Make Calligraphy Pens

Writing with a calligraphy pen

Create your own "beautiful writing" with a calligraphy pen you make yourself. As the instruments of an art form that goes back to the Middle Ages, calligraphy pens have flat "nibs" and hold ink with which to write in a particular style. Long ago, hand-cut, feathered quill pens were dipped into ink wells. Today, a good and useful calligraphy pen can be made with a felt-tip permanent marker and a razor blade.

Instructions

1. Lay the paper towel on a work table. Remove the protective cover from a permanent marker and hold it over the paper towel.

2. Hold a razor blade at an angle against the tip of the permanent marker and begin, carefully, to slice off the side of the tip. The aim is to create a flat, thin nib with which to write. A proper calligraphy pen has both a wide and a thin side to create a beautiful wide and thin lettering style.

3. Flip the pen over and slice the other side carefully with the razor blade. Lay a flat side on the paper towel and slice off the bottom of the pen to create the wide part of the nib. Wipe the blade clean periodically on the paper towel.

4. Practice writing with the pen in calligraphy on the copy paper to determine whether or not more slicing with the razor is necessary to achieve the desired thickness and thinness of the pen. The permanent marker holds a considerable amount of ink so there is no need to dip it into an inkwell.

5. Like calligraphy pens of the past, sharpening may be necessary with a razor.

Find The Value Of A 1990 Marvel Card

Old Marvel cards could be worth a mint, or just pennies.

As you're cleaning out the closet, you stumble across a 1990 Marvel comic trading card. You imagine that it may be worth a mint, but you don't know properly value it. Several factors go into properly assessing the value of collectibles, and non-sports trading cards are no different.

Instructions

1. Examine every inch of the card with a magnifying glass, checking for scratches, marks, dents or any other imperfections that may affect the overall value. Collectors generally favor cards with sharp corners, smooth edges, perfect centering (both side-to-side and top-to-bottom) and clean surfaces. If any of these features have been compromised, the card loses value.

2. Clean the surface of the card with a felt cloth. This is especially critical if the card had been kept in a dusty place. Place the card on a flat surface and run the cloth gently over the front, being careful not to ding the corners or edges. Once the card is wiped clean, place it in a plastic sleeve and a card holder to preserve its condition. These supplies can be purchased cheaply at any sports card store.

3. Take the card to a shop that deals in non-sports memorabilia to have an expert tell you what he thinks the card might fetch. Some sports card shops carry non-sports products, so that's a good place to start. If you don't have any luck there, try a comic book store. While the employees there deal primarily with the value of comics, they may still be able to shed some light on the worth of your card. If you live in a larger city with multiple options, try them all. The more consultations you have, the more accurate estimate you will have of the value of your card.

4. Check eBay for current listings or recently ended auctions involving your card, or ones like it. Seeing what people have paid recently, as well as watching ongoing auctions, are the best ways to establish an item's current market value. Use "1990 Marvel card", plus the character featured on the front, in eBay's search bar. Scan the results to see if any match the card you own, and click "Watch This Item" to monitor the auction until it ends.

5. Set a value that takes everything you've learned into consideration. One way is to take the values you've been given, and use a calculator to work out an average.

Make Bracelets

Shell and sterling silver toggle bracelet

Handcrafted bracelets can look artsy or elegant, depending on the jewelry design. There are so many ways to make bracelets, from forming your own cuff bracelets out of metal to knitting wire in elaborate patterns, from making a wire-wrapped bracelet to knotting a simple leather rope around your wrist. Here you'll learn make traditional artisan bead bracelets with toggle clasps. Toggle clasps are the ideal clasp for bracelets, as they are easy to get on one-handed. You can also use a lobster claw clasp or a box clasp, if you prefer. This bracelet design calls for .024 inch beading wire such as Accu-Flex or Soft Flex. This is a thick, sturdy beading wire ideal for bracelets, as bracelets take the most wear and tear of any kind of jewelry. For more delicate, formal-occasion styles, use .019 inch beading wire. If your design includes pearls, which have very small drill holes, use .014 or .012 inch wire.

Instructions

1. Cut the .024-inch beading wire to 11 inches, using the flush cutters. This will make a standard 7 1/2-inch bracelet. If the wrist is larger, add 3 to 4 inches to the wrist size and cut the wire to that length.

2. Thread one end of the jewelery wire into a crimp bead, then straight into the small ring on the bar part of the toggle clasp. Loop the wire back down the crimp bead. The bar part of the toggle clasp is now loosely fastened to the beading wire. Flatten the crimp bead and secure the bar by squeezing the crimp between the chain-nose pliers.

3. Thread the wire with an assortment of beads. Use focal beads and spacer beads---which are small beads that set off the larger, more prominent beads---in any pattern you like. Thread a few small beads first, since the bar end of the toggle clasp will need to bend back to fasten onto the ring, and larger beads would get in the way. Stop threading when the bracelet is about 7 inches long, as measured with the bar lying perpendicular to the strand.

4. Fasten the ring onto the bracelet. To do this, loop the loose end of the beading wire onto the remaining crimp bead, then into the small ring on the ring part of the toggle clasp. Loop the wire back through the crimp bead as before.

5. Test its length of the bracelet around your wrist, while the bracelet is temporarily fastened like this. If it is too long, remove excess beads, and if it's too short, add more beads. Then, loop around the crimp and toggle again and compress with the chain-nose pliers, securing the bracelet.

Make Bottle Cap Necklaces

Make Bottle Cap Necklaces

Making jewelry is a favorite past time of mine! I love getting to be creative! I started collection bottle caps not knowing what I would ever use them for, when one day I saw a woman wearing a beautiful necklace made from bottle caps! From that day on I was determined to figure out make bottle cap necklaces! After a couple months, I have now perfected my method and made it as simple and not time consuming!

Instructions

1. First things first. You need to place your bottle cap, sharp side down onto your board. Flatten using the rubber mallet.

I find it easier to do all your bottle caps now, instead of having to come back and keep flattening them as you move on*

2. Punch a hole into the flattened bottle cap using your nail and hammer. Depending how you are making your necklace, you may want to punch two holes to link more then one bottle cap together!

This is an additional step! If you would like to put images into your bottle caps, Such as pics of your children, grandchildren, pets, or friends feel free. If no then just skip step 2 and move on to 3! Also if you are going to paint your bottle caps, you should do so now! Feel free to get creative adding your own techniques!

3. Using your 1' punch cut out your images, then glue the image to the inside of you bottle cap, make sure you wait for it to dry before proceeding on.

Seal your image with a thick coat of your diamond glaze, or a similar product.

4. To make a single pendant, use your pliers to attach your jump ring through the punched hole and slide it carefully onto the base of the necklace.

When making a linked necklace, use your pliers and jump rings to link the bottle caps together and attach a jump rind at the top, then slide onto your necklace base.

Making bottle cap necklaces is a fun any easy project! So why stop there, now try making key chains, bracelets, or picture frames! Please pass on these simple steps on make bottle cap necklaces! Its a great way for the people you know to express themselves!

Hang A Flag Horizontally On A Wall

The flag should be treated with dignity and respect.

If you want to display your patriotism and make a statement about your country, hanging an American flag is a good way to do so. But whether you display your American flag outside on a flagpole or inside on the walls of your home, it is important to follow proper display etiquette. The American flag should be displayed in a respectful and solemn manner, no matter where you choose to place it.

Instructions

1. Determine the best place to hang the flag on your wall. The American flag should be the focal point of the wall, so avoid displaying it with a lot of other unrelated items. You can, however, display the flag alongside military medals and similar items.

2. Place the flag flush against the wall where you want to hang it. When hung horizontally, the stars should be on the left-hand side.

