Make A Preschool Picasso Cubist Collage

Create cubist art with preschool-aged children.

With its highly geometric focus, cubism is an imaginative way to help preschoolers learn about basic mathematics concepts as well as the artistic process. As a founding member of the cubist movement, Pablo Picasso is often seen as the quintessential artist in this style. Making a cubist-inspired collage using paper and glue is a simple way to introduce Picasso to young students. Get ready to watch your preschooler cut, paste, color and create the day away while designing his own mini masterpiece.

Instructions

1. Discuss Picasso, cubism and portraiture with the preschooler. Show pictures or reproductions of cubist art from nonfiction books or online. Encourage the child to look more critically at the art style by asking open-ended questions such as "Why do you think that Picasso chose to make art like this?" "How do you think that he made this artwork?" or "What do you think you could do to make a cubist art work of your own?" Include points such as shapes or geometry, the artistic process and drawing what a person looks like.

2. Provide the preschooler with a light-colored piece of 8-by-10-inch construction paper. Ask him to use the markers to draw a portrait (face only). Make sure that the child includes two eyes, one nose, one mouth and two ears. Ask him to count the facial features.

3. Have the preschooler use kids' safety scissors to cut the portrait into geometric shapes such as squares and rectangles. Instruct him to cut the shapes no smaller than a playing card. smaller shapes may easily get lost or end up on the floor.

4. Have the child use the glue stick to attach the shapes, in random order, onto a second piece of construction paper. Use a different-colored paper for contrast. Encourage the preschooler to mix and match the facial features in terms of placement or vary the angles. For example, place one eye near the bottom of the page next to a sideways ear. The pieces may overlap.

Make Your Own Christmas Hampers

Fill your hamper with nice gifts to make a Christmas hamper.

Christmas hampers make lovely gifts for anyone. They can include just about any item imaginable, which allows you to suit anyone's taste. Commercial Christmas hampers may cost a lot of money, but you can also make your own. If you choose items and supplies that are low-cost, you can create a gift that looks great without breaking the bank.

Instructions

1. Select a theme for the hamper. Christmas hampers work best when you decide to include gifts based around a specific theme. For example, you could create a movie theme, a food theme or a toy theme, based on the gift recipient.

2. Purchase gifts to go in the hamper. Based on the theme that you've chosen, purchase several gifts that will go into the hamper. For example, a movie hamper could include a few DVDs, along with popcorn and candy to eat while watching the movie.

3. Choose a hamper. The larger the hamper, the more you'll need to fill it. However, you also need to make sure that the hamper is large enough to hold the items that you want to put in it.

4. Put filling in the hamper. This adds bulk to the hamper and helps you to display your gift items. You can purchase filler in a variety of colors or you can make your own using a paper shredder.

5. Arrange your gifts in the hamper. Place taller or bigger gifts in the back and smaller ones in the front. Try to create a symmetrical look based on the items you have.

6. Add a bow or other decorations to the hamper. You may want to add a big red bow to the handle or dangle some Christmas ornaments around the side.

7. Wrap the hamper in cellophane, if desired. This can protect the contents of the hamper.

Make A Prank Call With A Celebrity Soundboard

Using a celebrity soundboard can make for extremely funny prank calls. Though not necessarily a science, a good prank call using a celebrity soundboard approaches an art form. Here's some steps on lay out a killer prank call on your unsuspecting friends and enemies.

Instructions

1. Find a celebrity soundboard that you like. There are numerous celebrity soundboards available for free on the Internet, covering a wide range of different celebrities and cartoon characters. Most of are operated directly from your browser.

2. Familiarize yourself with the content and layout of the soundboard. It's important to react quickly during the prank call, so make sure you know where to go for each specific response. You can also study other prank calls made using the same soundboard to get some ideas.

3. Make a plan. It's best to go into the prank with some idea of what you are going to do. This will usually make for a funnier prank, though don't be afraid to be inventive.

4. Set up your computer speakers near your phone and set your phone to speaker mode. Your computer speakers should be at a normal conversational volume. Be careful not to give yourself away by laughing or by making any other noises in the room during the call.

5. Dial your victim. It's probably best to choose someone you know, as there's less chance of someone taking serious offense or calling the police. Remember that the number you're calling from can always be traced by law enforcement.

6. Consider calling them back to tell them that it was just a prank. This might be particularly important if your call was frightening or offensive.

Make Shadow Boxes & Shrines

Matchboxes can be used to make pocket shrines.

Shadow boxes are used to display memories of past events and collections such as childhood, baseball collections, and weddings. Similarly, shrines are a tribute to a loved one's memory, whether it is a family member, friend or pet. Both can be made using similar techniques to hold onto memories using a simple box and craft supplies. The boxes will display the items that express your memories the most, such as a baby shoe, a feather, or maybe a beloved knick knack.

Instructions

1. Decide on a theme for your shadow box or shrine. What do you want to remember? What do you hold dear about the subject? If the shrine is for a person or animal, what reminds you of them?

2. Choose a box that best suits your project. You can buy ready-to-use shadow boxes or use your own box, such as a shoe box, a wooden container (something that may have held tea or other goods), photo box, gift box, or even a drawer.

3. Decorate the box, such as by painting it one color or in elaborate designs. You can also use wall paper, contact paper, tissue paper, newspaper or wrapping paper to cover all or some of the box.

4. Choose a background image for the inside of your box. This can be a picture, a poem, a drawing, a newspaper clipping or anything else that suits your purpose. Glue the chosen background in place, using a glue stick, rubber cement or white school glue.

5. Decorate the box's sides, both inside and out, if desired. You can use anything like lace, ribbon, beads, or glitter. Play with different ideas and attach the supplies as you go along with glue, pins or tape.

6. Place your memorable items in your box and arrange to your taste. You can glue them on or leave them sitting free. Be sure to let the box completely dry before placing your items in it.

Make An Expressionist Palette

An Expressionist palette contains bright colors that are used with little or no mixing.

Expressionism was a movement that began in the early 20th century with a group of German artists, which then inspired artists all over the world. The goal of Expressionism was to express emotion through the use of wild, bright colors and exaggerated form. In this vein, the evocation of feeling was paramount to all other characteristics of representational art. Expressionist artists often didn't mix their paints at all, and instead chose to use their pigments unmixed, a style often referred to as "from the tube."

Instructions

1. Paint the palette neutral gray.

2. Let the palette dry completely. The neutral gray background will make you paint pigments appear true to their hues on the palette.

3. Squeeze quarter-sized amounts of alizarin crimson, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, cadmium yellow, lemon yellow, viridian green, sap green, cadmium orange, burnt umber, raw sienna, mars black and titanium white onto the palette. Keep them spaced well enough so that you can load a brush with paint and not cross-contaminate your colors.

4. Choose a subject and try out your Expressionist palette.

Make An Avatar

The Internet has allowed a community to build where no one existed before. It is now possible to be anything to anyone. Many Internet surfers present their virtual images in the form of avatars. These graphics are ways to present a logo or individual brand for posting on message boards and various on-line registries. Here's make an avatar.

Instructions

You Need a Picture

1. Find a picture. Avatars start with an image that represents the primary interests of the user. It may be an album cover, a favorite destination or an actual physical image that is representative of the user. These images may be found on the Internet.

2. Modify the image. Most avatars require a resizing down to a smaller pixel size. Remember avatars are like a visual signature. Use image resizing software to make the image visible in a smaller size.

