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Project Kid: 100 Ingenious Crafts for Family Fun
A Bigger, Smarter, Hipper Family Craft Book
Move over, macaroni picture frames. Here are 100 stylish, inventive projects that promise endless hours of creative fun. From a rocket ship made with a body-wash bottle to an owl made from a juice box, there are ingenious uses for upcycled objects and materials on every page. This book is packed with hundreds of step-by-step photographs and basic crafting lessons (from pom-pom making to fabric dyeing) to help kids build a DIY arsenal. With lists of must-have tools and materials, a handy source directory, and more, this is the ultimate family craft bible!
Move over, macaroni picture frames. Here are 100 stylish, inventive projects that promise endless hours of creative fun. From a rocket ship made with a body-wash bottle to an owl made from a juice box, there are ingenious uses for upcycled objects and materials on every page. This book is packed with hundreds of step-by-step photographs and basic crafting lessons (from pom-pom making to fabric dyeing) to help kids build a DIY arsenal. With lists of must-have tools and materials, a handy source directory, and more, this is the ultimate family craft bible!
272 pages, Hardcover
First published April 8, 2014
69 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 8, 2015
Great craft ideas!
March 29, 2022
As Kingloff was the lifestyle director at Parents magazine for so long, overseeing the DIY content, I am not surprised to find such a comprehensive collection of activities for families to do together. The creativity found within these pages is astonishing. I would have gone absolutely crazy over this book as a kid.
Most of the materials that you need are already found at your house. For other items, Kingloff provides website and store recommendations to help you find what you need. Step-by-step directions are very clearly written out, with excellent photographs of each step. This is great for people who do better with written directions and for those who are more adept at following a photo tutorial.
Activities definitely range in ability level. Projects such as the Joiner-Biscuit Butterflies would be easy to do with my preschool and kindergarten students. Juice-Box Owls would be more appropriate for older children. Some of them would even make great gifts, such as the Pom-Pom Poodle Pull Toy and the Embroidered Flyswatters. Others are more practical, such as the Family Message Center and Crafty Containers. Inspire learning while crafting with the Teaching Timepiece, ABC Flashcards, and Homemade Memory Game.
I love the little art lessons at the end of each section, because they allow for open-ended creativity, beyond just the crafts shown in this book. The Montessorian in me appreciates open-ended possibilities, instead of only trying to mimic a craft! I also love the section on natural crafts, because it inspires you to spend time outside.
Both boys and girls can find something to enjoy in here, because crafts are not just for girls. The Robot Bank, Bottle Rocket, and Totally Tubular Train are sure to appeal to both!
Yes, a lot of the photographs are Pinterest worthy. I have a feeling that in the true tradition of Pinterest, a lot of attempts at some of these crafts are going to be significantly less than stellar. That isn't to say that with time and practice, your crafty skills, and those of your children, will not improve.
This is one that you'll want in a hard copy to make it easier to flip through the projects!
Thank you to NetGalley for fulfilling my review request. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Most of the materials that you need are already found at your house. For other items, Kingloff provides website and store recommendations to help you find what you need. Step-by-step directions are very clearly written out, with excellent photographs of each step. This is great for people who do better with written directions and for those who are more adept at following a photo tutorial.
Activities definitely range in ability level. Projects such as the Joiner-Biscuit Butterflies would be easy to do with my preschool and kindergarten students. Juice-Box Owls would be more appropriate for older children. Some of them would even make great gifts, such as the Pom-Pom Poodle Pull Toy and the Embroidered Flyswatters. Others are more practical, such as the Family Message Center and Crafty Containers. Inspire learning while crafting with the Teaching Timepiece, ABC Flashcards, and Homemade Memory Game.
I love the little art lessons at the end of each section, because they allow for open-ended creativity, beyond just the crafts shown in this book. The Montessorian in me appreciates open-ended possibilities, instead of only trying to mimic a craft! I also love the section on natural crafts, because it inspires you to spend time outside.
Both boys and girls can find something to enjoy in here, because crafts are not just for girls. The Robot Bank, Bottle Rocket, and Totally Tubular Train are sure to appeal to both!
Yes, a lot of the photographs are Pinterest worthy. I have a feeling that in the true tradition of Pinterest, a lot of attempts at some of these crafts are going to be significantly less than stellar. That isn't to say that with time and practice, your crafty skills, and those of your children, will not improve.
This is one that you'll want in a hard copy to make it easier to flip through the projects!
