Teen Arts and Crafts Projects

Teens can make their own personalized accessories for their bedroom with these simple arts and crafts projects. Customize a storage box, make a beaded curtain or paint a canvas with acrylics, pressed botanicals and a variety of other media. You'll be amazed at how easy it is to express your individuality through color, design and creativity.

Mixed Media Canvas

Create your own mixed media wall art using a combination of acrylics, pressed flowers, metal strips, beads, photos or anything else you'd like to add to your design. Base your images on graphic spray-painted designs, and then glue two- and three-dimensional media on top. Canvases are available in a variety of sizes at local craft stores, Create an outline for the painted background with markers or paint pens; stencils, templates and projectors help those who are freehand-challenged. Fill in the design lines on the canvas with acrylic paint and let it dry. Decoupage glue works to attach paper images cutout from magazines, photos or pressed flowers onto the painted canvas. Glue strips of metal, beads, stained glass and other 3-D objects onto the canvas using viscous craft glue or automotive glue, depending on the weight.

Customized Storage

Decorate a plain wooden crate, shoebox or wooden storage box with spray paint, magazines and decoupage glue. You can find heavy cardboard storage boxes, plain wooden crates and decoupage glue at many craft stores. Lightly sand and then spray paint the crate, inside and out or just the outside of a wooden box. There's no need to sand cardboard boxes before painting. It may take several light coats of paint to get the color the way you like it. Cut images and words from magazines, print online images or trim your favorite photos to create a personalized collage. Decoupage glue works best to attach the paper to the storage container. Apply a thin layer of glue, press the paper image on top and then smooth the glue over the paper. When the glue dries, the paper will have a glossy, protective sheen.

Make a Beaded Curtain

Make your own beaded curtain using a combination of crystal, glass, wood, acrylic and clay beads. The only other materials that you need are fishing line, scissors, glue and a sturdy curtain rod. Tension rods are too flimsy for beaded curtains; make sure that the rod is attached to the door or window jam. Cut a strand of fishing line twice as long as the curtain opening, plus 10 inches. The extra inches make it easier to tie knots around the rod. Slide a top-drilled bead or crystal to the center of the line, double the line with the ends even. Fill the doubled lines with beads, up to 5 inches of the top. Separate the lines and tie the ends around the curtain rod, using a triple overhand knot. Cover the knot with glue. Make beaded strands to fit the width of the doorway or window opening.

These are just a few ideas that teens can use to make their own decorative accessories. Many Sunday newspapers have 40- and 50-percent-off coupons for arts and crafts store supplies. Take advantage of the savings to make your next project.