Browse down this page for descriptions and illustrations of the projects in date order, then select a project and have some crafting fun!
Mini-boomerangs (Nov 9, 2020) - In this project, see how to make mini-boomerangs that really fly and return to the thrower! These tiny boomerangs are launched with a flick of a finger and can be played with inside. The project includes printable patterns and ideas for aerodynamic experiments.
VERY EASY
Stained Glass Leaves Friday Fun (Nov 6, 2020) - The colors of fall are warm and cheerful. Capture these colors with this stained glass-like decoration that is created using recycled crayons!! Combine the craft with a walk through the woods for an enjoyable fall afternoon.
EASY
Floating Wing Glider Paper Airplane (Nov 2, 2020) - In this paper airplane project, you will learn how to fold a glider that floats through the air and can be thrown gently or hard. This paper airplane glides on a long and steady path, and can also do stunts.
AVERAGE
Dracula's Blood Recipe Friday Fun (Oct 28, 2020) - Here's a recipe to make fake blood for Halloween. Drip some from the corners of your mouth, and in your best imitation of Dracula say, "I want your blood."
VERY EASY
Ghost Garland (Oct 26, 2020) - This colorful garland of ghosts is a quick and easy way to decorate for Halloween. The project includes printable patterns for ghosts and illustrated instructions for making the garland based on a paper chain in Halloween colors.
VERY EASY
Tri-tetraflexagons (Oct 12, 2020) - In this project, you'll make the tri-tetraflexagon which is one of the simplest and easiest to make flexagons. It looks like a simple paper square with a front and a back, but hidden inside is another side (or face) that is revealed by folding the square in half and flexing it.
EASY
Four Patch Cards (Oct 4, 2020) - Use this simple card making idea to create two beautiful greeting cards from a single 6" by 6" sheet of decorative paper. With this versatile technique you can make great looking card designs with ease! This tutorial also includes how to make card blanks and envelopes.
EASY
Picaria Game Board Patterns (Sep 28, 2020) - Make a game board for a 3-in-a-row game that goes beyond Tic-Tac-Toe, and comes to us from the Keres Pueblo People of New Mexico. There are patterns for making a durable felt or pieced paper game board from square and triangle shapes, and printable print and play game boards, including one for you to color any way you like.
EASY
Double-sided Paper Window Card (Sep 21, 2020) - See how quick and easy it is to make a window card with double-sided paper or cardstock. Just cut, fold and glue and then decorate with stamps and cutouts. Since the two sides of double-sided paper are meant to go together, you'll always get a color coordinated card!
VERY EASY
Simple Mitt Hand Puppets (Sep 14, 2020) - What did one mitt say to the other? That’s up to you with this easily customized puppet made of paper. Facial features and your own custom cutouts transform a basic mitt shape into funny characters, adorable animals, monsters, and anything else you can imagine. Start with Aunt Annie's cat, rabbit and bear patterns, then try a design of your own!
VERY EASY
The Game of Mancala (Sep 7, 2020) - You don’t need a plane ticket to visit Africa! In this project, learn to play two versions of the African game of mancala. Create your own mancala game board from homemade dough clay, and have fun playing ba-awa and kiuthi right where you are.
AVERAGE
Alquerque Game Board (Aug 31, 2020) - In this project, make an Alquerque game board designed for use with marbles as playing pieces. Alquerque is a classic war or battle game with equal sides and complex strategy. Included in the project are rules for playing Alquerque and some history about the game.
EASY
Card for Him (Aug 24, 2020) - See how easy it is to make a card for the man in your life. Whether you are making a birthday card, a congratulations card or a card for some other occasion or event, it's easy to personalize the card in this project with colors and designs that suit him.
EASY
Cardstock Animal Bookmarks (Aug 17, 2020) - Make animal-shaped bookmarks from cardstock. Just print, color, cut and bend to make these cute bookmarks for yourself or to give as gifts. This is a good project for kids to practice coloring and cutting. It is also a quick craft for adults to make as gifts for the kids and grandkids!
VERY EASY
Elephant Finger Puppets (Aug 10, 2020) - Make elephant finger puppets that are animated with three of your fingers—two fingers for the legs and another finger for the head. These puppets are easy to make—just cut, fold and glue. These puppets go with lion, rabbit and sheep puppets in the Three-Finger Puppets craft project.
EASY
Pocket Folder for Greeting Cards (Aug 3, 2020) - This simple folder is perfect for storing your handmade cards, and with multiple folders, you can arrange the cards by theme or occasion. When selling or giving your cards as a set, make a folder to match your handmade cards.
