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!
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"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.
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
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 GlassesRead more ›
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.Read more ›
What a gem ! The ideas presented in this book are seemingly old fashioned. But, with the current trend in DIY they are totally modern! All that you need can be found around the house . Tune in to your imagination and let it fly! Your child will love this book as well as the adult who might be guiding them. I teach an art program to preschoolers and some of the classic crafts can be referenced easily in this book. It's a must have for all new parents and a great boredom buster for grandparents!
I really wanted to like this book, and had hoped it would be a good rainy day book for my kids. I think I've done one project out if it. I have three young boys that have absolutely no interest in making/doing anything in there. Very basic, very blah.
The book contains simple, easy-to-follow ideas, and the author is also a book illustrator, so there's a distinct style to it. The only thing missing are photos to see how the ideas turn out. And photos would combine beautifully with the illustrations, and wouldn't interfere with the own creativity of the readers to create their own versions
