Criminal Crafts: From D.I.Y. to F.B.I. Outlaw Projects for Scoundrels, Cheats, and Armchair Detectives [Paperback]

Shawn Gascoyne-Bowman (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 10, 2012

This criminally clever craft book delivers more than 30 easy-to-make projects for devious minds looking for ways to artfully display everything from murder weapons made of soap to crime scene outlines on the living room floor.

Criminals attract an audience. People admire the sneakiness and creativity of the profession while cursing the dastardly outcomes. So why not have all of the tricks without the trade? Criminal Crafts brings together illicit behavior and artistic expression with dark humor in this do-it-yourself project book. Author Shawn Bowman focuses on original crafts and recipes themed in noir, murder, retro espionage, pulp fiction, mafia, and voodoo.

Crafters and mischief lovers alike will love this book of 30 projects revolving around notorious criminals and their activities. From John Dillinger's soap gun to Bonnie Parker's gunshot poetry journal, readers will find themselves both amused and intrigued with the devious creativity. Not to mention how impressed party guests will be when they show up to Flaming Amy cocktails and cocktail bars stashed in violin cases. And just wait until you show off your shiv cozy! From the practical to the classically kitsch, Criminal Crafts are art projects readers will love.

Some of Bowman’s notorious crafts are available online at www.criminalcrafts.etsy.com, and you can follow Criminal Crafts at www.criminalcrafts.com and via Twitter and Facebook.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Former professional chef and current crafter extraordinaire, Shawn Bowman dallied in a promising East Coast film career, but decided to chuck it away to raise a demanding and ungrateful family and an ill tempered dog. Attached to her glue gun in a meaningful yet painful way, she spends her days skulking in Portland, Oregon, writing, making stuff, and drinking awesome beer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing; Original edition (April 10, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1449409857
• ISBN-13: 978-1449409852
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.5 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #492,021 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars pure imagination May 21, 2012

By ktpies

Format:Paperback

This book is not only fun for those who enjoy to craft it is also a great read. I really enjoyed creating several of the projects, and I must say they are perfect for criminal themed events. The gingerbread recipe is also the best I've ever made.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Rarely are craft books sooo FUNNY June 3, 2012

By Kristin Teigen

Format:Paperback

So often, craft books are sticky sweet or dry -- sticking to the directions with little personality. This book turns that notion on its head, presenting not only engaging ideas for projects, but pithy and hilarious writing. Beyond the humor, the author has clearly has done her homework and described very clearly and thoughtfully each project. And, what a great combo of adult and kid ideas -- my 10 year old says, "It's so creative...and I love the dark humor." My 7 year old says, "The gingerbread men are my favorite, because it's so fun what you can do with them."

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun easy projects for mystery and noir fans May 21, 2012

By Shala Kerrigan TOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

This is is one of the most amusing themed craft books I've ever seen. The theme is criminally inspired crafting, and it covers a broad range of crafts. The crafts are clever and most of them are very inexpensive to make as gifts or for your own enjoyment.
Each project starts with a brief introduction explaining the inspiration for the project. Some are inspired by real criminals, others are more generally inspired.

The projects are all written so craft novices can follow the instructions.

The chapters are separated by type according to how it's used. The projects themselves use a variety of techniques including but not limited to paper craft, hand sewing, stamp carving and duct tape.

Chapter 1- Criminal Intent has things with practical use, like the John Dillinger inspired gun shaped soap or the wonderful Ransom Note Kit that can be made with minimal cost and would be a great gift for slightly twisted paper crafters.

Chapter 2- Accessories to the Fact is accessorizing at it's sneaky, criminal inspired best. I really love the Case the Joint Craft Caddy made from a used violin case and the Crime Scene Tape Messenger Bag. The simple sewn orange and striped fleece poncho named for the craft world's most famous criminal had me laughing out loud.

Chapter 3- Recipes for Disaster is cooking and cocktails with a crafty, witty flair. My favorite is the Crime Scene Gingerbread Men all dead in creatively morbid ways. There is also the obligatory cake with a file in it!

Chapter 4- Home is Where The Heart is... and the Left Leg and the Spleen is home decor items. I love the noir silhouette Concrete Slippers Window Shade. My daughter loves the Barefoot Bandit Grass-Head Cellmate that's made from a discarded sock....

A really fun book with full of great gangster inspired crafts. This is a great book for my teenage daughter and I to work on things together and one I really recommend for sharing craft nights with friends and loved ones. Since most of the crafts can be completed in an evening, they would make a great themed party. Get your favorite gangster film, your glue gun and glue bandolier (instructions in the accessories chapter) and have fun.

[I received a complimentary copy of the book to review on my craft blog- Don't Eat the Paste. My reviews are always my honest opinion] Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great premise! January 4, 2013

By Laura A. R. Wingfield

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am a mystery buff and love the Day of the Dead so this just seemed to be up my alley. Sent it as a gift to a friend with similar tastes and she liked it too. Fun ideas for off kilter crafters.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Amusing but..... May 18, 2012

By sock chick

Format:Paperback

....much less than what I expected from the preview.
The quality of the projects is pure *craft* in the lesser sense of the word.
This is a novelty book and proves anything can get published. One read through and it was mailed off to a friend who was going to give it to a young girl she shares art projects with.
Not sure who the audience is for this book.
The final projects, for the most part, look cheap and unfinished.
Too bad this wasn't clocked with a candlestick in the Parlor before it made it to the publisher, and the money out of my wallet. There is the real crime and mystery.

4.0 out of 5 stars Criminal Crafts: not just for the nefarious individual. March 14, 2013

By Pen Name

Format:Kindle Edition

Fun ideas to try even if you are not living a life of crime. Witty dialogue and easy to follow instructions.

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique gift idea for the "Criminally Minded" fans. February 3, 2013

By Claudia Roller

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Know someone who is a follower of various shows and movies themed for the crime solver? This was a perfect gift to show them how to make those little special effects. Very nicely written, was well received. Very happy with purchase.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Diabolical Fun February 7, 2013

By Carol Chapin-Olson

Format:Paperback

I love a clever writer. I laughed until my sides split when I read this book. Even the preface and the author's biography were hysterical. Anyone who enjoys spy, crime, or pulp genre fiction will adore this book. Honestly, anyone with a sense of humor will adore this book.

But, wait. This is a craft book. Know that the crafts in this book are ingenious and equally side-splitting. Just browse the photographs of finished projects to see; think of rear-view sunglasses, Day-of-the-Dead bath fizzies, exploding drinks, and crime scene gingerbread people, to name just a few. All the projects I tried were easy to make with items easily found around home or a local five-and-dime. (My big investment was a $10 glue gun for making the luchador masks.) The author used to be a pastry chef, and I've used her delicious gingerbread recipe repeatedly.

This book is too fun not to share. I ended up hosting a criminal crafts party, hand picking projects that would be both adult- and kid-friendly. One friend pronounced the event "funamazing." A second party may be in the offing, as there are more projects I'd like to try. Criminal Crafts offers projects for the more skilled crafters as well. There is something diabolically fun here for everyone.