Thank you to NetGalley for fulfilling my review request. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 11, 2017
There are many ideas on the internet for crafts with kids, but the author of this book did an excellent job showing how you can use what you have for most of her crafts and purchasing supplies isn't necessary. This has many diverse ideas that you can use as is or to inspire you to do your own crafting with your children.
April 13, 2020
Most of these projects seemed more like junk that would easily be thrown away. I only found 8 out of the 100 projects that seemed remotely interesting to do. Easy instructions with good photo illustrations
September 28, 2020
Project
Interested projects for kids and some r recycled. Supplies r easy find around house. Photo is great to show what the outcome could be.
Interested projects for kids and some r recycled. Supplies r easy find around house. Photo is great to show what the outcome could be.
March 13, 2024
The photographs and the descriptions of the activities are great! The projects look like fun. Who can afford to purchase all these supplies in this economy?
October 16, 2024
If you have any kids or work in a preschool or a daycare or work in a church nursery this would be a good book to read because it has a lot of fun craft ideas for kids to do.
December 18, 2014
This book contains 100 cleverly-designed crafts using inexpensive and recycled objects. Some other materials such as craft glue, clay, paint, etc., will be used to assemble the crafts. Plastic bottles, oatmeal boxes, jars, stray socks, cardboard boxes, yogurt cups, cardboard tubes, and metal cans are just a few of the reusable objects used in these crafts.
The author includes some 'art' lessons wherein she teaches how to make clay, how to weave, how to make yarn pom-poms, and how to dye fabric. She sprinkles valuable tips throughout the book. The stepped-out photos of the projects are a nice size and detailed.
As a former elementary school teacher, the thing I liked most about the projects included in this book is that the crafts are items that would be extremely appealing to children of all ages! Boys and girls alike would enjoy choosing projects to make from this book.
My favorite project in the book was the Dolly's Oven-Mitt Sleeping Bag. The designer shows children how to use a store-bought oven mitt to make a mini sleeping bag for their favorite softie or doll. Adorable! Other stand-out projects include the Garden-Party Terrarium, the ABC Flash Cards, Golf-Tee Top, Felt Fortune Cookies, Homemade Memory Game, Robot Bank--the list goes on and on.
I highly recommend this book as a resource for classroom teachers, scout leaders, church/temple youth group leaders, and moms/dads/grandmas/childcare pros. I borrowed this book from our local public library when I spotted it on the 'New Books' shelves. I'm really glad I picked it up to read!
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The author includes some 'art' lessons wherein she teaches how to make clay, how to weave, how to make yarn pom-poms, and how to dye fabric. She sprinkles valuable tips throughout the book. The stepped-out photos of the projects are a nice size and detailed.
As a former elementary school teacher, the thing I liked most about the projects included in this book is that the crafts are items that would be extremely appealing to children of all ages! Boys and girls alike would enjoy choosing projects to make from this book.
My favorite project in the book was the Dolly's Oven-Mitt Sleeping Bag. The designer shows children how to use a store-bought oven mitt to make a mini sleeping bag for their favorite softie or doll. Adorable! Other stand-out projects include the Garden-Party Terrarium, the ABC Flash Cards, Golf-Tee Top, Felt Fortune Cookies, Homemade Memory Game, Robot Bank--the list goes on and on.
I highly recommend this book as a resource for classroom teachers, scout leaders, church/temple youth group leaders, and moms/dads/grandmas/childcare pros. I borrowed this book from our local public library when I spotted it on the 'New Books' shelves. I'm really glad I picked it up to read!
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June 13, 2014
This book is fantastic! I am always looking for ways to engage my four year old so he doesn't start begging to watch more TV while his younger brother is napping. Project Kid is the answer. Many of the projects will be too advanced for him for the moment but that's the great thing about this book. We'll be able to use it for years to come.
What I especially like about this book is that the crafts look home made and made by kids. There is no element of perfection and exactness. The projects are fun and I think most families will already own most of the materials required. If not, most dollar stores will have these craft items. The author, Amanda Kingloff, even states in the introduction that if you don't have all of the supplies, it's easy enough to improvise because kids won't care.
All of the projects will require adult interaction/supervision. This is not a book you can hand to your kids in hope that they will craft independently for hours while you nurse a coffee and do a crossword.
What I especially like about this book is that the crafts look home made and made by kids. There is no element of perfection and exactness. The projects are fun and I think most families will already own most of the materials required. If not, most dollar stores will have these craft items. The author, Amanda Kingloff, even states in the introduction that if you don't have all of the supplies, it's easy enough to improvise because kids won't care.
