine the proper size, just hot glue the buttons or circles to the center of the white balls.

5. Glue the balls to the top of the hood so they rest on top of our head when the hood is up. If you chose to wear a robe or body suit, just attach the hood to the collar of your costume with a few stitches or seam tape.

6. Slip on some fuzzy blue house shoes or socks if you have them. If not, your tennis shoes will do fine. After all everyone will be looking at those great Cookie Monster eyes and will never notice your feet.

7. Paint your face blue and carry a cookie jar to add the finishing touches to your costume.

Engrave A Wood Sign

Wood engraving is an art form almost as old as man himself. Wood is one of the easiest, most versatile craft materials available. A skilled wood craftsman can turn a block of wood into a masterpiece of art suitable for indoor and outdoor decoration or gift giving. Many wood artists make a good living selling their creations at flea markets and craft fairs. Learning to engrave wood well can take several years, but even a beginner can take a piece of wood and create an engraving with little or no preparation. The first attempt won't be a masterpiece, but with time and practice, your wood engravings will improve.

Instructions

1. Start with a simple flat piece of wood, measuring 12 inches by 12 inches and 3 or 4 inches thick. Any wood will do. Maple and mahogany are hard, basswood is easier to engrave and ideal for a beginner. Keep your first design simple. Use a marker to draw your design onto the surface of the wood. A simple flower design is ideal to get you comfortable with your tools and accustomed to working a design into the wood surface.

2. Remove excess wood around the design area to bring your design out in relief. Use a scauper and mallet to remove the large pieces of wood at a time. You can do this part of the process fairly quickly, since your goal is to fashion a rough engraving before you begin detail work.

3. Use a small point chisel to round out the rough lines of your design. Keep the chisel at an angle that allows you to remove thin strips of wood from your cuts. This is detail work, so avoid taking too much wood off during this process. Light taps with a mallet as you keep the chisel point on the edge of the lines will produce the best results.

4. Switch to tinting tools and add detail and shading to the background, which will set off your relief engraving. Alternate between a combination of tinting tool sizes to etch your background with fine lines to give it a textured design.

5. Finish your engraving with clear lacquer or varnish. Paint your engraving with acrylic paints first, if you desire, or keep the natural color of the wood, but always use a clear protective lacquer coating.

Dry Emboss On Paper

Dry embossing is created with a stylus and brass templates. By creating an raised impression (or depression) in the paper, the image becomes raised and stands out from the page. Highlighted with chalks, pens or colored pencils, dry embossing can add significant impact to a simple scrapbook page. They are make excellent cards and tags. Best of all, the template can be used over and over.

Instructions

1. Choose a brass template for your design. There are countless of designs to choose from.

2. Place the template face down on the light box.

3. Adhere the template to the light box, using removable tape.

4. Turn on the light box.

5. Center your cardstock over the template, making sure it covers the template fully.

6. Attach the cardstock onto the light box as well, using removable tape.

7. Trace the widest nub of the stylus along the interior borders of the template, starting at the center. You should begin to see the image begin to depress.

8. Begin to trace the finer points, using the smaller stylus nub if necessary.

9. Lift the paper slightly to see if the image has impressed enough. Retrace if necessary.

10. Decorate with chalk, pens or colored pencils, if you like. You can also embellish with brads or eyelets as well.

Make A Henna Tattoo

Make a Henna Tattoo

Henna is an alternative to getting your body permanently tattooed with art. The application of henna is an ancient art that can be traced as far back as 2100 BC. Traditionally, henna is used to adorn brides in India. The Ancient Egyptians believed that henna helped to increase awareness of earth's energies. Here are the basic steps to creating your own henna tattoo to adorn your body and increase your connection to the earth. You can buy already mixed henna, or mix your own.

Instructions

Mixing Henna

1. Boil the water and steep your tea leaves for a minimum of 2 to 3 hours. Let steep overnight for best results.

2. Remove the tea leaves by pouring the brewed tea through your strainer.

3. Pour your henna powder into the plastic freezer bag, and add the eucalyptus oil and 3 tablespoons brewed tea into the mixture. Put the freezer bag in a covered plastic bowl, and place in a cool, dark spot. Let sit overnight.

4. Fold the bag to make a tube, and let the henna bulk up into one of the bottom corners. Poke your pin into the bottom corner to form a small hole.

