Crafty Chica Collection

by Kathy Cano-Murillo, Kathy Cano Murillo

Over 60 colorful craft projects, decorations, and shrines that celebrate "Latino Style". Kathy Cano Murillo, known as the Crafty Chica, launched her publishing career with two lively Making Shadow Boxes & Shrines and La Casa Loca , which means "the crazy house." All of the projects that she designed for those two books are now featured in this classy-meet-campy companion collection of Latino-American pop art. The projects include everything from party gear to home decorations; garden accessories to gifts; and shrines to jewelry. More than 60 fabulous ideas incorporate paint, fabric, collage, embellishments, and a heavy dose of glitter. A book that every hip crafty chick needs in her collection.

Genres: Crafts, Nonfiction

152 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2006

Reviews

[Shelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really thought I'd like this book, since I enjoyed Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul: Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life, but this one is really a step down. The projects it contains are the kitschiest of the kitschy, and frankly just look cheap. No techniques at all are taught (any techniques called for you are expected to already be fully versed in); the instructions for each project are usually less than a half a page in length, and there are no intermediate photographs of the project in progress. For instance, a typical set of instructions might read something like this:

1. Use a jigsaw to cut out house shapes. Sand.

2. Connect them with small hinges.

3. Use a wood burning tool to draw an image on both sides. You can use transfer paper if you want to affix the image to the wood first (note: no template with an image was even given for this project, although in some cases, templates to photocopy are provided).

4. Use wood-stain markers or paint to decorate images and sides of the wood.

…and that's it. Frankly, you'd get much more out of an issue of one of Stampington & Company's anthology magazines, except that instead of getting one project per page spread with lots of filler text and "design elements', you'd get hundreds of projects, because Stampington knows the difference between inspiration pictures for experienced crafters to copy (which is all The Crafty Chica Collection is) and actual tutorials (which it is not).

I do however think that this book would be great for teachers, camp counselors, enthusiastic parents, and the like – as long as they are already proficient crafters – to use for ideas of projects to do with young children. But anyone over the age of 14 is not going to find the projects very appealing, I'm afraid.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Challenge: Curious Reader/Non-fiction 2020 - Local celebrity (1). The author is a local celebrity who has written a column for a major local newspaper on culture and creativity as well as national publications, art books and novels, and appearances on TV. She also owns a shop in her home town and a crafty eStore and curates a YouTube channel. This collection of colorful and creative projects inspired by her Latin culture can easily be translated into anyone's cultural preference or personal identity. Gaps in project instructions are easily filled in by examining the full-page photography of the finished project.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where I did enjoy this book, many of the pictures were artsy and beautiful, I am glad I borrowed it from the library. Everything seemed to have about 4 steps including sanding, priming, attaching hinges, etc. I understand the book was meant to look like a collection but I would have preferred to have seen photos of step by step instructions. Also, some of the photos were given a soft focus, blurry outside areas to make the focal point pop which left some important pieces unclear (example: the necklace, bracelet and earrings set. The necklace is hard to see). Still, it is a fun book to look through.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took away one or two ideas from this book. I liked the color photos. The instructions were clear. I won't make any of the projects she described, but I can see taking some of the basic ideas and running with them in another direction.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute, kitschy Mexican style folk art in many projects and with how to make them. But I only could ever imagine making only one of these projects (pocket shrine, in an empty Altoids tin, but without rust and glitter). Pretty pictures though.

[Krissi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best of the best from the Chica herself!