Creative hobbies bring together activities where one makes something with their hands. We talk about création, travaux manuels, DIY and fait main projects. One can to do decorating, to make an object, to personalize a notebook or to recycle materials to give them a new form. To talk about an activity, one often uses faire followed by the name of the project: to do scrapbooking, to do ceramics, to make bracelets. Un atelier is also used for a class or a creative session, and du matériel for everything used during the activity.

For drawing, the most common words are dessiner, croquer and colorier. A dessin is an image made with a pencil, marker or pen. A croquis is a quick drawing, often used to note an idea. The contour is the outer line of an object, and the esquisse is a first draft before the final drawing. One uses crayons, crayons de couleur, feutres and sometimes a stylo. When working with colors, one can to fill, to draw or to underline certain details. A cahier de dessin or a bloc de papier is used to make several attempts.

dessinpapiercoloriagegommetraitcrayoncroquisesquissefeutrecolorier

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Un croquis est une esquisse rapide qui sert à préparer une image plus préciseUn trait est une ligne fine tracée avec un outilLe coloriage est l action de remplir une image avec des couleursUne esquisse est une version très simple d un dessinUne gomme est un outil pour effacer ce qui a été écrit ou dessinéUn dessin est une image tracée à la main avec un outil comme un crayon ou un feutreUn feutre est un stylo à encre épaisse et coloréeLe papier est une feuille sur laquelle on peut dessiner ou écrireUn crayon est un outil pour écrire ou dessiner sur du papierColorier veut dire ajouter des couleurs à un dessin

Drawing and Coloring Vocabulary

Word	Definition
dessin	A drawing is a hand-drawn image made with a tool such as a pencil or marker.
croquis	A sketch is a quick outline used to prepare a more precise image.
coloriage	Coloring is the act of filling an image with colors.
crayon	A pencil is a tool for writing or drawing on paper.
feutre	A marker is a pen with thick, colored ink.
gomme	An eraser is a tool for removing what has been written or drawn.
papier	Paper is a sheet on which one can draw or write.
trait	A line is a thin mark drawn with a tool.
esquisse	An outline is a very simple version of a drawing.
colorier	To color means to add colors to a drawing.

Scramble

Painting uses very common words such as peindre, appliquer and mélanger. The pinceau is used to apply paint, the palette is used to prepare colors, and the toile is the classic support for a painting. We also talk about gouache, acrylique and aquarelle to refer to types of paint. A couleur vive catches the eye, while a teinte claire or foncée changes the atmosphere of the painting. One can to load the brush, to make strokes or to spread the paint. When the surface is ready, one says that it is sèche or that one still needs to let it dry.

aquarellepinceaupeinturecouleurvernisacryliquepeindrepalettetoilemélange

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Peindre veut dire mettre de la peinture sur une surfaceUne palette est un support pour mélanger les couleursLe vernis est une couche de protection brillante ou mateL acrylique est une peinture qui sèche rapidementUne toile est un support pour peindre, souvent tendu sur un cadreUn mélange est le résultat de plusieurs couleurs réuniesUne couleur est une teinte visible comme le bleu ou le vertLa peinture est une matière colorée que l on applique sur une surfaceL aquarelle est une peinture légère à base d eauUn pinceau est un outil avec des poils pour appliquer la peinture

Painting and Tool Vocabulary

Word	Definition
peinture	Paint is a colored substance applied to a surface.
pinceau	A paintbrush is a tool with bristles for applying paint.
palette	A palette is a surface for mixing colors.
toile	A canvas is a surface for painting, often stretched over a frame.
couleur	A color is a visible hue such as blue or green.
mélange	A mixture is the result of several colors combined.
aquarelle	Watercolor is a light paint made with water.
acrylique	Acrylic is paint that dries quickly.
vernis	Varnish is a glossy or matte protective coating.
peindre	To paint means to put paint on a surface.

Scramble

Sewing is organized around tissu, fil, aiguille and ciseaux. One coud with a machine or by hand, one pique fabric, one assemble pieces and one pose a button. A couture is the line that joins two pieces of fabric. The patron gives the shape to follow, and the mesure makes it possible to adjust a garment. For knitting, we talk about laine, pelote, aiguilles and mailles. One monte des mailles, one tricote a scarf or a sweater, then one rabatt the stitches to finish the work.

pelotetissutricoterourletfilcoudrepatronboutonaiguillemaille

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Une aiguille est un petit outil pointu pour coudreUne maille est une boucle de tricot formée avec le filUn ourlet est un bord replié et cousu pour finir un vêtementLe fil est un long brin fin utilisé pour coudre ou broderTricoter veut dire fabriquer un ouvrage avec de la laine et des aiguillesUn bouton est un petit accessoire qui sert à fermer un vêtementCoudre veut dire assembler avec du fil et une aiguilleUne pelote est une boule de laine ou de filUn patron est un modèle en papier qui aide à couper ou à assemblerUn tissu est une matière souple utilisée pour coudre des vêtements ou des objets

Sewing and Yarn Vocabulary

Word	Definition
tissu	Fabric is a flexible material used to sew clothes or objects.
fil	Thread is a long, thin strand used for sewing or embroidering.
aiguille	A needle is a small pointed tool for sewing.
bouton	A button is a small accessory used to fasten clothing.
maille	A stitch is a knitted loop formed with yarn.
pelote	A ball is a ball of wool or thread.
coudre	To sew means to join with thread and a needle.
tricoter	To knit means to make an item with wool and needles.
patron	A pattern is a paper template that helps with cutting or assembling.
ourlet	A hem is a folded and sewn edge used to finish a garment.

