Gifts Kids Can Make [Paperback]

Sheila McGraw (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Here's an easy book of enjoyable crafts projects for kids -- all with the aim of making a valued gift for someone important.

Step-by-step simple instructions show how to make high quality toys, ornaments, dolls, jewelry, pet toys and decorative items for all occasions. All of the gifts are made from easy-to-find materials that you probably have around the house: make a bunny from a facecloth, a hobby horse from a work sock, ornaments from spices and fruit, jewelry from magazine pages, a basket from a piece of rope and some cloth strips -- and much, much more.

When the gift is finished, wrap it with lively, inventive gift wrapping in the form of bags, boxes, card and bows that are made from both new and recycled materials -- all featured in the "Wrap It Up" section.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8-McGraw provides directions for 14 inexpensive gifts that children can make from easily obtainable materials. A bunny made from a facecloth, a cotton sock doll, homemade dog biscuits, and a hobby horse are among the projects included. Many can be found in other handicraft books, such as Juliet Bawden's Making Presents (Random, 1994), but von Tiedemann has provided full-color photos of multicultural youth demonstrating McGraw's easy-to-folow directions. The approximate completion time is given for each activity. Cautions are supplied for handling tools such as hand saws, and advice is given for choosing the age-appropriate gifts (baby presents should not have loose parts). The book also has sections on creating attractive wrapping. Ideas such as embossing gift wrap with interesting designs using wet bond paper, a sponge, and any textured medallion or flat object will spark creative imaginations, yet take some patience. Other ideas, such as making a gift box out of old calendar photographs, are more quickly accomplished. A fine supplement to collections needing more craft books.
Blair Christolon, Prince William Library, Manassas,
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Sheila McGraw is author of Painting and Decorating Furniture, Papier Mâché Today, Papier Mâché for Kids, Dolls Kids Can Make, and Soft Toys to Sew. She is the illustrator of the best-selling children's books Love You Forever, and Lightning Bug Thunder as well as author/illustrator of Pussycats Everywhere.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Firefly Books (September 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1895565359
• ISBN-13: 978-1895565355
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #522,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

WHERE THE LOST THINGS GO: If you like Love You Forever and I Promise I'll Find You, you'll LOVE my latest book, Where The Lost Things Go. This moving, loving book is a collaboration between a talented writer, Barbara Farnsworth and myself, to make her quirky, sweet, loveable, and reassuring story of a child who loses things and believes they'll be waiting for him a long, long, long long time from now, in heaven, come to life. Barbara Farnsworth first contacted me a year ago when her manuscript landed in my email inbox, and upon reading it, I was immediately intrigued. Her story gives a child reassurance that while something is lost, ALL is not lost. The book was also a rich canvas for an illustrator, moving as it did from indoors to outdoors, through the seasons, and filled with plenty of action.

Do you have a children's book manuscript you'd like me to view? Please visit my website at www.SheilaMcGraw.com

The mystery novel "STILL LIFE WITH CAT AND MOUSE" THE FIRST SYLVIA DRAKE NOVEL has been temporarily suspended. Soon a funnier, juicier edition will be available!

As the child of a creative couple, Sheila McGraw recalls a childhood infused with the smells of oil paint mixed with baking bread from her painter mother and cigarette smoke and freshly cut wood from her hobbyist-carpenter father. Their inspiration shaped her and she recalls spending endless hours drawing, painting and sewing, including a first attempt at embroidery at age 5 when her piece ended up inadvertently stitched to the table cloth.
McGraw began her career as an illustrator and copywriter for advertising agencies, retail fashion outlets and editorial publications. In 1986 she was approached by Firefly Books to illustrate "Love You Forever" written by Robert Munsch. As that book achieved success she began writing, illustrating, designing and photographing a string of highly successful children's and adult craft books which encompass some of her earliest influences of sewing and sculpting, painting and drawing. She also illustrated and/or wrote several bestselling children's picture books. "Love You Forever" went on to become a children's classic with more than 20 million in print and number one on the New York Times Bestseller list. McGraw's "Papier Mache for Kids" was awarded the prestigious Benjamin Franklin Award. Her artwork is widely exhibited and represented by the Loch Galleries in Canada.
Sheila McGraw lived in Toronto until 2006 when she married the criminal defense lawyer Lee McMillian and moved to his hometown of Houston Texas. She is the mother of 3 grown sons.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great easy crafts for anyone, August 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Gifts Kids Can Make (Paperback)

I got this book from the library when I was trying to find an easy craft project for kids to do, and found myself dying to try many of the projects. They are easy and quick, with enough instruction to get you started and enough variety to keep you from getting bored. I used the pattern for "Cotton Babies", (dolls made from socks) and made two babies in just under three hours, including painted on eyes and hand-sewing. This would be a great book for crafters looking for easy fund-raising projects or just something to do with your kids.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Ideas Inside, April 18, 2011

By 

nayohme - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gifts Kids Can Make (Paperback)

I bought this book specifically for one project that is inside(The Yarn Kitty). I found it in my school library when i was a kid and I just remembered it and how much I loved the yarn kitty idea, so I had to buy it :)

PEACE OUT ¢¾