3. Visit a site that helps to create avatars. Shrinkpictures.com or Kaneva.com are sites that aide users in the creation of an avatar. These are usually very simple processes that can be performed at little to no cost to the user.

4. Store the created avatar to a picture storage site. This will allow the user to have a link readily available for the avatar for easy access.

5. Save the image to the hard drive and keep on file for visiting various message boards. Each site will have its own process for creating a username and password that may include creating an avatar. Okayplayer.com, for example, allows its users to enter a link to their avatar when registering. By storing on personal drive and storage websites, the avatar will be available in whatever form is required.

Make A Poster Aesthetically Pleasing

Posters in many different styles can be eye-catching; the more individualized, the better.

Even a person with no design experience can study a few key principles and techniques to put together a beautiful and professional poster. Whether you are designing a poster for an event, a band or just a project for fun, you can use a combination of colors and styles to create visual interest. Look at movie posters and promos online to find an aesthetic that works for you and your purpose. If you are comfortable with computer design programs, create your design and have a copy center print out the digital file. Otherwise, you can use stamps or even an old-fashioned letterpress to design the poster by hand.

Instructions

1. Write out all the text that you will use on your poster. Put each element (sentence or line) in different text boxes, if you are working electronically. if you are working to compose the poster manually, consider putting each line on a separate sheet of paper, so that you can rearrange them as necessary. Legibility should be priority number one, since the main purpose is to give information --- no matter how little. If you choose to use a complicated or flowery font, limit it to the title or event name and keep the font large.

2. Choose a focal point. Once you have planned your text, choose one element on the poster that will stand out and draw the eye. It can be a word, a phrase or a graphic element. The focal point does not need to be in the middle or at the top of the page; however, it does need to be large and bold. Use contrasting colors or fonts to make a strong statement and be sure to have only one focal point. From there, you can determine the hierarchy by placing elements logically and in alignment on a clear visual path.

3. Use repetition to create a unified look for your poster. For example, replicate a small image in different areas of the page. You may use the image as a bullet point, or enlarged and faded as part of the background.

You can also use repetition to organize your poster. Make the date, time and location the same size or font. However, you should also use contrast to keep the poster visually interesting. Use two opposite fonts, such as serif and sans serif, or colors on the opposite side of the wheel. You can even do some words vertically and others horizontally.

4. Remove elements from the page. The key to creating strong design is the ability to edit. Once you have everything you want on the poster, take a step back and look at your creation. Then, look at it from an even further distance and through a squint. Get a feel for the general impression of the poster, instead of specific parts of it. Add white space to make the remaining elements more clear and less crowded. Leave space around each unit and strive for simplicity, even with a lot of designs on the page.

Make A Portrait From A Photo

A portrait does not have to be the static classic image of a person staring into the camera lens. Sometimes, the best portraits come from candid photos that may originally include other people. In fact, this is a more natural way to get a portrait than sitting a person down in a photo studio with bright lights and fake backdrops. It just takes an eye for the image and a little work in a digital-photo-editing software package.

Instructions

1. Scan your photo using a flatbed scanner. In the scanning software, set the highest resolution. Make it at least 300 pixels per inch, but more is better. You will be taking a small portion of the photo to make your portrait and you need all the digital information you can get.

2. Open your scanned image in your digital-photo-editing software. Make any tone adjustments and save the image with a different name than the original scan. This will allow you to go back to the original later if you want to try different techniques for portraits.

3. Use the "Crop" tool to find your best cut for a portrait. In most photo-editing software, the area outside the selection will darken to give you an idea of what the crop will look like before you make it. Do not be afraid to tweak the crop, and do not necessarily select a rectangular area with the person's head in the center. For example, you could place the person to one side, left or right, with a little more area on the other side, if the backdrop is attractive. If, for example, the background is a lake or ocean scene, or a garden of flowers, include some of it with the portrait.

4. Make the crop. If you do not like how it looks, click "Undo" and try again. The beauty of working with digital images is that you can do as many "do overs" as you wish.

5. Use your photo-editing software's filters or other special effects to give your portrait personality. For example, you can add a "Diffuse Glow" in some software that will soften the image. You also can use special effects to turn the portrait into art. Another method is to blur the background, which makes the person stand out. You can do this by selecting the person and using a blur filter on the background. In some software, you can "Feather" this selection so it fades between sharp focus and blur.

Make A Portfolio For Cartoons

Use a cartoon portfolio to expand clientele.

A cartoon portfolio is an important tool for cartoon artists. Art students use them to apply to art school. Professional cartoonists use portfolios to grow their client base. Portfolios are also used for entering competitions. Editorial cartoonist Mike Keith recently won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for his portfolio of 20 cartoons.

Hard copy portfolios are still the standard for art school submissions, but professional cartoonists are turning to the Internet to display portfolios. By creating a hard copy portfolio you'll be ready with the necessary components to add a digital portfolio later.

Instructions

1. Purchase a black or white portfolio binder filled with at least 20 plastic translucent sleeves. The binder should be large enough to accommodate images that measure up to 8 by 10 inches. Black and white binders are standard for college submissions but professionals can choose other colors.

2. Write and print out a short letter of three to four paragraphs introducing yourself and your objectives. Write about awards and recognitions received, experience--educational and professional--and include educational or professional goals. Insert this letter into the first binder sleeve.

3. Print copies of samples from your best work on high-quality card stock or photo paper. The copy should measure at least 5 by 7 and no larger than 8 by 10. Include samples that exhibit your skill and expertise along with samples that show personal vision and creativity.

4. Label the back of the image with information that includes the date the image was created, the medium used and the original size. Include two to three sentences describing the artwork. List any awards you received for the piece. If you manipulated the image using software, include that information.

5. Place one image of a sample artwork into a binder sleeve, facing towards the front of the binder. Use a small piece of transparent tape to secure the image inside the sleeve if necessary. Continue adding one image to each sleeve. Include between 12 and 20 samples of your work.

Identify Three Laws That Support Collective Bargaining

In 2009, more than 15 million American workers belonged to unions.

"You can't do it unless you organize." These famous words of renowned American labor leader Samuel Gompers were spoken long before the first collective bargaining law was enacted in the United States. The three major labor laws affecting American workers are the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 and the Landrum-Griffin Act of 1959. Finding information on these laws is as simple as a quick Internet search or a trip to the library.

Instructions

1. Research the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) of 1935. This is the landmark federal law supporting collective bargaining in America. Endorsed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the law made it legal to form unions and engage in collective bargaining. It also gave broad powers to the government to regulate labor relations; and it prohibited employers from penalizing workers for exercising their collective bargaining rights. Before the law was enacted, Americans had the right to join unions and strike. But American businesses also had the right to fire workers for joining unions or striking. An Internet search will reveal numerous resources describing the NLRA and analyzing its effects. You may also want to search for it as the Wagner Act, its informal name based on U.S. Sen. Robert F. Wagner who sponsored the bill.

2. Read up on the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, also known as the Labor-Management Relations Act. After 12 years of the Wagner Act, business fought back with the Taft-Hartley Act. Reviled by labor leaders and vetoed by President Harry Truman, the act amended the Labor-Management Relations Act by providing the government far more oversight over union activities, including the right of the U.S. president to stop a strike if it was deemed dangerous to national health. The act also stripped unions of their power in several ways, including forbidding unions from contributing to political campaigns and only allowing unions to organize after a majority vote by employees.