Applying Tattoo

5. Rub the area where you want to put the tattoo with a cloth rag soaked in warm water to remove any body oil or dead skin.

6. Dip your finger into the eucalyptus oil and gently massage 1 or 2 drops into the area where you are applying the tattoo.

7. From the henna bag tube you made in Section 1, squeeze a design onto your skin by applying long, continuous lines. Shapes, lines, and simple designs work best.

8. Let the henna dry for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, squeeze your lemon into a plastic or glass bowl until all the juice comes out. Stir in the sugar.

9. Dip your cotton ball into the lemon juice mixture and pat it over your design. Keep dabbing the design whenever it looks like it is drying to keep it moist.

10. After at least an hour, dab the design with a cotton ball dipped in olive oil to loosen the henna. Scrape your design off with a butter knife, or rub with a dry washcloth.

Make A Hanging Mobile For College

A mobile is a type of hanging sculpture pioneered by 20th century artist Alexander Calder. Since then, the mobile has become popular as a do-it-yourself craft. Because of the limited space of many dorm rooms, mobiles can be used as a way to showcase photographs or other objects while saving wall and shelf space.

Instructions

1. Build a frame from which the pieces of your mobile will hang. A coat hanger or two can serve this purpose. If you want a less uniform shape for your frame, fashion one out of cardboard and tape or another readily available household item. Make the frame broad enough to accommodate the number of items you wish to hang in the mobile.

2. Select items to hang in the mobile. If you are going off to college, you might want to include pictures of your friends, family or pets, or images of your favorite musicians or actors or other people who inspire you. If you want to get really creative, you can include small objects like origami or souvenirs from a trip.

3. Attach your selected items to the frame using string and clear tape. Vary the lengths of string to give your mobile greater vertical depth.

4. Hang the mobile from your ceiling and enjoy!

Make A Hammerhead Shark Out Of Clay

The distinct, simple shape of a hammerhead shark makes it an ideal project for artists who are just beginning to get involved with working with clay. A hammerhead shark can be formed primarily with the hands and refined with a sculpting tool or utility knife. Regardless of your skill level, adding a hammerhead shark to your clay collection can be enjoyable and won't require a lot of time.

Instructions

1. Roll a piece of clay to make a cigar shape that tapers toward one end. This is your shark's body. Cut two pieces of clay and shape them like crescent moons. Use a utility knife or a clay sculpting tool with a flat metal edge for this. Attach one piece to each side of the narrow end of the body. These are the tail fins. The size of the tail fins depends upon the size of your shark, but for a shark model that is 6 inches long, the tail fins will be about 3 inches long.

2. Cut two triangular pieces of clay the same size as the tail fins and flatten them. Attach them near the front of the body with the pointed end of each piece facing out. These are the pectoral fins. Place two smaller fins about midway on the shark's body. They should be shaped like crescent moons and be about half the size of the pectoral and tail fins.

3. Cut a triangular piece of clay about as long as a pectoral fin and place it on top of the body, just an inch or two before the fattest part of the body. Again, the pointed edge should be facing out. Cut another triangular shape about half the size of a pectoral fin and place it on top of the body near the tail fins, with the pointed edge facing out.

4. Form the hammer part of the hammerhead by cutting two rectangular shapes of clay and attaching one to each side of the body at the thickest end. Shape these with your thumb and forefinger to create the hammer. Put a small piece of clay on each end of the hammerhead for the eyes.

5. Cut a mouth just below the hammerhead. Remove a small piece of clay to form the mouth, then draw triangular teeth in the mouth with a toothpick. Etch the gills into the side of the shark's body with the toothpick as well. Three or four vertical lines just behind the mouth on each side of the shark will work for the gills.

Make A Halloween Light Show

A Halloween light show is one way to celebrate the holiday

Halloween is celebrated by many folks every October 31st in a variety of ways, from trick-or-treating with the little ones or with themed parties. A Halloween light show is another way to observe the holiday and is a relatively simple craft project that kids can participate in as well. With some basic household items, you can host a Halloween-themed light show that is sure to deliver some holiday fun.

Instructions

1. Lay out a sheet of paper and place the flashlight vertically on the paper with the bulb facing down. Trace around the flashlight with a pencil to make a perfect circle shape. Repeat to make several circle shapes that you'll be using as templates. Draw some basic outlines of popular Halloween shapes in the paper circles; popular ideas may be jack-o'-lanterns, witches riding broomsticks, ghosts, skulls or any imaginative monster faces.

