Homemade Fun: 101 Crafts and Activities to Do with Kids

By: Rae Grant
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: June 2010
ISBN: 978-0312610777
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: July 2010

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.

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

BAKING

Baking Basics
Irish Soda Bread
Popovers
Busy Morning Biscuits
Cheese Pizza
Baked Pretzels
Olive Oil Bread
Double-Crust Pie Dough
Decorative Edging
Peach Pie
Pinwheels
Little Blueberry Tarts
Sunshine Cake
Mix-and-Match Frosting
Simple Decorations
Fancy Cupcakes
Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs
Colored Sugar
Cookie Icing Paint

BUILDING THINGS

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 Glasses

Quill says: Simply said, this is a delightful mini version of a Martha Stewart craft book for the younger set!