All of the projects will require adult interaction/supervision. This is not a book you can hand to your kids in hope that they will craft independently for hours while you nurse a coffee and do a crossword.
March 16, 2014
I read this book of 100 DIY project and crafts to inspire me to get more creative with my kids, since I don't have a crafty bone in my body. I definitely got some good ideas. We plan to make a decorative bird cage, a small trinket shelf for their rooms (out of a tray!), some cute vases for all the flowers they pick for me, and possibly even paper sailboats to float in the creek in our backyard. I have to admit that most of the projects looked a little too involved, which automatically turned me off. My kids just don't have the patience for that yet. And there were a lot more girl crafts than boy ones, which probably isn't abnormal. The pictures and step by step instructions were nice and clear throughout the book and I really loved the list at the beginning that told you what craft supplies you should always have on hand. I plan to stock up!
I received this book from NetGalley for review purposes.
I received this book from NetGalley for review purposes.
March 16, 2014
First: this a beautiful and inspiring book. Even if you're not crafty, it will make you want to craft. It's like getting an amazing cookbook that lures you into the kitchen.
Second: Okay, these crafts really are ingenious. How did anyone think of all of these ideas? And execute them so perfectly? I am currently obsessed with the pom-poms.
Third: When you are going to craft with your kid you want something that isn't so perfect that it's unobtainable—therefore frustrating and disappointing, but yet you want it to be aspirational enough to be worth making the effort. The projects in this book strike that perfect balance.
Finally: Your kids will love looking through the book and picking what to make next. It will get their imagination fired up. And yours. And to me that's the point. LOVE!!!
Second: Okay, these crafts really are ingenious. How did anyone think of all of these ideas? And execute them so perfectly? I am currently obsessed with the pom-poms.
Third: When you are going to craft with your kid you want something that isn't so perfect that it's unobtainable—therefore frustrating and disappointing, but yet you want it to be aspirational enough to be worth making the effort. The projects in this book strike that perfect balance.
Finally: Your kids will love looking through the book and picking what to make next. It will get their imagination fired up. And yours. And to me that's the point. LOVE!!!
July 21, 2016
Very generous and well-designed collection of stylish kid crafts. The Low Tech LED Banner is particularly genius and would work great as teen programming. Some of the supplies called for are a bit bourgeois (Melissa and Doug toy packaging, turquoise fishnets), but there are plenty of simple scrap craft projects too. A great boredom buster for Summer 2014.
June 2, 2014
This is a fun book that I want to buy and keep or give to one of my daughters in law because I know they like to do crafty things too! Can't wait to try out the shell collector! So glad to have a use for those mesh produce bags!
March 31, 2015
It's hard to find craft books with new ideas, but this one manages just that. A firm favourite with my son and preschoolers already is the homemade "clay" recipe - the mock-porcelain it makes is lovely to paint and make decorations from.
July 14, 2015
I love kids' craft ideas and I love upcycled projects, but didn't find anything in this book I would do with my children. Most things still looked like trash when they were finished and I don't want a house full of empty juice boxes.
October 2, 2014
Some great ideas for work.
December 16, 2014
I think this book would be better for people who like to buy lots of supplies.I am more interested in crafts with found objects or crafts with a specific set of tools, like knitting, sewing, etc.
January 5, 2015
Caveat: I haven't done any of the projects in this book although I have done similar ones. It's a great resource for childrens librarians with a few projects that would also work for teens.
October 22, 2015
A good collection of kid-friendly craft ideas, with clear instructions.
January 12, 2016
A lot of great ideas but not for us at this moment and time. All of these would be more for much older kids not our two year old. I might look into checking it out again in the far future.
June 3, 2016
I don't know that I would call it "ingenious", but there are some good ideas in here. Some seemed like they're for adults though.
April 1, 2017
Lots of cute stuff here, some using materials you already have, some calling for oddly specialized stuff (bark-covered wire? Crape paper sheets?).
And while the book gives the impression of being for kids, a lot of this stuff I would make and not have my kid do. Littles might not have the motor skills, shouldn't be near glue guns, etc., to make a lot of these projects. And of course none of them actually look like kids made them.
But still, there are things here I would make.
And while the book gives the impression of being for kids, a lot of this stuff I would make and not have my kid do. Littles might not have the motor skills, shouldn't be near glue guns, etc., to make a lot of these projects. And of course none of them actually look like kids made them.
But still, there are things here I would make.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews