Crafting Fun: 101 Things to Make and Do with Kids (Spiral-bound)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: extra ideas, empty egg carton, Materials Needed

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Rae Grant rubber stamps her heart in word and illustration in this soulful book that gives new meaning to ‘time out.’ I’ll blow her a wish from a dandelion globe while wishing Crafting Fun into lucky lives everywhere.”---Marietta McCarty, author of Little Big Minds: Sharing Philosophy with Kids

From Living Crafts magazine

 “This book is for kids who love to crafts and adults who reminisce about the simpler days of their childhoods. Organized by season, over 97 simple projects are explained on one to two pages each, and jam-packed with hours of entertainment.”

 

From the L.A. Parent Web site:

"Crafting Fun: 101 Things to Make and Do with Kids by Rae Grant is a hands-on, hands-down winner and the perfect book for National Craft Month. The binding makes holding your place as you prepare to craft a breeze. Projects are simple and straightforward, and will entertain your children for hours. Organized by season, crafts such as a Pumpkin-Seed Necklace, a Snow Globe, Glitter Pinecones, Sponge-Painted Eggs, Mother’s Day Potato Print Cards and a Fourth of July Confetti Blower will keep your kids crafting through the months. The book’s Animal Track Casting craft has me inspired for my next family hike. A lot of these crafts aren’t new, but it’s handy to have them all together with useful step-by-step instructions in one beautifully designed book. If you like the format, check out the companion book, Cooking Fun: 121 Simple Recipes to Make with Kids, also by Rae Grant."

 

Product Description

In our hurried times Crafting Fun introduces kids to classic childhood crafts that many of us remember fondly. The charming vintage art illustrating all the projects adds to the appeal and the hidden-spiral binding with a sturdy paper-over-board cover makes the book easy to use.

101 easy and entertaining projects are explained on one to two pages each. Make a pumpkin-seed necklace or crayoned waxed leaves for fall, decorate with paper-cut snowflakes during the winter or make a summer scrapbook of pressed flowers. The step-by-step directions and line drawings allow even the youngest crafter to follow along. The seasonal activities also include fun facts relating to the projects, like how to tell a ghost story, charts of state trees, and the names of the first Thanksgiving attendees.

HOURS OF ENTERTAINMENT---projects and activities are organized by season to provide year-round activities for children, parents, and teachers.

SIMPLE FUN PROJECTS---from creating glittery holiday decorations, to making tin can lanterns, kites that really fly, or spooky cheesecloth ghosts, the book is filled with projects with an old-fashioned slant.

RECYCLE BASIC HOUSEHOLD ITEMS---most of the projects use simple materials found in every home, such as aluminum foil, string, paper bags, egg cartons, and others.

FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN ALSO---many of the projects can be done by younger children with adult supervision.

For parents, grandparents or teachers, this lovely book will help create fond family memories and provide a plethora of fun projects and activities.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 144 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1 edition (September 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312377800
• ISBN-13: 978-0312377809
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #42,771 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh, how I love this book. Thank you, Rae Grant., December 29, 2008

By	Morgan J. Scholten - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While thumbing through this book for the first time, I breathed a great sigh of relief. Crafting Fun makes me feel warm, happy, and craft-competent, while many of my other craft books make me feel unprepared, incompetent, and often frustrated. Now that I have found this book, I have put away all of my craft books from the Waldorf tradition (The Children's Year: Seasonal Crafts and Clothes (Festivals (Hawthorn Press)), All Year Round (Lifeways), Crafts through the Year, etc.) Never again will I struggle to make a teeny tiny delicate tissue paper angel while my child looks on, uninvolved. Never again will I search for obscure items such as kite paper and split straws.

Crafting Fun is filled with simple, lovely, do-able craft projects, many of which I remember from my own childhood. Your children will be able to do the projects themselves, rather than stand back and watch you do them. Just this December, my 5-1/2-year-old and I have made popcorn and cranberry garlands, tinsel stars with pipe cleaners, construction paper garlands, a lovely ice picture with leaves and berries in a pie pan, and pinecone treats for birds. We didn't have to buy a thing, other than the cranberries; everything else we had on hand. There are many, many more winter projects to choose from, and we are looking forward to all of the wonderful ideas from other seasons, as well.

Some of the projects in this book may have you thinking, "I don't need a book for that!" And yet that is the beauty of this book: All of the great ideas you remember are here, in one nicely spiral-bound book, along with project ideas you may not quite remember, as well as many others. The projects are presented simply enough that you will be able to turn the book over to your children to read to themselves in a few years. I know my children will grow up having fond memories of warm moments shared doing projects from this book. I've given this book as a gift, to the great delight of the recipients. Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Simple, June 19, 2009

By	Jamie C. Martin "www.steadymom.com" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Many crafting books for children are complicated - the parent ends up doing the project. Not so with Crafting Fun - each activity requires only a few items, yet produces something functional and beautiful.

And the book is lovely to look at! I often find myself flipping through the colorful pages, daydreaming about something to do next.

I think this book is best used with children ages six and up, although many of the activities could be adapted for younger children.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Craft Book Ever!!!, November 12, 2008

By	M. Voss "maya_cherry" (NYC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My daughters, ages 8 and 6 could not put this book down. We loved the way it is organized by seasons and the fact you don't have to raid a crafts store to do many of the projects. One of our favorites had us all in the park gathering Autumn leaves and making waxed leaves at home. The book is also beautifully illustrated and designed so would make a great gift. I highly recommend this wonderful book.