Creative Adventures in Cursive: Write with glue, string, markers, paint, and icing!

by Rachelle Doorley

Writing is cooler in cursive, and Creative Adventures in Cursive gives kids ideas for practicing writing skills, then guides them into cursive creativity.

As many educators will attest, writing in cursive provides cognitive benefits in spelling, memory, reading comprehension, language skills, and overall academic confidence. Practicing cursive carries similar benefits when drawing; once you learn the basic shapes, you can play with it by creating your own personal style.

In Creative Adventures in Cursive, noted author Rachelle Doorley, the creative force behind Tinkerlab, shows twenty fun and colorful ways to use script to make posters, present school projects, design monograms, create greeting cards, decorate book bags and t-shirts, ice cookies and cakes -- writing in script with everything, including fabric markers, pastry tubes, string and yarn, and of course brushes, pens, and crayons.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts, Childrens

112 pages, Paperback

Published September 11, 2018

Reviews

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creative Adventures in Cursive gives kids ideas for practicing writing skills, then guides them into cursive creativity. This book was not what I expected, but that is not a bad thing. As many educators lament the decline of skills in cursive writing, there are so many benefits of learning, practicing and using it. Using cursive provides cognitive benefits in memory, reading comprehension, language skills, and overall academic confidence. It improves fine motor, and can lead to many hours of creativity and some wonderful gifts made from the heart.

Author, Rachelle Doorley, shows twenty fun and colorful ways to use script to make posters, present school projects, design monograms, create greeting cards, and decorate many items such as book bags and t-shirts, cookies and cakes. Although this is a described as a children's books, many of the projects could become family activities and some would require adult or older person support. This is an amazing book for a crafter or for children who love to use their hands and make things. So many ideas and not all of them are expensive, in fact some quite cheap. Pick this book up for those crafty people you know or for someone who likes to explore new hobbies. I am going to get one to use with my grandchildren as they get older, to spend productive time together with me as well as their parents. The publisher, Quarto Publishing Group – Quarry, generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, ideas and opinions are my own.

[Arlene Arredondo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love writing in cursive, this book has some great ideas and projects to get yourself inspired in making something special and to get young ones interested in this writing style.

Note: I received an ARC for review and an honest and unbiased opinion.

[Poongothai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creative book for cursive writing. Has many ideas with clear instructions and visuals.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC

[Doreen Prentiss Gabriellini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creative Adventures in Cursive by Rachelle Doorley is a wonderfully creativite and inspiring book. I always wondered what would happen when technology moved forward and we lost the art of writing in cursive. Ms. Doorley has found a way to keep us doodling and writing in cursive in many different ways. There are over 20 projects in the book. Some are with traditional writing implements, some are with yarn, embroidery floss, sculpy, paint and a whole host of other interesting methods.
The directions are concise and clear and the photographs and graphics are great. This makes me want to run and see how I can jazz up my smashbook, travel log, calendar or journal. If you like to do things by hand and learn to express yourself in new and different ways I would not hesitate to pick up this book. I think it would make a great gift for those looking to inspire the artist in anyone. Wonderful book!

I would like to thank Rachelle Doorley, Quarto - Quarry Publishiing and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet, crafty book written by an author whose sentiments I wholy agree with. So much of our writing these days is done via a keyboard, that beautiful hand writing is underappreciated. My own handwriting is barely legible, so the tips and pointers on practice were super helpful. I also let my 7-year-old niece browse through this book, and she was keen to apply some of the techniques too.

The craft projects are fun, and don't necessarily require a full workshop of tools (a bugbear of mine with other craft/diy books) so therefore are accessible. And honestly useable. I liked the little Bullet Journal section too - wasn't expecting to see this in here and as a fledgling "BuJo" user, it was clear, and informative.

Overall a good book. Would be a recommend for teachers to inject a bit of creativity into their classroom, or anyone who fancies a go at improving their handwriting.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Ilana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practising cursive is such a great hobby, especially in our days when handwriting is such a rare occurence. We write at the computer and the only way we really can make a difference is when we change the letter format. Which might be, at a certain level, a kind of longing for returning to that old school of handwriting and calligraphy. This book really offers a lot of ideas about how to diversify the use of cursive writing, which might even offer some ideas about even turning it into a lucrative side job. After all, who does not appreciate the beauty of a handwritten wedding or party invitation? Creative Adventures in Cursive is one of those books which you keep it on your shelf to use it over and over again, because it is such a great source of inspiration for those moments when all you want is a diversion from your everyday working chores. It sounds as the beginning of a beautiful hobby story!

Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

At school my writing was horrendous so I took up calligraphy. Recently I took up drawing and lettering again and have used the internet to find styles of writing to use to draw quotes.
This book has lots of tips and tricks, it starts off with suggesting doing a warm up exercises along with lots of doodles and sketches to try, I didn’t think about this and will give it s try. I thought this was a very good tip. It even shows you how to make a feather quill!
It full of great ideas, from thank you cards, invitations, a bullet journal to cakes! It uses a variety of materials from balloons, paper to wool and pipe cleaners and the latest craze rock painting. This book is great for the holidays, lots of ideas for young and old, whether you are just beginning or need fresh ideas.

[RedRobinXXX · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am reviewing this book for Rachelle Doorley and NetGalley who gave me a copy of their book for an honest review.
Lots of creative ideas in this book for using cursive text with great photos to show the steps

[Tracee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book for kids and we appreciated that it wasn’t US-centric so we were exposed to other countries and languages. Sad that cursive is rarely being taught anymore, soon we can use it as a secret code.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a neat book for cursive writing.

[Laura]

What will take you the longest about reading this book is that you will want to try each of the suggested activities! In many classrooms, cursive or script writing is no longer taught. This is very sad.
If not taught at a young age, it is more difficult for a person to become accustomed to, both reading and writing. Cursive lettering will be lost and relegated to art forms, which we all know are being less and less funded in organized educational settings.

I have always been attracted to words and letters. I like to think I also have some artistic talent, well, at least as much as any human being. Without using this inherent talent, not only will it never improve, but it could be lost. And script or cursive writing is so very expressive. It is also plain FUN.
It is personal and identifiable, as a fingerprint.

This wonderful book made writing come alive and offered so many ways to enjoy the activity.
I recommend it for anyone involved with youth education and outside of organized school activities.

[Leanetta Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute craft book for children to enjoy with adults and at same time learn cursive writing. I'm not really sure when they took this writing skill out of school but it was a horrible decision. Well now parents, homeschoolers, babysitters, and grands you can teach your little ones at home without seeming like a chore. I love that there are also little crafts involved to make them want to do it even more and they are good for both girls and boys which also a plus.

[Terrie Case · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about all of the fun things you can do with cursive writing. It shows note cards, bookplates, balloons and even painted rocks.

​The initial chapter shows cursive warm-ups and the last shows the cursive letters. In between projects of all types are shown with basic instructions on how to make each of them.

​I enjoyed the projects that were here but was disappointed that more cursive instruction was given, or practice emphasized before the crafts. Since so many of our schools no longer teach cursive writing, there is a need for the author to spend a bit of time showing the reader how cursive is written and why we care. She gets to the fun projects but without exciting the read to write in cursive, the projects can just as easily be made with block lettering. That seems to defeat the whole idea behind the book, as I see it.


An ARC was given to me by NetGalley for an honest review.

[Leyla Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to get the kids comfortable with cursive writing. This book is full of ideas using writing to make and create fun projects for the kids to enjoy. From the making of feather quills to using embroidery, clay and pipe cleaners to achieve items that the kids will love to make, all using the cursive writing method. There are also birthday decorations, invitations, cards, cake and lots more.
My grandkids loved the project on their recent school holidays, and spent some quite time achieved very creative projects.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book for children and teens who enjoy writing and are interested in arts and crafts project that include cursive. Lot's of fun crafts that would be perfect for a rainy day!

Think you, Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley!

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book but assumes you know what cursive writing is. Lots of projects to make using a variety of mater and whilst the book photographs show children making the projects, any age could do this.

I felt rather lost at the style of writing as it wasnt really explained what it is, though right at the end there is a refresher, but by the time I saw that it was too late for me to go over the book again.

Each project comes with plenty of colour photography to accompany the steps, along with equipment required.

I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.

[Sally Birkitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used some of the ideas in this book to encourage my granddaughter to practice writing. It is lovely to be able to craft together and learn together. Nice projects to try which keep children interested.