3. Hang the flag flat against the wall. Use mounting materials that will not harm the flag, such as mounting squares or double-sided tape. Do not use anything that will damage the flag.

Make A Padded Scrapbook

Scrapbooks offer a creative way to showcase memories.

Scrapbooking allows you to archive your family pictures in a creative way. Once your photos are arranged and labeled in an album, they are forever protected for generations to come. Scrapbooks range from simple to elaborate. The cover of a scrapbook sets the tone for the entire album. Padded scrapbooks are especially beautiful and embellish the overall feeling of the album. With a few easy-to-find items and several craft techniques, you can make a padded scrapbook to contain your family memories.

Instructions

1. Remove the posts and pages from your scrapbook album. Set them aside.

2. Measure your album's front and back covers. Measure two quilt batting pieces the same size as your album's front and back covers.

3. Using scissors, cut the two pieces of quilt batting using the measurements from your album's front and back covers.

4. Using double-sided tape, adhere the quilt batting to the covers on each of the covers' four corners. While this technique does not firmly attach the batting, it does keep the batting in place as you work with your scrapbook.

5. Add 1 1/2 inches to the measurements of your front and back covers. Measure two fabric pieces using these measurements. The extra length allows the fabric to wrap around to the inside edges.

6. Cut the two pieces of fabric to size using your scissors.

7. Lay the fabric pieces on your work table, print side down.

8. Lay the front cover and back cover with batting side down on top of the fabric. Center your fabric so that all edges have about the same amount of excess fabric showing.

9. Apply hot glue to all inside edges of your front and back covers. Fold the excess fabric inside and press it onto the glued edges, attaching the excess fabric to the inside edges of the album. Set the covers aside.

10. Cut two pieces of heavy cardboard 1/2 inch shorter than the front and back cover measurements. This will allow a small amount of fabric to show on the inside of the covers.

11. Apply glue to the edges of your inside front and back covers. Place the cardboard on top and gently adhere it to the insides of the covers.

12. The fabric obscures the holes needed for the posts to go back in, so carefully take your sharp scissors and cut the holes open.

13. Take all the posts and pages and re-assemble the album.

Make Vinyl Cutter Art

Vinyl cutting can be used to create sleek and solid graphics for the purpose of art or business. Vinyl cutter art is achieved by using a vinyl cutting machine, which can be purchased in some graphics/signs stores, crafts stores, or online. While there are many different brands of vinyl cutting machines, the majority of them are similarly designed. To begin making vinyl cutter art, you will need to own a vinyl cutter, purchase the vinyl material of choice, and have a graphic in mind.

Instructions

1. Set up your machine. The machine will need to be removed from the box. It is suggested in some user guides that two people handle machine to avoid injury or dropping. The legs will need to be screwed on, and the roll holder will need to be attached to the back. Make sure the cutter is placed on flat, firm surface. Turn the machine on.

2. Set up your material. Load the material through the roll holder. Make sure the material is straight, and pull the vinyl through the roller. Once the vinyl has been pulled through, manually adjust the width of the roller to the width of the vinyl.

3. Adjust the blade. Consult your user's manual on the particulars for setting the blade, because this step is unique for different brands of vinyl cutters. The blade will be adjusted to stick out from the holder as a very fine point.

4. Choose your graphic. Most vinyl cutters come with software, with which you can choose a graphic for the machine to cut out. If you cannot find a graphic you like on the software that came with your cutter, you can download free templates online or purchase additional graphics software designed for the vinyl cutter.

5. Start cutting your vinyl. Most user guides request that you do a test cut first to make sure your blade is set to the correct depth. If your vinyl cutter has a digital display screen, you will most likely have the option to choose "Sample Cut." If your sample cut fails to cut the vinyl, your blade is not set deep enough. Reset your blade and repeat the sample cut until the blade is set deep enough to cut through the vinyl.

6. Create your vinyl graphic cutout. Now that your sample cut is complete, and graphic has been chosen, you are ready to start your cutout process. Either your cutter will have a display screen with online ability, or it will need to be hooked up to your computer. Using your vinyl cutter software, send the graphic you have chosen to your cutter. When the file is sent to your cutter, your cutter will begin to cut the image out of your vinyl material.

Make Bolt Sculptures

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Solder bolts and nuts together to create an abstract sculpture.

Making sculptures from bolts is something to consider when pondering sculpture ideas. Using a bit of imagination, an artist may turn bolts into an interesting realistic or abstract sculpture. Purchase the size bolts needed from the local discount or home store. Another option is to recycle old bolts by looking around the house, visiting a scrap yard or hitting flea markets. Scrap bolts are a bit more work but their age and added texture could give the finished artwork a bit of character.

Instructions

1. Sketch out a concept for the bolt sculpture such as creating a person or an abstract design.

2. Gather the bolts needed for the concept. Such as a large bolt for the head and smaller bolts for the hands.

3. Put the concept together and rearrange as necessary until satisfied with the design.

4. Heat the solder iron until hot.

5. Paint flux on one of the bolts with a small paintbrush.

6. Solder two bolts together. For a thin solder, touch the solder iron to the solder and then move it back and forth on the bolt. To create a thick solder, hold the solder over the flux and heat with the soldering iron to melt.

7. Wipe off the flux with a damp rag.

Make Body Paint

Body paint is a fun way to decorate your skin, without the permanent results. Kids and adults can both enjoy painted tattoos and designs for any occasion. The paints are very easy to make and non-toxic. With just a few items that can be found in any supermarket, you can make a ton of body paint that will last a long time! The paint can be stored in tiny makeup pods or any other small containers for future use. Whether you are using the body paint for parties or just for the fun of it, you will love this easy body paint recipe.

Instructions

1. Choose the color body paints that you would like to create. Do this by choosing your colored tablets.

2. Crush your tablets individually with a mortar and pestel.

3. Place each of the crushed tablet powders into a separate container.

4. Add a small amount of cream to each colored powder. Start with a small amount and then add more if necessary to reach your desired color. Less cream will create a darker color, while more will lighten the paint color.

5. Mix each individual color well. It is important that each body paint is thoroughly mixed evenly.

6. Apply the body paint with a brush or your fingers to create the design.

Make A Stopmotion Video On Windows Movie Maker

Manipulate clay figures to "perform" in a stop-motion video.

A stop-motion video gives the illusion that still objects are moving. You can achieve this effect by taking still pictures of objects, slightly changing their placement for each shot, then using video editing software, such as Windows Movie Maker (WMM), to compile them and generate the stop-motion video. Clay figures are a common choice because the clay's flexibility allows the user to easily position and change the clay figure's posture for each photo.

Instructions

1. Mold the clay to make at least two basic figures. These clay figures will be the objects of the stop-motion movie.

2. Find a spot to set the camera and secure it in its position. The camera should remain in this position while you take pictures with it. You may change its angle a bit, but overall, it should remain in its position throughout the picture taking process to ensure a smooth stop-motion movie.

3. Set the two clay figures on a clear surface standing adjacent to each other in front of the camera and take a picture of them.

4. Adjust one of the clay figures--for example, move one figure's foot up, and take a second picture of them. Every picture you take will have a new change to it and in the long run it will create the illusion that your figures are moving, when in reality, they are still. Continue this process until you have enough pictures for the stop-motion movie. A hundred pictures will equal about thirteen seconds of video.

5. Right-click on your computer's desktop and select "New" and then click "Folder" to create a new folder for the pictures you just took.

