What is Code Craft?
In code craft your target is to use code to draw some art and use that art in a craft project. This way you can use code to make a real world thing you love like drawings, phone backdrops, printed designs, stickers, origami boxes, large wall projections, and other tangible outputs..
Code a design
For this activity we will use TurtleArt. TurtleArt is a free, web-based coding platform that lets you make artistic designs and share your code sequences and images with friends. It is beginner friendly and super easy to use.
Watch the following short video to learn how to create digital drawings using TurtleArt.
If you are a beginner coder, starting with a remix is always a good idea. A remix is a modified version of an existing code sequence. For your first designs, choose one of the design from here or here, copy the code in the TurtleArt web app. From there you can change different things and see how it changes your design.
You can learn more about how to create art using TurtleArt on the Exploratorium site or see the complete reference guide.
Craft Ideas
Once you have created your design, download it and turn it into a tangible craft project. Some ideas are:
1. Origami box
Print your design on a colored or regular paper and make origami boxes from it. You can learn how to make a box with origami by watching the video below.
2. Wall art gallery
Create a turtle art gallery and turn your wall into a colorful patchwork of TurteArt creations. You can also make a gallery with a theme, such as radial patterns, or spirograph patterns etc. The designs look beautiful when printed on regular paper.
3. Stickers
Using a craft cutter, or silhouette cutter, cut your design on colored paper or vinyl. You can use the cut design to make wall art, stickers, cell phone stickers and so on. You can read more about this workflow on the Exploratorium website.
Read about more exotic and amazing plotters and cutters, including a water color plotter and a digital sewing machine here.
Share your progress and creation
Share images of your creative progress with us and the world by using the hashtag #makewithumar on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. You can also tag me in your posts on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Make with Umar is a free, virtual makers camp for kids and adults who like to make things. We will experiment with electronics, coding, crafts, STEM and DIY toys, and maybe even cooking, baking and gardening projects. See all projects on 'Make with Umar' homepage.