I learned how to fold this paper candle holder by following directions from Passengers on a Little Spaceship, right here. It's quick and fun! I used a 12" x 12" piece of cardstock. It was more difficult to fold than thinner paper, but made a very sturdy lantern. You can experiment with different sizes, colors, and thicknesses of paper. This size was good for a glass votive holder.
Do you like pencils? I do. Especially when they're pretty or come in a fancy pouch. Check out these tutorials:
Turns out I can do two brainless activities at the same time: watch people pass out on American Idol, and glue small stacks of paper together. I made these pendants last night. Like the pixel heart version, I created a design in Adobe Illustrator, cut a dozen shapes out of cardstock using my Silhouette cutting machine, and glued them into a stack. When the glue dries, the pendant is hard and strong. Each of these is about 2" tall and 1/8" thick. See here for a slightly more detailed how-to. 
Continuing the Japanese theme of the last few days, here's another dose of cuteness: AmigurumiPatterns.net. If you like to crochet objects with faces, you'll like this new website. It's a growing museum of free amigurumi patterns from around the web. There's a shop with a few patterns for sale, too, and all the money goes to the pattern creators. I don't know the first thing about knitting or crocheting, but apparently it's possible to decipher these mysterious codes and use them to produce bunnies with mustaches and mushrooms with eyes. Amazing.
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An addendum to the list of things to sew in the last post: check out these little macaron coin purses. One hundred percent adorable! I want to eat them up. Get the instructions here from Joanne at Craft Passion. You know her. She's the same genius who provided directions for the self-zipping coin purse.
Check out these bag, pouch, and apron instructions, graciously provided by the people of the internet:
I tried another origami neko model from Jo Nakashima—the 3D version of yesterday's flat bookmark. I skipped the step where you shape the cat's back since my crisp paper wanted to crumple. (This is due to my lack of skill, not the fault of the paper, I'm sure.) Follow along with the video tutorial here.
On You Tube I found video instructions for making a cat bookmark designed by Jo Nakashima. So I tried it out. A couple of the steps were tricky, but I managed to prevail! I think this kitty is funny. He looks like he tried to cross the road at the wrong moment. 
Geometric 3D solids are popping up around the internet lately. Adorn yourself, your home, or your party with gem pendants and paper polyhedra using these smart tutorials:
Somehow my gift wrapping session turned into a snowflake cutting session. I wanted to try making some snowflakes that look a little more 3D than the usual version. These are made with computer paper, a stapler, double-sided tape, and a scissors.
If you've got standard staples that are 1/2" wide, accordian-fold a sheet of computer paper so that the pleats are 8 1/2" wide by about 3/4". If you get to the end of the sheet and have a little extra paper left over, trim it off.
Staple the folded paper as close to the center of the stack as your stapler will reach. Fold the stack in half at the staple and cut off any excess paper from the long side. The staple should now be in the center.
Unless you're using extra thin paper or you have super-human strength, you won't be able to cut through all the layers of paper when the stack is folded in half. So unfold the stack and cut a snowflake pattern out of one half, then repeat for the other half, duplicating your design. 
Pull open the accordian folds and join two adjacent ends with double-sided tape, forming a semicircle. 
Repeat the process to make the other half of the snowflake decoration, cutting the same design from a second piece of folded paper. Join the two halves together with more tape.
Try making smaller snowflakes from a single piece of paper—put the staple closer to one end of the folded stack and cut more off the other end.
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I love paper Christmas decorations, so when I bumped into The Cheese Thief's woven paper ball tutorial, I had to give it a try. They're curiously addicting. Maybe I should carry some supplies with me to pass the time in long check-out lines, boring holiday parties, or during that weird Choreography number in White Christmas. 
Hang them individually or glue them onto a wreath form. I'm stringing mine on baker's twine to add to the tree. Taping the end of the twine to a toothpick "needle" makes stringing them easier. I plan to space them out along the string, using a dot of hot glue to hold each ball in place where the twine passes through. Get the weaving instructions here!
Here are tutorials for a handful of unique holiday decorations. There's plenty of time left to make them... along with shopping and wrapping and mailing and cooking and hosting and visiting. No problem. Right? Try your hand at these projects:
Fans of paper folding will admire Francesco Guarnieri's work, including this fantastic fir tree. Sara Adams of Happy Folding demonstrates how to make it right here. So lovely!
I added some more DIY ornaments to our Christmas tree. I'm having trouble adjusting to the thought of winter; can you tell? These ice cream cones are made from tissue paper and a grocery bag.
To make the cones, cut circles from a brown paper bag. Mine were about 4 1/2 inches in diameter. Cut each circle in half. Shape the semicircles into cones, cutting off any extra paper you don't need (the section that's sticking out in the photo.) Secure the cone with hot glue. 
Wad a couple pieces of tissue paper into balls. I used chunks that were roughly 6" x 12", folded them in half, and crumpled them up. 
If you plan to hang the ice cream cones, thread a needle with a doubled piece of thread. Poke the needle down through the top of the ball that will be the top scoop, so that a loop of thread sticks out of the top. Secure the loose ends on the underside with a dab of hot glue and trim off the excess. 
You're probably familiar with Cathrineholm enamelware, a line of iconic kitchen products made by a Norwegian factory that closed in 1970. Vintage Cathrineholm pieces now cost an arm and a leg. But paper is cheap! Perhaps some DIY votive holders will suffice until we win the lottery? 
First I wrapped a glass candleholder with a piece of tracing paper and secured it with tape. Anything white and translucent will do the job; try parchment paper, tissue paper, or vellum if you've got some.
Then I made a template, printed it onto colored computer paper, and cut out the designs with an X-acto knife. My votive holders are 2.5" tall and came in a box from Target several years ago. If you have holders of a similar size, feel free to download the PDF. 