6. Connect your camera, or its memory unit, to your computer and transfer the pictures into the folder you just created.

7. Start Windows Movie Maker, click "File," and then "New Project" to create the video workspace.

8. Click "File," then "Import Media Items..." and select all of the images you just transferred from your camera by pressing "Ctrl-A." Press "Import" to have them imported onto the workspace. Repeat this step to import any audio files you wish to use for the stop-motion movie as well.

9. Click on "Tools" and then on "Options..." to bring up the options screen.

10. Locate the "Picture Duration" setting (it might be under the "Advanced" tab depending on your version of WMM) and set the value to "0.125" seconds. This changes the picture duration of each picture to eight frames per second, which allows the stop motion video to play fairly smoothly.

11. Locate "Imported Media" on the left task bar (under "Edit") and click on it. This will bring up the tab with all of the picture and audio files you previously imported onto the workspace.

12. Click and drag your mouse over all of the pictures you want to use for the stop-motion video from the "Imported Media" tab to select them.

13. Drag the the selected pictures onto the video section of the timeline located towards the bottom of the WMM window.

14. Click to select any audio files you want to use to add sound effects in your video from the "Imported Media" tab and drag them onto the audio section of the timeline.

15. Click and drag the audio selections on the timeline to make them correspond to the video portion of the timeline.

16. Click "File" and then "Publish Movie..." to open the movie publishing options.

17.Choose "Publish on this computer...," name the movie and choose its save location, select its publishing quality (the "Best quality for playback on my computer" option is recommended) and click "Publish" to begin the video publishing process.

Make Bead Animals

Make Bead Animals

Beads are versatile, easy-to-learn accessories that can be used in a variety of applications. Making animals out of them is one great way to use them for holiday decorations, toys for children or pins for a shirt or jacket. With a few easy steps to follow, almost any animal can be made.

Instructions

1. Draw out the animal you wish to create. Start with flat designs and then move on to more three- dimensional animals. An example of an easy one is a frog.

2. Gather 50 green beads, 12 yellow and 2 black. Get 2 yards of satin cord and a key chain or hook.

3. Fold cord in half. Take the middle fold and pass it through the hook or keychain and loop through with a half-hitch knot to hold it in place.

4. Line up beads according to pattern created.

5. Cross both threads through the first row of beads, one starting at each end.

6. Continue to the next row, again passing the cord through each end through the entire row. Repeat for each row until the end row.

7. Knot the two ending cords together in a double knot, and place a small drop of Crazy Glue to hold the knot in place.

8. Try a few more flat animal patterns until you have gotten the hang of creating the look you want for each animal.

9. Create more three-dimensional animals by using bead wire. Wire does require pliers and more precaution. Once the beads have been threaded and tied off, shape the wire with your fingers to create the rounded shapes.

Make Beaded Wire Key Rings

Any kind of beads can be used to make beaded wire key rings.

Make a beaded wire key ring to give as a gift or to keep for yourself. You can personalize your beaded key ring with any type of beads to create an original dangle. Jewelry wire and key rings for this project are available at any beading or craft store. You can also make small beaded key rings to use as cell phone dangles or zipper pulls.

Instructions

1. Choose the beads you'd like to use on your key ring dangle and lay your design out on a bead board or piece of fabric to prevent the beads from rolling off your work surface.

2. Cut a length of wire about 4 inches longer than your desired key chain. On-line beading website Beadie Friends recommends 18- or 22-gauge wire for key ring dangles. 22-gauge wire is easier to work with, but 18-gauge is stronger.

3. Use round nosed pliers to make a loop at one end of the wire. This loop will be attached to your key ring so close it securely. Make a loop and wrap the wire around itself several times to ensure it won't come loose.

4. String your beads on the wire according to your design.

5. Make another loop to close off or end your design. You can also end with a spiral or create a free form design with round-nose pliers. Make the loop, spiral or free form design secure enough that your beads don't slide off.

6. Tuck the wire into the end beads of the key ring dangle. Trim any excess wire if necessary so there are no sharp edges exposed.

7. Place the beaded key dangle onto your key ring and enjoy.

Make Beaded 3d Animals

Making three-dimensional (3-D) animals with beads can be a simple craft for children or adults. The same technique of stringing pony beads onto a satin cord is done to make animal body shapes. Create your own patterns to make several 3-D beaded animals. The cord is looped onto a key ring and can be used as key chains. Making beaded animals works well as a group project for kids at a birthday party. They can make and trade their creations.

Instructions

1. Cut a 6 foot strand of satin cord with the scissors. Fold the cord in half and drape the loop in the key ring. Pull both ends of the cord through the opposite side of the loop to connect it to the key ring. This is a half hitch knot.

2. String pony beads onto one end of the cord to begin your animal shape. Feed the other end of the cord through the pony beads going in the opposite direction. This holds your beads horizontally in a row. Add your pony beads to the cord making rows to design the animal body. Keep the cord pulled snug to keep the rows together but not too tight to curl up the rows of beads.

3. Make a knot in the cord close to the last row of beads once the body shape is completed.

4. Cut 1 foot strands of satin cord to create the head, arms or wings, legs and tail. Feed the strand halfway through the first row of beads so that each end is hanging out of each end of the row. String beads onto the cord and feed the second strand through the beads to pull it into a horizontal row. Continue stringing beads onto the cord until the head is complete and tie a knot at the end.

5. Thread the string through the sides of the body to add arms or wings to your animal. Use the same beading technique. Add feet or legs by stringing pony beads to the bottom of the animal's body.

6. Make a tail for your beaded animal depending on what you are making. Weave a small piece of satin cord through the middle beads on the back side. Use the same stringing technique to add beads and tie the cord into a knot when finished. You now have a 3-D beaded animal key chain.

Make Barb Wire Balls

Barbed wire can also be made into an art form.

Barbed wire, also known as barb wire, first became popular in the American West as a means to separate and corral livestock. It provides an easy-to-construct physical barrier that works by threatening injury rather than being physically strong. Over the years, it has been developed for protection and warfare as well as for agriculture. Depending on the manufacturer, barbed wire can have a different look and even style to the barb. In the last few decades, barbed wire has been used to create art from simple balls of wire to complex physical sculptures.

Instructions

1. Put on the safety goggles and leather work gloves.

2. Grab one end of the barbed wire and bend it into a circle, using pliers if necessary. Use a cheap plastic ball as a guide for size and curves if you want a more uniform shape, or just wind it like a ball of twine.

3. Bend the end around the wire of the loop and crimp it with pliers to secure it.

4. Wrap the wire into a sphere, using pliers to help guide the shape. Continue doing this until the ball is the desired thickness.

5. Snip off the remaining barbed wire, using wire cutters. Bend the end around one of the loops of wire and crimp it with pliers to secure it.

6. Poke the ball with a blade -- if you used a plastic ball as a guide -- to deflate it and use tongs to pull its remains from the inside of the barbed wire ball.

Make Barb Wire Art

Transform barbed wire into an art masterpiece.

Although it might seem like one of the least likely art innovations, barbed wire can serve as material for building sculptures. If you would like to build your own piece of barbed wire art but don't know handle the sharp wire, start with a simple barbed wire art piece such as a wreath. Creating an artistic barbed wire wreath will help you learn handle the wire for more advanced art projects.

Instructions

1. Put on the heavy work gloves. Put on safety glasses to prevent damage to your eyes.

2. Curl the 4-foot piece of barbed wire to make a circle that will be the foundation for the wreath.

3. Thread the long end of the 4-foot piece of barbed wire through the circle, and loosely coil it around the foundation circle.

4. Repeat Step 3 until there are only 4 to 6 inches left of barbed wire piece that remain unwrapped around the wreath.

5. Tightly coil the remaining end of the barbed wire around the wreath to prevent it from slipping and uncoiling.

6. Wrap one end of the 6-foot piece of barbed wire tightly around the wreath so that it is tightly secured to the wreath frame.

