Homemade Fun: 101 Crafts and Activities to Do with Kids [Hardcover-spiral]

Rae Grant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 8, 2010

Homemade Fun is Rae Grant's third charming family activity book. Like the previous books in the series, Homemade Fun offers a generous collection of classic activities for kids and families who enjoy making creative projects at home, paired with delightful vintage art throughout. Parents, especially moms who are juggling kids, time, and a budget, can use this book as a resource when looking for ways to enrich and entertain their kids. Featuring a versatile compilation of classic crafts, games, and activities that are family and kid-oriented, the book can be used for many different situations including camp activities, after-school activities, birthday parties, rainy day events, and vacations as well.

Homemade Fun will provide hours of family fun!
--stitch a handy wallet
--build a tool box
--decorate a pillowcase
--make paper flowers
--bake pretzels
--decorate cupcakes
--have a pizza party
--hold a bubble race
plus so much more!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Grant's (Crafting Fun, Cooking Fun) collection of craft projects that all kids should learn includes paper boats, button bracelets, and tin can bird feeders. The sewing and cooking projects are particularly good and suitable for girls and boys. A worthwhile purchase, even for collections with Grant's previous books." --Library Journal

"Homemade Fun is a great book to have around when you're looking to give your kids a creative alternative to incessant TV viewing. This compilation of classic crafts, games, and activities can be used to entertain kids at birthday parties, scout meetings, or in your own back yard. From paper lanterns to moon journals and button bracelets, this book will remind you to teach the kids in your life the crafts you did back in your day." --Grand Rapids Press

"Rae Grant understands the modern family's desire to live a simpler life. This is a must-have book on every family's shelves for the years to come." --Pardis Amirshahi, editor of Living Crafts magazine

"In a time when our children can be lost on the information highway, Rae Grant has created a way to stop and get off. Homemade Fun offers families a way back to that delightful world called imagination." --Peggy Stern, Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker

 

Praise for Rae Grant's previous book:

"Crafting Fun is a hands-on, hands-down winner. Projects are simple and straightforward, and will entertain your children for hours." --Parenthood.com blog

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. Her previous books are Crafting Fun and Cooking Fun.

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Product Details

• Hardcover-spiral: 144 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; Spi edition (June 8, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312610777
• ISBN-13: 978-0312610777
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 9.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,074,550 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In this book you will find a wonderful blend of the old and new and crafts that vary from woodworking, to sewing, and more!, July 7, 2010

By 

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

This review is from: Homemade Fun: 101 Crafts and Activities to Do with Kids (Hardcover-spiral)

If you have read Rae Grant's previous book, "Crafting Fun," you know she adds just the right touch of nostalgic panache to her crafts. Perhaps you will find crafts you did yourself as a child and want to introduce them on those dull rainy days when your youngster is yelling that there is nothing to do. For example, most grandmothers remember learning how to put together a simple pinwheel or patiently learning how to thread a needle in preparation for an introduction on the basics of hand stitching. How about making some little blueberry tarts for that tea party or a wooden tool box to store your treasures in?

In this book you will find a wonderful blend of the old and new and crafts that vary from woodworking, sewing, to crafting, and cooking. The whimsical illustrations in this all purpose craft book will take the reader from a fairy tale land and down memory land to Dick and Jane like portraits of days gone by. For each craft or recipe, the reader will find a list of materials needed, complete instructions, and, when needed illustrated directions. For example, when making rolled paper beads you can visualize how to cut the paper to make unique beads. The ring binding, covered by another secure binding for easy storage on any shelf, will lay flat for quick visual access when working on a craft. Simply said, this is a delightful mini version of a Martha Stewart craft book for the younger set!

