Make Wire Hangers For Wooden Signs

Making your own cute and country wooden signs can be a fun project. These signs typically have funny sayings and cute pictures, and many people use them to decorate the walls of their homes or offices.

If you have the desire and skill to make your own wooden sign, all you need once the sign is created is to craft a simple wire hanger to hang your sign on the wall.

Instructions

1. Drill one hole in each upper corner of the wooden sign. The holes must be large enough to allow the wire to pass through them.

2. Measure the distance between the holes drilled in Step 1. Add 4 inches to this measurement. Cut the wire to this measurement.

3. Insert one wire end into one of the drilled holes from the back of the sign. Extend the end of the wire 1.5 inches through the hole to the front of the sign.

4. Stretch the other end of the wire across the back of the sign to the other drilled hole. Insert it through the hole to the front of the sign and extend the end of the wire 1.5 inches out to match the other side.

5. Use the needle-nose pliers to curl both wire ends around into a spiral shape to secure the wire ends into the sign.

6. Pull the wire on the back of the sign up slightly in the center to create a hanger for the sign.

7. Insert the nail into the wall in the desired place for the sign and loop the wire over the nail to hang the wooden sign.

Make Graffiti Fonts

When creating your own fonts, you'll be designing an alphabet that is unique in its look. Spend some time and effort on this basic element of your design. Think about capitals and small letters. Draw each case of letters apart from each other.

Instructions

Make Graffiti Fonts

1. Draw different font ideas and pick one. Consider the ligatures as you work out your idea. Ligatures are the swirls and other lines that connect letters to each other. You can create variations of your ligatures to make your font easier to use. Some of your letters may seem more artistically correct as free standing letters. Look at the symbols in your word processing software and design your punctuation and other symbols you want to use.

2. Once you're satisfied with your hand-drawn design you can scan it. Try to draw your letters no less than 0.25" high and your scanning resolution needs to be set in sync with your originals. Your letters should come out about 300 to 400 pixels in height. Scan using a multiple like 150 or 300 DPI for a 300 DPI scanner.

3. The next step is converting your scans to outlines. You can use Adobe Editor or another illustrator. Examine the vectors the software has laid out. Adjust if you want to make changes. Loading your letters into a font is your next step.

4. You can use Fontographer, GLCD Font Creator 1 or find another program that creates and edits fonts. This tool will allow you to pick and place the outlines for each letter that you want to use by basically copying and pasting the graphics into their slots. At this point, you can perfect each letter by rescaling and aligning. When you get the right scale factor use it for the rest of your alphabet.

5. When you are satisfied with your tweaking the software will convert your idea into your font.

6. The last step is to test your font. Check it in a graphic program or word processor. Look it all over very carefully and to see what it looks like in bold, italic, and underlined. Test any symbols you put in your alphabet too. Are the weight and curve like you want them to be? Is the shape of the letters correct? Are the letters clear? If you want to make corrections use the font software or graphics program. When your font is just right, blast the world.

Make Graffiti Characters

This is a rudimentary graffiti character.

Graffiti artists will occasionally go beyond the normal tags and incorporate images of people, animals, robots and other things into the work. Banksy, the well-known UK graffiti artist, uses stencils to create many of his characters, which include kids, policemen, rats and others. Other graffiti artists create hand-drawn characters. Graffiti characters help to visually create meaning within a piece beyond simple words. A new graffiti artist may find them fun to create and to experiment with.

Instructions

1. Creating good graffiti characters starts in your sketchbook.

Doodle in your sketchbook, brainstorming the types of characters that appeal to you. Draw more cartoonish characters, or more realistic characters. You can even take a character that you like from television or a comic book. There are no strict rules for what makes a good character in graffiti, so develop what you like.

2. Practice drawing your character in a few generic poses in your sketchbook. Master the proportions and drawing the character quickly. The ability to draw the character quickly is key for hand-drawn characters, but not as necessary for characters you plan to stencil.

3. Develop a color scheme for your character. Try out different combinations of color with your markers to get a sense of what will look good when painted full size on the wall. Decide whether your character will always be colored the same way. If your character is meant to deliver a message, decide how color will affect the work's meaning.

4. Compose, in your sketchbook, the piece that will eventually go up on the wall. Carefully mark out the colors and the details. Decide if the piece will include simply the character, or also text or tagging.

5. Spray the piece on the wall with spray paint just as it is drawn in your sketchbook. Step back from the wall and admire your work.

Make Gif Animation

GIF Animation.

An animated GIF attracts attention to a website and is popular for advertisements and headers. To create it, you need a graphics program, such as Adobe ImageReady. Draw the individual frames and then animate them. Learn create an animated banner that encourages the viewer to click on it.

Instructions

Drawing

1. Choose New > File. You'll get the New dialog box. Enter a width of "500" and a height of "100." Click "OK" to display the document window.

2. Color the "Background" layer; in this case, red.

3. Click "Type Tool," and click the center of the document window. The Text cursor appears. Type "Click Here." A new layer named "Click Here" appears in the Text palette.

4. Click "Move Tool," and center the text in the window. Right click the text layer and choose "Duplicate Layer" from the pop-up menu. Change the name of this new layer from "Click Here Copy" to "Click Here 2."

5. Move the text of this new layer to the left side of the document window. If the previous "Click Here" layer is making things difficult to see, hide that layer by clicking off the eye from its "Visibility" icon.

6. Duplicate the "Click Here 2" layer. Change the name of this new layer from "Click Here 2 Copy" to "Click Here 3." Move the text of this new layer to the right side of the document window. Make all the text layers invisible by clicking off the eye from their "Visibility" icons.

Animating

7. Click the arrow circle in the upper right of the Animation window and choose "Make Frames from Layers." Three new frames appear in the animation window for 4 frames.

8. Click on Frame 1 to select it and then on the arrow circle. Choose "Delete Frame" to delete the 1st frame. You now have 3 frames, numbered from 1 to 3.

9. Click on Frame 1 to select it. Then click an eye into the "Visibility" icon of the "Click Here" layer.

10. Click on Frame 2 to select it. Click off the "Visibility" icon from the previous "Click Here" layer. Finally, click an eye into the "Visibility" icon for the "Click Here 2" layer.

11. Click on Frame 3 to select it. Click off the "Visibility" icon from the previous "Click Here 2" layer. Finally, click and eye into the "Visibility" icon for the "Click Here 3" layer.

12. Click on the "Delay Time" drop down for each frame to set the number of seconds each frame is displayed: Frame 1: 0.5; Frame 2: 0.2; and Frame 3: 0.2. Click "Play" in the Animation window to preview the animation.

Saving

13. Choose "Save Optimized As" from the File menu. A file dialog box appears.

14. Navigate to the folder in which to store the file. Enter a file name and click "OK." Your animation is saved as a GIF file. You can also save your current ImageReady source by choosing "Save" from the File menu and entering a source name.

15. Through My Computer or Windows Explorer, double click the GIF file to open it and watch the animation.

Make Gift Baskets For A Home Business

Learn arrange gift baskets as your home business.

Making gift baskets is a popular home business. Making a gift basket special is only limited by your creativity. A successful home gift basket business has a low overhead and can be started from a kitchen table in your spare time.

Instructions

1. Decide upon what types of baskets you will make: you can offer a wide selection of gift baskets, specialize in a particular holiday or gift-giving occasion, or create only completely customizable baskets.

Popular categories of baskets include gourmet food, bath and body products and baby shower baskets.

2. Go shopping. Look for items in specialty catalogs, online distributors and craft sights. Inquire about purchasing in bulk for a discount, if possible. Add your name to newsletter mailing lists of distributors to stay current with their new products and sale items. Purchase quantities of small filler items that can be repackaged. Keep your inventory small at first; once you're established, shopping time will have to be figured into your weekly schedule.

3. Build a gift basket by pairing several inexpensive items with a more expensive gift. Place the large item in the center back of the basket. Large baskets can be built up by creating a false bottom with cardboard, foam blocks and shredded paper. Add the smaller items around the large piece, alternating side by side for a balanced look. Move the pieces around until it is visually appealing. Consider using wire and florist picks for small items---wrap and poke them into foam blocks to raise them.

4. Exchange a basket for a container that becomes part of the gift itself for more of an impact. Use a kitchen item like a soup pot or colander. A hat box, tin or small crate is another interesting choice for a gift basket. Consider looking through secondhand shops for gently used containers that will make for an interesting gift container.

5. Cover the basket with cellophane, tulle or shrink-wrapped bags of plastic. Tie the basket with a long length of ribbon and a large bow. Clear wrap allows the gift recipient and the purchaser of your gift basket a chance to get a sneak peek of what is inside.