Scramble

DIY is used to make, fix or improve objects. One often uses a marteau, tournevis, perceuse, scie and colle. Bois is a very common material, but one also works with metal, plastic or cardboard. To act on an object, one can to screw, to nail, to glue, to cut, to repair or to assemble a piece of furniture. An outil is used to do the work, and a pièce is an element that goes into the construction. When something is broken, one le répare; when starting from scratch, one le fabrique.

visréparationboistournevisréparerbricolagemarteaucloucolleassembler

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Une vis est une pièce filetée que l on tourne pour fixer quelque choseLa colle est une matière qui sert à faire tenir deux surfaces ensembleLe bois est un matériau naturel utilisé pour fabriquer beaucoup d objetsAssembler veut dire mettre plusieurs pièces ensembleUn marteau est un outil pour frapper des clousLe bricolage est un travail manuel pour fabriquer ou réparer des objetsUn clou est une petite pièce métallique pointue qu on enfonce dans le boisUn tournevis est un outil pour visser ou dévisserUne réparation est une action pour remettre un objet en bon étatRéparer veut dire remettre en état quelque chose de cassé

Crafts and Repair Vocabulary

Word	Definition
bricolage	Crafts are manual work for making or repairing objects.
réparation	A repair is an action to restore an object to good condition.
marteau	A hammer is a tool for hitting nails.
tournevis	A screwdriver is a tool for tightening or loosening screws.
clou	A nail is a small pointed metal piece driven into wood.
vis	A screw is a threaded piece that is turned to fasten something.
colle	Glue is a substance used to hold two surfaces together.
bois	Wood is a natural material used to make many objects.
réparer	To repair means to restore something broken.
assembler	To assemble means to put several pieces together.

Scramble

Pottery and modeling use words related to material and shape. Argile is flexible and easy to work with by hand. One can model, shape, turn or sculpt a piece. The potter’s tour is used to make round objects such as a bowl or a vase. After shaping, one lets the piece dry and then fires it in a kiln. One then talks about céramique, terre cuite or poterie depending on the result. An émail gives color and a shiny surface.

modelagecéramiqueémaillerfourtourargilesculpterpoteriemoulercuisson

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Un four est un appareil qui chauffe très fort pour cuire la céramiqueSculpter veut dire tailler ou façonner une matière pour créer une formeLa cuisson est l étape où l on fait durcir la pièce dans un fourUn tour est une machine qui fait tourner l argileL argile est une terre malléable que l on peut modelerLe modelage est l action de former une matière avec les mainsMouler veut dire donner une forme avec un moule ou avec la mainÉmailler veut dire recouvrir une pièce d une couche brillanteLa céramique est un matériau dur obtenu après cuissonLa poterie est l art de fabriquer des objets en terre cuite

Pottery and Modeling Vocabulary

Word	Definition
argile	Clay is a malleable earth that can be shaped.
poterie	Pottery is the art of making objects from fired clay.
modelage	Modeling is the act of shaping a material with one's hands.
tour	A wheel is a machine that makes clay spin.
cuisson	Firing is the stage when one hardens the piece in a kiln.
four	A kiln is an appliance that heats very strongly to fire ceramics.
céramique	Ceramic is a hard material obtained after firing.
mouler	To mold means to give a shape with a mold or by hand.
sculpter	To sculpt means to carve or shape a material to create a form.
émailler	To glaze means to cover a piece with a shiny layer.

Scramble

To create jewelry, one works with perles, chaînes, anneaux and fermoirs. A collier is worn around the neck, a bracelet around the wrist, and a boucle d’oreille is worn on the ear. One enfile the beads onto a thread, assembles the elements and fixes the clasp at the end. A pendentif is the piece that hangs from the end of a chain. The word accessoire also refers to something added to an outfit, such as a broche, serre-tête or barrette. We often talk about bijou fantaisie for a decorative creation, not made of precious metal.

bijouassemblerbraceletchaînefermoircollierpercerattacherpendentifperle

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Une chaîne est une suite de petits anneaux liés ensemblePercer veut dire faire un petit trou dans une matièreUne perle est un petit élément rond décoratifAttacher veut dire fixer un élément à un autreUn bracelet est un bijou que l on porte au poignetAssembler veut dire réunir plusieurs éléments pour créer un objetUn pendentif est un petit objet décoratif suspendu à une chaîneUn collier est un bijou que l on porte autour du couUn fermoir est une petite pièce qui permet de fermer un bijouUn bijou est un objet décoratif que l on porte sur soi

Jewelry-Making Vocabulary

Word	Definition
bijou	Jewelry is a decorative object that one wears.
perle	A bead is a small round decorative element.
chaîne	A chain is a series of small rings linked together.
bracelet	A bracelet is a piece of jewelry worn on the wrist.
collier	A necklace is a piece of jewelry worn around the neck.
pendentif	A pendant is a small decorative object suspended from a chain.
fermoir	A clasp is a small piece that allows jewelry to be fastened.
assembler	To assemble means to join several elements to create an object.
percer	To pierce means to make a small hole in a material.
attacher	To attach means to fasten one element to another.

Scramble

To present an idea, one says I want to make, I feel like making or I am going to create. One can say I am preparing a gift, I am making a decoration or I am altering a garment. Matériel refers to everything needed to begin: fabric, beads, glue, paintbrushes. To describe the steps, one uses verbs such as to begin, to cut, to assemble, to paint and to finish. One talks about the result with successful, pretty, simple or difficult. To explain what one likes, one says I like drawing, I prefer sewing or I often make jewelry. When the project requires time, one can say it takes time or patience is needed.