Martha Stewart's favorite crafts for kids: 175 projects for kids of all ages to create, build, design, explore, and share PDF
Preview Martha Stewart's favorite crafts for kids: 175 projects for kids of all ages to create, build, design, explore, and share
Copyright © 2013 by Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Potter Craft, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York. www.crownpublishing.com www.pottercraft.com Potter Craft and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request. eISBN: 978-0-30795475-6 Cover design by Gillian MacLeod Cover photographs by Annie Schlechter A list of photography credits appears here. v3.1 CON T E N TS introduction acknowledgments 1 C R E AT E A F EW C H A R ACT E R S 2 B U I L D A L I T T L E WO R L D 3 MA K E YO U R OWN F U N 4 D E S IG N I T YO U R S E L F 5 E X P E R I M E N T A N D E X P LO R E 6 K E E P I T TOG E T H E R 7 GI V E S OM E T H I NG H A N DMA D E tools and materials sources templates photo credits index About the Author I N T ROD UCT ION This book could not come at a better time. My first grandchild, Jude Stewart, age two, sits down every day, several times a day, at a crafts table in her apartment, earnestly busying herself with numerous crafts projects appropriate for her age. She, like most children, is curious, active, interested, and unafraid of self- expression in almost any medium. She colors, finger-paints, pastes stickers everywhere, glues beans on paper, punches out interesting shapes like bunnies and flowers from colorful papers, and is just learning how to wield a paintbrush and color inside the lines. Much of what she wil need for years to come, and what her mother will need to guide her, can be found right here in the pages of this book—including dozens of charming and easy projects, with step-by-step, clear how-to instructions. This book is, indeed, a treasure trove for children and their “teachers.” The many various projects included were all designed with simplicity in mind, making good use of common materials, and encouraging colorful, happy, uncomplicated results. Nothing is so difficult that an attention span will wane, and nothing requires supplies that are difficult to find. I was a crafter and artist as a child, always looking for a project that would result in something special to give to Mom, take to school, or display in our home. I painted, did lots of ceramics and pottery, and sewed, knitted, and embroidered. My list for Santa included art supplies, crafting tools, and papers and glues. My daughter, Alexis, was always busy—a diligent student, she also crafted constantly. She worked with clay, and she became an excellent weaver and potter. My many nieces and nephews were likewise occupied with crafts—many of which were inspired by teachers and homework assignments, but many originated at home, using supplies found in pantries and basement workshops. I was continually amazed at how prolific, how original, and how beautiful so many of their crafts were. I have saved many one-of-a-kind objects given to me by young crafters—the painted and glazed clay bowls, the woven place mats and table runners, the paintings, the cards, the scarves, and the pot holders and the stuffed animals and necklaces and bracelets. I expect to be the recipient of many more such treasures as the result of this book, things that children of all ages will enjoy making after school, on weekends, and during holidays. I believe, as so many of us “doers” believe, that children need constant stimulation, continuous inspiration, and clear guidelines. They need projects for their hands as well as for their minds. Here are 175 excellent “recipes” to help them thrive. P.S. To make a cross-stitch portrait like mine, see Cross-Stitch Family Portraits.
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