Help Kids Appreciate Art

Help Kids Appreciate Art

Art is for everyone. Anyone can help kids appreciate art by making art accessible for children. Unfortunately, many adults do not enjoy art simply because they do not understand the stories or context, and this is even more true for children. If kids can relate to the subjects of art or learn the stories being portrayed, kids can appreciate art as well as any adult.

Instructions

1. Find art that will allow kids to easily make a connection with the material. Pictures and sculptures of children throughout the ages, for example, or dogs and cats are easily understood, and it is easy to start a conversation about how the subjects in the art relate to familiar people and animals in the kids' lives. Music and dance are very accessible to children and should not be overlooked.

2. Create art with the kids. Teach them that art is not something that they must merely observe but something that they can create. This will help them appreciate the skill and time invested in the pieces and performances they see. Follow trips to museums with drawing or clay sessions or encourage kids to sing and dance after performances.

3. Explore the stories behind famous, and not so famous, art. Long before television, paintings, sculpture and opera illustrated popular stories. Encourage kids to make up their own stories about paintings and then research the real story being portrayed.

4. Visit museums and performances. Most cities have children's theaters and music groups, and often free performances are offered (local libraries and community centers are a great place to check). Many art museums have special children's tours.

5. Explore the items in local museums that will interest children such as swords and armor, jewelry or pop culture items that they will recognize.

6. Discuss art with the kids. Encourage kids to express their views on art. Let them know that it is okay to not like everything, and listen to their preferences when planning events.

7. Remember that art should be fun. Kids will appreciate art if it is an enjoyable experience, not if it is a lecture! Couple trips to museums or events with picnics and other fun experiences.

Make Fun & Easy Easter Hats

Make your own Easter bonnet.

Wearing a bonnet for Easter symbolizes spring and good luck for the coming year. You can make Easter hats with your kids for a fun and easy project to welcome the season. Use basic craft supplies and get creative with the bonnets by designing different shapes and accents to make each of your hats extra special.

Instructions

1. Lay the paper plates upside down on a hard surface. Color the back of the plate using markers, paints or crayons. If you painted the plates, allow them to dry before moving on.

2. Use scissors or a craft knife to cut three slits across the paper plate from inner edge to inner edge to create six triangles. Do not cut all the way across the plate; leave at least one inch of space between the slits and the edges of the plate. Bend the triangle points upward to create a crown.

3. Cut six shapes out of construction paper in different colors. Consider cutting out different flower shapes, Easter eggs, bunny rabbits and baby chicks to celebrate Easter.

4. Decorate the shapes using markers, paints or crayons. Add features to the flowers, rabbits and chicks and draw designs onto the Easter eggs.

5. Glue the decorated shapes onto each of the points on the hat with the decorated side facing outward.

6. Add additional embellishments to the hat like sequins, glitter or stickers, or glue several long pieces of ribbon to the back of the hat.

7. Punch two holes near the edge on opposite sides of the hat. String a piece of yarn through each hole and tie knots at the edges of the plate. Use these strings to hold the hat on your head.

Make Funny Text Out Of Symbols

Funny text messages can be sent in a number of different ways.

Text messages have become a primary way of communicating when a phone call is not necessary or you are not in a place where a phone call can be effectively made. This has opened up a whole new form of short-hand communication with people using letters, numbers and symbols to convey different messages that are sad, funny, angry, flirtatious and beyond. Funny text messages using symbols are often conveyed by lining up a series of symbols from the keyboard and then turning the phone on its side.

Instructions

1. Select a person you want to send the funny text message to. Then look at your phone's symbols and decide upon which funny message or emoticon you want to send to that person.

2. Press the colon key, the dash key and the right parenthesis key to make a smiley face, if turned on it's side (:-)). This message means you're basically smiling or happy. You can also add to the emphasis of your laughing or happiness through this text message by adding different things like the letter "D" after the dash (:-D), making a happy face with the mouth open, as if it is laughing or a smiley face with a beard, by adding an equal sign under the parenthesis (:-)=). These messages mean something funny is going on our you are trying to convey a funny feeling.

3. Type in more complex text messages that are a number of different words. To convey you are bored, type in colon, dash and zero, and then make a space and put a series of the letter "Z" (:-o zzzz). To say to a friend sitting nearby that a person is "talking with two tongues" type colon, dash, "W" (:-w). To send a simple, funny face symbol text, try line, colon, dash, bracket, line, bracket (|:-[|]) which symbolizes the face of famous, large-lipped Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger.

Make Funny Signs On The Internet

Online sign generators contain an empty area to insert text.

Use an Internet sign generator if you want to create funny signs but lack the time or creativity to design amusing signs by yourself. Many sign generator websites feature pictures with an empty area where you can input your own caption. Simply add your own text to create the funny sign instantly. After creation, you can post the signs on your website, email them to friends, print them out or post them on photo sharing websites.

Instructions

1. Visit an online sign generator website such as Sign Generator, Says-It, Kool Sign or The LOL Maker.

2. Select an image that you want to customize with your text. Some sites will show you an image preview, while other sites give a text description of the image. Click on the image or the associated text to select.

3. Enter text you want to display inside the image's empty area by typing it into the text input box. Some images contain several text input boxes, allowing you to enter several lines of text.

4. Customize the image by selecting text attributes such font color, font size and text alignment, if the site allows for these changes.

5. Preview the sign by clicking on the "Create," "Preview," "Go" or similar button.

6. Save the completed sign as HTML code or by downloading. To insert the sign onto your website, copy the HTML code, typically located underneath the completed sign, and paste it into your web page code. To save the image onto your computer, select the "Download" or "Save Image" option. If the site does not contain a "Download" or "Save" option, right-click on the image and select the "Save Image As" option. Give the image a name and press "Save" to save the image on your computer.

Make Wire Wall Art

Wire art can take the form of most shapes.

Wire wall art can be used to add textural transparent artwork of any size to a wall. This type of art is commonly used for larger wall spaces where the person decorating wants to draw the eye of the visitor up toward a vaulted ceiling. Because wire art tends to be fairly light and it can be made to fit the size you want, this makes it a good solution for inexpensive artwork. When you are making your own wire art, you can shape the art toward a room theme -- making the design process easier and creating more continuity in the room.

Instructions

1. Look around the room where the art will be positioned. Note any consistent themes, such as circles, rectangles, triangles or other shapes. Look for collections, such as an art or flowers. Imagine an item already in the room made from bent wire at a larger scale.

2. Measure the size of the wall space you want to cover using a tape measure. Draw your design on craft paper at the size of your wall measurement. If you are not good at drawing, enlarge a photograph of the shape or object you want to use for inspiration. As an example, use the shape of a large turtle.

3. Tape your craft paper or photocopy to a sheet of plywood that is larger than the paper. Nail finish nails into the plywood every 2 or 3 inches along the outline of the turtle and the outline of its shell design. Include the location of its eyes, mouth and even toenails. Finish nails have no head. Nail them as straight as possible and almost completely through the wood so that the nail is secure.

4. Select a wire that you are just able to bend with your hands. You want the wire to be stiff enough to hold its shape. Most wire types will work. Avoid coated wires that are greasy or leave residue on your fingers. Wear safety goggles and gloves when handling the wire.

5. Start your wire art near the center of the drawing. Cut thick wire 3 to 5 yards long. You will probably use many wire sections to complete your entire art piece. Extend the end of your thick wire 1/2 inch beyond one nail guide. Clamp the wire to the nail. Bend the wire following your paper and nail guides using needle nose pliers and your fingers. Follow the outline shape of the turtle, making the larger shapes first followed by smaller shapes. The wire will cross over itself. Bend the wire around the nails, keeping the wire 1/2 inch from the plywood surface.

6. Cut 3-inch sections of thin wire. Wrap the thin wire over crossed wire intersections. Wrap in both directions, keeping the wire tight with three or four wraps each way. Finish with the wire ends to the back, twisted and tucked into the wire. Continue adding thick and thin wire until the entire turtle shape is fully realized. Trim off any thick wire ends or wire the ends to parallel wires using your smaller gauge wire.

7. Check your wire art, looking to make sure your wires are firmly bound together. Slide the art upward and off the nails. The art should be mostly flat and easy to hang on a wall.

Make A Homemade Sand Casting

Sand Cast Dog

A sand casting uses sand as a way of shaping the casting material. Plaster of Paris, slip or metal is poured into a pattern in the sand. The casting material fills the pattern and hardens. Sand casting can be used to make figures of people or animals, and even buildings and household objects. You can make a small dog figurine from plaster of Paris. Learn make a homemade sand casting.

Instructions

1. Fill the pie plate halfway with sand. Add enough olive oil to the sand to make it stick together.

2. Press the sand down with your hand. Smooth the surface with the Popsicle stick and build up a 1/2 inch lip all around the sides of the pie plate.

