4 Craft and Art Projects Perfect For Teens

Creative teens need projects that let them express themselves and to develop their skills. The best art and crafts projects use materials that aren't hard to find or expensive, so if you make a few mistakes you won't be wasting expensive and rare supplies. With a little practice and a good eye, teens can turn their crafts into a small side income during summer break by selling them at flea markets or to friends and family members.

1. Beaded Jewelry

While other types of forged or cast jewelry is too complicated for most teens, beaded jewelry is an easy but totally flexible craft project. With a small supply of beads, a few types of bead wire and jewelry string and some findings like clasps, a creative teen can make bracelets, necklaces and even beaded earrings. Arranging bead combinations allows for plenty of creative expression. For more crafting fun, make pendants from air dry paper clay or beads from rolled up newspaper. Both can be painted with acrylic paint and sealed for durable handmade jewelry components.

2. Decoupage

Decoupaging requires only a glue-like decoupage sealer and a stack of old magazines or scrapbook paper. Teens cut out their favorite pictures or decorative papers, then glue them onto old furniture, small paper mache boxes and other decorative items. The sealer also works as a top coat to make the paper finish resistant to spills. Decoupaging also involves creating pleasing collages of different images or patterns, teaching teens important art concepts like color matching. Decoupage sealers work on a wide variety of surfaces including glass, wood and cardboard.

3. Origami and Papercrafts

Folding beautiful paper into the shape of a swan, goldfish or thousands of other designs gives mathematically inclined teens a creative outlet. Basic practice requires just an origami book or website and a stack of squares cut from plain copy paper. Once the teen knows a few origami patterns very well, a pack of high quality origami papers makes a great gift. Many modern paper crafts involve cutting and gluing instead of just folding, but they allow teens to create large scale models of their favorite video game characters, robots or dinosaurs.

4. Candle Making

For teenagers who want to earn extra money for summer fun, candle making is a great craft to learn. Young teens can use no-melt candle materials, while older teens can handle melting and pouring hot wax without injuring themselves. A wide range of scent and color options allows for artistic development, and handmade candles make great gifts for all family members. This craft does require the purchase of more equipment and supplies than other projects, including molds, candle wax and additives to change the color and scent.

Megan Perry is a writer who enjoys sharing her knowledge and advice with readers. For more on arts and crafts, The Alternative Consumer offers readers tips for making their own arts and crafts supplies.

Craft Patterns That Are Unique

Making arts and crafts like soft sculpture, painting folk art, creating stained glass windows, cutting with a scroll are all crafts that somehow need to start with a pattern in order to make it. We can create our craft even better and interesting is if the pattern used is unique!

So many images and sources are on the web today, one could get lost in the maze of deciding which pattern or idea would be right for their project. It is also more economical if you did not have to purchase the design. If you are creative, you can find ideas for designs that are all around you. For instance, all types of magazines have colorful advertisements which catch the eye.

Take a look at the advertisement on the page that caught your eye. Was it the color combinations you noticed? What made it appealing to you or pleasant to look at? For me I always like to look for different colors and how they work with one another. In other words, looking at something nice that caught your eye, the work in design has already been done for you. Now you just need to carry it a step further. Look at the ad or design you like; see how you can change it and make it different to suit your own needs.

Another source to find ideas are old children's books. These books have images that are wonderful and unique as well as colorful. With both the magazine and old book sources; look at what caught your eye in the first place, study the image and imagine how you could change it to make it your own. Check your local library for throwaway magazines as good source for reference. Check your local flea market as well for bargains hidden that could well be the best design you've found yet!

http://freesawpatterns.com

Basic Craft Techniques - How to Decoupage Like a Pro

Decoupage is an easy, creative, and satisfying craft medium. With minimal materials, you can decorate nearly any surface or object easily and with professional results.

Simply defined, decoupage is the art of cutting out designs from paper or other flat material, then applying in a decorative pattern to a surface and coating with lacquer or glue.

Dating from 12th century Asia, decoupage gained tremendous popularity in Victorian England where fashionable floral, cherub, and heart motifs were applied to furniture, screens, and lamps. The word decoupage came into use in the 20th century and is based on the French word decouper, or "to cut".

Modern-day decoupage crafters have successfully applied designs to paper, wood, metal, glass, terra cotta, plastic, wax candles, ceramic, cardboard, egg shells, stone materials, and more. Virtually any surface, with correct preparation, can be decoupaged.