2. Cut out the circles from the paper and cut out the designs you drew to make small design templates. Lay the paper circles onto sheets of dark colored vinyl; you may want to use adhesive tape to adhere the circles in place to keep them from shifting. Trace the circles and the designs onto the vinyl. Remove the paper and cut out the circles and designs in the vinyl. Set aside.

3. Poke tiny pencil-sized holes all over the black sheet. Pin one edge of the sheet up to the ceiling in a room in your home and allow the sheet to hang toward the floor. Replace the bulb in a floor lamp with a dark blue- or purple-colored novelty bulb.

4. Tape the vinyl design circles over the flashlights and place the lamp with the colored bulb behind the sheet, away from where you'll be displaying the light show. Turn off the lights in the room, then turn on the lamp to allow the eerie-colored light to seep through the holes in the sheet, and turn on your flashlights. Aim the flashlights at the sheet to see the illuminated designs.

Make A Guitar String Necklace

Guitar strings can make beautiful jewelry, in addition to beautiful music.

Some guitarists go through dozens of strings in just a few weeks. Throwing them away seems like a waste. Instead, repurpose them to make an edgy necklace. Doing so is an environmentally friendly alternative to buying new beading wire for your jewelry-making projects.

Instructions

1. Wipe down the string. Guitar strings get very messy, so take a dry cloth and wipe it down. You also can use rubbing alcohol. Do not use any other liquid unless it's made specifically for cleaning guitar strings, otherwise you can cause the string to prematurely rust.

2. Measure and cut the string. Wrap the string around your neck to find the appropriate length. If you're making the necklace for someone else, a general guide is about 12 inches for short, choker-like necklaces, and 16 inches for longer necklaces that fall just above the breast bone. Also, add about three inches for the clasp. Cut the string using wire cutters.

3. Attach a clasp. Start this by stringing a crimp bead with the clasp attached about an inch and a half from one end of the string. Then bend the guitar string where the crimp bead is, and thread the two ends of wire through the clasp, leaving a small loop. Take a pair of pliers and squeeze the crimp bead, flattening it and securing it place. Then take the crimp bead cover and slide that up the string so that it covers the crimp bead. Secure by shutting it closed with the pliers.

4. Add any beads or adornments at this point. Some people use several beads, and others only use one or two to keep the guitar string exposed. If you are opting for an intricate pattern with several beads, lay out your beads to be sure that the pattern will fit and that the beads are centered. Feed them through the end without a clasp.

5. Attach the split rings, or the part of the necklace that the clasps will attach to. You will use the same process that you used to attach the clasp, outlined in Step 3. This will complete your guitar string necklace.

Make A Greeting Card Display Stand

Greeting cards can be expected at certain times of the year like holidays, birthdays and anniversaries. Many people throw out all of those cards right after receiving them because they just don't know what else to do with them. You can create a greeting card stand where you can display all of your lovely greeting cards as well as the beautiful messages that people have written inside.

Instructions

1. Paint your canvas a color that will match your ribbons, and set it aside to dry completely.

2. Unravel a length of ribbon. Pull it lengthwise straight down your canvas so that it reaches from the back of the frame, around to the front, and then back to the frame at the other end. Cut this length of ribbon.

3. Cut several strands of ribbon all at this length--enough strands so that they cover your canvas when lined up side by side.

4. Line the ribbons up side by side along the back edge of your canvas Staple them all in place, hammering down the staples when necessary. Cover this stapled end with a thin strip of duct tape.

5. Pull all of the ribbons taunt against the front of the canvas, and then around to the frame in the back. Staple them in place. Cover with a thin strip of duct tape. You should now have a canvas that is covered with several strips of ribbon that are all secured to the back of the frame.

6. Slide your greeting cards onto the pieces of ribbon so that a strip of ribbon is in the fold of the card.

7. Place your greeting card hold in a plate stand.

Make A Graffiti Stencil By Hand

Stencils let you paint multiple versions of one design.

Creating a stencil by hand takes some practice before you achieve a final product that allows you to accurately paint the image you were attempting. You may want to make a few practice stencils with cardboard or paper before you work on your official stencil board. Graffiti stencils are simply larger versions of regular stencils. They should only be used on your own property or with permission, such as for painting shop windows with washable paint for homecoming.

