Customer Reviews

Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul: Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Kathy Cano Murillo, the author of Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul, Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life, has delighted me with her craft book. I don't normally get all excited about making purses out of 50 cent hardbacks (That cool project is called "Hardback Book Purse" and is fabulous!), nor do I relate to holidays such as Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), which I find slightly scary. However, with Kathy as my guide, I understand that this tradition of honoring the dead is similar to the manner in which we honor our ancestors no matter what our ethnic background. After reading what she wrote, I opened my mind and learned what I had never understood before about this holiday, and now I find it compelling and fascinating.

Not only am I willing to learn about a culture which is different from mine, I am totally charmed by this craft book. When I first started reading it, I began giving my husband orders: "Jim: PLEASE go get me a balsa wood box! Please get me a roll of silver embossing tin! I want a knob! A really cool one! Please!(my husband is a builder). Yes, my first project was "The Empowerent Box". I particularly liked this project because it is beautiful and because you store your favorite quotes in it. You hand write them out, place them in it, and keep it next to your bed. I have several favorite quotes. One is "Hope is the thing wth feathers." As a parent with disabled children, I never give up hope. Another is "The buck stops here". Do you have any favorite quotes? A keepsake box, made by you, is such a lovely place to keep treasured words which mean something special to you.

Kathy Cano Murillo is quite an amazing person. Not only does she set you aflame with desire to create her projects, with your paintbrush flying and your glitter shooting sparks all over the place, she writes fun stories. Some are about mishaps she has endured (read the Chocolate incident and you will relate totally!), and some are touching stories about her family. It's a lovely combination: you get projects like "The Mighty Mosaic Address Sign", with has cool marbles and loteria playing cards decorating it, you get tales, suggestions on movies with crafty aspects to them, (this is cool--trust me), fun tips on how to take each project to the next level, and a style of writing which engages you from the first page.

I am not Hispanic, but because of Kathy Cano Murillo, I have a high respect for the family values, the hard work, the humor, the love, and the creativity she offers, here in this book, as an unofficial ambassador for the Hispanic people. She should be very proud of this book. It is superfun and cool.

Other than the projects I already mentioned, several of my other favorite projects are: "Wonderfully Worn Flower Fence", ALL the "Potions for Passion" (and why not!), and the "Love Letters Pocketbook". That one is really pretty.

I think this author is one in a million. Try this book and you will soar--she will be the wind beneath your wings! A great and unique experience! I love this book!

and I bought this book anyway and I'm glad I did. My wife and I took a vacation in Mexico last summer and we've been trying to think of what to do with all the souvenirs. This book has so many ideas like the shadowbox table, which we plan to make. The only reason we haven't is because we can't stop looking at the pictures and reading the memoir pieces. I never realized crafting could be so purposeful and meaningful, the author really expresses that in her writing. So maybe I'll become a crafter afterall...

This book ROCKS! Its super colorful and funky. Mexican pop culture craft projects that are as fun to look at as they are to make. Really good for kids or a night with the girls. If you are looking for a different and inspiring kind of craft book, this is it!! Awesome!!!

I loved this book. I found the projects both diverse and interesting. Many craft book projects end up looking junky but these projects are works of art. This is one of my favorite craft books of my entire library.

This book inspired me to take out my potential crafts and get over my fear of making my ideas tangible. From cover to cover, you'll find great projects, as well as entertaining and inspiring anecdotes from the author herself. I can't wait to buy the next book! (FYI, I use Cano Murillo's Crafty Diva books to inspire my daughters to exercise their creativity and grow into crafters.)

You cannot help but become inspired after reading through this book - OFTEN! I always love any idea Kathy has and the entire book of bright, fun ideas feeds my soul! I cannot see glitter without thinking about this wonderful crafty artist and author. Gracias!

I've never taken the time to write a review of a book until now. A friend of mine turned me on to the Crafty Chica website and I was blown away by Ms. Murillo's sense of style and fun when it comes to crafting. I immediately went out and bought her books and am still in awe at her amazing talent and ability to tap into what it is about crafting that we love so much. Most of all I find it refreshing that all of the projects in this book have a really cool hispanic tone to them without being cheesy, there is NOTHING like this book and ideas. The little stories Ms. Murillo shares throughout the book prove that she really is a "craftaholic" and she has a great way of making you laugh. I own an extensive craft book library and I feel like this book is the best because it doesn't only have craft projects and pictures but also ideas to "liven up your life" that are extrememly inspirational. I could go on forever about this book, I hope to see more from this talented chica!

If you like to cut and paste, and everyone should, this book provides an amazing array of projects. It's clever and fun and playful. And inspirational and funny. Nitty gritty stuff: the writing is fun to read and the instructions are clear, and the projects beautiful. I'd write more but I need to get back to playing.

Kathy Cano Murillo is a crafting goddess. Art de la Soul rocked my socks off! Not only are the projects inspirational, gorgeous and fun, but the book is full of great personal craft stories in which Kathy makes all of us feel better about our own crafting blunders. I could relate to most of them! The day after I bought this book, I went to my local craft store and started to stock up on some new supplies so I could get going! I've already started the funky "Loca Ropa Quilt" and will soon be working on some of the cool coffee coasters.

Thanks, Kathy, for another amazing book!

fantastic!! this is an engaging, photo-laden craftfest! the only thing i wish were different?? i really wish some of the instructions had been a tad more involved, i also think that the instructional photos occasionally leave a bit to be desired.

otherwise, what a snazzy book.

murillo's got faboo ideas that'll take you right back if'n you ever have any sort of homesickness for the southwest like i tend towards...i'd done a few of the projects before i got the book, and will be doing more toute de suite. and hey, as much as i adore glitter, mexicana and non-trad. swell-style--this book gave me mad plans to suit it all! what a tome...