Books in Kid Crafts series

Ellis offers a clear introduction to techniques children can use to create a variety of projects. There’s lots of fun to be had here, and it’s refreshing to see attractive finished products that look like youngsters have actually made them.”—Booklist. “Appealing...Ellis provides clear directions, uses simple procedures, suggests inexpensive tools, and usually offers several photo examples of completed projects....Imaginative pieces.”—School Library Journal.Give a child a ball of clay, and hours of creative fun are sure to follow. From coiled goblets and elegant vases (with impressions of real leaves) to slab-rolled lanterns with cutout shapes, kids can make so many fantastic things. Every one of the 26 projects, shown in color how-to photographs and whimsical illustrations, is visually captivating. Help youngsters set up their own “artist’s studio” and experience the pleasure of creating fabulous ceramics from scratch. You won’t even need a kiln, because there’s advice on finding places to fire the clay—plus all the basics on tools and materials. Hand-building techniques include pinching, coiling, slab-making, and press molding; children will even learn how to shape clay around an inflated balloon. “Clay Clues” answer common trouble-shooting questions, and a gallery of ceramics by real kids offers inspiration. From the beginning stages of creation to the final firing, these projects rock.

Your child can learn the easy techniques of leatherworking, while building self-confidence, and establishing safety skills that will last a lifetime. With just a simple set of tools, and 5 basic, easily learned skills, kids can make their own carrying case for a GameBoy, a cell-phone case for Mom or Dad, moccasins, a tooled leather wallet, book cover and much more.

Designed to entice, instruct, and entertain kids, this book's dozen fun woodworking projects help children learn basic woodworking and hand tool skills while developing self-confidence and strengthening problem-solving abilities. With step-by-step instructions, the guide teaches kids how to read drawings; measure and transfer dimensions; saw square edges and ends in lumber; drill holes; saw curved shapes; join wood with a hammer, nails, and glue; use a sanding block to smooth; and finish off each project with paint and varnish. Ultimately emphasizing the fun of woodworking, this resource also features safety equipment, the skills needed to complete each projects, and required materials consisting of easily found supplies.

Cross stitch is a simple and popular form of embroidery, and therefore suitable for children. Schools are using it as a craft and as a teaching medium - for maths projects, for example - and this is one of a series of books of projects for children under ten. The designs feature such themes as dinosaurs, spiders, skulls and bats. The step-by-step instructions and illustrations are accompanied by notes for parents and teachers, and advice on simple mounting and framing.

Melt-and-pour soapmaking is the perfect easy and safe craft for kids, and this is the ideal guide to teach them how to do it. All the basics are covered to ensure "sud-sational" success, and 56 fun projects and nearly 300 colorful photos add to the appeal. The fun begins with choosing a soap base and selecting molds, from 3-D seashells and eggs to sandbox toys. Add fragrance, color, or other pizzazzy extras, such as pearlescent powder, shimmery cosmetic grade glitter, crushed dried flower petals, or herbs. Children will have a blast getting wacky with gross-out eyeball soaps, making soap popsicles complete with a wooden stick, getting happy with smiley faces, fashioning a soapasaurus, or cooking up "alphabet soap." Great gift ideas include a Best Friend Soap Bracelet or clear bar with a photo embedded for Grandma. Plus, there are cool soap facts throughout.

"[An] attractive book...30 clever projects will appeal to both boys and girls....A great resource."--School Library JournalPliable, colorful, and bake-in-the-oven polymer clay is the perfect material for youngsters. With this terrific just-for-kids manual from a renowned polymer clay artist, children can get their creative juices flowing. A comprehensive basics section covers everything from rolling, cutting and sculpting to mixing new colors and creating textures. Kids will really love the cool tricks, too, including marbling and embedding objects.

Ten fun, creative projects provide students with a hands-on way to learn about animals. Accompanied by colorful images and patterns that are easy to reproduce using a copier or printer, accessible step-by-step directions instruct students how to make such unique crafts as a flying bird ornament, a giraffe statue out of aluminum foil, and a butterfly hand fan using inexpensive materials found at home or in the classroom. A Learn More section with current books and websites encourage further exploration into the animal kingdom.