3. Use the Popsicle stick to make an impression of a dog's body in the sand. Use the pencil to make the legs and head. Make fine details, like eyes and ears, with the toothpick.

4. Using the spoon, carefully fill the figure with plaster of Paris. Let the plaster of Paris set overnight.

5. Remove the figure of the dog from the sand.Brush any excess sand off your sand casting.

Make A Collage With Fauvism Art Style

Make a Collage With Fauvism Art Style

Fauvism (from the French word meaning "the wild beast") is based on a wild, anti-naturalist use of color. This movement was popular in the early 20th century, especially in France from 1900 to 1910. Famous "fauves" like Henri Matisse would, for example, paint a woman's nose green or a horse bright blue. Making a collage in the Fauvist style is a good way to let your "inner beast" out onto the page.

Instructions

1. Choose a subject to represent, even if the end result is an abstract image. You can choose a person, animal, object, a room or a landscape. If you are most comfortable working from reality or from a photo, you can do so, or you can choose something from your imagination.

2. Quickly sketch your subject with pencil on paper, breaking it down into block forms. Fauvism is wild and spontaneous, so don't be too worried about making a "good drawing"--the most important thing is to try to see the big blocks of color in your subject.

3. Assign colors to the different parts of the drawing. Fauvism's most notable trait was the wild use of color, so be expressive. You are not obliged to completely disregard realist color; you may use wild colors just for certain elements. Write the first letter of the color in the block, such as "R" for red.

4. Cut or tear your sheets of colored paper to make colored pieces to fit the blocks. Put these pieces on top of the corresponding outlined block on your white sheet.

5. One by one, glue the colored blocks of paper onto the white sheet.

Make An Aluminum Can Ashtray

Once you have finished drinking your cool, refreshing soda, think twice before you toss it in the recycling bin. You can use your old aluminum cans to create decorative ashtrays. Better yet, you can create these ashtrays for parties or special events and then simply recycle them after use.

Instructions

1. Empty a soda or beer can and then make a small hole near the top ridge of the can, where it begins to slope in towards the rim. A safety pin or fine pointed knife works great to start the hole.

2. Place the tip of a sharp pair of scissors into the hole and then cut off the top of the can. Make sure that you make the cut as even as possible, and be careful not to cut your fingers on the sharp edges. Rinse and dry the can so that the inside of your ashtray in not sticky.

3. Make 1/2 inch wide cuts down the length of the can all around the diameter to create a number of long strips. Stop cutting each strip about 3/4 inch from the bottom of the can. Again, try to make the cuts as straight and even as possible and watch your fingers.

4. Roll a strip of aluminum around a pencils to create a fun spiral look. The loops should roll towards the outside of the can. Continue with all of the strips, rolling all the way to the end of the cut.

5. Pinch the ends of the rolls, bending them outwards and then loosen some of the loops carefully to give your ashtray a unique look.

Make Funny Hats

Funny hats are great for many occasions; it's fun, for example, to present someone celebrating a birthday at work with one. If you start the hat with a simple base, you can make it work for any occasion, decorating it as simply or elaborately as desired.

Instructions

1. Start with a paper plate. It can already be the color you desire, or choose white and then paint with acrylic paints.

2. Think of the hands on a clock as you make cuts across the paper plate. Using a utility knife, cut from 12:00 to 6:00. The second cut is across from 9:00 to 3:00. Now make cuts diagonally between 9:00 and 12:00, across to between 3:00 and 6:00. Then make a cut at the same angle on the opposite side. Do not cut all the way to the edge. Make the cuts large enough for the head the plate will be fitting. For an adult head, you would make cuts an inch from the plate edge.

3. Fold all the triangle shapes made by the cuts upwards.

4. Cut out shapes to match the celebration, using decorative or construction paper. Cut out egg shapes for Easter, hearts for Valentine's Day or four-leaf clovers for St. Patrick's Day. Glue the shapes onto the spikes of the hat. Use these same directions to make a birthday crown. Add glitter and plastic jewels.

5. Try these variations for paper-plate hats. Cut out the center of the plate for the head for an Easter bonnet; staple or glue a tulle bow and silk flowers all around. Cut the center of the plate into a shape, such as a heart, a birthday cake, a train, a cat or a castle. Leave the very front of the shape uncut. Then pop the center cutout up so that it stands up. These are great for kids' parties.

Make Funny Chinese Signs

Funny Chinese signs should playfully look at gaps in communication and the art of translation.

Funny Chinese signs refer to signs written in Chinese characters that have awkward or inaccurate translations in English, which make them amusing to English speakers. For example, a sign in Chinese characters with the words "Carefully slip and fall down" is a classic example of an oversight in translation. Funny Chinese signs are not meant to mock or deride another culture; rather, such signs showcase gaps in understanding and find humor in the task of communicating in a foreign language. When it comes to making your own funny Chinese signs, your best bet is to recreate actual signs.

Instructions

1. Visit websites such as Asia Insider Photos or You Can Be Funny and visit the links that show funny Chinese signs. Right click on the ones you like best and save them to your desktop.

2. Print the funny signs that you've saved to your desktop, making sure to change the ratios so that when they print, they'll blow up to a full page.

3. Cut out the letters and characters from the sign with an artist's blade. You now have stencils from authentic Chinese signs to use in making your own signs.

4. Paint your pieces of cardboard or wood in your base color and allow them to dry for at least two to four hours. Place your stencils centered on each piece of cardboard or wood. Secure them with painter's tape.

5. Spray your stencils onto your blank signs with spray paint, holding the can 10 to 12 inches away from the sign. Remove the stencils before allowing the signs to dry.

Make Free Dj Flyers

Creating flyers can be an effective means of advertising for a DJ.

A flyer can be a successful way to advertise. DJ flyers advertise a DJ or an event so you will need to keep in mind your target audience when designing your flyer. To make a free flyer you could always draw your flyer freehand. However, you can download free software that will allow you to create a professional looking flyer in no time at all. You can make and print your DJ flyer for free.

Instructions

1. Download and install a free word processing program such as OpenOffice or AbiWord.

2. Double-click on the desktop icon to run the program.

3. Click "File" then "New" before choosing "Flyer" from the list of template options.

4. Insert all the important information. You must include all the necessary information for your target audience such as your name, event details and prices. Place the information in the existing text boxes or create your own by clicking "Insert" then "Text Box." Type your information into separate text boxes, this will allow you to move them around until you are happy with the layout.

5. Insert any images. To add images to your flyer, click "Insert" then "Picture" and choose "From File" to insert an image from your computer. Remember the best flyers are the simple ones, so be careful not to overcrowd your flyer with too many images.

6. Adjust the style of your flyer to make it grab the attention of your audience. Change your DJ name or the name of the event into bold and make it larger than the surrounding text so that it stands out.

7. Save your completed flyer by clicking "File" then "Save."

8. Print your flyers from your home computer. Click "File" then "Print" to print your completed flyers.

Make Foil Scratch Art Paper

Make Foil Scratch Art Paper

If you have never done scratch art, it is fun. A great craft to do with kids, scratch art paper is easy and cheap to make. A variation of scratch art is foil scratch art. Instead of colors underneath the top black layer, you use aluminum foil. Below are the instructions for making foil scratch art paper.

Instructions

1. Cut a piece of cardboard to the size you want your scratch art. The cardboard you select can be anything from a recycled butter box, cereal box or a store-bought piece of cardboard.

2. Tear a piece of aluminum foil big enough to cover the cardboard you selected in Step 1. Some brands of aluminum foil offer a thick option. If you can find it, use that as it is stronger. Keep the aluminum foil from getting wrinkled as you want a nice flat piece of aluminum foil.

3. Use craft glue that will work on aluminum foil and paper and glue the piece of foil to the cardboard. Spread a thin layer over the cardboard.

4. Cut the aluminum foil. You can cut the aluminum foil to the exact size of the cardboard or allow the foil to overlap the edges.

5. Glue the aluminum foil to the cardboard. Spread a thin layer of craft glue on the cardboard using a sponge.

6. Mix two cups of black tempera paint with three drops of dish soap. The soap helps the paint adhere to the aluminum foil.

7. Paint the black tempera paint and soap mixture onto the aluminum foil. Make sure that the paint is thick enough that the aluminum foil does not show through.

8. Allow the paint to dry. You now have foil scratch art paper.

Make Flyers Online Free

Flyers are a way to promote a business, an event or fundraiser, showcase a house, provide coupons, create announcements and more. Online resources can help you create flyers for free with templates or the ability to upload your own design. You also can print the pieces online or at home.

Instructions

Desig Your Flyer

1. Visit a website that offers free templates (see Resources).

2. Choose the type of project (flyer) from the list of products available.

3. Choose from the various options or templates provided. Make sure the template, size and colors work for your needs. Try options from different websites. Websites that do not offer printing services have you download the template and edit it on your computer. Resources that offer printing will allow you to edit the template through the website and preview the design before approval and submission for production.