3. Research how the corruption of the labor unions led to President Dwight Eisenhower signing into law the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act in 1959. Also called the Landrum-Griffin Act, this law amended the Taft-Hartley Act to protect the rights of union members within their union and imposed new reporting requirements and codes of conduct on unions and employers.

Make A Plexiglass Windshield

Plexiglass is a material made of hard acrylic. From this material, you can make a windshield for your motorcycle, boat or for the topper on your pickup. Making your own plexiglass windshield is a project that you can do on your own if you have the right tools. Care must be taken when working with plexiglass, because the surface scratches easily.

Instructions

1. Decide what you want to make the plexiglass windshield for, and then make a template. Cover the existing windshield with a piece of light cardboard or poster board. If your windshield has any holes that need drilling, mark those places, along with any bend lines.

2. Cover both sides of the plexiglass with blue masking tape to help protect the plexiglass surface from scratches.

3. Trace around the pattern with a pencil or marker on the sheet of plexiglass.

4. Cut slowly and evenly with a band saw, saber saw or a jigsaw. The size of blade depends on the thickness and strength of your plexiglass. Ask the sales person where you purchased your sheet of plexiglass for the right sized blade.

5. Stand the windshield in an upright position. Sand the edges with a palm-sander equipped with 80-grit sandpaper and then repeat the sanding process with 220-grit sandpaper.

6. Drill holes with a smaller drill bit than needed. Drill slowly, especially when the bit is about to go through the other side. Drill the hole again, using a drill bit that is slightly bigger than your bolts.

7. Remove all the blue masking tape. Place the plexiglass on a work bench covered with a large sheet.

8. Curve the windshield if needed. Put a piece of cardboard between the plexiglass and clamp to protect the plexiglass and then clamp the plexiglass to your work bench.

9. Aim a heat gun along the bend line, but keep the heat gun moving at all times and don't get too close or the plexiglass will bubble. If you are unsure about bending your plexiglass, take a scrap piece of plexiglass and experiment before doing it on your windshield.

Make A Plastic Stencil For Graffiti

Banksy is renowned for using stencils in his street art.

Graffiti is not just about freehand painting with spray paint. Graffiti artists, and street artists in general, have become very resourceful in the tools they use to create art. Stencils, for example, have become popular in creating photo-realistic artworks for little money and effort. Banksy, one of the world's most notorious street artists, became famous solely for his use of stencils. Stencils can be hand-made with a few household tools, and creating them is a skill that any budding artist should acquire.

Instructions

1. Print a black and white design, the black areas representing the positive and the white representing the negative areas of the design, onto medium weight acetate film.

2. Lay the acetate onto a cutting mat. A piece of cardboard will do, in lieu of a cutting mat.

3. Tape the corners of the acetate down to the cutting mat to hold it in place.

4. Use a utility knife to cut out the black areas of the design.

Make A Pixel Doll

Make a Pixel Doll

Pixel dolls are virtual paper dolls with small, detailed features created in computer graphics programs. These dolls are used as website graphics, avatars on message boards and chat rooms and in Internet doll dress-up games. Pixel dolls are most often created from templates, known as "bases," and customized with detailed hairstyles and clothing, making each doll unique.

Instructions

1. Open your computer graphics software program, such as MSPaint, Adobe Photoshop or PaintShop Pro.

2. Load your desired base-the doll's body-into the program. The base has an unclothed body and a bald head with facial features. The base gives you a starting point to design your doll's clothing, shoes, accessories and hairstyle. If you do not have a base, most pixel doll websites offer a selection of doll bodies from which to chose.

3. Select the color palette. Your graphics program should have a color palette for each color, ranging from lightest to darkest. For example, if you want your doll to have red hair, a purple dress and blue shoes, select red, purple and blue.

4. Draw the outline of the clothing item using the smallest-sized paintbrush and the darkest color in the palette.

5. Select the graphic program's "Fill" tool and fill in the clothing item with the lightest color in the palette.

6. Select the second-darkest color from the palette and shade in the darkest areas of the clothing. These areas typically are under the bust, sides, underarms and clothing fold lines. Continue shading with the other colors as you see fit. For example, if you are creating a T-shirt with the light hitting the center of the doll's body, the lightest areas would be the top of the bust and the center of the shirt. Then, continue blending outwards.

7. Draw and shade the doll's hair and any other clothing items you wish to add.

8. Save your completed pixel doll as a GIF file.

Make A Piece Of Wall Art From Rusty Wire

A piece of rusty wire can be turned into art.

Perhaps one of the most famous objects of found art was Marcel Duchamp's urinal, which he displayed in 1917 and called it "Fountain." Today, using found objects is an accepted form of art; such objects can range from old stools, broken signs or statues, old toys to magazines. Found objects sometimes make the most meaningful pieces of art because they allow us to attribute a personal meaning to them. For example, you could take a large piece of rusty wire and turn it into a piece of wall art.

Instructions

1. Purchase a large canvas, at least 20 inches by 36 inches. Select acrylic paints in colors that complement or contrast with your decor.

2. Squeeze out a quarter-sized amount of each paint color onto a palette or paper plate. Make your painting strokes bold and strong, whether you intend to paint an image such as a person or a still life or simply make designs or abstract shapes of colors.

3. Arrange the rusty wire onto your canvas while the paint is drying so that some of the paint transfers onto the wire. Use the wire to outline your image or to interrupt or flow with your design. Experiment with its placement until you find a position you like. Allow the wire to dry on top of the canvas in that position.

4. Use a staple gun to fix the wire in place.

Make A Picture With Circle Cut Scrapbook Paper

Scrapbook paper is used for many different craft projects besides scrapbook pages. Decorative scrapbook paper can be used to make homemade cards, to decorate plain containers and to make decorative wall art. Make your own mosaic-style picture with circles of scrapbook paper cut from different colors of scrapbook paper and arranged to make a pattern or picture. Frame the art to decorate your wall.

Instructions

1. Punch several circles from the colored scrapbook paper using a circle paper punch. The smaller the paper punch, the more circles you will need.

2. Arrange the circular pieces of scrapbook paper into a design on the 12-by-12 solid colored piece of scrapbook paper. Cover almost the whole sheet of paper with the paper circles. The only paper that should show through is the space between the circles.

3. Glue the circles of scrapbook paper down, one at a time, onto the solid colored scrapbook paper with craft glue. Let the glue dry completely; this will take at least 10 minutes.

4. Frame the picture in a 12-by-12 frame.

Make A Picture Frame From A Card

Card Frame

A picture frame is simply a holder that surrounds a photograph or other two dimensional work of art. It can be made of almost anything. A picture frame is frequently a work of art in and of itself. It might be beautifully carved or uniquely shaped. A picture frame can be solid, the rear side of the frame featuring a decorative picture. Greeting cards often feature attractive designs on their covers. Greeting cards make excellent photograph frames. This is how you can make a picture frame from a card.

Instructions

1. Obtain a greeting card with an attractive cover. The cover design or picture can be anything you wish. It is enough that you find it attractive.

2. Turn over the card so the back is facing up. Using your ruler, draw a 6 3/4 x 4 3/4 inch box on the back side of the card. The 6 3/4 inch side of the box should follow the 8 inch border of the card. The box should be centered on the back of the card.