7. Thread the long end of the barbed wire through the wreath and wrap it loosely around the wreath frame.

8. Repeat Step 7 to thicken the width of the wreath until you have roughly 4 to 6 inches of barbed wire left. Tightly twist the end of the barbed wire around the wreath frame to secure it to the bulk of the wreath.

Engrave A Pen

An engraving can be a beautiful finishing touch on a pen.

Engraving the body of a pen personalizes it for yourself or as a gift. This is most common with fountain pens or other expensive pens. It does reduce the pen's resale value, so if it's particularly expensive or a collector's item, you may want to avoid engraving. You will need a steady hand to engrave well. If your handwriting is poor, have the pen professionally engraved to avoid ruining it.

Instructions

1. Purchase an engraving tool if you do not already own one. Air engravers are small, easy to handle and adjustable for a variety of materials. Because they do not heat up, they are particularly safe. Electric engravers can cut a deeper groove and work well on fountain pens that have wood grips. Laser engravers have the most power and can cut a deep groove even in metal and other hard materials. They require a very steady hand. See NexTag.com in the Reference section for information and price comparisons on hundreds of engraving tools. If you're a beginner, go with an air engraver. If you have more experience and want to work with a hard metal such as titanium, get a laser engraver.

2. Set up your materials on a flat surface in a well-ventilated area. Consider clamping down the pen for added stability as you work. Wear protective goggles and gloves. Rubber gloves will give you the best traction on both the pen and the engraving tool.

3. Test the engraving tool on a cheap pen made of similar material, or on a piece of scrap material. Get material as similar to the pen body's as you can so you get a feel for the depth of the groove. Try different depth settings with the engraving tool to settle on the groove depth you want. Practice making letters. If you find your hand is a little unsteady, consider using all capital letters on the pen.

4. Create a design on paper to use as a guide for the engraving. This could be a name, an image, a company logo or other decorative design. Use a fine-tip marker or pencil to trace the design on the pen. Begin engraving over the design. Work slowly and steadily and follow the design closely. If your hands or arms start to get tired, take a break to keep your hands as steady as possible.

Make Balloon Animal Party Hats

Balloon hats are fun to make.

Everyone remembers how fun balloon hats can be as a kid. It's one of the few balloon animals that's designed specifically for you because a balloon hat won't fit anyone else's head as well as the person it was made for. A balloon hat is an entertaining way to make someone feel special. And the best part is, you can have all the fun of a balloon animal without having to carry it around all day; it just sits on your head!

Instructions

1. Blow up three balloons. This is made a lot easier by a balloon pump made just for this purpose. Believe it or not, those long balloons are difficult to blow up on your own.Make sure that you leave a couple of inches of the balloon not blown up. This gives the air inside the balloon someplace to go when you twist the balloon around. Otherwise, the pressure will build up in the balloon, and it will pop.You can choose balloons of any color; a balloon hat of a single color might stand out more, while a multicolored balloon hat might look more fun.

2. Tie the mouthpieces of two of the balloons together. Put the mouthpieces at the forehead of the person you're making the hat for, and circle the balloons around the person's head. Note where the balloons come together in the back to make sure the brim of your balloon hat fits well. Twist the two balloons together at the point you noted.

3. Tie your last balloon mouthpiece to the mouthpieces of the other two. Curve this balloon perpendicularly to the other two. This balloon will go over the top of the wearer's head. Twist the balloon at the same spot as the other two. Now the basic balloon hat is done.

4. You can wear it as it is now, or make things more interesting by twisting little bubbles into the balloon or twisting the remaining portions of the balloon into interesting shapes. The complexity is entirely up to you.

Make A Wooden Flag Pole

Make a cost-effective, homemade wooden flag pole with just a few supplies.

A wooden flag pole can be more aesthetically pleasing than a metal one. The wood can be stained to give an old, crafted look. Passersby who view your homemade flag pole displayed in your front yard will likely wonder if it was something you had custom made. But the reality is you will spend very little money to make a wooden flag pole. On top of that, you'll have the satisfaction of having made it by hand.

Instructions

1. Buy a wooden rod at the hardware store in the height you would like for your flag pole, keeping in mind that about 10 percent of the total length will be sunk into the ground.

2. Attach a rope cleat half way up the pole (after subtracting the portion of the pole that will be in the ground). Use the cleat's screws and a power drill to attach it securely to your pole.

3. Attach a pulley to the top of your flag per instructions on the pulley's package. Thread the thin rope through the pulley until it makes a loop that extends 10 to 12 inches lower than the rope cleat. Knot the rope together using a double knot and trim off the excess rope with scissors.

4. Secure the flag to the rope using flag clips or hooks placed onto the rope. Follow the instructions on the package to secure the hooks to the rope properly. Clip the hooks on the flag at the flags' grommet holes.

5. Dig a hole about a foot wide and to a depth of at least 10 percent of the pole's total height. Mix cement in a bucket according to the package instructions. Pour the cement into the hole until the hole is nearly full. Sink the ground sleeve into the wet cement according to the instructions that come with it. Place a bar level over the top of the cylindrical ground sleeve to ensure it is level. Allow the cement to set for 24 hours.

6. Insert the flag pole into the ground sleeve and secure using the tightening screw that comes with the ground sleeve. Raise the flag by pulling down on the rope pulley system and wrapping excess rope around the rope cleat.

Make A Wooden Ashtray

Design your own ashtray.

Smoking is indeed a dirty habit. Not only is it a dirty habit as far as your health, skin, and teeth, it is also dirty for your home. Smoking around the house results in ash dust, and burn marks. Make sure you have somewhere to put your ashes to protect your home and furniture. By designing your own ashtray, you can also create an attractive tray to put your ashes, instead of using a cheap and ugly dollar store ashtray.

Instructions

1. Apply wood glue to the top edges of the 5 inch by 5 inch square of hardwood. Apply each of the four 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch 4 1/2 inch long border pieces onto each side of the square. Each of the border pieces should overlap onto the edge of the next side of the square. Apply a little wood glue to the end of each border piece so that they will be glued to each other. Let the glue set four hours.

2. Sand off any excess dried glue and any rough edges on the ashtray. Sand the wood until the entire surface is smooth.

3. Apply wood stain to the ashtray using a paint brush. Apply the stain in an even, back and forth motion. Let the stain dry and apply one more coat. Let the ashtray dry over night.

Make A Victorian Scrapbook

Scrapbooking preserves treasured family memories.

In Victorian times, women and children often kept a scrapbook to display pictures, letters or family history. Looking at the scrapbooks with other family members was a popular pastime, just as it is for some families in the 21st century. To make your own Victorian scrapbook, choose colorful images and layer them on the book's cover using the decoupage technique. A Victorian scrapbook makes an ideal gift for family or friends, or use it as a place to store your own special memories.

Instructions

1. Cut out Victorian-themed pictures or images from newspapers or magazines. Several websites also offer a large database of free Victorian images.

2. Arrange the images on two pieces of thick card stock. One sheet of card stock serves as the scrapbook's front cover and the other serves as the back cover.

3. Apply glue to the Victorian images and paste them on the card stock. Partially layer the images over other images to create the decoupage effect.

4. Let the glued images and card stock dry overnight. After drying, place heavy objects on top of the card stock, such as several books or magazines.

5. Align the two pieces of card stock. Place several sheets of white or colored paper between the card stock. Use a hole punch to make three or four holes down the left side of the paper and the card stock.

6. Thread string or ribbon through the holes. Tie a knot in each ribbon to hold the pages and scrapbook cover together.

7. Varnish the images on the front and back covers by spreading a thin layer of clear glue over the card stock. This secures the images and ensures that they do not peel away from the card stock.

