Crafting Fun: 101 Things to Make and Do with Kids [Hardcover-spiral]

Rae Grant (Author)

Book Description

In our hurried times Crafting Fun introduces kids to classic childhood crafts that many of us remember fondly. The charming vintage art illustrating all the projects adds to the appeal and the hidden-spiral binding with a sturdy paper-over-board cover makes the book easy to use.

101 easy and entertaining projects are explained on one to two pages each. Make a pumpkin-seed necklace or crayoned waxed leaves for fall, decorate with paper-cut snowflakes during the winter or make a summer scrapbook of pressed flowers. The step-by-step directions and line drawings allow even the youngest crafter to follow along. The seasonal activities also include fun facts relating to the projects, like how to tell a ghost story, charts of state trees, and the names of the first Thanksgiving attendees.

HOURS OF ENTERTAINMENT---projects and activities are organized by season to provide year-round activities for children, parents, and teachers.

SIMPLE FUN PROJECTS---from creating glittery holiday decorations, to making tin can lanterns, kites that really fly, or spooky cheesecloth ghosts, the book is filled with projects with an old-fashioned slant.

RECYCLE BASIC HOUSEHOLD ITEMS---most of the projects use simple materials found in every home, such as aluminum foil, string, paper bags, egg cartons, and others.

FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN ALSO---many of the projects can be done by younger children with adult supervision.

For parents, grandparents or teachers, this lovely book will help create fond family memories and provide a plethora of fun projects and activities.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Rae Grant rubber stamps her heart in word and illustration in this soulful book that gives new meaning to ‘time out.’ I’ll blow her a wish from a dandelion globe while wishing Crafting Fun into lucky lives everywhere.”---Marietta McCarty, author of Little Big Minds: Sharing Philosophy with Kids

From Living Crafts magazine

 “This book is for kids who love to crafts and adults who reminisce about the simpler days of their childhoods. Organized by season, over 97 simple projects are explained on one to two pages each, and jam-packed with hours of entertainment.”

 

From the L.A. Parent Web site:

"Crafting Fun: 101 Things to Make and Do with Kids by Rae Grant is a hands-on, hands-down winner and the perfect book for National Craft Month. The binding makes holding your place as you prepare to craft a breeze. Projects are simple and straightforward, and will entertain your children for hours. Organized by season, crafts such as a Pumpkin-Seed Necklace, a Snow Globe, Glitter Pinecones, Sponge-Painted Eggs, Mother’s Day Potato Print Cards and a Fourth of July Confetti Blower will keep your kids crafting through the months. The book’s Animal Track Casting craft has me inspired for my next family hike. A lot of these crafts aren’t new, but it’s handy to have them all together with useful step-by-step instructions in one beautifully designed book. If you like the format, check out the companion book, Cooking Fun: 121 Simple Recipes to Make with Kids, also by Rae Grant."

 

About the Author

RAE GRANT is a book designer, collage illustrator, and author. Her background in fine letterpress printing and bookmaking established her reputation for designing high-quality illustrated books. Rae lives in Manhattan with her daughter and husband.

Product Details

• Hardcover-spiral: 144 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (September 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312377800
• ISBN-13: 978-0312377809
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #795,914 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh, how I love this book. Thank you, Rae Grant., December 29, 2008

By 

Morgan J. Scholten - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Crafting Fun: 101 Things to Make and Do with Kids (Hardcover-spiral)

While thumbing through this book for the first time, I breathed a great sigh of relief. Crafting Fun makes me feel warm, happy, and craft-competent, while many of my other craft books make me feel unprepared, incompetent, and often frustrated. Now that I have found this book, I have put away all of my craft books from the Waldorf tradition (The Children's Year: Seasonal Crafts and Clothes (Festivals (Hawthorn Press)), All Year Round (Lifeways), Crafts through the Year, etc.) Never again will I struggle to make a teeny tiny delicate tissue paper angel while my child looks on, uninvolved. Never again will I search for obscure items such as kite paper and split straws.

Crafting Fun is filled with simple, lovely, do-able craft projects, many of which I remember from my own childhood. Your children will be able to do the projects themselves, rather than stand back and watch you do them. Just this December, my 5-1/2-year-old and I have made popcorn and cranberry garlands, tinsel stars with pipe cleaners, construction paper garlands, a lovely ice picture with leaves and berries in a pie pan, and pinecone treats for birds. We didn't have to buy a thing, other than the cranberries; everything else we had on hand. There are many, many more winter projects to choose from, and we are looking forward to all of the wonderful ideas from other seasons, as well.