3. Cut out the box on the rear side of the card. Open the card and place the photograph on top of the box on the inside of the card. The picture should face out through the box.

4. Cut 4 short and thin strips of paper out the box you just cut out of the card. These strips should be identical. You will be using them to place over the corners of the photograph to hold it in place.

5. Place 1 strip diagonally over each corner of the back of the photograph. Glue the ends of each strip in place. You should now have 4 tabs that hold your photograph in place.

Make A Photo Scrapbook

Instead of placing all your pictures into a simple photo album and sticking it on a shelf to be forgotten, make your own scrapbook full of memories and photos. Use simple craft supplies to create a photo scrapbook of specific events or celebrations, or make a new book that focuses on each year.

Instructions

1. Choose a background paper. Use card stock for the backing to give your scrapbook page more stability.

2. Cut a coordinating paper to one-half an inch larger than the size of the photos. For example, if the photo you are using measures 4 inches by 6 inches, cut the paper to 4 1 /2 inches by 6 1 /2 inches. Repeat this step to create mats for each photo you plan to use.

3. Place a line of glue onto the back of each photo and position it onto the center of the paper mat. Glue the back of the photo mat and place it onto the background paper. Repeat with each photo.

4. Decorate the scrapbook page with embellishments such as brads, buttons, stickers and journaling. Add a title to the page using chipboard alphabet letters or words.

5. Place the scrapbook page into a page protector. Put the protected page into the scrapbook album. Repeat steps one through five to create multiple pages to fill the scrapbook album.

Make An Escherlike Tessellation

A tessellation is a repeated pattern of shapes that cover an entire plane without overlapping or gapping between shapes. M.C. Escher was an artist born in the Netherlands and was well known for both his "Impossible Structures" which included "Ascending and Descending," which was a never-ending staircase. Escher was also well known for tessellations. Two of Escher's works, "Lizards" and "Sky and Water" are examples of his tessellations. Creating an Escher-like tessellation is not as difficult as it first may appear.

Instructions

Square Method

1. Take a square piece of cardstock and draw a wavy line along one side of the square to begin the design. Use cardstock since the paper is heavy and can stand up to being traced multiple times.

2. Select another side of the square and draw another wavy line.

3. Cut out both wavy lines from the square. Do not throw the cut-out sections away.

4. Tape the cut-out sections to the opposite side of the square. For example, if the wavy line was cut out from the bottom section of the square, tape the cut-out section to the top of the square. Line up the cut-out section carefully so it sits directly above where it was cut out from. Repeat with second cut-out section.

5. Place the newly formed shape onto large piece of paper. Trace around the shape with a pencil. Slide the shape around the traced shape and trace the image again. There should be no overlapping or gaps between tracings.

6. Use contrasting colors to complete the tessellation. Color in the shapes alternating between colors to create a checkerboard like pattern. Escher commonly used black, white and gray in his tessellations.

Layer Method

7. Create a desired shape for your tessellation. This beginning shape can be anything, a bird, a lizard, a horse or a interesting shape.

8. Trace the shape onto your paper starting at the top center of the page. Slide the image to the right so that the tips of the shape touch but do not overlap. Continue moving the shape around the paper creating the shape over and over with just the tips of the image touching. This will create a different shape between the current shape that is the "gap" between current shape.

9. Use your imagination to determine what the gap shape between the traced shape might be. Use tracing paper to create a single copy of the shape to experiment designs with.

10. Draw in the features of the gap shape onto each shape if desired. Features may include eyes, ears, wings or fins if your gap shape looks like an animal.

11. Color in the shapes to create a checkerboard-like pattern using contrasting colors.

Make A Photo Montage In Sony Vegas

Make a Photo Montage in Sony Vegas

A photo montage is an excellent way to keep your most precious memories while reliving them alongside the soundtrack of your life. You can use a photo montage for special occasions like weddings, graduations or birthdays--or even just to view in the privacy of your own home. With the software programs that are available today, it's become easier than ever to create a photo montage, and Sony Vegas is an excellent program for doing just that.

Instructions

1. Open Sony Vegas on your computer. Select "Options" at the top of the window. Select Preferences from the drop-down menu, and in the separate window that opens up click the "Editing" tab.

2. Change the length of time that each photo will appear in your montage by adjusting the "New Still Image Length (seconds)" and typing the number of seconds you want your photo to stay on the screen. Hit "OK" when finished to confirm.

3. Open your pictures by clicking on the appropriate file in the window located in the lower left-hand side of the screen. Click the "My Pictures" file first if you're not sure where you've stored your pictures. Click and drag the photos into the timeline situated at the top of the window. Rearrange your photos by clicking and dragging them around on the timeline.

4. Add music by clicking "Insert" button at the top of the window and selecting "Audio Track" from the drop-down menu. Click the "Import Media" icon and then look in your music files to find the song you want to add to the montage. Click and drag it from the bottom of the screen onto the timeline where you've inserted the audio track and you now have a music photo montage.

Make A Photo Into A Cartoon

Easily turn this image into a cartoon.

Creating a cartoon based on a photo can allow you to create amusing gifts for a family member or friend, a keepsake for yourself, or something you might use for your webpage or your business. To do this, you will need a raster graphics program such as Photoshop, Photoshop Elements or the freeware program GIMP. This process works almost exactly the same in all three programs. Before you can use any of these programs, you will have to load the photo you want to use onto your computer, either by transferring a digital image or by scanning in a printed copy.

Instructions

1. Start Photoshop. Select "File" from the menu at the top of the interface and click "Open." In the dialog box that appears, locate the photo that you want to use this, select it and click "Open."

2. Go to the Layers panel on the right and right click on the background layer. Click "Duplicate Layer."

3. Click "Filter" from the menu at the top and click "Sketch" (in GIMP it is "Artistic"). From the options, click "Photocopy" and a dialog box will appear.

4. Adjust the sliders until you like the result. The goal is to get what looks like a drawing on a white background. Click "OK." If the results are not quite what you want, click "Undo" and try again with different settings.

5. Click "Layer" in the menu at the top and click "New Adjustment Layer." From the options, click "Levels." In the dialog box that appears, adjust the sliders until you like the result. In GIMP, the step is different. Select "Layer" from the menu and click "Transparency." Click "Add Alpha Channel."

6. Select the "Magic Wand" (in GIMP use the "Color Selection Tool") from the toolbar and click on the white part of the image. Click "Delete" on your keyboard.

7. Go to the Layers panel and click on the background layer. Click "Filter" in the menu and click "Blur." From the options, click "Gaussian Blur." In the dialog box, set the blur to 3.5 and click "OK." Save your work.

Make A Photo Collage Using Windows

Photo Collage

With the popularity of digital photography, one obvious trend is using computer software to edit digital photographs and to create scrapbook pages and photo collages. Use Microsoft Publisher for Windows to make a photo collage to display photos. Quickly and easily make an attractive collage by choosing a simple or patterned background and then adding the photos desired. After making the collage, save it and print it at home or at a print shop.

Instructions

1. Open Microsoft Publisher and select "New File." Select "Blank Page Sizes" and choose the page size and layout desired by double-clicking on the option desired.

2. Choose a background by clicking the "Format" tab at the top and then selecting "Background" from the drop-down menu. Click on the desired background from the available backgrounds that appear on the left sidebar.

3. Add pictures to the background by clicking the "Insert" tab at the top and then selecting "Picture." Select "From File" to locate the desired photo on your hard drive.

4. Resize photographs by right-clicking on the photo. Select "Format Picture" and then select the "Size" tab at the top of the window. Click on the arrows to make the photo larger or smaller as desired.

5. Add more photos and move them around the background to place them in the desired positions. Adjust the angle of each photo by selecting each photo and then clicking the "Free Rotate" button along the top of the workspace. Hover over a corner to change the angle of each photo.

6. Change the layering of the photos by selecting a photo and then clicking the drop-down menu next to the "Bring Forward" button along the top of the workspace. Choose to bring a photo to the top, the bottom or layered under other photos.

7. Add as many photos as desired and arrange them how you want on the background until the photo collage looks the way you want.

8. Place text captions or a text box onto the background. Click the "Insert" tab and then click "Text Box." Position the text box in the desired place within the collage and then select the desired font, the size of the font and the color of the font. Enter the text.

9. Click the "View" tab at the top of the work area and then click "Boundaries and Guides" to remove the selection lines around the photos and text boxes.

10. Save the collage by clicking the "File" tab and then clicking "Save As." Name your collage and save it in the desired location on your hard drive.

11. Print the collage on a color printer connected to your computer or transfer the file to a flash drive for professional printing.

Make A Paper Weight In Arts And Crafts

Make a paper weight using craft materials.

When you work in an office environment, paperwork can build up and become disorganized quite easily. One solution is to use a paper weight, which you can place on top of specific stacks of papers in order to keep them together. Instead of buying a generic paper weight from a specialty store, make your own paper weight using materials that you can buy from an arts and crafts supply store. This will enable you to customize the paper weight to your specific tastes.

Instructions

1. Paint over the entire surface of a smooth river rock that measures about 2 inches wide, 3 inches long, using acrylic paint. Select any color you like. Cover the surface with a single, solid color or use different colors to create a pattern. Allow the paint to dry for 20 minutes.

2. Paint a layer of clear acrylic glaze over the entire rock. This will prevent the paint from rubbing off and will give the rock a beautiful sheen. Allow the glaze to dry for 20 minutes.

3. Plug in a hot glue gun to heat up for five minutes, and then squeeze a pea-sized dollop of hot glue onto the painted and glazed rock.

4. Press a decorative bead onto the hot glue dollop, and hold it in place for one minute to allow the hot glue to cool and harden. Repeat to cover the surface of the rock with as many decorative beads as you like.

5. Squeeze glitter glue onto the rock. Trace around the decorative beads with the glitter glue, or add patterns such as dots, swirls or spirals. Allow the glitter glue to dry for 15 minutes before using the arts and crafts-style paper weight.

Make Greeting Cards

People send cards for every occasion-birthdays, weddings, graduations, new births-anytime communication is necessary. Making your own greeting cards can be cheaper than buying store-bought cards, but they are also more personal and fun to receive. By following these steps your cards can be as creative and intricate as you choose.

Instructions

1. Measure and cut a 9 inch by 8 inch rectangle on both the cardstock and the patterned paper.

2. Glue the patterned sheet to the cardstock and fold in half to make a 9 inch by 4 inch card.

3. Measure and cut a 6 inch by 3 inch block from the plain paper and glue to the front of the card.

4. Write a greeting on the front using markers or craft pens. For example, write "Happy Birthday!" or "Congratulations on your engagement!" in block letters or calligraphy.

5. Write your message inside using as much space as needed. If the cardstock color is too dark, paste a rectangle of light colored paper onto the cardstock to make writing visible.

6. Finish the card with stickers or stamps. Glue a light colored square to the back of the card for a place to draw a personal logo or quote.

Make A Paintball Splatter Effect

Create a piece of art by splattering acrylic paint.

You can make a piece of modern art by creating a paintball splatter effect with acrylic paints. When a paintball hits a surface, it creates a large blotch and splatter effect. You can re-create this effect for a piece of art by combining a few different splatter techniques. To make abstract art, you will create a graffiti effect that you can use as the main design or as the background in your art piece. Create bright colors and a variety of textures using a rainbow of paint colors and a few different techniques. Splatter painting is messy but enjoyable for all ages.

Instructions

1. Place a drop cloth down on the ground in the area where you will be painting. You will be placing your canvas or paper on a wall. This project is messy, so make sure to cover the area and several feet around the painting area, using several drop cloths if necessary.

2. Place an artist's canvas or a large piece of paper flat against the wall. For a permanent piece of art, use a canvas, and for a kid's art project, use less expensive pieces of large paper. Prop the artist's canvas on the ground against the wall, or hang it on the wall if desired. Attach the paper to the wall with pieces of painter's tape or push pins.

3. Place the opening of a balloon over a small funnel, and pour acrylic paint to fill the balloon about halfway. Carefully tie the balloon opening closed into a knot. Use small balloons for a smaller paintball effect, or you can use a variety of sizes of medium and large-sized balloons, if desired.

4. Throw the balloon at the canvas in the area where you want the paintball splatter effect. Use some force when throwing the balloon for the best effect. Allow the paint to dry for about 15 minutes, and then continue to throw as many balloons as you would like to create additional paintball effects. Allow drying for about 15 minutes in between.

5. Create additional splattering effects using a toothbrush. This will add texture and color to your piece. Dip the toothbrush into the paint, hold the brush with one hand and place the pointer finger of the other hand on top of the brush, flicking the brush to create a small textured splatter. Allow drying for 15 minutes.

6. Place the canvas or paper flat on the ground. Dip a paintbrush into paint and then allow the paints to drip around the splatter area. This will create more splattering effect, if desired. Allow drying.

Draw A Graffiti Tag

Draw a Graffiti Tag

Graffiti is a widely practiced form of art, most often as street art. Graffiti is usually done with spray paint and has a funky style that has blossomed into an entire graffiti culture--shoes, clothes and even photography dedicated to graffiti designs are available for interested consumers. A graffiti tag is like a sort of signature that a particular artist will use to mark all of his or her work. Drawing a graffiti tag is easy if you have a good idea of what graffiti style font you'd like to use.

Instructions

1. Use a pencil to lightly draw a square on a piece of paper with the preferred size of the graffiti tag. This box will help you concentrate on the graffiti tag as you are drawing it without worrying about disproportionate letters.

2. Draw out the first letter of the word you wish to use in the graffiti tag, using a printout of your preferred graffiti font for a reference if necessary. For samples of graffiti alphabets, go to http://www.mrwiggles.biz/graffiti_alphabets.htm. Graffiti letters are steadily outlined with different characteristics, such as rounded or sharpened corners and letters that lean.

3. Continue to draw out the graffiti tag, taking it one letter at a time. Start by drawing the letter out very lightly, adjusting and correcting any mistakes, then drawing over the finished letter with strong, bold lines. Use the side of your pencil tip to shade any letters accordingly. Make sure that the letters flow together and the finished tag looks like one solid product rather than individual solid letters.

4. Use an eraser to remove the original box.

Diy Sand Cast

Carve a design into the packed sand, then fill with plaster and let dry.

Sand casting is a fun way to make special stones for a garden or an artistic wall hanging for a bath or bedroom. You can make a simple mold filled with plain white plaster, or decorate the plaster with bits of beach glass, shells or whatever you have. You can then add a name or date, make a garden stone that records a birth or marriage, or just make an impression of your child's hands.

