Craft How-Tos and Lessons
If you are new to crafting or just want to learn how to do a new technique or use a specific medium, check out these educational how-to's and tutorials.
- Craft How-To Videos (175)
- Learn About Candlemaking
- Learn About Collage
- Learn About Crochet-Knit
- Learn About Decoupage
- Learn About Embossing
- Learn About Felting
- Learn About Glass Etching
- Learn About Iris Folding
- Learn About Jewelry Making
- Learn About Making Paper
- Learn About Mosaics
- Learn About Needlework
- Learn About Painting
- Learn About Paper Mache'
- Learn About Printmaking
- Learn About Scrapbooking
- Learn About Sewing-Quilting
- Learn About Soap Making
- Learn About Stamping
- Learn About Weaving
10-Minute Crafts for Kids
Check out all of these fast and easy, 10-minute crafts for kids. While you can take your time while doing these craft projects, all of these crafts can be done in about 10 minutes. These are great to use as an 'instant craft activity' if kids are bored, as a momentary distraction, or as craft projects for kids with a short attention span. Choose...
Are Film Containers Safe for Crafts?
This is a popular question here and also at Kodak. Here is what the officials at Kodak have to say about using 35mm film containers for anything other than holding film...
How to Buy a Craft Kit
Find out how to buy craft kits for kids. Kits are a great way to buy craft supplies and to try new craft techniques.
Basic Applique
Learn how easy it is to applique with these basic applique directions.
Beaded Safety Pins
Easy to follow directions and many free patterns for making your own beaded safety pins.
Become Part of the Family Crafts Community
There are many ways that you can not only stay up-to-date on what is going on here at About.com's Family Crafts site, but also participate! You can join in the discussion on one of the message boards. You can submit your own craft projects and tips to be included in our ever-growing craft project library or submit a photo of crafts you have...
Buy Craft Supplies Online
Check out these tips before you buy your craft supplies online.
Celebrate National Craft Month
March is National Craft Month! Come celebrate and try some of the fun, free craft projects!
Cleaning Tips for Your Crafting
While crafting with your kids should always be an enjoyable experience, it does have a down side. Sometimes the supplies you use to make fabulous crafts can cause quite a mess.
Colored Noodles Photo
See a picture of the Colored Noodles craft made by Synthia.
Coloring on Fabric
Learn how you can create colorful articles of clothing and home decor using fabric crayons and fabric markers.
Coloring Noodles
Directions for making colorful noodles that can be used for a large variety of projects
Craft Supplies for Your Craft Cupboard
Whether you are an avid crafter or just want to be a crafter, a well stocked craft cupboard is a must.
Craft Recipes for Kids
You and your kids can use the craft recipes provided here to whip up some homemade clay, colorful paint, bath and beauty products, and even creative snacks.
Crafter's Toolbox: Specialty Tools and Fun Gadgets
Discover great specialty items you might want to add to your crafting toolbox.
Crafter's Toolbox: The Basics
Find out what basic craft supplies you should always keep on hand.
Crafters Toolbox: Beyond the Basics
Find out what craft supplies you might want to stock in your toolbox.
Crafts for Sleepovers and Slumber Parties
Here are some crafts that work great for sleepovers and slumber parties. While parents might dread the thought of a houseful of kids staying over night, if you keep them busy it can be a breeze. These craft projects will help the time pass smoothly and make your child's slumber party or sleepover a great success!
Create a Craft Room
A special how-to video from About.com. To personalize every gift, forget about store-bought paper or generic gift bags. Create a home workshop and start custom-wrapping gifts.
How to Display Kids Artwork
As a parent, one of the biggest crafting dilemmas you may face is what to do with all the wonderful masterpieces your child creates. Here are some creative ideas to help you with this dilemma.
Decoupage
Learn how to decoupage. Here are basic decoupage techniques, supply lists, and easy projects you can do.
Drying and Pressing Flowers
Learn how to save your colorful flowers by drying or pressing them. Great for crafts, decorations, and gifts!
Easy Fundraiser and Bazaar Crafts
Check out this collection of crafts you can make to sell at fundraisers, church bazaar, and other places. If you want to be one of the first to know when more gifts ideas and other craft projects are posted, take a few moments to sign up for the Family Crafts Newsletter.
Etching Glass
Believe it or not, etching glass can be fairly simple! Use these guidelines and suggested supplies to make a variety of etched glass masterpieces.
Favorite Crafts for Ages and Stages
If you are looking for craft projects for a specific age level check out these collections of our top choices!
Favorite Projects for Boys
The perfect place to start looking for craft ideas that are especially appealing to boys. While these crafts are not meant for boys only, these are the favorite projects for many boys I know!
Favorite Projects for Girls
Looking for a creative project for a special girl? Check out these suggestions... There is something sure to please!
Free Stuff for Crafting
While free craft patterns and project ideas abound on the Web, free craft supplies are harder to come by, but I did manage to find some sites that have 'free' samples that you can use in your crafting.
How to Make a Collage
Learn how easy it is to make a collage and explore several inspirational collage projects you can create yourself.