8. Paste Victorian images on the scrapbook pages. Make the scrapbook look authentic with Victorian-styled lettering or borders.

9. Glue other embellishments to the pages, such as lace, bows or pressed flowers. Keep embellishments relatively simple so the focus stays on the picture or letter on the page.

Make A Velvet Sombrero Hat

Velvet sombreros offer a formal, fun look.

Sombreros are not only traditional to Mexican dress, they're also a stylish way to protect yourself from sunburn. Sombreros come in many styles, from straw and leather to fabrics like velvet. Velvet sombreros aren't usually part of daily dress; they're usually saved for special occasions. However, if you're going to a themed summer party or an all-day outdoor bash, a velvet sombrero could keep your skin healthy and complement your outfit at the same time.

Instructions

1. Spread out two pages of newspaper, turning the top page so its corners bisect the sides of the page below it. Lift up the papers carefully and place them on your head.

2. Gently push and mold the papers down against the crown of your head. Starting in the center of your forehead, wrap painter's tape tightly around the newspaper. This forms a bowl shape for the crown of your hat.

3. Take off the hat and set it on a flat surface, pressing gently down on the crown to splay the excess paper out around the bottom of the crown. Fold up the edges of this excess paper to create a round sombrero brim. Tape the folds into place with more painter's tape.

4. Mix equal parts white school glue and warm water in a small bowl. Paint the mixture all over the inside and outside of the paper hat to stiffen it. Allow the paper hat to dry overnight.

5. Spray the crown of your hat with spray adhesive and drape a piece of stretchy velvet over it. Smooth and press the velvet down over the glued crown. Tie the velvet into place at the base of the crown with a piece of faux leather thread. Tie the thread into a decorative bow or let the ends hang against the brim of the hat.

6. Lift up the velvet and spray the paper on the brim with adhesive. Press the velvet into the brim of the hat, smoothing it with your palms. Cut away the excess velvet around the edges of the brim, leaving about 1 1/2 inches of excess.

7. Flip the hat over and cover the inside with velvet as you did the outside. Trim this piece of velvet right along the edge of the sombrero.

8. Fold the extra fabric from the top of the sombrero down around the edge. Stitch it into place with faux leather thread and an embroidery needle using a whip stitch. The whip stitch should wrap around the edges of the sombrero.

Make Plaster Of Paris Flower Pots

Plaster of Paris is a material that can be used in many craft projects. When it comes to crafting, it's a jack-of-all-trades material. In the nineteenth century, craftsmen cast hands and feet using Plaster of Paris so fine artists could learn to draw the human form from them. Today Plaster of Paris can be used to make jewelry, bookends and even flower pots. Its an easy material to work with and a rewarding one because Plaster of Paris dries fast.

Instructions

Creating the Mold Form for a Plaster of Paris Flower Pot

1. Fill the plastic tub with the sand. Take the spray bottle filled with water and start wetting the sand. Mix the sand around as it's being sprayed. Try to get an even consistency of dampness to the sand. Judge the dampness of the sand by picking up a handful and making a fist. If the sand sticks together it is wet enough.

2. Scoop out some sand in the middle of the tub and set a perfectly smooth sided form down in the sand like a paper coffee cup from a fast food restaurant. Pack the sand tight against the cup. Make sure the sand is well packed 3 inches all the way around the cup.

3. Pull the paper cup out of the sand carefully. The mold in the sand is the outside shape of what will be a Plaster of Paris flower pot.

Mix Plaster of Paris

4. Take a clean 2 1/2 gal. plastic ice cream pail. Pour in a quart of cool water. Put on a dust mask and use the 1 qt. empty plastic sherbet container to scoop out some Plaster of Paris.

5. Start sprinkling dry plaster into the water. Add it slowly and steadily. Don't add the plaster all at once.

6. Keep adding plaster until the water won't absorb anymore of it. Dry plaster will start to sit at the top of the water. This is the signal that the right amount of plaster has been added to the water.

7. Take a rubber spatula and start stirring the water and plaster together. Do this gently so as not to get air in the mixture. Don't over stir or the plaster will start setting up too fast.

Coating the Inside of the Sand Mold With Plaster

8. Wait until the plaster is the consistency of a thick malt. When it reaches this point the plaster will be hardening faster and faster. There is not much time to work with it.

9. Take a straw that has been coated with Vaseline and stick it down into the sand right in the center of the mold so that the straw is standing straight up and down.

10. Dip the rubber spatula into the plaster and drop a blob of the plaster into the bottom of the mold. Quickly spread it around and try to sense how thick the plaster is on the floor of the mold.

11. Load the rubber spatula with more plaster and start buttering the inside wall of the mold being careful not to dent it. Keep moving the tub of sand around in a circle as the inside wall is being buttered so that the wall is evenly coated. Build it up so that it is at least 1/4 inch thick.

12. Let the plaster dry hard. Pull out the straw to reveal the drain hole at the bottom of the flower pot. Carefully pull the plaster flower pot out of the sand and brush off as much sand as desired.

13. Seal the plaster flower pot when it is bone dry with a clear acrylic sealer on the outside to help it last longer.

Make A Type Self Portrait

A Type Self Portrait is created on the computer.

Typography self-portraiture combines the art form of design technique and type lettering arranged with personalized images of one's self. This complete portrait combines the mind, body, and soul synergy in a therapeutic form of self expression. Linguistics, aesthetics,

psychology, and sociology all play an important role in the outcome of the picture.

Photoshop computer software programs enable the average educated artist to create a personal characterization.

Instructions

Creative Expression

1. Use the scanner to convert the photograph to a digital image.

Choose a clear photograph with a complete image of the face or profile to provide the

base to work upon. Adjust the program setting on the scanner to match the color or

black and white photograph. Scan the picture at the highest resolution to create the personal image snapshot. Crop or enlarge the photograph as desired.

2. Computer software programs provide the tools to create type portraiture.

Open the Illustrator or Photoshop program on the computer. Go to "File" and under that to

"New File." Once "New File" is open, proceed to "File" again, and click on "Place" to select

the image. In the Panel Swatch, click on create a "New Layer." Select the pen tool and

trace the outline to compose the portraiture.

3. A variety of fonts types and shapes create the design.

Picture the overall vision of the completed project in the mind's eye. Compose an outline with pencil and paper. Pick self-defining letters and words to illustrate the personality and essence of the digital artistic portrayal. Use a variety of font type, size, and style to express yourself. Include small or large capital letters, bold or italic verbiage, or extended and condensed type. Additional graphic shapes or illustrations may be added into the composition.

4. Digital imaging is the new medium for self expression.

In order to produce an interesting level of contrast and shape, continue in the Photoshop

software program by going to "Image," then over to "Adjustments" and finally click on "De-saturate." Proceed to click "Exposure" to increase the amount of print desired in the face. Go to "Filter" and under that to "Blur." With the text tool, pick a word, letter or graphic to begin the process of composing the self-likeness imaging picture. Copy and paste these images in sequence until finished.

Make A Twisted Wire Necklace

Make a Twisted Wire Necklace

Jewelry artists can bend wire into a large variety of shapes to create unusual and attractive wire jewelry. Twisted wire is often used to enhance the visual appeal of these pieces. The supplies needed for this necklace include twisted wire, memory wire for necklaces, jewelry pliers, a large focal bead and wire cutters. It is best to use memory wire shears to cut the memory wire because the hard wire can damage the blades of jewelry pliers. However, if these are not available, then use heavy duty wire cutters or a pair of jewelry cutting pliers that you can afford to discard.