Basic Decoupage Supplies

A clean and dust-free surface or object to decorate
Decorative images
Scissors or craft knife
Collage glue or medium such as Mod Podge OR watered-down white glue
Foam brush
Tweezers
Brayer (optional)
Fine grit sandpaper (for certain surfaces)
Varnish (optional)

Surface Preparation

Painted wood surfaces - Lightly sand surface with a fine grit sandpaper. Wipe completely clean before decoupaging.
Unfinished wood surfaces - Decoupage materials can be applied directly to clean and dust free unfinished wood surfaces. If color is desired, paint the wood first and let dry for at least 24 hours. If paint is tacky at all, do not decoupage. Paint must be completely dry for this technique to work.
Slick plastic surfaces - Materials will not adhere well to slick plastic, so provide some "tooth" by sanding with fine grit sandpaper and wiping completely clean. If in doubt, test first.
Stone or rock - Thoroughly clean surface of dirt or dust and cry completely. The flatter and smoother the surface, the easier it will be to decoupage, especially for beginners.

Sources for decorative images

Most flat materials can work for decoupage. Consider these sources: wrapping paper, tissue paper, scrapbooking paper, seed packets, menus, ticket stubs, napkins, wallpaper, old book pages, magazines, pressed flowers, ribbon, photographs, greeting cards, fabric, stickers, posters, calendars, maps, doilies and more.

Basic Decoupage Instructions

Prepare the surface if needed. See prep tips above.
Cut out images. Traditional decoupage included finely detailed and precise cutting, but modern designs often include torn images and patterns.
Lay out design prior to decoupaging. The most appealing design may need overlapping cutouts.
Coat surface with decoupage medium using foam brush.
Coat back of cut out image with medium.
Carefully apply to surface, pressing from middle of piece out to edges to minimize bubbles and wrinkles.
Use a brayer to flatten image as much as possible. Fingers can be just as effective for this step.
If bubbles form, carefully pop them with a pin and smooth out.
Let piece dry. Apply a coat of decoupage medium to entire surface and let dry. Repeat until surface has several coats. The most professional finish has no, or minimal, raised edges from cutouts.
If desired, varnish finished piece following instructions on bottle. This seals the design and provides a more finished look. It also protects objects that will receive a lot of use.
For the most professional finished project, lightly sand and wipe clean in between varnishings until completely smooth.

Decoupage Tips

Let all substances dry thoroughly in between applications: paint, decoupage medium, and varnish.
Do not use ink jet printed images as the ink will smear. Make color photocopies instead.
Do not use original photographs so that they can be preserved. Make color photocopies.
Some materials such as napkins and very thin tissue paper are delicate and require a light touch to prevent tearing.
Decoupage medium comes in matte and glossy finish. Consider this for the final design.
Rinse sponge brushes immediately.

Decoupage is fun and easy. Try these basic decoupage techniques and create professional results.

If you love to make crafts, but can't seem to find time, find your craft supplies, find your budget, or find your way to crafty fulfillment, read Melody Jones' "The Craft Lover's Success Guide: Simple Ways to Nurture Your Creativity and Actually Finish Your Projects" available at http://www.mycraftebooks.com.

Not only will you learn key steps for finding time, you'll also learn how to organize your craft supplies and stay organized even if you are a pack rat, how to craft on a budget, ways to find new craft project ideas and inspiration, and resources and ideas for learning new crafts.

Craft Project Basics - Decoupage Tools and Materials

Decoupage is a fun and easy craft medium, and projects can be completed in an afternoon. With just a few tools required, decoupage is also less expensive than other kinds of craft projects.

Simply defined, decoupage is the art of cutting out designs from paper or other flat material, then applying in a decorative pattern to a surface and coating with lacquer or glue.

Required Tools and Materials

Decoupage medium or PVA glue

One of the most well-known decoupage mediums is Mod Podge brand. Several formulas are available including matte, glossy, satin, hardcoat, outdoor, and more. Visit your craft store for more decoupage brands and choices.

PVA glue can be used. Also known as white glue, it must be watered down for use in decoupage. Three parts glue to one part water is a good formula to start with.

Brush

A regular craft brush works well for decoupage. To diminish brush strokes, use a foam brush, or do what Rosie O'Donnell does and just use your fingers.

Cutting Tool

Traditional decoupage requires small sharp scissors for very fine cutting. A craft knife can be used to cut inside images, but be sure to use a cutting mat underneath so you do not damage your work surface. Some use embroidery scissors.