Instructions

1. Spray paint your graffiti on large paper. Once you get the design you want, with the colors you like, make it into a stencil. Take down the papers with the final design and glue the design on a piece of poster board. Spray adhesive works best. If your design is too large for one piece of poster board, tape two or three pieces together. Tape along the entire seam, front and back. Leave a small gap in the seam so you can fold the poster board for easier transportation.

2. Cut the design out and place the pieces for each layer on their own piece of poster board. You will be making a layer for each color. For example, if you're making a stencil for your tag, you would have one stencil for the main color, one stencil for the white highlights and one stencil for the black shadows. Glue each color set to poster board in the position they will be in for your final design. Let the glue dry.

3. Place the poster board on a cutting mat. A thick piece of cardboard or a scrap piece of wood make cheap cutting mats. Use a box cutter or other sharp-bladed instrument to cut around the design you glued to the poster board. Work slowly and press lightly, retrace the cut lines if they aren't deep enough to go all the way through the poster board. Move the stencil under the blade while cutting instead of moving your wrist to achieve straighter lines.

4. Take duct tape with you when you use your stencils to affix the stencil to the wall, leaving both hands free to spray paint.

Make Faux Fiberglass Rock

Faux rock arranged on a lawn

Faux fiberglass rocks are features that have become increasingly useful around the home or garden. They can be made to any shape size or color, giving them a variety of uses from decorative garden placement, to functional cover of unsightly landscaping features. The process of making a faux fiberglass rock is a simple one, requiring the same skills used in creating papier-mache, only with a final layer of fiberglass cloth rather than newspaper. Once your rock has been built, the fiberglass surface can then be painted whatever color desired.

Instructions

1. Make the frame for your rock using chicken wire. Cut a section of the chicken wire using wire cutters and bend the wire into the shape of your rock. Twist the loose ends of the wire together using pliers to bind the edges and complete the rounded shape of the rock.

2. Cut newspaper into strips of two inches in width. Use a paintbrush to apply art paste to the newspaper strips soaking the strips through. Apply the strips to the wire shape, covering the wire completely with two layers of newspaper, with the second layer applied perpendicular to the first. Overlap the strips of newspaper about one-half inch when applying and allow the newspaper to dry for six hours after each layer has been placed.

3. Cut the fiberglass cloth into strips two inches in width and eight inches in length for easy application. Use a rotary cutter with a new cutting wheel to cut the cloth.

4. Mix the resin according to the manufacturer's instructions. The resin thickens as it dries, so only prepare enough for 10 minutes use at a time. Wait three minutes for the resin to activate fully before application.

5. Place a strip of the fiberglass cloth over the papier-mache rock, following the contours of the wired frame. Pour the resin over the strip and use a craft stick to spread the resin over the surface of the cloth. As you spread the resin, bunch and wrinkle the cloth randomly to simulate the natural textured surface of a rock. The resin will soak through the fiberglass cloth adhering it to the papier-mache surface beneath. Repeat the application process with more strips of the fiberglass until the rock is completely covered.

6. Wait 24 hours for the resin on the fiberglass to cure, and then sand down the visible seams between the fiberglass strips.

7. Prime the rock with a base coat of latex paint. Brown or gray is best depending on the type of rock simulated. Use brown for darker stones and gray for lighter types.

8. Allow the prime coat to dry for two hours and then paint the rocks with a final coat, the color depending on the rock type being simulated. Apply a light wash of diluted paint with a ratio of nine parts thinner to one part paint to the final coat to weather the rock and enhance shadows in the various wrinkled and bunched areas. Allow the final coat to dry for two hours.

9. Spray the rock with a layer of matte clear coat spray paint to protect it from the elements.

Make A Good Silhouette

Draw a Silhouette

A silhouette is a drawing that is generally a black-and-white outline of a person or object. The easiest and most accurate way of making a silhouette is by tracing the outline of a real person's face. A silhouette can be made with a few items around the house and is a great project for kids on a rainy day, although a more high-end silhouette can also be traced onto handmade paper to create a frameable keepsake in the home.

Instructions

1. Attach the black piece of matting paper with masking tape to a flat wall at your subject's eye level. Matting paper, which can be purchased at your local art supply, store, is a thicker and more high-end paper than construction paper or poster board.