Instructions

1. Use the memory wire shears to cut one full loop of the memory wire. Use the wire cutters to cut 11 feet of the twisted wire. Bend the twisted wire in half and cut again.

2. Grip one end of the memory wire with the round nose pliers and turn the pliers to make a loop.

3. Wrap one strand of the twisted wire around one half of the memory wire necklace, starting from the center. Slide the twisted wire tube off the loop. Wrap the second strand of twisted wire around the memory wire.

4. String the bead onto the necklace wire. Slide the twisted wire tube back onto the loop.

5. Repeat Step 2 to form a loop at the other end of the twisted wire necklace.

Make A Turtle Out Of A Tessellation

A tessellated pattern can be simple or complex.

In the strictest sense, a tessellation is a repetitive shape pattern in which there are no gaps between each shape. Tessellations are often created with geometric shapes; however, in an artistic setting, these repetitive patterns can be created with almost any subject. A turtle, for instance, makes a great subject for tessellation, because it is simple and easy to draw. An easy line drawing of a turtle works best for a tessellation project. The drawing needn't be shaded, or three-dimensional. The tessellation process gives even the flattest images a sense of depth and movement.

Instructions

1. Draw several uniform circles on a sheet of paper. Use the bottom of a 16-ounce cup as a pattern. This allows each circle to be exact. Place the Styrofoam cup in the center of a piece of paper. Trace around the bottom of the cup with a pencil. Move the cup, and make sure the circle is exact. Erase any extra tracing marks.

2. Draw another circle. Place the cup about 1/2 inch from the first circle. This circle can be above, below or to either side of the first circle. Trace around the bottom of the cup. Continue this step until the entire paper is covered with circles. Allow the circles to extend off the drawing surface.

3. Select one center circle to represent the first turtle. Draw its neck and head. The neck should be about 1/4-inch in length and width, while the turtle head should be somewhat diamond-shaped. Draw the head so it extends through the empty space between two of the closest circles. The head should stop about halfway through the space.

4. Add two upper legs. These top legs should connect to the circles on either side of the turtle you're working on, as well as the circles above the turtle. Connect one leg to the circle on the right and to the circle above it. Connect the other upper leg to the circle to the left of the turtle's body. Make sure that leg touches both the circle above it and the one to the left side as well.

5. Add the two bottom turtle legs. Draw the bottom right leg below the right upper leg. This leg should touch the bottom area of the same circle on which the right leg is connected, as well as the circle situated on the right side bottom. Draw the bottom left leg. Attach the left leg to the bottom left-side circle. This leg should touch the bottom area of the same circle on which the upper left leg is connected, as well as the circle on the bottom left. Repeat this process on every circle.

6. Add detail to the turtles' shells and legs. Draw a circular shape in the center of each turtle's back. Add five to six shapes around the center circle, then draw about seven more shapes onto the outside area of the shell. Draw straight lines on each turtle leg. Add two curved lines on the turtle's face and two black dots beside each line.

Make A Triadic Color Wheel

The Colorist

Artists and designers use color wheels to establish color scheme before beginning a project. With colors evenly spaced around the color wheel, one can create colors that are monochromatic, analogous, complimentary or triadic. Triadic color schemes combine any three colors of equal distance from one another on the color wheel. Triadic colors are determined by using the points of an equilateral or isosceles triangle.

Instructions

1. Use the compass to draw a 10-inch circle on "all media" drawing paper such as multimedia artboard or Strathmore 400 series drawing paper. Inside the outer circle, pencil in a 5-inch circle with the compass. Inside the second circle, make a 2-inch circle. With the black marker, outline each circle. Using the ruler, divide the circles into six sections like pie wedges. This is the foundation.

2. Using colored pencils or paint, color in the primary colors, starting with yellow, the lightest hue, at the top of the color wheel. Along the outer circle, move clockwise four spaces and color the space in red. Moving in the same direction, go down four spaces and fill in blue. Primary colors are true colors, which are not the result of the combination of any other colors. These three colors make a primary triadic color scheme.

3. Create secondary colors by combining primary colors. Secondary colors are more subtle. Mix red and yellow to make orange. Along the outer ring, move clockwise; apply orange two spaces down from yellow. Next, blend red and blue to make violet. This hue goes two down from red, directly opposite of yellow on the wheel. Secondary colors are also known as complimentary colors. These hues are opposite one another and considered secondary triadic color scheme.

4. Generate tertiary colors by blending one primary and one secondary color equally. Yellow and orange make yellow-orange. Apply one space after yellow. Orange and red make red-orange. Color in one space after orange. Red and violet creates red-violet. Blend and place right after red. Blue and violet makes blue-violet. Apply to the left of violet. Blue and green creates blue-green. Color in one above blue. Yellow and green make yellow-green. Place above green. These create a tertiary triadic color scheme.

5. Create an extension of the color wheel by now working in the 5-inch circle and later moving into the 2-inch circle. Split the tertiary colors into color values. Add white to one of the colors to bring a lighter version of the hue, called a "tint." Add black to the color, in order to give a darker version or "shade" to the hue. Start dark in the 5-inch pie shapes. Then, continue to color in the center circle where the tints will be lightest. Consider these extensions for triadic color scheme combinations.

6. Place the drafting triangle in the center of the color wheel. The three colors touched by the triangle points at once create triadic colors. Consider a project and examine triadic colors carefully. Keep them balanced. Let one color dominate. Use the other remaining colors as accents. For strong visual impact, use extreme contrasting hues with the triadic color wheel. Primary colors will create the greatest impact. For a dynamic triadic color combination, merge yellow, turquoise and magenta.

7. Move the triangle around the color wheel. If the colors look kitschy, subdue the color value. Allow one color to dominate, one to be secondary and a the third to be an accent color. Try another combination by using two warm colors or tones and another cool color or tone. Use lively color combinations, or experiment with contrasting triadic combinations. Consider the combination's visual effect.

8. Instantly establish triadic color schemes by using an interactive color wheel. The Color Schemer website allows individuals to immediately and effectively create specific color combinations including monochromatic, complimentary and triadic to name a few. Go to scheme on the page and select "triadic." Now, choose the primaries of red, yellow and blue. Next, decide on saturation and tone values. Create the exact combination that you wish. This program works wonders when a designer or artist has time constraints.

Make A Tissue Paper Orchid

Have bouquets of beautiful flowers all over your house.

Some people have a green thumb and can grow anything without worrying that the plant will die soon after planting. Some people are so inept at gardening that plastic flowers wilt when they are near. The perfect solution for this gardening problem is learning create paper flowers. Tissue paper makes beautiful flowers that never need watering or rearranging. Making orchids with tissue paper is the easiest way to get a beautiful vase full of flowers without the worry of wilting.

Instructions

1. Cut the tissue paper into small squares. The best size for orchids is 3-by-3 inch squares.

2. Fold the squares like an accordion. You achieve accordion style by folding about a quarter inch of one edge of the paper back onto itself, then taking that quarter inch and the quarter inch now under it and folding that in the opposite direction. Continue to do this until the entire square is folded accordion style.

3. Orchids have four petals called tepals and the middle called the column.

Cut the wire to the length of 4 inches.

4. Tie the wire around the folded tissue paper one inch in, leaving two inches on the other side of the wire. The ends of the wire need to be even. You will use this to attach the flower to green skewers.

5. Fold down the two-inch long side of the tissue paper. Cut three thin strips in the front and fold those in three opposite directions. Fluff the middle a little bit as desired. This is your orchid. Repeat this process as many times as desired to make an entire bouquet of orchids.

