The Muppets Big Book of Crafts [Paperback]

Muppet Workshop (Author), Cheryl Henson (Foreword)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up

Tucked away in a plain five-story building in Manhattan is a magical place--The Muppet Workshop, where inspired craftspeople combine a diverse array of skills to bring the Muppet world to life. Now The Workshop, along with Stephanie St. Pierre--who grew up making crafts with her friends the Hensons--presents The Muppets Big Book of Crafts, a collection of 100 great projects plus trade secrets.

Filled with full-color photographs and how-to line illustrations, The Muppets Big Book of Crafts is divided into chapters by technique and teaches the basics of drawing, sculpting, sewing, painting, dyeing, woodworking, quilting, puppetry, beading, and more. The results are amazing. A creepy-crawly spider piata filled with baby candy spiders. Elaborate tin can lanterns. A mosaic made of eggshells. Not to mention Groovy Glasses, Suncatcher Bugs, and Awesome Umbrae Scarf, a Wiggly Worm, and Marvelous Maracas. Throughout, tips, advice, and the running commentary of Muppet characters keep the book lively and entertaining.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-6-A fun-filled, delightful book. In the foreword, Cheryl Henson, the daughter of Jim Henson, recalls how her parents set up their first puppet workshop in their basement and describes life in this home filled with creative activity. The introduction offers readers suggestions for setting up a work space, provides a list of safety tips, and describes specific techniques such as enlarging a pattern or working with papier-m?ch?. The chapters that follow each deal with one medium or technique. One discusses color and focuses on crafts that use light, such as suncatchers and "stained glass." Others teach about cutting, folding, tearing, and piercing paper; molds and models; carving; printmaking; mixed media (a truly amazing chapter); wood; sewing and weaving basics; dipping and dyeing; masks and disguises; jewelry; puppets; and music makers. Within the chapters, the projects progress from the easy to more difficult. The directions are clear and complete, yet children will feel free to improvise. A sense of joy prevails in the instructions for the wildly funny as well as the more useful activities. Witty illustrations are populated by Muppet characters making Muppet remarks. Full-color photographs of the completed projects are included. This is a book for schools and libraries, for children and teachers, and a gift to be treasured.
Marcia W. Posner, Holocaust Memorial and Educational Center of Nassau County, Glen Cove, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover

Suncatcher Bugs and Popsicle Hands, Groovy Glasses, and more!

Drawing on the creativity and trade secrets of The Muppet Workshop, here is a wide-ranging collection of 100 inspired crafts. Turn brown paper bags and wooden dowels into a kid-size teepee, or rescue tin cans from the recycling bin and make them into your very own robot. There are costumes to sew, masks to cut out and paint, glamorous jewelry to show off. The crafts are organized by technique--each chapter focuses on a different skill, such as drawing, sculpting, quilting, beading--and projects are illustrated with full-color photographs and how-to line drawings. Kermit ads insider tips throughout, and Miss Piggy rates every project's level of difficulty. Complete one or complete them all--you're on your way to becoming an honorary Muppet Craftsperson.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761105263
• ISBN-13: 978-0761105268
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #195,546 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars highly recommended, April 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Muppets Big Book of Crafts (Paperback)

I can highly recommend this book for all ages. With a few adjustments my two year old loves the projects and this book can easily carry you through to adulthood. When I opened it I found several projects I rather wanted to do myself. Mediums covered include working with paper (collage, bookmaking etc), molding and modeling, carving, printmaking, sewing projects, making puppets, costumes, jewelry, dying fabrics, making your own dollhouse and so much more. All of the projects are rated according to difficulty and there are chapters too on safety, setting up your own craft studio and more. Full of color illustrations, interesting facts about the making of the Muppet Show, and humor. I love it. A book with serious longevity - I'm sure that some day my grandchildren will love it too.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a find!, March 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Muppets Big Book of Crafts (Paperback)

This book not only provides excellent, well illustrated craft ideas, but it is peppered throughout with the creativity and fun of the muppets! Not only does the book detail the steps for the activities, it provides suggestions on setting up a work space, as well as safety tips. Each chapter deals with a different medium and within the chapter the projects progress in difficulty. This is wonderful for finding a project in a specific medium for different age/ ability levels.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Find!, November 25, 2000

By 

AHT "SAH Mom" (Omaha, NE USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Muppets Big Book of Crafts (Paperback)

I have a four children and a huge library of children's craft books. There are very few really great children's art books. This is one of them. If you work with children at all, add this to your library, you won't be sorry. This book provides the recipes for many old standby crafts but also offers many inventive and new ways to assemble beautiful works of art. I am a strong proponent of art for children and I believe in projects that produce something the child can be proud of that is long lasting. It is very rare that a children's book is written that has more than two really good projects. Here, they are all wonderful. The section on carving sculptures out of sponges and the muppet recipe for stone is inspiring. I also found this book entertaining with all of the information on muppets scattered throughout the book. It is a great value and a book you will love!