Get ready to start your traditions or renew the old with these memorable crafts or recipes:

HAND SEWING AND EMBROIDERY

Recycled Containers
Sewing Equipment
Sewing Terms
Repurposing
Good Stuff to Repurpose
Rules for Hand Sewing
Threading a Needle
Making a Knot
Running Stitch
Backstitch
Creasing and Hemming
Buttons
Useful Embroidery Stitches
Up-and-Down Stitch
Straight Stitch Flower
Stem Stitch
Blanket Stitch
Crisscross Stitch
Chain Stitch
French Knot
Jelly Jar Lid Pin Cushion
Bluebird Ornament
Lunch Money Wallet
Embroidered Pillowcase
Placemat Roll-Up Pouch
Washcloth Puppet
Tooth Fairy Pillow
Soft Toy Bunny

PAPERCRAFTS

Paper Flowers
Paper Garland
Paper Lantern
Butterfly Wind Catchers
Beaded Cards
How to Address a Letter
Wall Art Calendar
Moon Journal
Simple Bookmarks
Folded Picture Book
Be an Author
Little Friendship Book
Critter Cutouts
Envelope Animals

MAKING JEWELRY

Salt Dough Beads
More Play with Salt Dough
Rolled Paper Beads
Button Bracelet
Bottle Cap Pin
Friendhship Pin
Reversible Leaf Brooch
Leaf Art Journal
Acorn Jewelry
Owl Badge
Folded Paper Jewelry

BAKING

Baking Basics
Irish Soda Bread
Popovers
Busy Morning Biscuits
Cheese Pizza
Baked Pretzels
Olive Oil Bread
Double-Crust Pie Dough
Decorative Edging
Peach Pie
Pinwheels
Little Blueberry Tarts
Sunshine Cake
Mix-and-Match Frosting
Simple Decorations
Fancy Cupcakes
Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs
Colored Sugar
Cookie Icing Paint

BUILDING THINGS

Wooden Toy Box
Bottle Cap Name Plaque
Coffee Can Bird Feeder
Paper Sailboat
Cardboard Box Playhouse
Shoebox Dollhouse
Berry Box Doll Furniture
Clothespin People

TOYS, GAMES, AND PASTIMES

"Escargot" Hopscotch
Big Bubbles
Bubble Polo
Paper Cup Telephones
Silhouette Portrait
Shadow Pictures
Marbles
Clothespin Croquet
Jumping Rope
A Few Rules and Rhymes for Jumping Rope
The Ferret Runs
Musical Water Glasses

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Review from [...], August 6, 2010

By 

www.firrkids.com - See all my reviews

This review is from: Homemade Fun: 101 Crafts and Activities to Do with Kids (Hardcover-spiral)

I don't how other parents are faring in the creativity department, but sometimes I find it difficult to come up with projects for our kids. They are drawn to the television like moths and it's up to me to sideline them with cool projects that shake them free from the strings of technology. I have a few blogs bookmarked online to check for ideas, and failing that, cookie baking is our old standby. Some days, I desperately need a boost of creativity and this book is a treasure trove of ideas.

This book has an old-fashioned feel, with retro illustrations and soft colors. The whole look is a perfect match to the projects inside. The intent is to offer parents a way of connecting with their children the same way that families used to do years ago. Instead of video games and the internet, everyday life used to mean putting an emphasis on the homemade way. These are classic crafts and activities, a throwback to simpler times.

There is something here for everyone, as evidenced by the division of six chapters: Hand Sewing and Embroidery, Papercrafts, Making Jewelry, Baking, Building Things and Toys, Games and Pastimes. I like that there seems to be a pretty big age range. The Coffee Can Bird Feeder was great for us, but the Wooden Tool Box will have to wait a few years. Some are so simple that you may think to yourself "Why didn't I think of that?" Heck, I made a handful of these in my childhood, and it never occurred to me that they would be perfect projects for my kids. Once I started looking through the book, I was reminded of the button bracelet I had once made and my homemade Tooth Fairy pillow.

You may be surprised by how much your kids enjoy activities that are far simpler than what they (and you) are used to. Some of the the most basic ideas in the book were met with the most enthusiasm. Shadow Pictures, Paper Cup Telephones and Big Bubbles were all popular at our house, with even more pages ear-marked for the future. It's true that kids don't need the latest and greatest gadgets. We found that some basic materials and a bit of direction will bring much more satisfaction. Take a step back into time and try your hand at crafts, games and toys that have been around for generations - true classics!

Rae has previously written two related books: Crafting Fun and Cooking Fun. She's obviously a super creative person who is helping the rest of us.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book for the whole family, December 29, 2010

By 

Olivia "Love to read!" (Idaho) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Homemade Fun: 101 Crafts and Activities to Do with Kids (Hardcover-spiral)

Wonderful book for the whole family! There are beautiful crafts, cooking recipes and activities that are perfect for the whole family.

Loving this book, as well as the authors prior books!