Some of the projects in this book may have you thinking, "I don't need a book for that!" And yet that is the beauty of this book: All of the great ideas you remember are here, in one nicely spiral-bound book, along with project ideas you may not quite remember, as well as many others. The projects are presented simply enough that you will be able to turn the book over to your children to read to themselves in a few years. I know my children will grow up having fond memories of warm moments shared doing projects from this book. I've given this book as a gift, to the great delight of the recipients. Highly recommended.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply read down the list of crafts and you'll be convinced you HAVE to have this book!, October 17, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crafting Fun: 101 Things to Make and Do with Kids (Hardcover-spiral)

Rainy days or any kind of days for that matter, can be fun days to work on crafts. A book that utilizes many useful throwaway materials makes crafting not only inexpensive, but also environmentally friendly. There is a list of "useful throwaways" in the front that you can gather and set aside for when you want to craft. This list is especially helpful for teachers on a budget who would like their students to craft, but don't have enough money to supply and entire classroom. There is a list of basic equipment that has common items like pencils and scissors to things like a vegetable peeler. Naturally safety is stressed and those needing adult assistance are clearly labeled. Crafts are listed by season and there are some surefire winners in this book!

Autumn

Waxed Paper Leaves
Apple Print T-Shirts
Paper Bag Book Cover
Apple Candle Holder
Scarecrow
Paper Jack-O'-Lantern
Simple Halloween Mask
Tin Can Lanterns
Halloween Silhouette
Cut-Outs
Spooky Cheesecloth Ghosts
Handkerchief Ghosts
Glitter Pumpkins
Pumpkin Seed Necklace
Roasting Pumpkin Seeds
Corn Husk Cornucopia
Pinecone Turkey
Thanksgiving Place Card
The First Thanksgiving
Toss-and-Catch Toy
Autumn Leaf Collecting
Skeleton Leaf Prints
U.S. State Tree Chart

Winter

Snow Globe
Bend-Up Christmas Tree
Holiday Doorbell
Cut-Paper Garland
Paper Chain
Orange Pomander
Apple Pomander
Spiral Ornament
Tinsel Stars
Rolled Beeswax Candles
Beeswax Cut-Outs
Paper Snowflakes
Popcorn-and-Cranberry Garland
Perfect Popcorn
Ornament Cards
Wassail Bowl
Evergreen Door Decoration
Sparkly 3-D Christmas Tree
Glitter Pinecones
Christmas Card Holder
Greeting Card Garland
Holiday Tree for Birds
Hanging Baskets
Pinecone Treats
Outdoor Ice Picture
New Year's Eve Pi'ata
New Year's Party Favors
Valentine Envelope Cards
Invisible Ink
Rubber Stamp Hearts
Quick-Thinking Valentines
Valentine Carrier

Spring

Kits That Really Fly
Kite-Flying Tips
Paper Sled Kite
Reading the Wind
Two-Stick Diamond Kite
Coloring Eggs
Natural Dyes
Blowing Eggs
Sponge-Painted Eggs
Eggshell Garden
Rose Petal Beads
Rose Water
Homemade Soup
Mother's Day Potato Print Card
Handmade Paper
Accordion Fold-Out Cards
Tussie-Mussie
Language of Flowers
Papeir-Máché Pins
Simple Sewing
Needle Case

Summer

Firefly Lantern
Spider Web Collecting
Pressed Flowers
Daisy Chain
Dandelion Bracelet
Make a Wish
U.S. State Flower Chart
Collecting State Flowers
Paper Glider
Parachute
Quick Slingshot
Pinwheel
Dangle Bead Bookmark
Big Bubbles
Bubble Wands
Bubble Cone
Bubble Art
Five-Pointed Star
4th of July Confetti Blower
Paper Hat
Quill Pen
Feather Collecting
Feather Journal
Directions
Magnetic Compass
Paper Drinking Cup
Seashell Candles
Treasure Jar
Summer Travel Scrapbook
More Fun with Scrapbooks
Drawstring Field Bag
Animal Tracking Casting
Campfire Stories
Toasting Marshmallows
Back-Yard Camping

The instructions are clear, concise and easy to follow. This is a marvelous book that will provide hours and hours of fun and is well worth the asking price! Just read down the list and you'll be convinced.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Simple, June 19, 2009

By 

Jamie C. Martin "www.steadymom.com" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crafting Fun: 101 Things to Make and Do with Kids (Hardcover-spiral)

Many crafting books for children are complicated - the parent ends up doing the project. Not so with Crafting Fun - each activity requires only a few items, yet produces something functional and beautiful.

And the book is lovely to look at! I often find myself flipping through the colorful pages, daydreaming about something to do next.

I think this book is best used with children ages six and up, although many of the activities could be adapted for younger children.