Come On, Get Crafty!

Do you like to get creative? Have you got the "there's nothing to do" blues? Is bad weather keeping you indoors? No matter what inspires you to take a look at these craft and activity books, we know you'll be glad you did.

If you've got some time and are ready for fun, there's sure to be something on our list that will have you crafting in a flash. Maybe you'll try making a piggy bank out of papier-mache. Or creating your own stationery. Or making cool decorations for a party or for your bedroom wall. We've got easy-to-follow books on all these projects and more in our super-crafty round-up.

So grab some paper, glue or paints --- and your imagination ---and get ready to amaze yourself.

   --- Shannon Maughan

BAKE AND MAKE AMAZING CAKES
by Elizabeth MacLeod
illustrated by June Bradford
Kids Can
ISBN: 1550748483
Ages 8-up
40 pages

You won't believe the fantastic creations you can whip up using the ideas in this book. Create colorful cakes in the shape of a cheeseburger, a butterfly, dinosaur, cat, jack-o'-lantern and more. Candies, cookies and other fun-looking treats are part of the decorating fun --- mmmmm.

SCIENCE MAGIC IN THE KITCHEN
by Richard Robinson
illustrated by Joe Wright
Aladdin
ISBN: 0689843321
Ages 7-10
96 pages

There's plenty of fact behind the fun in these amazing books. You'll learn how to perform such cool "tricks" as boiling water in a pan made of paper, making food disappear and making plastic bottles self-destruct. And, oh yeah --- you'll pick up some important science principles along the way.

YO-YOs: Tricks to Amaze Your Friends
by Ingrid Roper
illustrated by Alan Tiegreen
HarperTrophy
ISBN: 0688146651
Ages 8-12
64 pages

The easy instructions for more than 30 nifty tricks in this book will have you Walking the Dog, Rocking the Baby and performing all kinds of neat yo-yo stunts before you know it. Tips on the different kinds of yo-yos available and how to take care of them, as well as a history of the toy are also included.

FINGERTIPS: Handy Secrets for Beautiful Nails
by Emily Sollinger
illustrated by Linda Hawkins
Grosset & Dunlap
ISBN: 0448425785
Ages 8-12
48 pages

This guide to manicures and nail art just might inspire you to set up a mini-spa at home for you and your friends. Includes step-by-step instructions and a sheet of glittery nail decals.

MAKE COOL GADGETS FOR YOUR YOUR ROOM
by Amy Pinchuk
illustrated by Teco Rodrigues
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0688177271
Ages 9-14
64 pages

With some inexpensive tools and supplies, you can become a pro at fashioning cool things for your room. How about creating a See It, Hear It Doorbell, or an Alarm in a Box? You can whip up those items, a Secret Code Machine, and more using this easy-to-follow guidebook.

365 NATURE CRAFTS & ACTIVITIES
by Karen E. Bledsoe & Candyce Norvell
illustrated by Terri and Joe Chicko
Publications International
ISBN: 0785323147
Ages 8-12
240 pages

Exploring nature has never been more fun, or more easy, thanks to this remarkable collection of crafts and activities. Tips and instructions on everything from gifts to games are included and each project offers an explanation on what makes our environment work.

BEADING: Bracelets, Earrings, Necklaces And More
by Judy Ann Sadler
illustrated by Tracy Walker
Kids Can
ISBN: 1550743384
Ages 9-12
40 pages

One of the latest in the "Kids Can Crafts" series, this book is a fine introduction to the craft of beading. Though some of the projects may be a bit challenging --- which means you should grab a grownup to help if you get stuck --- the end results should be worth it!

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS INCREDIBLY AWESOME CRAFTS FOR KIDS
by Sara Jane Treinen
Meredith Books
ISBN: 0696019841
Ages 9-12
168 pages

More than 100 creative and thought-provoking projects including masks, sculpting, T-shirt art, finger puppets, dolls and bedroom design, are just part of what make this book from the publisher of Better Homes and Gardens and Crayola Kids magazines a great addition to any craft lover's library. Step-by-step instructions and sharp photographs make follow-through easy and fun.

THE COLOSSAL BOOK OF CRAFTS FOR KIDS & FAMILIES
by Phyllis Fiarotta and Noel Fiarotta
Black Dog & Leventhal
ISBN: 1884822576
All Ages
544 pages

Over half a million copies of Phyllis Fiarotta's two books, STICKS AND STONES AND ICE CREAM CONES and SNIPS AND SNAILS AND WALNUT WHALES were originally sold with grown-up readers in mind. This new volume, featuring 247 projects, including many of those from her earlier titles, simplifies the instructions so that even you can put them to work. Includes 400 illustrations.

CRAFTS FOR KIDS WHO ARE WILD ABOUT OCEANS
by Kathy Ross
illustrated by Sharon Lane Holm
Millbrook Press
ISBN: 0761303316
Ages 9-12
48 pages

This is one of the best and easiest-to-use craft books around. The author spells out exactly what you will need to complete their individual ocean-theme projects. Next, she gives simple, brief instructions that you will have no trouble following. Oceanic "factoids" on each spread make this educational, but FUN!