6. Attach the flowers to green skewers with the ends of the wire and arrange as needed.

Get An Appraisal Before Buying Art

Get an Appraisal Before Buying Art

The high price of art makes research and critical analysis important for any buyer. Your knowledge of art history and artistic techniques may be extensive, but you may not be able to determine the quality of art before buying. You should arrange for an appraisal of art before you make a purchase to get the most out of your investment.

Instructions

1. Schedule time with a faculty member from the art department at your local college to get appraisal services. Art professors typically have experience in curating and collecting art that makes them ideal appraisers.

2. Consult with your homeowners' insurance agent to find a list of approved appraisers before you buy art. Insurance companies locate licensed professionals for art appraisal to help policy holders determine the total value of art in case of future claims.

3. Learn the year and place of origin for a particular piece of art as you prepare to make a purchase. Professional appraisers can look at the materials used in a painting to assess its age. Older paintings with rare materials are expensive, but offer a unique investment opportunity.

4. Work with your appraiser to find distinguishing features before buying art. Artist signatures, dates and special marks in the background of a painting offer authentication for collectors and future buyers.

5. Request a biographical sketch of little known artists from your appraiser before you get a piece of art. Appraisers can access artist databases, publications and other resources unavailable to the general public to help determine the background of an artist.

6. Speak with an art appraiser before an appraisal to find out the current strength of the art market. Your appraiser can let you know if buying art in a particular medium and period is a good investment, given gallery sales numbers and auction prices.

7. Conduct independent research on sales prices and auction prices for pieces of art that interest you. You should narrow your research to a specific artist and period of art to help determine the value of an art investment before you work with an appraiser.

Make Fake Fat On Yourself

Fat suits and prosthetics can transform a slimmer physique.

In the movie "Shallow Hal," actress Gweneth Paltrow, a slim woman in real life, wore foam prosthetics to convincingly play an obese character. Model and talk show host Tyra Banks wore similar makeup to conduct a social experiment regarding the treatment of overweight women in society. If you want to appear fat for amusement, theatrical or scientific purposes, you can purchase your own foam prosthetics from special effects artist supply companies and makeup stores.

Instructions

1. Wash your face thoroughly with soap and water to remove oils and promote prosthetic adhesion. Allow your face to dry before proceeding.

2. Place the prosthetic over your face to determine the placement. Remove the prosthetic and coat the back of the mask and the target area of your face with spirit gum, latex adhesive or prosthetic adhesive. Wait for the adhesive to become tacky.

3. Place the prosthetic in its proper position and press down to adhere it to the face.

4. Paint the edges of the prosthetic with liquid latex to create a smooth transition from prosthetic to face.

5. Dip a makeup sponge in grease paint that matches your skin tone or the skin tone of your desired character. Completely coat your face and the prosthetic foam with the grease paint. If desired, highlight raised areas with a slightly lighter paint.

6. Cover the makeup with finishing powder to seal it and create a matte appearance.

7. Put a fat suit on over your underwear and cover it with clothing in a large enough size to completely cover the fat suit. If you'd rather not buy or rent an expensive fat suit, put on a baggy outfit and stuff fabric or pillows inside to achieve a fat appearance.

8. Remove makeup with cold cream, and use an adhesive remover to remove the prosthetic adhesive.

9. Store the prosthetic in a cool, dry, dark area.

Make A Tessellation Template With An Index Card

Creating a tessellation is simple with a few basic art supplies.

A tessellation is a repeated pattern of the same shape that fills a whole area, such as a sheet of paper. Making a template using an index card is the easiest way to reliably create a tessellation. This is a great project to do with children, either to explore color and shape or as part of a math unit on tessellations. Tessellations can be left as abstract patterns or turned into figures such as people, flowers or animals by adding lines to the finished tessellation.

Instructions

1. Cut the index card into a square by drawing a line 3 inches from the edge and cutting along it. You can also make a rectangular tessellation by skipping this step.

2. Draw a curved or zigzag line beginning at the bottom left corner of the index card and ending at the bottom right corner.

3. Draw another line from the top left to the bottom right corner of the card. Be careful not to let your lines overlap.

4. Cut carefully along the line you drew on the bottom portion of the card. Without flipping or turning the cut piece, line up the bottom edge of the cut piece with the top edge of the card. Attach with tape.

5. Repeat step four with the piece cut from the left side of the card. Reinforce both edges by putting clear tape on the front and back of the card.

6. Put the tessellation template in the top left corner of the large drawing paper and trace around the outside. Then slide the template along the paper until the left edge of the template lines up with the right edge of the tracing and trace again. Repeat until the page is covered. You can now color your design.

Make A Tessellation Template

Supplies for making tesselations.

Tessellations are a covering of the plane by non-overlapping polygons. These polygons are thought of as tessera or tiles. An easy puzzle can be made by tracing many shapes on a cereal box, gluing a picture on it, then cutting it out. The template also can be used as a quilt template.

Instructions

Basic Template

1. To make a square template open the cereal box and lay it flat. Draw a 3-inch square on the cereal box by measuring 3 inches from the side and drawing a straight line parallel to the side. Then measure 3 inches from the top of the cereal box, and draw a line perpendicular to the other line. Next cut out the square. On the square that was just cut out, draw two sets of lines 1 inch apart perpendicular to each other, turn the square and draw another set of perpendicular lines 2 inches apart, making a grid on the square.

2. Inside the square draw shapes on two sides of the square, free-form or trace a shape. The shape needs to be closed form. The shape does not look like a snow flake or lace. From the sides of the square cut out shapes. Glide the shape across the square to the opposite side of where it was cut out. Line the shape up against the edge matching the grid lines. Tape the shape to the square.

3. Place template on magazine picture or wrapping paper. Trace around the template and cut out template shapes.

4. Arrange shapes on scrapbook paper or construction paper. Glue the shapes to the paper.

Make A Tessellation By Cutting An Index Card

A tessellation is a pattern of repeating shapes which share an edge

and do not overlap. Tessellation is also known as tiling. Many quilt

patterns are tessellations, including Honey Comb, with its hexagon

shapes, Log Cabin's rectangles, and the vibrant spikes of Crown of

Thorns. Practice cutting the shapes needed for various quilt patterns

by cutting them from an index card.

Instructions

1. Choose one of the repeating quilt patterns, such as Log Cabin, Hole in the Barn door and Crown of Thorns. Scribe the shapes needed for each pattern on a pack of file cards

2. Choose a color for each shape. Use colored pencils or markers to tint all the shapes before cutting into the file cards. Carefully cut along the outlines of each shape to separate them from one another.

3. Lay the file card shapes down to recreate one of the quilt patterns online, or make your own repeating geometric pattern.

4. Sort all the shapes by color. Use different sizes, shapes and colors of file card pieces to create your own new patterns.

5. Use clear cellophane tape to keep your pattern intact. Seal the file card tessellation in sheets of clear contact paper. Make a frame from shirt cardboard or heavy posterboard. Hang your file card tessellation in your living room or family room.

Make A Tesselation

A tessellation is any geometric pattern that can be repeated infinitely, interlocking with itself to form a seamless field. These designs can be as simple as a common puzzle piece or as complex as the art of M.C. Escher, which featured pages of interlocking birds, fish, and other designs. Given that the results can be so complex, it's a bit surprising that the steps to make a tessellation are straightforward and can be picked up in a few minutes. As you practice, you will be able to make increasingly intricate patterns.

Instructions

1. Draw a square in the middle of your paper. A square is a simple tessellation because you can fill a page with squares stacked top to bottom and left to right. This process should make a tessellation at the end of each step.

2. Change two opposite lines of the square in exactly the same way. For example, erase the top of your square and replace it with an upward pointing angle, like the roof of a house. Erase the bottom line and replace it with an identical upward pointing angle. This shape is a tessellation because it can be stacked on itself.