2. Place an office lamp on top of a stool at about the same height as your subject's head.

3. Turn on the light, and have your subject stand between the wall and the lamp. Position the light so it casts the shadow of your subject on the piece of black matting paper.

4. Draw the outline of the shadow with white colored pencil on the black matting paper.

5. Take down the paper and cut on the colored pencil line with an X-Acto knife. Place a thick section of newspaper under the matting paper to keep from cutting your work surface. You may have to draw with the X-Acto knife carefully several times over the penciled line before the silhouette can be removed from the scrap matting. Work slowly and take your time with the small details.

6. Paste the black silhouette onto the white matting paper using archival glue.

Embarrass Someone On A 40th Birthday

Life expectancy in the U.S. is about 78 years old, making 40 just "over the hill."

Whether you're getting back at a friend for the pranks he pulled on your birthday or just in for some good-natured ribbing, a 40th birthday offers an ideal opportunity. With this birthday, many people realize that they are entering their middle-aged years and take a look back to evaluate their accomplishments. This leaves the door open for many over-the-hill jokes, pranks and just plain good fun. The best way to ensure you embarrass a 40-year-old is to take charge of the birthday party plans.

Instructions

Instructions

1. Plan a surprise party. The easiest way to ensure your friend will be thoroughly embarrassed on their 40th birthday is to surprise them. If they don't know what is coming, they can't prepare for the embarrassment. After you have your guest list assembled, head to the party store and find the most appropriate over-the-hill party invitations. This will let guests know what type of party they're in for.

2. Decorate in an over-the-hill theme. The room should be filled with decorations that remind the birthday girl that she is officially middle-aged. Black is an appropriate color to decorate with, as this theme usually, and humorously, symbolizes mourning. Decorate with black balloons and encourage guests to wear black hats that say "over the hill." Cover any tables with black tablecloths and hang at least on banner that says "over the hill." Arrange the chairs around the guest of honor's table, as if guests were attending his funeral.

3. Prepare a slideshow of the person's life. For the main event, you may need to enlist help from his siblings or parents. Find the most embarrassing pictures from his life, including those bath-time baby pictures and awkward prom snapshots. Use a computer program that allows you to create slideshows, such as Microsoft Powerpoint, and burn the completed slidesa disc to be played at the party. If you don't have this type of program, you can create a slideshow on a website like Slide or Slideroll, then use an HDMI cable to connect your computer to the television and share the images with everyone.

4. Encourage guest participation. To thoroughly embarrass your 40-year-old friend, you'll need to enlist the help of all her friends and family. Ask all guests to come prepared with a story to tell about the birthday girl, and make sure they know there will be prizes given for the most embarrassing story.

Make A Gift Basket

Make your own holiday gift basket to give.

If you want to give a gift basket but don't want to pay too much, the solution's simple: Learn to make your own.

With the right materials, anyone can make a gift basket. Not only that, you can make it personal and one of a kind. Whether you want a Christmas theme or a computer theme for your gift basket, anything small enough to fit can be incorporated.

Instructions

1. Set a budget. The biggest drawback to making gift baskets is that people will often get so excited about including additional items that they don't know when to stop. Before you even buy the basket, tell yourself how much you're willing to spend, and stick with it.

2. Pick a basket. The basket you choose should reflect your budget; if you've decided to keep your budget at $25 for your gift basket, don't buy a huge basket that you'll be unable to fill for that amount. Consider buying undecorated baskets for your gift baskets: They're cheaper, and you have more control over customizing how they look.

3. Make a list of Items. Before you go out and buy any items for your gift basket, make a list of items you intend to buy. Then add up how much the items on your list will cost and see if that falls within your budget. If it doesn't, scale back.

4. Buy the items. Do this at least three days before you intend to give your gift, in case you're unable to find some items on your list. In that case, substitute comparably priced items.

5. Pick the covering. Cover the inside bottom and sides of the gift basket with a decorative piece of fabric, tissue paper, or even better, tea towels. Not only will it make your gift basket look nice, but it will make sure important items don't fall through the cracks.

6. Fill the basket. After you have a covering in the basket, begin filling it with the items. Put the large items in first, then use the smaller items as accents around them.