Instructions

1. Lay out newspaper to protect your work area.

2. Fill the pie pan half-full with sand.

3. Add oil to the sand until the sand sticks together.

4. Pat down the sand until it is about one inch consistently thick, building up another 1/2- to 3/4-inch on each side.

5. Fashion your design in the sand with a spoon or knife. Dig holes and build ridges where needed, and use toothpicks to write in letters and dates.

6. Carefully mix plaster of paris, following the package's directions.

7. Slowly spoon in plaster until the mold is covered. If you want to add ornamental objects, place them in the sand before spooning on plaster. If you want to hang the design somewhere, press a paper clip into the top edge of the casting.

8. Allow the plaster to dry overnight. Remove the plaster casting and brush off any excess sand.

Make A New Msn Id

Make a New MSN ID

MSN has come a long way since its original inception. Now, MSN and all of its features are known as Windows Live. When you create a new MSN ID, you are creating a Windows Live ID. With your new ID you gain access to blogging, web email and Windows Live Messenger. The account sign up requires the same basic information that most email registrations require.

Instructions

1. Open your web browser and navigate to the Windows Live sign up page (See Resources).

2. Click the link "Or get a Windows Live email address."

3. Create a Windows Live ID and select if you want to use an "@hotmail" or "@live" address. You have to change your ID if you are notified that the one you chose is already taken.

4. Create and retype a password.

5. Enter an alternate email address or click "Or choose a security question for password reset." If you click the link, select a question and create an answer.

6. Enter your first name, last name, country, state, ZIP code, gender and birth year.

7. Type the code shown at the bottom of the page. If you cannot understand to code click "New" for a new code or click "Audio" for an audio version of the code.

8. Click "Accept" to finish registering for MSN.

Draw Mosscovered Rocks

Moss covers rocks in bright green hues.

Artists enjoy drawing rocks because their mottled, irregular appearance makes for an interesting and varied subject. Rocks also offer studies of heavy forms that prove useful for those studying volume and shading. Adding moss to this equation heightens the visual interest and textural quality of rock drawings. When drawing your moss-covered rocks, be sure to vary your use of line as you move from drawing the rock's surface to capturing the appearance of moss.

Instructions

1. Study the surface of the rock that you wish to draw. Some rocks display sharp, jagged angles, while others remain rounded and smooth. Note these qualities of texture and shape.

2. Sketch the outline of the rock lightly in pencil. Do not make hard lines because they look unnatural.

3. Note the areas of moss on your subject. Observe the size and growth patterns of the moss.

4. Lightly draw the outline of the mossy area using your pencil tip.

5. Turn your pencil tip on its side and shade inside of the rock. Apply pressure to your pencil to create darker tones on the sides of the rock. This adds volume and dimension. Do not shade inside of the region outlined for moss.

6. Using the tip of your pencil, make quick, vertical strokes to draw the moss. Continue this process throughout the outlined region.

Enter Wwe Contests

World Wrestling Entertainment fans love all of the perks that come with being a fan, but the best perks are the free prizes given out by the WWE community. In these contests you can win trips, clothes, toys, magazines, autographs and other collectible memorabilia. Most of the contests involve just entering your name, but others force you to put your WWE knowledge to the test.

Instructions

1. Visit the WWE website (see Resources below). It is full of wrestling content, but also offers many contests. Head to the homepage and click on the "Contest" link on the left side. Follow the instructions and register.

2. Visit the WWE news blog (see Resources below). This blog offers WWE trivia and history, but every month it holds a contest with different prizes. To win prizes you have to answer trivia and other questions.

3. Purchase a copy of WWE magazine. Every month the magazine offers two chances at winning WWE merchandise. The first chance is open to you if you own WWE merchandise and can send in a picture of yourself with memorabilia such as shirts, blankets or even toys. The second contest is a "Guess the Match" contest featuring a close-up picture of WWE superstars competing and a few clues; you will have to identify the wrestlers.

4. Watch "WWE Raw," "Smackdown," "Superstars" or "ECW." All four of these WWE shows features various ads for contests associated with the WWE. Many of these contests send users to websites to enter, but some--such as "Mr. McMahon's Million Dollar Giveaway"--actually take place on the show.

5. Sign up for WWE Swag Bucks. This is an enhanced search engine that rewards users points for random searches. Basically it will replace the search engine you have and you will receive "Swag Bucks" every so often. You can redeem those swag bucks for WWE merchandise like trading cards, action figures, DVDs and clothing items.

6. Visit Wrestlezone.com. Wrestlezone is one of the most popular WWE websites, and occasionally it runs contests. These contests vary, but the website gives away excellent prizes, all related to the WWE.

7. Attend an independent wrestling show. Independent wrestling shows attract fans by offering them a chance at a WWE prize. This prize can be WWE tickets, autographs, replica belts or posters. Purchase raffle tickets if you want a chance at winning.

Hang The U S Flag On An Inside Wall

Hang the U.S. Flag on an Inside Wall

Hanging a U.S. flag from an inside wall requires the same etiquette observances as when displaying it by any other means. The watchword is respect: respect for the people, the events and the lives spent and lost represented by the U.S. flag.

Instructions

Properly Hang the U.S. Flag on an Inside Wall

1. Select a well lit wall space in a prominent location to display the U.S. flag, reflecting a respectful attitude towards what the U.S. flag represents. The U.S. flag should not be hung with its union (stars) below any other flag, nor hung as a drapery or cover.

2. Ensure proper orientation of the flag. Display the flag horizontally or vertically with the flag's union to the flag's own upper right, the observer's left.

3. Support the flag along its top seem to prevent a sagging in the middle, especially for horizontal display. This can be accomplished with additional wall fasteners, backing, or both.

Make A Reverse Prank Call

Most people have some form of caller ID these days, making the art of the prank call almost obsolete. But, it's still possible to have some fun on the phone if the prank call is completed in reverse. A reverse prank call is a way to involve friends and acquaintances in the game without their knowledge that the game is even going on.

Instructions

1. Wait until someone calls your telephone. The reverse prank call is a joke on the person who calls you, not the other way around.

2. Answer the phone with a planned phrase. This can be pretending to be another person or a business. If you plan to be someone else, putting on a funny accent can make the call much more entertaining. The accent doesn't have to be perfect--in fact, it's usually funnier if it's not. You can also plan to answer the phone as yourself but plan strange things to say to the person who called you.

3. Use a planned scenario that involves just enough strangeness to keep the caller wondering what's going on. It should not, however, be strange enough that the caller figures out that he is being pranked and hangs up. Interspersing strange phrases in with normal ones will keep the call going longer.

4. Have another scenario and accent planned in case the pranked caller calls back again, believing that he has gotten a wrong number. In some cases you may be able to reverse prank call someone four or five times in a row before they figure out that they've been pranked.

Make A Montage

Montages consist of a set of scenes that show the passage of time, a progression of events, or an emotional transition. Dialogue is usually replaced by a song or a composed score. Whether you are an aspiring professional or a seasoned filmmaker, there are a number of rules for successful montage-making.

Instructions

Pre-Production

1. Plan the most effective way to film the scenes in your montage. Consider the resources that you have available to you (e.g. locations, on-screen talent), and what you want your montage to communicate. If your montage is designed to illustrate a plot of some kind, be sure that the information is presented to in a fast-paced but easily understood way. Or, if the goal of your montage is to establish a tone or an emotional development, think through be consistent in things like lighting, props and scenery since consistency will help convey your message.