3. Change the other initial lines of the square. They must be identical to each other, but not necessarily to the lines you have already changed. For example, you could replace the left and right sides of the shape with identical "s"-shaped curves (again, facing in the same direction).

4. Repeat this process as many times as you like to make a tessellation more complex. Adding smaller and smaller details.

5. Add interior details like texture or facial features if you want to make a tessellation look like an animal or other common form.

6. Make a tiled drawing of your tessellation if you like, by tracing the shape on tracing paper. Move the paper so that the shapes interlock, and trace as many more copies as you want.

Make A Temporary Tattoo At Home

Depending on the size and location, real tattoos are not only expensive and usually painful to get, they are also permanent. Maybe you like the look of tattoos but have a desire for a real one. Temporary tattoos can be printed and applied to the skin via paper such as the tattoos from vending machines or they can also be drawn or stenciled directly on the skin using eyeliner or henna.

Instructions

Making Temporary Tattoos on a Computer

1. Create a design, symbol, or picture using Clipart or a drawing program. Use bold lines and colors for best results.

2. Print the designs, symbols, or pictures on Temporary Tattoo Paper using an ink jet or laser jet printer.

3. Follow the instructions that come with the paper to apply the tattoo to your skin.

Making Temporary Tattoos Using Liquid Eyeliner

4. Using liquid eyeliner, draw a tattoo directly on your skin or place a stencil (purchased or cut out of paper) on your skin and fill it in with they eyeliner.

5. Remove the stencil carefully.

6. Let the eyeliner dry completely.

Making Temporary Tattoos Using Henna

7. Mix the henna powder with enough water to make a paste.

8. Let the henna paste sit for one hour.

9. Using an applicator bottles or metal applicator tips, apply henna directly onto clean, dry skin.

10. If using a stencil, carefully remove the stencil after filling it in with henna.

11. Let henna dry for two hours before gently scraping it off.

Make A Tattoo Stencil Using A Scanner

Applying a stencil to the skin is often the first step in the tattooing process.

Before a tattoo artist applies a tattoo to the skin, a stencil of the design is usually made on tissue paper. This stencil is then transferred to the skin of the person to be tattooed, giving the artist an outline to work from. Stencil machines can be expensive, with some models costing several hundred dollars. A relatively affordable dot matrix printer can be used to make a tattoo stencil without the need for any expensive specialized equipment. This is a money-saving technique for new and experienced tattoo artists alike.

Instructions

1. Scan your chosen image into the computer using the scanner. It is best to start off with a line drawing that can be easily used as a guide once the stencil in on the tattoo recipient's skin.

2. Remove and discard the layer of tissue paper from the thermal fax paper. Load the thermal fax paper into the printer with the yellow side facing up.

3. Open the scanned image on your computer using the image editing software. If the image in not a line drawing, use the image editing software to convert it to one.

4. Print the scanned image with the dot matrix printer. Your tattoo stencil is now ready to apply to the recipient's skin.

Make A Tattoo Stencil Transfer

Design your tattoo using transfer paper.

When you decide get a tattoo, it is important to know where the design you want should be placed. By making your own tattoo stencils, you can temporarily try out your design to see where the tattoo looks best. Your own designs can be hand-drawn or printed on stencil paper and transferred onto your skin to create a guide for henna or ink tattoos.

Instructions

Hand-drawn Tattoo Stencil

1. Take a piece of thermal stencil transfer paper, also called stencil paper, and remove the tissue sheet that is inside---leaving a top white sheet, a carbon sheet and a bottom sheet.

2. Place your stencil paper on a flat, smooth drawing surface and use a ballpoint pen to draw out your design. Make sure to press down hard to transfer the carbon design to the paper.

3. Tear the carbon and the bottom sheet off, leaving the top sheet. The back of the top sheet will also have a carbon copy of your tattoo design.

4. Apply water or roll-on deodorant to your skin where you want your tattoo and press the tattoo stencil paper, carbon side down, against your skin. This will help release the carbon design to your skin. You can now apply a henna or ink tattoo right over your design.

Printed Tattoo Stencil

5. Choose a favorite clip art design or use a graphic design program to create your own line drawing.

6. Print the line drawing for your tattoo on a piece of thermal stencil transfer paper using a thermal fax copier machine. A thermal fax copier machine uses heat to transfer the carbon design to the paper.

7. Finish the tattoo stencil by following steps three and four from the instructions for a hand-drawn tattoo stencil above.

Learn Voice Acting

Microphones and recording capabilities are important tools for voice actors.

Have you ever listened to a radio advertisement for the latest laundry detergent and wondered how the voice actor got the gig? Many people dream of breaking into voice acting, but few know where to begin. While there is no straight path to voice-actor stardom, there are a few things you can do when starting out:

Instructions

Become a Voice Actor

1. Get a coach. Voice acting is not about the voice---it's about what you can do with your voice, according to James Alberger's "Get Jobs for the Voices in Your Head." It's not enough to have a high-quality speaking voice or to have six different character voices. If you can't act, you won't find work as a voice actor. You will need to develop other skills, such as muscle memory, breath control and timing. Find a voice actor coach in your area. If none are available, sign up for on-camera acting, film or theater classes.

2. Practice. Your voice is an instrument--experiment with it! Tap into your inner child who isn't afraid to play and create. As you watch movies, films and everyday conversations, notice people's inflections, pitch and mannerisms. As an exercise, imitate any vocal qualities you find interesting. As you begin to master a character's voice, think of other things the character might say and other situations he may come across. Use the character's voice while acting out your ideas for him. Have fun and don't be afraid to make mistakes.

3. Make a demo-reel to showcase your talent. A demo is a motion-picture type of resume that succinctly features your best work. Before producing one, study the demos of successful voice professionals. These are available for public listening on agency websites and professional networking sites. The final product should include several small clips featuring different characters involved in a variety of actions. The average length is two-and-a-half minutes, but the shorter the better. Voice acting pro Bob Bergen recommends one-and-a-half minutes because your tape will likely be one of 30 that industry professionals listen to in one day alone.

4. Get an agent. Send your demo to reputable agencies in your area and in Los Angeles if you are wanting to break into voice acting for television and film. Unsurprisingly, since L.A. is where the majority of major productions take place, this is where the most jobs are. Get a list from the Screen Actors Guild or the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. A real agent does not require you to pay up-front fees. Agents are paid a commission from the jobs they book for you. This is why legitimate agencies are picky about the talent they represent. Also, sign up for a site like voices.com that allows you to upload your reel and create your own profile.

Emboss Stamps

Embossing adds a whole new dimension to your rubber stamping projects. Embossing powders melt, causing a shiny, slightly raised effect. You can use this technique to add texture to cards, scrapbooks, and other craft projects. Find out emboss stamps here.

Instructions

1. Choose your stamp and your stamping surface. You can use nearly any type of stamp and any type of paper or cardstock for embossing, so be creative.

2. Choose an embossing powder. There are many colors and textures of embossing powders available. Standard embossing powder will be fine for most stamp projects. However, for intricate stamps, you will achieve better results using a fine, detail powder.

3. Apply ink to your stamp. Although the embossing powder will work with most inks, you’ll get the best results with a slow-drying embossing ink. Use a clear ink or match the color of the ink to the embossing powder.

4. Firmly press the stamp to the paper. Be careful to apply the ink only to the area of the stamp that you want embossed. The embossing powder will stick to any moist area on the page.

5. Pour embossing powder over the stamped image. Cover the entire image, then tap the excess back into the powder container.

6. Direct your embossing heat tool slowly over the stamped image. The embossing powder should melt and take on a raised appearance. You now have an embossed image!