7. Wrap it up. While you don't have to wrap your gift basket, it's a good idea if you plan to carry it anywhere. Small items can be sneaky and fall out when you least expect it. Consider wrapping it in clear plastic cellophane. That way, the items in your basket are protected but still visible.

Make A Fun Hat

Make fun hats as a craft project for your children.

If you encounter an occasion that requires a fun hat, such as Halloween or a crazy hat party, you may wish to make your own, as this will allow you to save money and explore your creativity. Convert drab headwear into a fun hat. An octopus headpiece can complement a nautical-themed costume or will function well at any zany dress-up occasion.

Instructions

1. Select eight different patterns, textures and colors of fabric. You will use this fabric to make the tentacles of an octopus hat. Choose pieces that are eye-catching and fun; consider velvet, Day-Glo colors, metallic prints or glittery material.

2. Cut the fabric into pieces that measure 8 inches by 4 inches.

3. Use a needle and thread or sewing machine to sew the long ends of each strip of fabric together. Sew the fabric inside out so that when the seam is visible, the side of the fabric that you wish to show is not.

4. Sew together one end of the tube you have created, making what appears to be a long, narrow bag.

5. Turn the tube right side out, and push plush stuffing inside until it reaches a desirable stiffness. Leave one end of the tube open.

6. Sew the open end of each tube onto the skullcap or beanie. Even if you have a sewing machine, this will be easier to do by hand. Position the tentacles with even distances between each one.

Make A Funny Welcomehome Sign

Ask the returnee's family and friends to email or mail you funny pictures of themselves and the returnee, if they can't make it to the photo-taking session.

A welcome sign is an inexpensive way to decorate for a homecoming party, or you can hold one at the airport or train station to welcome a loved one back home. Add bright color and a personal touch to the sign by using photos of the returnee's family and friends. Add humor and evoke happy memories in the returnee by making the poses, expressions and settings ones that will make him laugh or remember old jokes. Once you've found pictures you think will delight the returning loved one, making the sign should take about an hour.

Instructions

1. Gather the returnee's friends and family and take pictures, using a digital camera, of them doing funny things -- acting out a ridiculous moment, making funny faces, in funny positions or whatever you think the returnee will enjoy seeing. Continue taking pictures until you have at least 11 (the number of letters in "Welcome Home") that you'd like to use in the sign.

2. Print out the photos on office paper, one photo per sheet of paper.

3. Arrange the photos in the order you'd like them to appear on the sign. The photos should be arranged so that the first seven will be used to spell out the word "welcome" and the remaining four spell out the word "home."

4. Place the stencil for the letter "W" over the photo you've determined should be used for that letter in the sign. Trace the letter with a marker. Repeat that process until you've traced each of the letters on their respective sheets of paper.

5. Cut out all of the traced letters. Glue each letter onto a sheet of colored paper, using the glue stick. Punch a hole in each of the top corners of each sheet of colored paper, using a hole punch.

6. Arrange the letters in order so they spell out "Welcome Home." Add a sheet of colored paper -- either with a picture glued onto it, or blank -- between the words, if desired. Thread the ribbon through the holes at the top corners of each colored piece of paper. Hang the funny welcome-home sign in a place the returnee is sure to see it.

Make A Funny Sign

Making funny signs can be a fun way to express your creativity. There are many pictures of funny signs that circulate on the Internet everyday. Sending someone an e-mail containing a funny sign can be a great way to brighten someone's day.

Instructions

1. Plan your design. Choose an original picture that you want to alter. Decide how you want to alter the picture and what funny element you plan to add.

2. Upload a picture. Open the picture in an image editing program like Paint, Paint Shop or Photoshop. This will turn your original image into an editable format allowing you to alter the original contents of the photo.

3. Get rid of the original elements in the photo that you are planning to alter. Most image altering software has an option like an eraser where you can precisely erase the unwanted elements.

4. Open a blank image document. In this blank document you will design your funny element that you plan to add back into the original image. This step may take some practice to master. It is often difficult to get size and placement correct.

5. Copy and paste. In programs like paint shop and Photoshop you can create another layer to be added on to the picture. This allows for a nearly seamless transition from the original photo to the new altered photo. First you copy the new element, and then create another layer to be added on top of the original photo. Paste your new element into the new layer and fuse the layers together.

6. Save your work. This is usually another way that the program will automatically fuse all of the layers together. After you have saved your work and it is to your liking, you can send it in an e-mail to be shared with others.