EASY
Woven Suede Bracelet (Jul 27, 2020) - See how to make a bracelet by weaving narrow strips of suede into a suede leather band. It only takes scraps of suede in two contrasting colors to create this soft bracelet. Make one to coordinate with a special outfit or to give as a gift to a friend.
AVERAGE
Petal-top Hexagon Box (Jul 22, 2020) - Choose from several patterns to make a hexagonal box with a distinctive flower closure on top. The petals on the box tops fold over into a flower-like closure to give the box a unique look that is sure to delight. These boxes are especially nice for gifts.
EASY
Hexagon Box (Jul 20, 2020) - Make a hexagonal-shaped box in several sizes, plain or decorated. These boxes may be used as gift boxes, boxes to store trinkets, party or wedding favors, or as decorative accents in your home. Three of the boxes are sized to make into a stack. Also, included are patterns for petal-top boxes with a unique flower-like closure.
EASY
Pentagon Box (Jul 6, 2020) - Make a pentagonal-shaped box with an attached lid in various sizes using printable patterns. The boxes range in size from 3" to 1¾" and nest together for storage. Use the boxes individually, or stacked, as gift boxes, favors or for storing jewelry and other trinkets. Also included are boxes decorated with stars & stripes or with shamrocks.
EASY
Hexa-hexaflexagons (Jun 29, 2020) - Learn how to make a really fun geometric toy—a six-sided, six-faced flexagon called a hexa-hexaflexagon! It looks like an ordinary, two-dimensional, paper hexagon with a front and a back, but hidden inside are four more sides (or faces) that become visible by flexing (folding) the paper. The project also includes patterns for tetra- and penta-hexaflexagons.
AVERAGE
Sewing Cards (Jun 3, 2020) - For generations, children have been playing with sewing cards. In this project, see how easy it is to make your own sewing cards out of cardstock, then sew on them with colorful yarn. Adults can take the sewing cards a step further to make scrapbook and greeting card embellishments.
VERY EASY
3D Paper Fish (Jun 1, 2020) - In this project, make two sizes of paper fish. Weave the tails together in two easy steps to make the fish become three dimensional. The fish can be hung from the ceiling or in a window, and with the slightest breeze will dance about to the delight of all. They make great gift package toppers, too!
VERY EASY
Triceratops Finger Puppets (May 27, 2020) - Make triceratops dinosaur finger puppets that are animated with three of your fingers—two fingers for the legs and another finger for the head. These puppets are easy to make—just cut, fold and glue. These puppets go with lion, rabbit and sheep puppets in the Three-Finger Puppets craft project and the elephant puppets in the Elephant Finger Puppets craft project.
EASY
Three-Finger Puppets (May 25, 2020) - Three fingers is all it takes to bring these paper animal puppets to life! Make a fierce golden lion, a timid rabbit, or a funny bighorn sheep. Your puppets can be friends or foes in any story you can imagine; or, act out the included Aesop fable, The Lion and the Rabbit.
EASY
Fishing Game (May 20, 2020) - Make 3-D fish and, to catch them, a fishing hook and rod. The fishing game is enjoyed by kids of all ages and can be made easier or more difficult, depending on the children's capabilities. Make a game set to keep and another to give as a gift.
EASY
Leather Bookmarks (May 13, 2020) - In this project, make a simple leather bookmark in one of five designs. The shapes include an eagle and a rocket. Bookmarks always make great gifts and leather ones last virtually forever. If you are new to leather craft, start with this project!
EASY
Make a Custom Oval Box and Pattern (Apr 22, 2020) - It's easy to design and make an oval-shaped box to exactly meet your needs. In this project, you will create a custom pattern for any size oval box. Construct your oval box following the instructions in the Oval Box with Lid craft.
AVERAGE
How to Ply Handmade Paper (Mar 16, 2020) - This project shows you how to use paper plying to create decorative effects on your handmade paper. Paper plying is the technique of making paper with two or more layers. The resulting two-sided paper can be used in all of your paper crafts. You can even create paper sculptures by making 2-ply paper with embedded wire.
AVERAGE
Mold and Deckle (Mar 2, 2020) - A mold and deckle is an essential tool for handmade papermaking. Instructions are given for making the Mold and Deckle from wood, recycled picture frames or, especially for beginners and children, a simple plastic canvas and cardboard version.
EASY to AVERAGE