4. Add your customized text and information into the template of your choice. Some online resources allow you to upload and add your own images and/or logo to the template. Most templates contain stock images that are licensed for use through the free template, so your own images are not required.

5. Finalize and save your flyer to your computer or to the website where it was created. Websites that offer printing services require you create a free account to save the project.

Print Your Flyers

6. Proof your flyer carefully before printing or submitting it for professional printing. Check for spelling, grammar, writing style, and clarity. It may be helpful to have a third-party review the piece for proofing.

7. Print your final pieces on your printer, at a local office-supply store or through the online resource used to design the flyer. For a low quantity of flyers (fewer than 50), printing at home or in your local store can be more time and cost efficient. For more than 50 copies, it can be more cost-effective to use online printing resources. Be sure to factor in any applicable shipping costs.

8. Proof your final printed pieces to make sure they were produced as agreed.

Form And Bend Plexiglass

Plexiglass is 17 times stronger than regular glass, at half the weight. It was invented in 1843, and was introduced as a transparent sheet in 1937. Plexiglas played an important role in World War II as bullet-resistant glazing used in warplanes. It is much more durable and flexible than glass. With this flexibility, plexiglass is easier to install than traditional glass. Plexiglass is available in various thicknesses, bends when heated and is formed in varying shapes.

Instructions

1. Inspect the plexiglass for smoothness. Remove the plastic cover on both sides before attempting to bend it. Brush off any debris or other small pieces, particularly around the edges.

2. Mark the plexiglass at the desired bending point. Put on gloves and safety goggles. Prepare a heat gun.

3. Secure the plexiglass in a vise. Move the heat gun from side to side across the mark on the plexiglass. Do not heat in one place for too long, or the plexiglass will burn.

4. Move the heat gun in a straight motion along the line; test periodically to see if the plexiglas is ready to bend and form. Continue until the plexiglass begins to bend. Form it to the desired shape, and bend by hand. Turn off the heat gun once the bending has started.

5. Finish forming the plexiglass, and remove it from the vise. Let the plexiglass cool down upon completion, and finish bending it to the desired shape.

Make Fiberglass Speaker Enclosures At Home

Fiberglass custom speaker enclosures can hide your ugly speakers.

Fiberglass makes an ideal material for creating an unobtrusive speaker enclosure in your home. You can make the enclosure virtually any shape you want to fit any size speaker you want. You can make it look like a rock, a plant stand or even part of the wall. Simply create a mold and lay the fiberglass and resin over it to make the box. When set, you can cut out holes for wires to pass through for insetting the speaker grille.

Instructions

1. Trim a large Styrofoam block to the shape of the speaker enclosure with the grinding or rotary cutting tool. Trim down the block till it fits precisely where you want it to and is the shape you desire. The block will be the form for making your fiberglass container. Cover the Styrofoam form with plastic to prevent the fiberglass from adhering to the Styrofoam.

2. Lay fiberglass sheet over the Styrofoam block. Cut and trim it to size with scissors and pin the fiberglass in place with thumbtacks. Allow a few inches of overlap at the edges to account for shrinkage when the resin is applies. You can trim the edges later.

3. Mix no more than a pint of fiberglass resin and hardener in the proportions recommended by the manufacturer. Don't mix more than you can brush on in five to 10 minutes to prevent it from hardening in the mixing bucket.

4. Brush resin into the fiberglass cloth till it is thoroughly saturated. Use the edge of the fiberglass spreader tool to work the resin into the fiberglass cloth. When it turns clear, the cloth has fully absorbed the resin. Use the spreader tool to work out any bubbles in the weave and smooth the surface.

5. Repeat till you have covered the entire surface of the fiberglass. Depending on how thick you want the fiberglass, you can lay additional layers over the top of the first one in the same manner. Work quickly so the layers will meld into a single layer of fiberglass. Don't let the resin set between layers.

6. Cure the fiberglass overnight until it is well-hardened. Clean your tools with acetone. Once the fiberglass is set, lift your new fiberglass speaker enclosure off the mold. Pull the plastic from inside.

7. Trim the excess fiberglass from around the edges. Mark and cut out wire passage holes and speaker openings with a saber saw and drill. The fiberglass will cut smoothly with a fine-tooth saw blade. Drill holes to mount the speaker, if desired.

Make Fiberglass Rocks

There are many practical uses for fiberglass rocks. Many people who have ponds and intricate landscaping use these as a cheap and easy-to-move alternative to real rocks. Also, many people who set up scenes with taxidermy find these useful. Surprisingly, it is not very hard to make fake rocks.

Instructions

1. Create a mold of the rock by forming a large piece of chicken wire into the shape you desire. Chicken wire is available at all hardware stores and is easily bent into any shape your imagination can create.

2. Cover the chicken-wire structure in papier-mache. Dip strips of newspaper into the papier-mache mixture and lay them over the mold. Apply three layers of papier-mache to create a sturdy structure. Let this dry overnight or longer.

3. Turn the mold upside down and remove the chicken-wire lining. The rock should stand on its own at this point and look generally like you have envisioned, size-wise. At this point, the color and texture will be completely wrong and unrealistic.

4. Create a fiberglass mixture from a kit available at any hardware store. Some prefer to dip strips of burlap into the fiberglass and spread it over the mold for a textured look. Others just create a thicker mix and spread it across the mold using a spackle brush.

5. Let the fiberglass mold dry overnight in a well-ventilated area. Purchase a rock-colored spray paint at your local paint or hardware store, and coat the mold to give it the proper color.

Make Fiberglass Parts

Fiberglass matting is composed of interwoven glass fibers.

Fiberglass has a stigma of being tedious and difficult to work with. In reality, it is much easier to use than wood or metal, and requires only very simple tools to shape into any form required for your project. Its strength and durability makes it perfect for most projects, especially in the automotive field. The following general instructions can be used to make subwoofer enclosures, body panels, tanks, covers or anything else you can think of.

Instructions

1. Make a mock-up of the desired finished part by either cutting and taping cardboard into a rough shape, or sculpting high-density foam until it resembles the product you're creating. Remember to account for the thickness laying fiberglass on the outside will add when shaping your part. The form doesn't have to be perfect. There will be plenty of opportunity for filing, sanding and shaping before moving on to paint.

2. Prepare the template to receive the fiberglass. Protect it by covering it in aluminum foil (masking tape works well to hold the foil in place). Make sure the foil is clinging tightly to the form, since the fiberglass will be taking this shape. To prevent the resin from sticking to the foil, thoroughly coat it with a spray-on mold release or a nonstick pan spray.

3. Lay the first layer of glass over the foil-covered form. Thoroughly coat the sheet of fiberglass in resin before applying, to ensure they dry as one solid piece. Use a roller to work out any air pockets or bubbles. When done, the sheet should be completely molded to the form, with no gaps or dead space. Only lay one layer of glass on the outside. Reinforcements will be made from the inside to prevent even more thickness from being added. Before moving on, allow the fiberglass to completely dry; this will take several hours.

4. Gently remove the delicate sheet of glass from the form, being careful not to bend, break or crack it. Lay several reinforcement sheets on the inside of the newly cast part. Though matting allows you to lay glass quicker, the first few layers should be regular fiberglass sheets, since they do a great job of curving around corners. Also, if there is a chance they might show after the outer layer is sanded, they are cosmetically superior to fiberglass mats. Run your roller over each layer, and allow each layer to dry before moving on to the next one.

The total number of layers will be determined by the stress that will be placed on the part. If you're making something simple and small, then a few layers would do. On the other hand, if you're making an auto body panel, you'll need many layers of fiberglass for strength.

5. Test fit your part once it has completely dried. It may need to be filed and sanded down to fit into place. A large metal file can be used to work through rough edges, followed by a rough grit sandpaper to remove more thickness. The visible surface of the part will need to be sanded down level, but at this point, it should still remain fairly rough for the finishing putty to stick to.

6. Smooth out the surface using an auto body putty such as Bondo. Once the putty dries, sand it using progressively finer paper, until you have a texture that is smooth and even to the touch, but still rough enough for paint to stick to. Auto body putty should only be used in thin layers to produce a paint-ready finish, so if you need to build the part up structurally, use a fiberglass reinforced putty instead. When finished, wipe the surface with rubbing alcohol to insure good adherence.

7. Begin priming with a spray can. Two thin coats are enough for most projects, and should be applied using long, even, sweeping motions on a horizontal plane. Allow the primer to completely dry, then move on to paint, using the same thin, even coats. Sometimes seven or eight coats may be required for complete coverage. Each coat doesn't have to completely dry before beginning the next one, it just has to set long enough to no longer be completely liquid. The final product can then be topped off with a coat of clear for protection.

Make Fiberglass Molds

Make Fiberglass Molds

A fiberglass mold is rather simple to make, but it takes a few days. The idea of a mold is to make a replica of the item that you need. You will be able to reuse the mold many times after. It will be easier and take less time if you are able to find a mold of your liking at a company that specializes in making fiberglass molds.

Instructions

1. Develop a plug. A plug is an article that is used to develop a mold. It is usually made out of wood, plaster, putty, sheet metal or Formica. The plug will need to be in the shape and the right dimensions that you want the mold to be.

2. Prepare plug. If the plug has many opene pours, such as wood, plaster or putty, then it will need to be filled in with resin or lacquer. Buff and seal the plug with TR-301 and TR-311. If plaster is being used, you will need to oven dry it first and then seal it. Apply a mold release which is Partall Paste #2. After applying the mold release, wait until it dries before putting on another. You will apply up to five coats. Buff it each timel.

3. Spray polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to the plug. Apply up to three coats and allow at least 30 minutes to dry.

4. Cover the plug with MEK peroxide hardener. Apply a gelcoat with a bristle roller on the plug that will make the fiberglass mold surface. The gelcoat needs to be wax free. Consider using a tooling gelcoat if there are many parts that will need to be removed from the mold. This will enhance the longevity of the mold. There will need to be at least two coats applied with 4 hours of drying in between coats. Allow at least 24 hours to fully dry.

5. Apply the skin coat. This will be about 1 oz. of fiberglass chopped strand mat that is thin enough for you to remove all the air pockets. Apply a general purpose polyester resin with a roller and spread it evenly. Make sure there are no white fibers and air bubbles left before letting it dry. Allow at least one day to dry before adding another layer of resin on mold. Apply a total of three layers.

6. Remove the fiberglass mold. For the fiberglass mold to hold its shape, it is recommended to leave the mold to dry for several days after the final coating of resin is added. Cut off excess resin or fiberglass with a metal cutting blade. Sand gently until you can see the line between the mold and the plug. Use a plastic wedge or stirring stick to get between the mold and plug, and then separate.

7. Sand the mold with a 220 grit working up to a 600 grit. Apply Partall Paste #2. Use a heavy duty cleaner and then a sealer glaze in order to get the cleanest appearance.

Make Fiberglass Bodykits For Cars

This article shows how anyone can learn to make fiberglass bodykits for cars. If you are a custom car enthusiast, this skill will come in handy at one time or another. Before starting on this project, find a suitable work area. It should be an inside area that is clean and dry. To protect the floor, tape down plastic or paper. There should also be a clean table or work bench to work on.

Instructions

1. Plan your design and draw it out. Use foam to create a life-sized model of your design. This will be your mold. The foam can be cut and sanded down to shape the mold.

2. Take grid sandpaper and completely shape the foam. Once it has been shaped, wax it. Paint with gel coat and allow it to dry completely.

3. Soak the fiberglass mat in resin. Lay it over the the dried gel coat. Be careful not to use too much resin.

4. Roll out air bubbles with the fiberglass rollers. Lay more of the resin-covered fiberglass mat and allow to dry.

5. Put cardboard along the lines of the mold and put more fiberglass over it. This will make it stronger.

6. Trim the mold with a grinder to once again shape and resize it. It will be thicker and out of shape now that the fiberglass has been placed.

7. Follow the previous steps to create another part. Once all the parts have been made, bolt the mold together. Smooth the seams with clay. Wax and recover with gel coat. Allow tp properly dry and form for a couple of days.

8. Remove the bolts and remove the part.

9. Separate the mold from the fiberglass once the fiberglass has completely dried and shaped. Be careful not to scratch or crack it. Any type of wooden utensil will be perfect to use in this step, and will ensure that the mold will stay in place.

Make A Good Stencil

Turn your favorite pictures into simple stencil designs.

Stenciling can be a fun and inexpensive design project. Stencils are a quick way to add a little character and color to walls, cabinets, chairs or just about anything with a fairly flat surface. Finding the right stencil can be harder than the work of completing the actual project. There are ready-to-use stencils available for purchase, but making your own is another option. Simple stencils are easy to make and require just a few common tools and a steady hand to complete.

Instructions

1. Print a simple stencil design, such as a flower or words, on your home printer. Print in black only. Print several sizes of the design so you can pick right size for your project. Don't print any images any within 1/2 inch to the paper's edge.

2. Cut out the design out of the center of the paper using a sharp razor blade or craft knife. This creates a template for the plastic stencil sheet.

3. Tape the paper template onto the plastic stencil sheet using painter's tape on the outside edges only. Using a very sharp razor blade or craft knife, cut out the design following the template. Use smooth cutting motions to avoid creating nicks or cutting past the edge of the design. Imperfections like these will cause imperfections in the finished stencil project.

4. Practice stenciling, using the newly made stencil, on a piece of foam board or heavy paper. This will help you see any imperfections or design issues that may need to be adjusted before continuing your project.

Make Fake Wounds & Scabs

The art of creating special effects makeup in the form of prosthetic fake wounds and scabs is one of the most dramatic, disgusting and potentially horrifying areas of theatrical and movie makeup. It's also one of the easiest to create on your own with minimal cost, training or special supplies. Disturbingly realistic wounds and scabs require little more than the right application of some household ingredients mixed with a few of the most common makeup supplies found in costume stores.

Instructions

1. Prepare your skin in the areas where you want to apply the fake wounds and scabs. Shave off any body hair and apply lotion to avoid itch. If you don't want to shave the hair, coat it with a layer of petroleum jelly.

2. Tear some toilet paper and twist it into cord-like shapes. Make these cords as long as you want the sides of your wounds to be. For smaller wounds, forgo the cords and just pull tiny pieces of toilet paper the size of the wound you want to make.

3. Soak the toilet paper thoroughly in liquid latex and apply to your skin. Use the cords to form the two ridged sides of the wound, creating a mouth-like shape. Press the ends of the toilet paper down against your skin. Position the strands close together for more shallow wounds and further apart for deeper wounds. Apply more latex generously around and inside this shape.

4. Let the latex dry. Use a hair dryer or fan to speed up the process. Drying time will vary depending on how thickly the liquid is applied; you'll know it's done because it will change to a darker and slightly less opaque color.

5. Color the latex wound with makeup. Use a makeup sponge to apply a coat of foundation to the latex. Blend the makeup around the outside of the wound into your skin.

6. Fill the wounds with stage blood. Use your finger to scoop out thick blood and smear it into the crevices of the wounds, including the large central part of the wound and the small crevices in the latex-coated toilet paper. Let dry.

7. Apply a coat of permanent wetting solution to the wounds that you want to make into fresh wounds.

8. Make a paste mixture of flour and water the consistency of toothpaste. Add black food coloring. Use a standard sponge to blot this mixture in a speckled pattern onto any wounds that you want to make into scabs. Let dry.

Make Cosplay Wings

Create your own custom cosplay wings using inexpensive materials.

Many cosplay characters require wings for accurate portrayal. Making your own wings with inexpensive materials is a budget-friendly alternative to commercially made wings. This method is customizable, making wings in varying sizes, shapes and colors to match any character.

Instructions

Creating the Frame

1. Cut a length of heavy-gauge wire a few yards long. A longer wire will make larger wings; a smaller wire, smaller wings.

2. Form the wire into a figure 8, making sure the two loops are evenly sized. Secure the loose ends of the wire together with a piece of duct tape, which also covers any sharp edges. Wrap tape around the point in the figure-eight where the wires intersect, as well, to keep the halves even in size.

3. Bend the wire into the desired wing shape. Work in small sections. Bend a few inches of wire on one wing, then bend the corresponding area on the other wing. Continue working all the way around each wing, then make adjustments as needed until you are satisfied with the shape.

Covering and Finishing

4. Cut the legs off the pantyhose and stretch one leg over each wing. Gather the excess pantyhose at the point where the two wings meet. Twist a pipe cleaner around the gathered pantyhose from each leg to secure in place.

5. Wrap ribbon around the center point of the wings to cover the gathered ends of the pantyhose. Secure in place by sewing just inside the wire frame across the top and bottom.

6. Hold the wings in place on the wearer's back. Measure the length, wrapping from the top of the center point of the wings, over the shoulder, under the arm, and back to the bottom point of the wings' center.

7. Subtract 2 to 3 inches from this measurement and cut two strips of elastic that length. Sew into place at the points on the wings from which you measured.