2. Type up the individual scenes or sequences of your montage into a computer-based screenwriting program. If you are writing the montage for another director, avoid unnecessary direction, such as details about camera work or angles. Begin by typing the word "MONTAGE," using all caps in the top-left side of the screen. If you decide to title your montage, place a hyphen after the word "MONTAGE," and then type your title in all caps. For example, a montage named "A Day at the Factory" would appear on the page this way: "MONTAGE - A DAY AT THE FACTORY."

3. Decide which of the montage formatting techniques you want to use. Typically, montages are formatted similarly to the "Series of Shots" method, which describes a list of shots that occur in the same location. For example, after typing the scene heading, order each shot with either a number, a letter or two hyphens, before describing each shot. This is how the list of shots might appear on the page:

INT. -- WAREHOUSE -- DAY

1) The group looks around at the trashed Warehouse and rolls up their sleeves.

or

A) The group looks around at the trashed Warehouse and rolls up their sleeves.

or

-- The group looks around at the trashed Warehouse and rolls up their sleeves.

List the rest of the montage shots in your preferred format.

4. Familiarize yourself with screenplay formatting rules for montages taking place in several locations. You can signify and/or title the montage as described in Step 3 and proceed with the Series of Shots formatting, typing a new location in all caps before the description of the shot. For example:

-- PRINCIPAL`S OFFICE. Cheryl distracts Mr. Fussbudget.

-- HALLWAY Damien and Carol sneak by undetected, the rival mascot tucked away in a duffel bag.

If the multiple-location montage is relatively short, or has only two or three locations, you can simply leave the sequence in traditional formatting with new subheads. For example:

INT. PRINCIPAL`S OFFICE -- DAY

-- Cheryl distracts Mr. Fussbudget.

INT. HALLWAY -- DAY

-- Damien and Carol sneak by undetected, the rival mascot tucked away in a duffel bag.

If the montage is taking place in different areas of one location, describe the action in paragraph form. For example:

INT. DANCE HALL -- NIGHT

Focus on Marty and Sheryl dancing romantically at the center of the dance floor. Chip and his Goons stand nearby sneering until Chip walks away, past Seth and Miranda sharing an awkward silence at the punch bowl. Seth does a little dance move and Miranda laughs, extending her hand. Seth takes her hand and they move to the dance floor.

5. Write the script once you are comfortable with the formatting techniques. List the shots in the order that they will be seen during the final cut of the film. Write a description of the shots in straightforward, succinct language. Use present tense, action words and proper punctuation. Signal that your montage is over by typing, "END OF MONTAGE" or "RETURN TO SCENE" in all capital letters.

6. Create a storyboard, or a drawn visual representation of each shot, for your montage. The storyboard should roughly match what the final filmed montage will look like. Make adjustments if the storyboard brings to your attention logistical gaps to your script.

7. Plan the shoot using the storyboard and script. Make a list of shots by location, and note what actors, props, costumes, lighting and scenery will be needed at each venue.

Production and Post-Production

8. Film scenes that take place at one location all at once, and then move on to the next location. It's ideal to have a script supervisor on set to track continuity, which can be particularly important in a passage-of-time montage.

9. Begin editing by opening your computer-based editing software and retrieving the footage from your camera. Order the footage in the five-track "timeline" of your editing program, which can usually be found at the bottom of the screen. Video footage is typically loaded into the first track of the timeline.

10. Make adjustments to the video track to ensure that the duration of each shot is similar to what you planned during the storyboarding stage. Using the editing program's tool bars, add any desired effects (for example, fading in or out of scenes, dissolving from one shot to the next), or transitions (for example, wipes, split screens or overlapping images).

11. Import music into the editing program. Align the video footage (typically, the first track in the timeline) with the audio (typically, the second track). Play the video and audio footage simultaneously to ensure that they match up. You will likely need to adjust the video footage slightly and manually fade out the audio at the end of the montage.

12. Play your montage to make sure that the video and audio are in sync, that the effects and transitions work correctly, and that the montage conveys the sequence, tone or emotional growth that you had envisioned. Finalize the montage by saving it, locating the editing program`s "Burn DVD" icon, and making copies of your masterpiece.

Make Rolling Ball Sculptures

A world globe sculpture that turns on its axis would be a form of kinetic art.

Making rolling ball sculptures is a form of kinetic art. Kinetic art is art that has moving parts, such as a mobile that moves when there is wind or Newton's cradle, which moves with one ball hitting another. A rolling ball sculpture uses the force of gravity to roll the ball down paths, curves and zigzags. The material is open to the imagination but must be firm enough to hold the ball. Artists have created rolling ball sculptures from material such as wood, wire, paper and bamboo. (See Resources for the paper and bamboo and references for wood and wire examples.)

Instructions

1. Decide on the type of material for the sculpture such as wood, paper or wire along with how large you want to make the sculpture.

2. Find a ball or balls for the sculpture. The size of the ball will determine the size of the track. The track may be larger than the ball but cannot be smaller than the ball.

3. Make the tracks by forming curves, slopes and zigzags. For the ball to roll there needs to be a constant slope. Create an interesting sculpture by making multiple tracks that include curves and zigzags to make the ball roll from one direction to another.

4. Build a support for the tracks such as wooden legs or wire support rings. Attach the support using glue or nails.

Make Crayon Molds Out Of Old Crayons

Melt old and broken crayons in various shapes.

A box of crayons is a staple in most houses with kids, and odds are you will end up with broken or old crayons. When this happens, you don't need to toss the old ones, simply reuse them and make crayon molds out of old crayons. This is one craft you can do with the kids by letting them break the crayons into small pieces and make shapes they can use as new, recycled crayons or as a homemade showpiece you can display in the kids' room.

Instructions

Muffin Tin Molds

1. Preheat your oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray the inside of a mini-muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.

2. Remove the paper from the old crayons, break them into smaller pieces and place the pieces in the cups of the muffin tin. Fill to 3/4 full.

3. Bake the crayons for seven minutes and remove from the oven.

4. Stir each muffin cup with the wood skewer to ensure there are not hard chunks left.

5. Let the melted wax cool for up to two hours. Remove the molds by turning over the tin and tapping the back of each cup with a spoon.

Cookie Cutter Molds

6. Take the paper off the old crayons, break them into small evenly sized pieces and place them in small paper cups. Ensure the cups are microwave safe.

7. Microwave the crayons for four minutes. Check the wax at around three minutes to see how much has melted. Remove the cups after four minutes.

8. Stir the melted crayons with the wood skewer.

9. Place a piece of wax paper on a cookie sheet and set cookie cutters on it. Pour the wax into the cookie cutters until it reaches the top of each cutter.

10. Let the wax cool a few minutes, then place the baking sheet in the freezer to harden the molds. Leave the molds in the freezer for at least 30 minutes, remove and gently push the molds out of the cutters.

Make Avatars For Your Yahoo Profile

Whether you use the Yahoo Internet site to check your mail, perform searches, participate in message boards and forums or play games, you can create an avatar to represent you on the web. Avatars are small graphical cartoon files which may be completely customized to your skin color, hairstyle and personal style. Yahoo's own avatar building system lets you tailor avatars from top to bottom with a palette of personalization options. As you make changes, your avatar instantly updates on the screen so you can see how everything goes together.