Listen To Naruto Soundtracks

Listen to Naruto Soundtracks

An essential part of the Naruto experience for many enthusiasts of the young ninja's saga is the music. With the proliferation of movies and other media now available in Japan, the U.S. and elsewhere, there is a great deal of Naruto music available. Using the Naruto Central website, you can download and listen to all of this music on your computer, an MP3 player or other device.

Instructions

Download Naruto Soundtracks to Your Computer

1. Make sure that your computer is equipped to play audio files with a program such as iTunes, Windows Media Player or Real Player.

2. Find the "My Music" folder or directory on your computer. It is usually located as a subdirectory within the "My Documents" folder or directory.

3. Create a new folder or subdirectory called "My Naruto Soundtracks" within the "My Music" folder or directory.

Download Naruto Audio Files to Your Music Folder

4. Browse the Naruto Central Soundtracks webpage to see the selection of soundtracks from Naruto movies, themes, video games and anime openings and closings (see Resources below).

5. Select a track to download and click on it.

6. Choose "Save to Disk" rather than "Open with" when the dialogue box appears on your screen to begin downloading the compressed .zip file.

7. Click on "Open" when the download is completed.

8. Click on the music file when it appears in a new dialogue box and select "Move the file" from the "File and Folder Tasks" sub-menu at the left.

9. Choose the "My Naruto Soundtracks" folder as the destination to which you will move your newly downloaded file.

10. Repeat these steps for any other track on the Naruto Central Soundtracks webpage.

11. Listen to your files on the go. Select any track that you like and copy it to your MP3 player or burn it to a CD so you can listen to it when away from your computer. Your computer's audio player should allow you to make such copies easily.

Make Cute Avatars For Free

You can find an image to use on a free stock image website.

Almost every forum or community you encounter on the Internet allows its users to upload avatars to represent themselves. Many users choose cute avatars to portray their carefree personalities, to convey something about themselves or because they like how the avatar looks. Cute avatars are simple to create when you use free software, such as GIMP. You can create an adorable avatar easily by finding a cute photograph or graphic and using GIMP to edit it.

Instructions

1. Download and install GIMP for free. Find a simple, cute picture from a free stock image website, such as Stock.xchng. You may have to sign up before you can use any images on some stock image websites. Save the image to the photo library of your computer.

2. Start GIMP and open the picture you selected by clicking on "Open" under "File." The image will appear on your screen. Select the "Rectangle selection tool" from your toolbox. Click on the image and drag your mouse to create a perfect square on the image.

3. Navigate to "Crop to Selection" under "Image." This option will trim your image down to a perfect square. You will use this perfect square to create your avatar. Select "Scale Image" under "Image."

4. Enter "128 pixels" for the "Width" and the "Height" of the image. If your forum or community supports avatars of a different size, you can enter a different value. Click on "Scale" to put the changes into effect.

5. Use tools, such as the "Curves" and "Level" tool to add special affects to your cute avatar. Once you're done using these optional tools, click on "Save" under "File." Go to the forum or community and upload the avatar.

Make A Funny Hat

Clothing is a great way to express yourself. When we want to show that we mean business, we get dressed in formal business attire--a nice suit, a crisp, collared shirt and quality shoes. When we want to let everyone know we are ready to relax, we put on our most worn and comfortable clothes and send out the message "Hey, I'm relaxing." What do you do when you want to express your sense of humor? Just add a funny hat to whatever you are wearing. You might have one in mind already. If not, you can make your own funny hat to wear whenever you want to cause a stir.

Instructions

1. Decide on a theme for your funny hat. Are you going to make an all-occasion funny hat, or will this hat be specific to an occasion? If you are attending a specific event for a particular occasion, this will determine your theme. If you just want to make a general-purpose funny hat, you will have more to think about. Come up with a funny word or short phrase that is fitting to the purpose you intend for your hat.

2. Buy a hat. All you need is a basic baseball hat with nothing added to it. The area upon which there would usually be a sports team insignia will become a blank canvas for your humor. If the hat is for use one time only, you can get away with buying something fairly inexpensive. However, you'll want to spend a little more money on something you plan to wear more than once to ensure that it is of a quality that will last. Make sure the hat you buy is comfortable and that it fits well. There is nothing funny about a funny hat that leaves you with a pounding headache because it does not properly fit!