How to Felt
Felting is actually an ancient craft that has become increasingly popular lately. Felting is the process of transforming wool into a dense cloth by bonding and shrinking the fibers together.
How to Find Craft Deals Online
While you can find good deals online sometimes, buying craft supplies online might not always be your best bet because of the cost of shipping. There are a few places you can look for deals.
How to Find Volunteer Opportunities
Read through these resources and learn how you can fin opportunities to volunteer your craft skills.
Free Printable Coloring Pages
Discover hundreds of free coloring pages, learn how to successfully print out those pages, and even how to assemble your own coloring books.
How to Make a Stamp
Melissa from Darnell Spirit Productions shares dirctions for making your own stamps. Her ideas feature a dance-cheer design, but these directions can be used for any theme!
How to Make Stepping Stones
Learn how to make garden stepping stones. Here are basic techniques, a supply list, tips and hints, and even great pictures to help you make your own personalized garden stepping stones.
How to Make Green Crafts
You can craft green by making recycled crafts! With the free craft projects, learn how you can creatively recycle baby food jars, paper bags, orphaned socks, and several other items.
How to Make Craft Supplies
Not only will making your own craft supplies save you some money, it will give you more time to spend together as a family being creative rather than shopping. Put on an apron or smock, cover your work surface with an old tablecloth or newspaper, and mix up a batch of paint, glue, clay, and more. Children should always have adult supervision and...
How to Press and Dry Your Flowers
Learn how to save your colorful flowers by drying or pressing them. Great for crafts, decorations, and gifts!
How to Save Money on Craft Supplies
There are many strategies you can use when it comes to saving money when you go to the craft store.
Learn About Beading
There are not many kids or even adults who can resist the allure of beads. Learn more about beads and beading.
Learn How to Emboss
Embossing is a technique which creates a raised, or 3-dimensional, image on a piece of paper. There are two ways to emboss: dry embossing and heat embossing.
Let's Create a Story Sack
Hmm, what's a story sack? It's simply a bag or sack of some sort, which contains a story book along with related craft ideas, games, and other fun stuff. Why would you want to make one? What better way to get a child interested in reading than by getting them involved with the story in the book.
How to Make a Craft Kit
Create your own handy craft kit that you can carry around anywhere and have your supplies ready to go at a moments notice.
Painting
Find out how you can use a variety of objects to paint with and discover recipes to make your own paint.
Paper Mache
You can easily learn how to paper mache with these instructions Here are some great paste recipes, step-by-step directions, project ideas, and helpful hints.
Picking Craft Kits by Age
If you are looking for a craft kit for a kid or anyone, check out all of these ideas. Besides listing craft kits for different ages, you will find tips about how to pick a craft kit.
Printing
Get creative with printing, and I don't mean writing! Find out how you can make pictures, t-shirts, wrapping paper, and more.
How to Print From Your Browser Window
Find out how you can print out coloring pages and other images from the browser window without ads and other extras.
How to Print From Your Hard Drive
Find out how you can save coloring pages onto your computer to print it out.
Publish Your Craft Projects
Here is your chance to get your craft projects published and show off your creative talents! You can easily share your original craft projects. Please try to send photos along with your projects!
See submissions
How To Save Money on Craft Supplies
Crafting can be a great way to relax, have fun, and spend quality time together as a family. If you like to experiment with different craft supplies and techniques or if you prefer to buy pre-assembled craft kits or try the newest crafting fad, it can be expensive. Here are some ways you can save money on your crafting with stifling your...
Review a Craft Book
Take a moment to share a review of your favorite or not so favorite craft books.
How to Find and Use Second Hand Craft Supplies
Look for crafting supplies at thrift stores, garage sales, church sales.
Share Your Craft Stories and Craft Tips
You can share your craft expertise, craft tips, and stories related to a wide variety of craft topics. Take time to browse through all of these pages. Not only can you share your own responses, you can read what everyone else has shared. There are a many topics that are waiting for reader responses.
Selling and Donating Your Crafts
Read this advice if you are thinking of selling or donating your finished craft projects.
Share Your Favorite 10-Minute Crafts
Do you have a favorite fast craft project? Share it here and read other people's submissions.
Sharing Craft Supplies
One way to save money on craft supplies is to share them.
Submit a Craft Photo
Find out how you can submit a photo of a craft project and see if featured on the Family Crafts Web site.
Swapping Craft Supplies
If you have a collection of craft kits and supplies you don’t plan on using, why not try to swap them for craft items you will use!
Talk to Businesses About Crafts
You might be surprised at what you can get from different businesses.
Tie-Dye
Learn how to tie-dye! Here are basic tie-dye techniques, supply lists, and easy projects you can do.
Tips for Buying Craft Supplies Online
Check out these tips before you buy your craft supplies online.
How to Store and Organize Your Craft Supplies
Learn some tricks to about how to store and organize your craft supplies.
What Is Altered Art
Are you saying to yourself, what in the heck is altered art? In the simplest terms, it is a recycling craft! More precisely, it is the art of taking an ordinary household object, sometimes an unwanted object, and decorating and embellishing it to create a work of art.
Your Volunteer Ideas
Does your family use their craft skills to volunteer? Share your creative volunteer ideas.
