Nature's Art Box: From t-shirts to twig baskets, 65 cool projects for crafty kids to make with natural materials you can find anywhere (Paperback)

by Laura C. Martin (Author), David Cain (Illustrator) "What do you picture when you think of making crafts?..." (more)
Key Phrases: hammering flowers, amulet bag, craft glue, Glue Gun Caution, Native American, Chess Set (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8-Martin contends that nature provides us with an abundance of art supplies and she invites readers to make use of these bounties in these 65 projects. She classifies the activities according to the material required: vines, twigs, cones, and moss; gourds, pods, husks, and seeds; clay, stones, sand, and shells; paints, inks, and dyes; flowers and leaves; and stamps, stencils, molds, and seals. Each chapter includes information about historical and ethnic uses for the natural substances. Activities are rated by level of difficulty; all have easy-to-follow instructions. Projects range from baskets, picture frames, wreaths, necklaces, and gift wrap to body paint, amulet bags, and painted stones; from a chess set to shell buttons to an okra pod canoe and people. The projects display a respect for nature and art, and a simple, subtle beauty; they are not the cutesy, stylized projects described in so many contemporary books. Line drawings accompany the numbered steps and charming ink-and-watercolor pictures illustrate the completed projects. Some general crafting techniques are explained. The helpful appendix offers charts on the availability of various materials and their uses and gift suggestions. Bobbe Needham's Ecology Crafts for Kids (Sterling, 1998), which encourages the use of natural craft materials as well as recycled man-made materials, complements this title. Martin's unusual volume will be a great resource for crafters of all ages and abilities.
Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, Waterford, NJ
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
Grade 4-8-Martin contends that nature provides us with an abundance of art supplies and she invites readers to make use of these bounties in these 65 projects. She classifies the activities according to the material required: vines, twigs, cones, and moss; gourds, pods, husks, and seeds; clay, stones, sand, and shells; paints, inks, and dyes; flowers and leaves; and stamps, stencils, molds, and seals. Each chapter includes information about historical and ethnic uses for the natural substances. Activities are rated by level of difficulty; all have easy-to-follow instructions. Projects range from baskets, picture frames, wreaths, necklaces, and gift wrap to body paint, amulet bags, and painted stones; from a chess set to shell buttons to an okra pod canoe and people. The projects display a respect for nature and art, and a simple, subtle beauty; they are not the cutesy, stylized projects described in so many contemporary books. Line drawings accompany the numbered steps and charming ink-and-watercolor pictures illustrate the completed projects. Some general crafting techniques are explained. The helpful appendix offers charts on the availability of various materials and their uses and gift suggestions. Bobbe Needham's Ecology Crafts for Kids (Sterling, 1998), which encourages the use of natural craft materials as well as recycled man-made materials, complements this title. Martin's unusual volume will be a great resource for crafters of all ages and abilities.
Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, Waterford, NJ
(School Library Journal )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (June 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580174906
• ISBN-13: 978-1580174909
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #72,910 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Nature Crafts - Great projects, February 18, 2006

By	[e-mail] "www.allcrafts.net" (NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nature's Art Box: From t-shirts to twig baskets, 65 cool projects for crafty kids to make with natural materials you can find anywhere (Hardcover)

Here in the Northeast US, we're still gripped by the icy fingers of winter. Hopefully, spring will come soon. Meanwhile, I'll while away the gray days with Nature's Art Box, a sturdy and well-written hardcover book with 65 nature crafts projects for kids. This book is appropriate for parents, teachers, home-schoolers and group leaders. It's a nature crafts course for educators in a cosy, attractive book. The book is divided into several sections based on different types of natural materials:

* Vines, Twigs, Cones, and Moss
* Gourds, Pods, Husks, and Seeds
* Clay Stones, Sand, and Shells
* Paints, Inks, and Dyes
* Flowers and Leaves
* Stamps, Stencils, Molds and Seals

The introduction and appendix are full of helpful information on gathering materials and other crafts supplies to create the projects. The projects vary in complexity - some are very simple, and others require adult supervision. Safety tips and instructions are plentiful.

Here's a sampling of the 65+ projects included:

* Bark and Moss House
* Angel Ornament
* Okra Pod Canoe and People
* Sand Painting
* Shell Buttons
* Homemade Natural Paint
* Fern Print
* Dried-Flower Fairy
* Leaf Rubbing Gift Wrap

Right next to this book on a shelf, I picked up a nature crafts book that was lovely to look at, with elegant design and great photography. But the projects were scanty and simplistic. This book is the antidote - it is full of information, projects and ideas. You will turn to it year after year, season after season. Highly recommended.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great kids nature craft book!, September 10, 2007

By	S. Christensen (Northeast, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First of all, you have to remember that this is a KIDS craft book. :-) My two boys have both really enjoyed doing crafts out of this book. They are 12 and 8 yrs. A lot more in depth than other nature craft books I have seen for kids.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teaches Children to Appreciate Mother Earth, November 22, 2007

By	Adrienne Watson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is awesome. I checked it out from the library on a whim and ended up loving it so much that I plan to buy it for my daughter. The beginning of the book provides basic information about the artistic gifts the earth provides for us to use, and then each chapter addresses different materials and creative projects that children can make from them. I've read some bad reviews of this book, and frankly I believe that a person who would feel that way clearly doesn't see the point in instilling in their child a relationship with nature or any sense of organic creativity, but instead tosses them plastic toys and video games and puts them in front of the television. If you want to use a natural approach to art with your children and show them the beauty and value of nature, I recommend this book.