3. Head to a craft store and pick up some fabric paint. If you are not very artistically inclined, you will do best with craft paint that comes as a marker. This will offer you the most control because it works just like a pen. If you have a bit of an artistic flair, go ahead and choose regular fabric paint and a good brush. Be sure to choose colors that will show up on the hat you have chosen. Light colors show up best on a dark hat, and dark colors work best on a light-colored hat.

4. Practice spelling out your word or phrase on a scrap piece of paper that you have measured and cut to replicate the size of the space you will be painting on your funny hat. This will help you decide what size you need to make your lettering so that it fits onto the hat.

5. Paint your funny word or phrase onto your hat once you are comfortable with the design on your practice paper.

6. Let the hat fully dry before wearing.

Make A Funny Editorial Cartoon

Editorial cartoons offer a touch of comic relief to the serious issues being publicized.

Editorial cartoons offer comic relief to serious news stories and have appeared in newspaper publications since the early days of print. Cartoonists have created satirical cartoon strips to ridicule the weak traits of prominent people in society by turning them into caricatures, while commenting with sardonic wit and humor upon the social and political condition of the times. If you are considering submitting editorial cartoons to newspaper publications, you need to read into current affairs to find the inspirational news stories to turn into a funny cartoon picture or strip.

Instructions

1. Observe cartoons made by editorial cartoonists in a range of newspapers from early newspaper editions to modern day. Notice the similarities and differences between the drawing styles of the various cartoonists. Note what makes the cartoon funny to the reader. Look closely at how the drawing in itself is just as amusing as the words contained within the comic strip and notice how the drawings are simple but exaggerated while the dialogue is brief and witty.

2. Read newspapers to research what news is current and what stories are more talked about, or look for a story which offers the most scope for humorous ridicule. Note any news stories, events or characters within the news which inspire you.

3. Pick out a current news topic from your possible news stories. Find a funny perspective to create your editorial cartoon. Keep your idea for your funny scenario simple and short, as you do not have the scope to make a full comic strip for a newspaper publication. Your cartoon needs to be told in 1 to 5 frames on average. Focus on something absurd happening in your scenario, or an unusual or an obvious observation, or some kind of conflict to spark off a short chain of events.

4. Sketch your funny cartoon scenario within a sequence of 1 to 5 boxed frames into your sketchbook with a pencil. Use a pencil and ruler to draw a row of boxed frames. Look at a photo of a well known figure to help you to make the subject's distinctive features more exaggerated in the drawing of your caricature. Comedy is about heightening reality.

5. Draw the basic shape of the person's head but make the head bigger in relation to the length of the body. Draw in the exaggerated facial features. Exaggerate the body shape by making a thin person look thinner, a fat person fatter, a tall person taller and a short person smaller. Don't forget to make the clothes suit the character. For instance, if you regard a female figure as having loose morals, give her a very mini shirt; or if your male character is getting too big for his breeches then make his trousers look too short for him.

6. Draw in other characters, objects and background. Don't make the sketch too complicated. Emphasize on what is visually necessary and funny in the illustration.

7. Draw a speech balloon or a caption which should clarify and expand on the visual humor by saying something witty or to make a jokey comment about a topical subject; the person may be in the exaggerated midst of what is being talked about in order to support the humor.

8. Draw over the pencil lines in black pen, since editorial cartoons are generally drawn as black and white line drawings. Erase any pencil lines to complete.

Make A Funny Door Hanger

Door hangers are gaining popularity in many different venues. At home, families enjoy using them to adorn bedroom doors to share different messages. They are also being seen in offices and on college campuses now and the messages vary with the location. They have also been a familiar advertising medium for some time.

Whatever the situation, a cute or funny door hanger can be entertaining. Making your own door hanger is quite easy if you have basic working knowledge of a graphics program. This project can be done in only a matter of minutes with a few simple downloads.

Instructions

Making a Funny Door Hanger

1. Visit the referenced website and download the free design templates. They are available in several different formats. For creating your own door hanger in a graphics program, select the "PSD" format to download. Unzip the file and open it in your graphics program.

2. Create the door hanger you want by filling in the fields with colors and creating the message you desire. When your door hanger is finished, save it as a JPEG file on your hard drive.

3. Print the file out on cardstock paper, cut out the hole for the doorknob and hang your door hanger.