CRAFTS TO MAKE IN THE SUMMER
by Kathy Ross
illustrated by Vicky Enright
Millbrook Press
ISBN: 0761303170
64 pages

If you're at the beach and feeling "crafty," you'll enjoy learning how to make a candle holder with all the seashells you collected, and if you're at the beach for the Fourth of July, forego those outlawed firecrackers and make a (legal!) firecracker finger puppet.

DISNEY'S FAMILYFUN CRAFTS: 500 Creative Activities
by Deanna F. Cook
Hyperion
ISBN: 0786863048
All Ages
256 pages

More than 500 activities fill this big, bright volume inspired by FamilyFun magazine. Sections on kitchen magic, nature crafts, homemade toys and paper fun are featured, many of which make use of materials you keep around the house. Suggestions from real people who have actually performed the crafts make this book special.

ECOLOGY CRAFTS FOR KIDS: 50 Great Ways To Make Friends With Planet Earth
by Bobbe Needham
Sterling Publications
ISBN: 0806906855
Ages 9-12
144 pages

Reuse and recycle take on a fun new meaning in this snazzy craft book. All you need is some of the materials found in your household garbage. Newspaper is converted into papier-mache. Light bulbs become puppets. An entertaining lesson in art and environmental awareness.

FABULOUS PAPER GLIDERS
by Norman Schmidt
Sterling Publications
ISBN: 1895569230
96 pages

For those interested in sophisticated paper airplanes, Schmidt's book provides a great guide. Complete with patterns for sixteen gliders, the book itself never gets cut up, as do other, less effective, guides: just photocopy the patterns and follow the clear instructions. Also included are photos of completed models and a history of aircraft from motorless planes in the 19th century to the wonderful machines of the present day.

KIDS AND GRANDPARENTS: An Activity Book
by Ann Love and Jane Drake
Kids Can Pressbr> ISBN: 1550744925
Ages 6-up
160 pages

If you have grandparents in your life, you sure are lucky. Here's a way to make the most of the time you spend with Grandma and/or Grandpa, whether they live nearby or far away. You'll find games, crafts, recipes and other cool projects you can do together, like building a bird feeder and planting a garden. There are also things you can do long distance via mail or e-mail.

LOOK WHAT YOU CAN MAKE WITH PAPER PLATES
by Margie Hayes Richmond
Boyds Mills,
ISBN: 1563976773
Ages 8-up
48 pages

Sure, paper plates are great for picnics and parties. But they're also perfect for creating colorful creatures like butterflies, birds and boats.

MAKING COOL CRAFTS & AWESOME ART: A Kids Treasure Trove Of Fabulous Fun
by Roberta Gould
Williamson
ISBN: 1885593112
Ages 6-14
160 pages

If crafting everything from costumes and baskets to puppets and masks is your goal, MAKING COOL CRAFTS & AWESOME ART is overflowing with age-appropriate ideas. Real kids have tried and rated each project. And while the crafts are broken into levels of difficulty, the author encourages any young artisan eager to tackle a task to give it a try. A wonderful, sometimes wacky resource book.

MONSTER ORIGAMI
DK Publishing
ISBN: 0789443139

Complete with paper to use for your creations, MONSTER ORIGAMI will help you amaze your friends with your paper-folding prowess. Who knew origami could be scary?

THE OFFICIAL MILKY BOOK & PEN KIT
by Darice Bailer
illustrated by Bonnie Matthews
Little Simon
ISBN: 0689838069
Ages 6-up
24 pages

Get ready for some doodling! This kit has plenty of black paper one bright Milky gel pen, stencils, and tons of ideas for creating stationery, crafts and stickers.

KIDS CAN DO IT: Papier-Mache
by Renee Schwarz
Kids Can Press
ISBN: 1550747274
Ages 8-12
40 pages

Got newspaper? Then you're ready to start crafting things out of papier-mache. This book tells you how to turn newspaper and other materials you can find around the house into nifty art projects like a piggy bank, a pencil holder or bookends.

PIONEER CRAFTS (Kids Can Crafts)
by Barbara Greenwood
Kids Can
ISBN: 1550743597
Ages 9-12
40 pages

Pioneer children, kids whose parents blazed trails from the east coast to the west in the 1800's, often made their own dolls and toys. Thanks to this unique and thoughtful book, kids of the '90's can, too. Turn a tin can into a lantern, or a piece of felt into faux-leather moccasins.

POKEMON ORIGAMI
by Ryoko Nishida and Minami Aoyama
Viz
ISBN: 1569313911
Ages 8-up
80 pages

Are you a kid who's "gotta catch 'em all?" Now you can make your own collection of 3-D Pokemon characters, using the paper-folding art of origami. This book contains easy-to-follow directions and preprinted paper --- everything you need to get started.

ZOOMDOS YOU CAN DO: 50+ Things You Can Craft, Bake, and Build
by Amy E. Sklansky
Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316952761
Ages 6-12
64 pages

Join some of the kids seen on the hit PBS show Zoom and learn how to make papier-mache piggy bank or a soda-can flashlight. And when you're ready to take a snack break, try your hand at baking soft pretzels or making peanut butter cups. Enough fun to fill your summer and entertain you for the rest of the year, too.

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