Images

Some companies produce paper especially for decoupage use, but other sources work as well. Try scrapbook paper, wrapping paper, magazines, old textbooks, maps, doilies, ticket stubs, and anything other source you can think of.

Object or surface

Decoupage can be applied to nearly any type of object or surface. Some ideas are picture frames, wooden boxes, tables, bookcases, dressers, egg shells, jewelry, flower pots, doors, scrapbook covers, countertops, stones, candle holders, plates, magazine holders, metal lunchboxes, masks, wooden dolls, holiday ornaments, and more.

Additional Tools and Materials

Acrylic Paints

Certain items such as furniture, wooden boxes or picture frames may need a coat of acrylic paint prior to decoupaging.

Tweezers

Small decoupage cutouts can be difficult to pick up with fingers and sometimes require precise placement on the item you are decoupaging.

Brayer

A brayer is simply a roller with a handle that can be used to flatten an image or to remove air bubbles.

Fine Grit Sandpaper

For the most professional results, lightly sand item between each layer of dried medium and wipe clean.

Varnish or Lacquer

For the most professional result, complete your decoupage project with several coats of varnish, especially if it will receive lots of use such as furniture. Varnish comes in water based and oil based formulas.

Lacquer comes in a spray can and may be preferable for furniture or other large items.

Decoupage is easy, enjoyable, and requires only a few tools to get started.

If you love to make crafts, but can't seem to find time, find your craft supplies, find your budget, or find your way to crafty fulfillment, read Melody Jones' "The Craft Lover's Success Guide: Simple Ways to Nurture Your Creativity and Actually Finish Your Projects" available at http://www.mycraftebooks.com. All customers receive her free bonus ebook "Simple Craft Projects to Get You Started."

Not only will you learn key steps for finding time, you'll also learn how to organize your craft supplies and stay organized even if you are a pack rat, how to craft on a budget, ways to find new craft project ideas and inspiration, and resources and ideas for learning new crafts.

Decoupage Crafts - Card Craft Basics

Decoupage crafts have enjoyed huge popularity these last few years and little wonder. Decoupage can be subtle or dramatic depending on your choice of papers. One of the attractions is the cost. Anyone can start with the basics of paper and scissors. But be warned; it is addictive!

I first came across Decoupage many years ago at a weekend Day School. Sadly the class was not well prepared or presented, which did little to inspire me. The lady may have been an enthusiast but she was no craft teacher.

I came away convinced the subject was dull and uninspiring. For may years I left it alone. What a shame, because I missed out of learning a new craft skill.

As you probably know, there is Flat Decoupage and 3D Decoupage.

Flat Decoupage is used on frames, trays, boxes etc. In fact you can use Flat Decoupage on any reasonably flat surface as you mould the cut motifs to your base shape.

You can use both gift-wrap or decorated napkins. Once the base has been prepared, your cut designs are then fixed on with a dilute glue and sealed with a varnish. There are various more expensive alternatives to this simple methods, but in essence, the ideas is the same.

- Choose and prepare your base

- - Cut your motifs

- - Paste on with glue

- - Varnish

The results can be dramatic. You can transform any humble tin or plate with appealing cut motifs. As long as you can carefully wield a pair of small pointed scissors - and fix it without tearing or damaging the delicate fibers, then you are in business!

There are 3 main skills to that you need to get your head - and your fingers around.

1. Choosing your designs

2. Cutting them out

3. Assembling them

3D Decoupage is favored by Craftsmen too. The idea is simple enough. It is the execution that demonstrates the skills.

Using the same design, various layers are built up on a base, separated by either Silicone Glue or Sticky Fixers. Skillfully applied, and with motifs cut to show spilling and feathering, it is possible to create tremendous works of art.

Both 3D or 2D Decoupage offer challenges. But with a little patience both product great results. The choice is up to you - flat or 3D. Decoupage crafts could be your next 'must do'.

I am judging a County Craft Exhibition in a few days time and I expect to see some great examples of workmanship. I will be looking for all the basics plus some added flair. They know the Standards they are aiming for and I suspect there will be a number of Decoupage Crafts waiting for my expert eye.

The process of Learning Crafts is as individual as we are. We all have our preferred way to pick up new skills and techniques. The Craft Teacher can have you learning crafts fast with a Proven system for mastering any Craft Skill. Our Weekly Step by Step Online Craft Course gives you choices in how and when you learn. We create the steps and you set the pace. Go here to Learn some great Card Crafts.