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With some time, patience, and creativity, you can turn your unused dollar bills into works of art.

Origami is an ancient Japanese art form. The word "origami" literally translates as "folding paper." The practice has been around since the 17th century, and while there are those who take it to highly advanced levels, there are plenty of simple designs that are accessible to all ages. Origami is a fun practice to learn. It's peaceful, relaxing, and rewarding.

So instead of being stressed out with your financial situation, use money as an opportunity to create beautiful and surprising works of art. People are using fewer bills than ever before, so why not find something fun to do with them?

Impress Your Friends and Colleagues

When you're figuring out how much of a tip to leave when you're out at the bar, impress the whole group with a quick yet elaborate origami sculpture. If it's a business outing, you'll definitely be remembered at the next meeting! Just remember that while a folded one dollar bill looks great, it's probably not the best tip on a $30 tab.

A Fun Family Activity

Next time you're looking for an activity for the whole family, consider money origami. It's something that kids can get the hang of pretty quick. There are plenty of kids' books available that provide easy, step-by-step instructions for folding money into fun and creative shapes, and browse the Internet for great examples of things you can do with a dollar bill and a few folds.

Room for Advancement

While anyone can do basic forms of money origami, there is no limit to the amount of creations you can fold into existence. The more practice you get, the more ambitious and intricate your creations become. You might start at the beginner level, but with some time and patience, you could become an origami master.

A Unique Canvas

You'll see a lot of origami that just involves solid color paper, but when you use a dollar bill, you have ample opportunity to take advantage of the designs on either side, like the pyramid or George Washington's face. Bring a fresh twist to something we see every day with money origami.

Whether you approach it as a new hobby, a family activity, or a way to impress your peers, money origami is a simple, fun, and rewarding way to spend your time.

Today, graffiti is used for marking the territories of gangs and expressing the thoughts of politically aware individuals. It has also become an alternative medium for urban artists. Regardless of your motives and goals, you can become a great graffiti artist after reading some of these tips.

Stencils are great for creating detailed artworks in seconds. Image courtesy of Flickr.

Stencils Designs for Graffiti Artists

To stencil graffiti drawings, you’ll need cardboard, a piece of paper, or other materials that can help you create a text or image that can be reproduced easily. After cutting the design out of the medium you chose, the image will be transferred to a flat surface with the use of roll-on or spray paint. Graffiti artists who use stencil designs apply paint to the cut-out to form texts or images on the surface underneath it.

Artists need to prepare stencils ahead of time so that artists spray or roll paint over them and create detailed artworks in seconds. A graffiti artist may also use computers to create stencil designs with familiar faces and symbols for their masterpiece. These technological advancements have encouraged more people to engage in this activity and to communicate their thoughts through graffiti letters and drawings.

Using Stencil for Graffiti Drawings

Before heading out to the streets and using stencils designs, you have to make your motivations clear. Do you want to convey political, social or philosophical messages? Once you’ve understood what your motives are, you can easily choose the right subject matter, design and color for your next project. Delivering a clear message and reaching your target audience won’t be hard if you know exactly what your motives are.

Do you want to photocopy, use computer software, or draw stencils by hand? What images will explain your message best? A skilled graffiti artist will know the answer to these questions before creating art installations. After preparing stencils, you can already start spraying over it. To avoid over spraying and achieve light coverage, do several test sprays before heading to the streets.

These are the most important things you need to remember before using stencils for your next graffiti drawings. Regardless of what stencils designs you prefer using, you’ll need lots of practice before you can become a skilled street artist.