8. Use fabric paint to decorate the wings and make them look like the desired cosplay character.

Make Jewelry From Old Guitar Or Bass Strings

Old guitar strings can still be put to a wide variety of uses

Though a variety of jewelry designs are made from re-used or "upcycled" parts, creating jewelry from leftover musical instrument accessories brings with it an extra layer of meaning for a musician. In addition to this, creating jewelry from old steel guitar strings or electric bass strings is a great way to do something useful with all those discarded, used-up strings. Steel string makes an excellent jewelry chain, especially when combined in a design with other dicarded musicians' paraphanelia.

Instructions

1. Cut the steel string with wire snips to make it a length long enough for the size of necklace you want. Test the length by wrapping it around your neck in front of a mirror to see how low it hangs on your neckline.

2. Drill two stringing holes in the guitar pick, one near the point and one at the opposite end, in the middle of the flat side. Leave about an eighth of an inch between the hole and the edge of the plastic on each side to prevent the hole from ripping out later.

3. Thread the two holes in the guitar pick with jump rings using the needle-nosed pliers.

4. Thread a short length of wire through the glass or stone bead. Make a large loop on one side of the protruding wire and a small loop or bend on the other (just to keep the bead from falling off). Attach the loop to the ring on the point of the guitar pick, making a dangling pendant.

5. String the guitar pick pendant onto the steel string necklace length.

6. Wrap each end of the steel string in a tight coil of jewelry wire. Make a loop at the end of the wire using the round-nose pliers, placed just beyond the end of the steel string.

7. Coat the wire-wrapped ends of the jewelry in solder. Apply the solder by pressing the hot tip of the iron to the end of the solder wire, then dripping the solder from the iron to the end of the string. Let cool for at least five minutes before handling.

8. Attach jewelry clasps to either end of the string, threading them onto the loops you made at the end of the wire wrap coils.

Make Paper Art

When you hear the term "paper art," you probably imagine origami--those cute little animals and birds made from folding a sheet of paper into intricate folds, creating the image of a living being. Origami may be the most widely known paper art, but there are many other forms of paper art that you can enjoy.

Instructions

Origami

1. Choose a design that appeals to you. There are patterns available for many different designs that come with full instructions for folding the paper.

2. Purchase origami paper. This paper is designed for use in creating origami. It is thin and lightweight and folds easily. It is available in many different sizes and colors, often with each side of the paper a different color.

3. Follow the instructions for the design you wish to create. If you are new to origami, it is best to choose a simple design for beginners. Be patient as you learn this new art form. Your skills will develop as your practice folding and creating designs.

Paper Mache

4. Consider paper mache for creating 3-D art forms out of paper. Paper mache can be used to create elaborate and detailed sculptures and other pieces of art. Although you may think paper mache is just for kids, you are mistaken. Some truly wonderful designs are possible with nothing more than some paper and a little glue and water.

5. Shred newspapers into strips 1/2-inch by the length of the paper. These pieces will be used to develop the base of your project.

6. Mix plain white school glue with warm water. Add enough glue that the water feels slippery and smooth to the touch. It does not have to be gooey and sticky.

7. Soak the paper strips in the glue and water mixture until they are soft and well saturated. Do not leave the strips in the water for long periods as they will dissolve.

8. Cover the object you are using for a base to your project with strips of paper mache. Smooth them with your hands to remove and wrinkles or bumps. You can create a base with inflated balloons, chicken wire or any other lightweight material.

9. Allow to dry overnight. Add layers to your piece of art by using newspaper and the glue mixture. To build up areas, you can use finely shredded newspapers that have been nearly dissolved in the glue and water mixture. Squeeze out excess water and apply to the area like sculpting material.

10. Paint the finished project.

Paper Models

11. Choose a design that appeals to you and purchase or download the appropriate patterns and instructions. See the resource section for free patterns for paper models.

12. Follow the instructions for creating the 3-D model. These are similar to origami, but are made from multiple pieces and are not folded from one sheet of paper.

13. Be patient and don't get discouraged. Building 3-D paper models is difficult and requires time.

Make An Animated Icon

These steps teach you make an animated icon. There are plenty of premade icons out there, but making your very own is a surefire way to wow your friends and let your own personality shine through. GIFs are the only image format that allow you to use animation. JPEGs, another popular image format, do not. These steps use Adobe Photoshop and its companion program ImageReady.

Instructions

1. Import your images into an image editor such as Photoshop.

2. Place each of the images that will make up your animation on separate layers.

3. Label each of your layers. Name your layers with descriptive names so that it will be easier to navigate your images when composing your animation. This is especially important if you have a large number of images in your animation.

4. Import your images into ImageReady. Click the "Jump to ImageReady" button at the bottom of the Photoshop tool palette.

5. Click "Make Frames From Layers" in the animations palette. This will take the layers you created in Photoshop and turn them into frames that will make up your animation.

6. Set the timing for each of your animation frames. Below each frame is a number representing how many seconds each frame of animation will display. For example, you might want your first image to stay on screen for 5 seconds and then have your remaining frames zip by the viewer at fractions of a second after one another. The choice is yours. Experiment with your animation to find the best flow. Simply click on the number, and a drop-down window will appear allowing you to edit the timing of your frame.

7. Save your file. Click "File--Save Optimized As" from the main menu. Name your file and click "OK." That's it! You know have an original animated icon of your own.

Make Fake Outdoor Rocks & Caves

Make Fake Outdoor Rocks & Caves

Fake rocks and fake rock caves are used for a variety of outdoor purposes, such as disguising unsightly pipes and similar items, as decoration around pools and fish ponds and as rock gardens. There are a few ways of creating fake rocks and caves, such as sculpting them out of roof sealant or creating a cement mixture for decorating fake rock molds. There are also several companies that specialize in fake rock and cave design should your piece need some extra work. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Rocks

1. Study real rocks and boulders, such as their pitting and crevices in order to match your fake rock as closely as possible. Create a mold for your rock with chicken wire and stuff the form with newspaper to keep it from collapsing.

2. Make a coating for the fake rock by mixing one part portland cement with one part builders sand, two parts peat moss, an acrylic fortifying additive and enough water to make a consistency similar to a "mud pie." You can also add concrete dye colorants to the mixture if desired.

3. Apply the mixture using a large, porous sea sponge to create texture and a point trowel for making rock veins. The mixture should be at least 3 inches thick over the mold. Place the wet rock in a large plastic trash bag and seal it as tightly as you can so as to cure it. Inflating the bag somewhat will prevent the bag from touching the rock.

4. Set the bag in the sun and occasionally open the bag to mist the contents with water before re-sealing. Misting the rock periodically is important as you want the rock to retain moisture, thus drying slowly and preventing the applied mixture from cracking and crumbling. The heat from the sun, combined with the misting, creates a very moist environment, which the mixture needs to cure properly. The curing stage takes anywhere from two to four days.

5. Take the fake rock out of the bag once it is cured completely (that is, completely hardened) and rub the rock's surface with a real rock if desired to create additional texture. Apply a stain or painted finish to further add to a more realistic appearance. Allow to dry and follow with a concrete sealant to protect the fake rock's texture and color.

Caves

6. Follow the above procedure for making fake rock to create a fake rock cave. Make larger boulders using the chicken wire. Use several molds or one giant mold depending on preference and access to materials.

7. Use heavy-duty industrial glue to keep the rocks together. Foam roof sealant can also be used to fill in any gaps between the rocks. Mold roof sealant as desired before it dries and paint it to match the colors of your fake rocks.

8. Display your fake rock cave as needed. Use it as a playhouse for small children or as a decorative unit for pools and fish ponds. Also try calling companies like Cave Rock Design and Authentic Rocks for professional installation of rock caves.

Make A Faux Landscape Rock Utility Cover

Hollow faux rocks can solve an ugly problem

There are many additions to your yard that help to beautify your home. Utility covers positioned in the middle of your yard are not in this category. Many people with exposed utility covers choose to cover them with faux landscape rocks. There are several varieties available to purchase from landscaping stores, but you can make a custom one yourself out of cement. A custom landscape rock can be any size, shape and color that you want.

Instructions

1. Build a form for the rock around the utility cover using chicken wire. Bend the wire in place, cutting seams and pleats with wire snips as needed. Bumps, dents and irregularities are fine; they will make the rock look more natural.

The bottom of the form should be left open so the rock can be lifted off of the cover if needed.

2. Cover the form with bird wire, which has a much finer mesh than chicken wire and will hold the cement better. Use twist ties to bind the chicken wire and bird wire together if needed.

3. Mix a thick batch of cement, following the instructions on the packaging. It should have the consistency of peanut butter.

4. Spread a half-inch thick layer of cement over the entire form with a cement trowel. If you want the stone to bear weight, make the cement an inch thick (this will increase its weight).

