Books in Lark Kids' Crafts series

A sparkling new entry in the popular Kids' Crafts series. From colorful shoelaces to shimmering amulet bags, these 50 crocheted creations will enchant kids and take them from the very beginning to a more experienced level. Even children who have never picked up a pair of needles will master the fundamentals quickly, thanks to the many detailed directions and instructive, attractive color photos. The fun begins as youngsters try their hand at the basic chain stitch, and then learn to crochet around a ring to make a key chain. Small, accessible projects follow, including a yellow purse with a glass button accent and comfy wool slippers. As kids' skills increase, they can move on to clothes, toys, backpacks, and more.

Kids will really enjoy these 26 brightly illustrated 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.”—School Library Journal.

New in Paper"A perfect combination of text, color photography, design, and child models....This welcome activity book will surely please children and the adults who work with them."--School Library JournalWith this ideal guide in hand, kids will enjoy sud-sational soapmaking success. Here are all the basics of the easy melt and pour technique, with 56 fun projects and nearly 300 colorful photos. Children will have a blast creating gross-out eyeball soaps or smiley faces; fashioning a soapasaurus; or cooking up some "alphabet soap."

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.

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.

Safe, easy, fast, and fun: paper crafts are the perfect creative activity for children. And these 48 unique projects—engagingly displayed on colorful pages—prove there’s more to paper art than cutting out hearts. A special section starts kids off by introducing them to different papers and tools, while six technique-based chapters present imaginative possibilities for transforming everything from corrugated cardboard to vellum. Best of all, they’ll learn how to turn their own crafty ideas into reality.

Safe, easy, fast, and fun: paper crafts are the perfect creative activity for children. And these 48 unique projects—engagingly displayed on colorful pages—prove there’s more to paper art than just cutting out hearts. A special section starts kids off by introducing them to different papers and tools, while six technique-based chapters present imaginative possibilities for transforming everything from corrugated cardboard to vellum. Using collage, budding artists can create a Dream Travel Box. Young fashionistas will enjoy designing their own paper clothesline. Or they might fold a Book Necklace, make an origami Peace Crane, construct big beautiful Butterfly Wings for a costume party, even create a cool paper-mâché pig. Best of all, kids will learn how to turn their own crafty ideas into reality.

New in PaperJust one look at these colorful, lively pages, and young crafters will start putting their creative stamp on everything from t-shirts to duffel bags to picture frames. It's easy, and so much fun, with this all-in-one stamping guide that presents really cool projects and outlines the entire delightful process. Kids will have such a good time stamping they'll never want to stop.

Here is a real “jewel” of a guide that no girl can resist! From simple bead stringing to working with wire, there’s a wide variety of fabulous jewelry to make, and lots of creative techniques to try. Every attractively photographed page encourages experimentation, imagination, and personal artistic expression at the same time. Imagine a bracelet made of copper washers from the hardware store or from old wooden game pieces. Add small metal flower embellishments to a ribbon for a funky choker. “Elegant” describes the glittery Illusion Necklace with sparkly beads that seem to float around the neck. Each piece is as unique and special as the girl who makes it. The author lives in Asheville, NC.

From colorful shoelaces to shimmering amulet bags, these 50 crocheted creations will enchant kids and take them from the very beginning to a more experienced level. Even children who have never picked up a pair of needles will master the fundamentals quickly, thanks to the many detailed directions and instructive, attractive color photos. The fun begins as they try their hand at the basic chain stitch, and then learn to crochet around a ring to make a key chain. Small, accessible projects follow, including a yellow purse with a glass button accent and comfy wool slippers. As kids’ skills increase, they can move on to clothes, toys, backpacks, and more.