Instructions

1. Double-click your Yahoo profile on the Internet and hover your mouse over the current photo or empty box. Click the "Change Photo" tab that appears. Click the "Add Avatar" link.

2. Choose whether your avatar should be male or female, then click "Create my Avatar."

3. Click the "Appearance" tab, then begin by choosing a skin color for your avatar. Select an option from the "Face and Eyes" section, then click the "Hairstyles" link under the "Appearance" tab. Scroll through the hairstyle options; each hairstyle has a selection of color boxes next to it. Click a color box for the hairstyle to change to that color.

4. Click the "Apparel" tab and select an option from underneath the tab, choosing from an entire outfit or individual top and bottom sizes. Choose "Plus Size" if you wish to have a plus-size avatar.

5. Click the "Extras" tab to include a variety of items to your avatar, such as fashion accessories, pets, a holiday theme, charity symbols, flags and sports.

6. Click the "Backgrounds" tab to place your avatar in the middle of an action scene such as outer space, a spa or bright patterns.

7. (Optional) Click the "Branded" tab to find accessories and outfits specially related to name brand companies and businesses.

8. Click the "Save Changes" button when your avatar is complete.

Make Styrofoam Figures

Styrofoam pieces

Styrofoam has always been one of the easiest materials with which to make creative projects. Lightweight, easily glued and cut, Styrofoam can be used to make a fine array of figures. Figures can range from a snapping turtle to a praying angel or anything else that your imagination can think of. A few simple supplies and a little creativity will have you turning bland white Styrofoam into exciting, colorful figures in no time flat.

Instructions

1. Sketch out what you want to make. Keeping the figure simple will keep your project simple, but even elaborate figures can be broken down to create with Styrofoam. Decide on what figure you want to create. Let's say it's a turtle. Draw a rough sketch of the turtle's outline, which would include four stumpy legs, a rounded shell back, a stumpy neck, round head and triangular tail.

2. Get your Styrofoam pieces. Visit your local arts and craft store or go online to find pieces that match the shapes you need. A small round ball works for the turtle's head. A medium ball cut in half will work for his shell. A Styrofoam cylinder can be sliced into smaller pieces for his legs and neck. Get a thinner Styrofoam sheet for his tail and other details.

3. Prepare your pieces. Cut your Styrofoam to the desired size with a thick utility knife. You can also use chopping knives from the kitchen, just make sure to clean them both before and after using on Styrofoam. Make sure to put a pile of newspapers or something else down under the surface where you are cutting so you don't destroy the tabletop or other surface. For the turtle, slice the cylinder into five pieces: one for the neck and four of the same size for the legs. Slice the medium ball in half for use as his shell. Cut a small triangle from the Styrofoam sheet. You can also cut two flat circles out of the sheet to use as his eyeballs.

4. Connect your pieces. Smear a thin layer of craft glue on either side of the two pieces you are going to connect. For added security, dip each end of a toothpick in glue and stick it between the two sides as an anchor. Keep gluing until each piece is secured. Prop the figure in a safe place to dry thoroughly.

5. Decorate. Once the glue is dry, paint your figure as desired. Spray paint works well on Styrofoam since it is a very porous material. If using more than one color, wait until each portion is fully dry before adding the next. Cover places you do not want painted with newspaper taped with painters tape.

Make The American Flag

Make the American Flag

When you purchase an American flag, they are often made from a single piece of nylon fabric. The red, white and blue design is dyed into the material. An American flag has thirteen red and white stripes, to symbolize the original American colonies. The fifty stars represent the American states. The following pattern gives instructions on make an American flag that measures just under three feet by five. The stars in this pattern are not sewed on, yet an industrious seamstress can alter the steps and attach the stars by needle and thread.

Instructions

1. Cut fifty stars from the iron-on white fabric. Each star should be two inches by two inches, and have five points. If you want stars to show up on both sides of the flag, you will need to cut 100 stars. Use the two inch by two inch template as a guide.

2. Arrange the stars on the blue rectangle. There will be nine staggered lines. Six stars are in the top row and five stars are in the second row. This pattern continues for all nine lines. Secure each star with a straight pin, and use a ruler to equally space each star. After the stars are affixed, begin ironing the stars to the blue fabric, one at a time. Remove each star's pin before ironing that star.

3. Sew together the red and white 32-inch strips of fabric. Begin with a red strip, and lay it against a white strip, sewing the length of the two strips together with a quarter-inch seam. As you add a new fabric strip, alternate colors. The end result will be a red and white, horizontal striped rectangle with a red stripe on the top and bottom of the piece.

4. Sew the red and white rectangle to the blue rectangle. The width of each rectangle is wider than its height. Sew the blue rectangle to the left side of the striped rectangle.

5. Sew the red and white five-foot strips of fabric together. Begin with a white strip, and lay it across a red strip, sewing the length of the two strips together with a quarter-inch seam. As you add a new fabric strip, alternate colors. The end result will be a red and white, horizontally striped rectangle with a white stripe on the top and a red stripe on the bottom.

6. Sew the two pieces of the flag together, with the white stripe edge sewn onto the bottom of the top half of the flag. Iron the seams flat on the reverse side of the flag. Use the zig-zag stitch of your sewing machine to sew over all seams. This will give the flag a more finished look on the reverse side.

7. Add a strip of bias tape to the left side of the American flag. The tape should be two inches wide, and folded to make two one-inch sides. The tape should wrap around the left edge of the flag, and sewn on.

8. Add a grommet to each end of the biased area. Affix a grommet to the lower left hand corner and the upper left hand corner of the flag. Create a hole through the fabric, in the center of each grommet, which will be used for hanging the flag.

Make A Mario Mushroom Beret

A Mario mushroom beret is a red, mushroom-shaped hat with a large, puffy mound and a small brim. Mushroom hats are shaped similarly to berets, except that the crown of the hat is large and puffy. Mario is the name of the iconic character from the video game company Nintendo's game Super Mario Brothers. Mario wears a large red, puffy hat with a small brim and a white circle with an "M" on it. You can make your own Mario mushroom beret to wear as a part of a Mario costume.

Instructions

1. Fold the red polyester in half. Set the pail lid onto the fleece and trace around the lid with a black fabric marker. Keep the fabric folded and cut out two circles of fleece by cutting both layers of fabric at the same time while you cut on the black line of the circle with fabric shears.

2. On the scrap pieces of fleece draw a brim that has a 6-inch long curve, is 2 inches wide at its middle and 1 inch at both ends. Cut two pieces for the brim of the hat with fabric shears.

3. Take one of the fleece circles and set it down on your workspace. Place the 4 1/2-inch round plastic lid at the center of the fleece. Trace around it with a fabric marker. Cut the circle out to make a head hole for the hat.

4. Set your sewing machine to a long, straight stitch that is 8 to 10 stitches per inch. Place the two large circles together and align their edges. Sew the circles together with a sewing machine, leaving a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Place the two brim pieces together and align their edges. Sew the edges of the two brim pieces of the hat together with a 1/2-inch seam allowance.

5. Turn the hat inside out. Turn the brim inside out. Set the open edge of the brim along the left edge of the circular hole of the hat. Stitch the brim to the hat with a 1/2-inch seam allowance.

6. Cut a 6-inch circle out of white craft foam. Draw a capital "M" centered on the circle. Pin the white circle with a safety pin onto the hat. Or if you like, you can sew it on with your sewing machine with its settings on a long straight stitch and a 1/4-inch seam allowance.