5. Allow the cement to begin to stiffen, then buff it with a wet rag to remove trowel marks, and smooth the surface.

6. Allow the cement to cure for two days.

7. Paint the faux rock with stone spray paint, or use concrete stain for a more realistic finish.

Make Fake Boulders

Fake boulders are used in a lot of ways. You can hide outside speakers in boulders, line your driveway safely with them, and they are used around ponds and for waterfalls. No landscape is complete without a few rocks or boulders. There are several ways to make boulders. You can use papier-mache, fiberglass or cement. One of the most durable ways is using a cement mix called hypertufa. Hypertufa is also very light and can be easy to carve.

Instructions

1. Determine the size of the boulder you want to make. Make a boulder form from hardware cloth or chicken wire. Fill it with plastic bags or Styrofoam.

2. Cover the form with duct or packing tape. Make sure the whole form is covered so the cement mix will adhere to it properly.

3. Wearing a dust mask, mix the Portland cement, peat moss, and perlite. If you're using dry colorant in the cement, add it to the dry ingredients before mixing in water. Add a little acrylic fortifying additive (for strength) to the water and mix well. Combine all of the ingredients, adding the water mixture a little at a time to create the hypertufa. Its consistency should be like oatmeal. It shouldn't be runny.

4. Apply the mixture to the form. Build it up by patting the mixture on the form with your hands, until it's 1-inch thick and the hardware cloth or chicken wire is completely covered. Use latex or vinyl gloves when handling the cement mixture.

5. Put plastic wrap on the boulder so it dries slowly. This may take up to several weeks to cure, but not less than five to seven days.

Make Fabric Orchids

Make orchids out of fabric.

If you love orchids, then you can make your own replicas of these exotic flowers out of fabric to decorate your home, hair or even napkins using a few simple craft materials. Accent your fabric orchids with small decorative beads such as faux pearls. You can make the orchid petals out of any solid colored fabric scrap you have lying around.

Instructions

1. Cut out eight uniform orchid petals. Draw a freeform petal and use it as your template. The petal looks like a wide oval that has a slight point at the end. You also can print a template of an orchid petal from a website.

2. Squeeze a tiny dot of hot glue onto the base of one of the petals. Immediately press another petal on top of the glue. Repeat this with the remaining petals, forming four pairs of petals.

3. Place a dab of glue on the base of one pair of petals. Line up another pair of petals horizontally to the pair with glue on its base, and then place the second pair on top of the glue.

4. Squeeze a dab of glue in the middle of the two glued petal pairs. Glue a petal pair vertically on the top and bottom of this horizontal line of petals. Place the third petal pair vertically on top of the glue so that the third petal pair is oriented on the top. Squeeze a dab of glue on top of the third petal pair and place the fourth petal pair vertically on the bottom of the glue.

5. Squeeze a small dab of glue in the center of the flower. Sprinkle tiny beads into the glue. Allow the glue to dry.

6. Cut a 10-inch strip of jewelry wire and wrap it in green floral tape. This is your stem. Squeeze a dab of glue on the back of the orchid and press the green stem into the flower. Allow the glue to dry.

Make Your Own Action Figures

From knights in armor to laser-blasting mutants to superheroes and super-villains, every child at some point has wanted his own action figure. Even more, children and some adults have wanted their very own toy modeled after their unique design. What's better than playing with one's own futuristic robot or magician? While it may seem impossible because a majority of toys are made by assembly lines and machines, fear not. With a generic action figure, some imagination and paint, you can make your own action figure.

Instructions

1. Design the action figure on paper. Using a sketchpad and coloring pencils, design your character. Knowing what the action figure will look like will prevent mistakes, disappointments and lost time as the toy is created. Mold the design around the types of action figures available for purchase, for instance, avoid designing a dragon if no dragon figure can be found in a store for modification.

2. Buy a generic action figure. Go to any thrift or department store and purchase a simple action figure. There are many toys that are basic models of soldiers, superheroes, knights and other suitable base models for an action figure. Buy a generic action figure that also is close in shape, design and color to your desired creation.

3. Use the blade to modify the action figure. Generic action figures may have features and accessories molded onto the toy that won't fit the design of your own action figure. Use the knife to scrape off any items that are not desired (perhaps it's a beard, horns, goggles or a hat).

4. Paint according to your design. Using the hobby paint, recolor that action figure to match the action figure you sketched. Allow base coats to dry before applying additional colors. Be careful around the joints and points of articulation as paint can hinder movement by clogging the ball-in-socket areas of action figures.

5. Dry and test. Allow the action figure time to dry. Consider placing outside in direct sunlight for faster drying. Once the action figure is ready, test out the movements to make sure there are no clogs or flakes of paint.

Make Embossed Metallic Paper

Metallic embossing is a useful technique for making a scrapbook.

Embossing is a technique used to create a raised pattern or design on a flat piece of paper. There are two different types of embossing: dry embossing which uses a stylus or pen, and heat embossing which uses a specialized heat gun and other equipment. For creating a metallic design, the heat technique yields the best results.

Instructions

1. Wipe the craft paper with a dryer sheet to eliminate static. This will allow you to make a neater pattern.

2. Ink the stamp and press down on the paper. Embossing ink is specially designed to dry slowly to allow the powder to adhere.

3. Sprinkle the wet ink generously with metallic embossing powder. Pour the excess back into the powder container, and brush the image gently with a soft paint brush.

4. Hold the embossing gun 6 inches away from the paper and sweep back and forth until the powder turns smooth and shiny. Do not hold the gun too close or the powder or paper may catch fire.

Make Embossed Greeting Cards

Embossed greeting cards are elegant. There are two forms of embossing. Dry embossing is done with stencils and a stylus. Heat embossing is done with an embossing pen or rubber-stamped images and powder. A heat gun melts the powder, which almost magically creates the image. Embossing is a nice touch on wedding, birthday, congratulations and sympathy cards. You can even color the embossed image for added impact.

Instructions

Dry Embossing

1. Place the brass or other stencil onto the paper that you want to emboss. Very lightly mark where the stencil should be, using a pencil.

2. Take a piece of tape and stick it to a piece of cloth then remove it. Repeat two or three times to remove most of the tackiness.

3. Use the tape to stick the stencil to the paper. Set the stencil and paper on a light box, with the paper on top.

4. Rub the ball of stylus over the paper, pushing down into the stencil openings. Make sure you rub down into the smallest parts of the pattern. If the stylus seems to stick on the paper, rub it on a piece of wax paper for smoother movement.

5. Carefully lift the stencil and paper from the light box. Remove the stencil and the tape. You have an embossed piece of paper.

Heat Embossing

6. Place a piece of card or mat for a card on a piece of scrap paper on your work surface. Press the rubber stamp into the embossing ink, and then onto the paper. If using an embossing pen, write or draw on the paper freehand.

7. Sprinkle embossing powder on the wet ink.

8. Pick up the card and tap the excess powder onto the scrap paper. Tap the powder from the scrap paper back into the embossing powder canister.

9. Turn on the heat gun. Gently blow heat on the powdered image. Do not overheat the embossed image. Do not use a hair dryer when heat embossing; the powder will blow off of the project.

10. Move from one portion of the powdered image to another, until all the powder has melted. You will immediately notice a raised image.

Making Embossed Greetings Cards

11. Use a piece of card that is the height of the card you want, and twice as long. Emboss on one side of the card.

12. Chalk or lightly color the embossed image with colored pencil, if desired.

13. Use a bone folder or craft stick to score and fold the card in half.

14. Add a rubber-stamped or hand-printed greeting inside the card.

15. Make a mat for a card. Emboss a piece of plain paper in a size that is at least 1/2 inch smaller in height and width than the card. Glue the paper to the center of the greeting card cover.

Make 3d Greeting Cards

When people get greeting cards, it is usually a special occasion. It is a time to celebrate and have a lot of fun with family and friends. To make your greeting card even better, why not create a 3-D one? The recipient of it will certainly be impressed with your inventiveness. It takes only a few supplies, a little time and effort to accomplish this.

Instructions

1. Decide on your greeting card. The occasion your greeting card is for and the person receiving it will dictate the style or design it should be. You must also decide if you want to completely create the whole card yourself or use a regular greeting card to begin. Otherwise, think about what you want your card to look like. The card described here is for a birthday, but you can use the same general ideas to create other occasion cards.

2. Purchase your supplies. The 3-D parts of your greeting card can consist of pretty much anything you want. They can be an extension of what is on the card already or totally separate from it. Select items that can easily be glued to the card. This 3-D birthday card uses glitter, ribbons, balloons and a small piece of wrapping paper.

3. Start with the basic greeting card. You can use either construction paper or stock paper folded over in any size you want for your card. You could even use a computer application to create a more “formal” card. Make use of the colored markers, pencils or crayons to add a background to your card on both the outside and inside. Draw a picture of presents, balloons, a birthday cake and other birthday items. Write “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” across the card, and add any other wording you want. Use a lot of bright colors in your words and pictures.

