5 Clever Crafty Books With Projects to Create With Kids

by M. Ranard, M.Ed.
650 words


Now that my sons are teens, except for gingerbread houses around the holidays, it’s not easy to get them crafting. But young kids adore creating anything, and the developmental benefits of art and crafting are endless (fine motor skills, imagination, math, abstract thinking).

There are some great new books on the market that at first glance may not have you thinking the kids and I could DO this! But if you leaf through them and let their magic soak in, you will be convinced there are projects here that kids will adore.

Whimsical Fashion

The author of a new book of clever clothes and accessories says her projects are "for kids who explore and giggle and run wild," which basically has our names written all over it (although "jog wild" may be a tad more accurate considering the knees today).

Chock full of personality and whimsy Sew Tina: 30 Cute Projects and Adorable Décor Items for Kids by Tina Givens includes the author’s signature go-with-the-flow method. Inside are flying pigs, soft books, puffy necklaces, and swing-y dresses made for twirling. Givens' imagination combined with Lynne Harty's dreamy photography will have you and your children swooning.

Creative UPcycling

Fabric Remix: Repurpose and Reecorate by Sandy Stone will steal your family’s heart with its sewing and upholstery projects. Ever spied moneybag pillows? What a genius project for older kids! And doesn’t every parent DESERVE a shopping cart hamper with vintage laundry bag?

Stone teaches us how to turn vintage fabric, recycled clothing, and old furniture into stylish projects (some of us are more skilled at dragging the stuff home than repurposing it). Another favorite project from the book: vintage scarf pillows which make such a unique statement with such little effort.

Holiday Gifts

Unless you’re the bionic crafter you’ll need time to complete those handmade goodies so perfect for holiday gifts and decking the halls. Some awesome new books are perfect for gearing us up.

Vintage tablecloths or tea towels become sensational new items in Craft Challenge: Dozens of Ways to Repurpose a Tea Towel by Nathalie Mornu. Mini skirt? Check. Japanese baby doll? Totally! Doggie backpack? Yes, please. The projects inside this volume of innovative deliciousness will inspire you to create projects using all those sweet linens you snag for pennies at yard sales and the flea market. Even if you and the kids are shy about sewing, you are destined to fall in love with this eco-friendly guide for repurposing old textiles.

Felt Fabulousness

Another nifty book to get ready for the holidays is Big Little Felt Universe: Sew It, Stuff It, Squeeze It, Fun! by Jeannette Lim. If you have never worked with felt, you’re in for a surprise. These super sweet projects in Lim’s book won’t break the bank and kids will adore them.

I am partial to the girly girl felt purse project complete with cherries appliqué and squishy felt lipstick, and you may sigh upon glimpsing the fruit topped cake—YUM! In all you’ll find 12 “felt sets” containing easy projects to make for your squeezing enjoyment. Bonus: the patterns are mostly full-sized so no enlarging required.

Fa La La La Felt: 45 Handmade Holiday Decorations by Amanda Carestio is for those of us who aren’t expert seamstresses but love the idea of crafting festive felt projects. From gift tags to wreaths to thrifted holiday trees, your brood will have a blast making the season jollier with handmade goodness.

If you choose only to make one project from Fa La La La Felt consider Gingerman and Sugar Friend on page 68. You will feel as though you’ve hit the holiday jackpot with this clever felty guide, and your friends and family will have you begging for their own Sugar Friends.


Beyond adorable and guaranteed to bring ear to ear smiles, be sure to check out the projects in these irresistible new books!

The writer? A lover of felt and vintage fabulousness, a freelance writer, and blogger at hellolovelychild.blogspot.com and hellolovelyinc.blogspot.com.

Resources:
Carestio, Amanda. Fa La La La Felt: 45 Handmade Holiday Decorations. 2010. Lark Books.
Givens, Tina. Sew Tina: 30 Cute Projects and Adorablel Décor Items for Kids. 2010. Lark Books.
Lim, Jeannette. Big Little Felt Universe: Sew It, Stuff It, Squeeze It, Fun! 2011. Lark Books.
Mornu, Nathalie. Craft Challenge: Dozens of Ways to Repurpose a Tea Towel. 2010. Lark Books.
Stone, Sandy. Fabric Remix: Repurpose and Redecorate. 2010. Lark Books.