4. Add the 3-D to your greeting card. Use glue to attach the 3-D items to it. Cut a small piece of the wrapping paper and fold it like a present. Glue it by one of the presents on the card and then use the ribbon to make a bow for it. Make more 3-D presents if you want. Attach the glitter with glue to the words or other areas of the card. Blow some of the balloons up a little bit and glue them near the balloons you drew on the card. Tie a small piece of string to the balloons. Be sure to allow the objects to thoroughly dry. Once you are satisfied with your 3-D creation, give it to the recipient and wait for their reaction!

Make 3d Art

Cut paper snowflakes for 3D art.

3D art is art that isn't flat to the canvas but has height and texture that's part of the work itself. Creating a 3D art piece is a friendly project that allows you to customize colors and your design to match them to your home's decor. Create 3D artwork for your home, your office and for gifts and save money on decorators and shopping.

Instructions

Abstract Art

1. Paint a large artist canvas a solid background color to start the 3D art.

2. Paint wide swaths of color onto the canvas. Use three to five colors and paint them in a random way so they overlap and cross each other. Let the canvas dry.

3. Take strips of fabric that have all or most of the colors of paint you've chosen and pleat it together accordion style. Use fabric glue to hold the pleats together. Glue the ends to the artist canvas, following the swaths of paint to make your canvas 3D with hot glue.

4. Cut strips of patterned wallpaper and fold it accordion style. Choose wallpaper that has all of the colors of paint you've used and some additional colors as well. Glue the ends of the wallpaper strips to the canvas along the bottom and the top of the canvas. Allow the 3D art canvas to thoroughly dry before hanging it.

Paper

5. Paint an artist canvas the color you want the background of your art piece to be. When using light colored or white paper, choose a dark color so the paper stands out.

6. Cut the paper into your desired shape, such as a large snowflake surrounded by smaller snowflakes.

7. Lay the paper face down and cover it with a thick towel. Press it quickly with a hot iron to remove the creases in the paper.

8. Add 3D adhesive dots to the back of the paper shape. Press the paper gently to the surface of the canvas. The adhesive dots raise the paper from the canvas while keeping it in place. For more height, double or triple the 3D adhesive dots.

Make Easy Tessellations

Make a simple tessellation using the shape of a square.

A tessellation is a shape that repeats itself across a plane without any gaps or overlays. The three shapes that make perfect tessellations are triangles, squares and hexagons. All three of these shapes have congruent sides. This means that the angles within the shape equal 360 degrees. The process to make a simple tessellation is easy. More complicated tessellations take time and concentration. Experiment with tessellation shapes by starting with the simplest form, a square.

Instructions

1. Measure, mark and draw a 2-inch square on a piece of paper. Cut out the square.

2. Pick one side of the square, it does not matter which one, and draw a triangle using the edge of the square as one of the sides. Make the triangle 1-inch tall. Cut out the triangle. This is a simple tessellation form template.

3. Place a full sheet of paper on a smooth flat work surface. Place the tessellation template in the top left hand corner of the paper so the cut-out triangle is on the bottom. Match the sides of the square with the top and left hand edge of the paper. Trace around the template.

4. Move the template to the right. Do not rotate the square. Line the left edge of the template up with the drawn line on the right hand side of the first traced tessellation. Line the top of the template with the top edge of the paper. Trace around the tessellation template. Repeat the process across the page.

5. Flip the tessellation over so the triangle is at the top. Line the left edge of the tessellation template up with the left hand side of the paper. Line the top of the tessellation up with the bottom drawn edge of the first row of tesselations. The edges of the triangle will line up also if the template is flipped correctly. Trace around the tessellation.

6. Move the template to the right. Do not rotate the square. Line up the left edge of the template with the drawn line on the right side of the first traced tessellation in the second row. Line the top of the template with the bottom edge of the tessellation from the previous row. The edges of the triangle will line up also if the template is flipped correctly. Trace around the tessellation template. Repeat the process across the page.

7. Continue down the page repeating Steps 3 through 6 making sure to flip the tessellation template at the beginning of each row. The triangle alternates from the top to the bottom as each new row is started. Repeat flipping the tessellation template and tracing around the pattern until the page is completely covered. The end result will show a rows of diamonds surrounded by squares.

Make Bottle Cap Games

In this age of electronic entertainment, sometimes it's fun to take a step back into a simpler time. For example, it's easy to show children make games out of bottle caps. Simple, creative thinking can lead to hours of fun--no electricity required. Read on to learn make bottle cap games.

Instructions

1. Start with Tic-Tac-Toe. Give each child five bottle caps. Make the two sides discernable from one another by using plastic bottle caps for one child and metal for the other, or grab some markers and decorate them by color. Use some scrap paper to draw a Tic-Tac-Toe board and have some fun.

2. Move on to Checkers. Give each child 12 bottle caps to use as pieces. Plastic soda caps work well for this type of bottle cap project, and come in a variety of colors. Choose a separate color for each team. Start with the bottle caps facing upright, and flip them over when needed as Kings.

3. Graduate to Marbles. Play by the same rules as traditional marble games, but flip bottle caps rather than shooting marbles. A good flipping technique is to balance the bottle cap on a curved index finger and flipping with a thumb; much the same way as you'd flip a coin. With practice, you can learn to flip bottle caps with great accuracy.

4. Accelerate to Chess. Draw a chess board on a piece of paper. (8 squares by 8 squares, with every other square shaded.) For chess pieces, give each player 24 plastic bottle caps. Each player must have his or her own color. Turn over the bottle caps and glue a circle in each one. Write an identifying initial on each circle. (K)ing, (Q)ueen, (B)ishop, (K)night, (R)ook and (P)awn. You can also use specialty bottle caps as pieces. They're harder to find, but can really personalize the game.

Make Drip Candles Using Crayons

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Candles can set the mood for a romantic interlude, add fabulous aromas to your home, and enhance the décor of any room. If you enjoy candles and are crafty, you may want to take on the hobby of candle making. A fun candle project uses old crayons to make a drip candle. These are fairly easy to make and are a great hit for a homemade gift.

Instructions

1. Choose wax from candles that tend to drip, or buy special wax that is made for drip candles. Set up the dripping can inside a cooking pot large enough to hold it. Add several inches of water to the pot. Place the pot on a stove burner and warm the water. Add the paraffin wax to the dripping can, leaving a small amount of room to add the crayons later. Let the wax completely melt.

2. Remove any paper from the crayons and break a crayon (or several of the same color) into small pieces. Add a large handful of them to the melted paraffin wax. When the crayons have melted, mix the wax and crayons together thoroughly.

3. While the wax and crayons are melting, set up a work space. Clear some counter space and place a cookie sheet on the counter to catch wax drips.

4. Measure the wine bottle from top to bottom. Cut the taper-candle wick 5 to 6 inches longer than the bottle.

5. Using the food thermometer, check the temperature of the melting wax. Once the temperature has reached 150 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, remove the dripping can from the pan and take it to your work area.

6. Dip your wick into the hot wax. It will take several times of dipping to get the wick covered. Continue to dip the wick quickly in and out of the wax until the wax covering the wick is thick enough to just fit inside your wine bottle. Be sure to hold and leave about 4 inches of wick free from the wax at the top.

7. Cut the wick so it is 1/4 of an inch from the top of the candle.

8. Fit the tapered drip candle into the wine bottle so it is as snug as possible.

9. Light the candle, allowing for the wax to drip down the sides of the bottle.

Make Wax Paper Artwork

Add colorful color shavings to your project.

Take wax paper out of the kitchen and into the art room. The transparent nature of wax paper, along with its waxy coating, gives an artist a wide array of creative opportunities. Wax paper art projects typically involve sandwiching something between two, equally shaped pieces of wax paper. The item being sandwiched is normally not a large solid item, but a scattering of smaller objects, such as flower petals or leaves. This allows the opposing pieces of wax paper to touch each other, and when the wax melts on the paper, the three layers become affixed.

Instructions

1. Tear out two equal-sized sheets of wax paper. You might be making a picture, bookmarks or a stained glass window for a diorama. Only your imagination will limit the possibilities.

2. Select easily flattened decorative items to place between the two sheets of wax paper. These might be dried flowers, leaves, colorful wax crayon shavings or glitter.

3. Lay one of the sheets of wax paper on a flat surface. This will be the bottom sheet.

4. Arrange the items on the bottom sheet. Do not cover the entire sheet; allow portions of the bottom sheet to show through, with the visible sections equally distributed throughout the layer of decorative items.

5. Place the second sheet atop the layer of items, lining up the sides of the top sheet to match the bottom sheet.

6. Iron the top sheet with a warm iron, pressing down. This will melt the wax and seal the two sheets together.