Project Kid by Amanda Kingloff

Perfect for crafty parents who are eager to get their kids excited about DIY, ProjectKid is everything you could want in a craft book: 100(!) stylish, inventive projects; step-by-step photographs; tips for the novice crafter; easy-to-follow instructions; and a fresh, modern look. What really sets these projects apart are the unexpected, ingenious ways Kingloff uses everyday objects and materials. (Did you ever think a body-wash bottle would make a perfect rocket ship?) And these are projects for things kids want to make—and keep—from a juice-box owl to a pirate ship to a curio cabinet for displaying all of their treasures, plus games, jewelry, and more. Also included in the book are basic crafting lessons (such as pom-pom making and weaving) to help children of all ages build a DIY arsenal, a handy guide to must-have tools and materials, and a source directory.

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**My thoughts**

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. 

'Side by Side: 20 Collaborative Projects for Crafting With Your Kids'

Crafting is always more fun and more meaningful when it’s shared with those you love. Discover the joy of working alongside your child while creating arts and crafts that inspire. With these twenty whimsical projects in a variety of mediums, you and your child will find fun ways to work collaboratively and independently—together on the same project, or side by side on related projects. Create Giant Newspaper Snowflakes that take traditional paper snowflakes to magical new levels. Create surprising monoprints that take glitter glue to new heights. Explore the versatility of embroidery with a child-friendly version that uses a leaf as the canvas and a more advanced version that uses a child’s drawing for stitching inspiration. Get out in the garden and plant a Living Willow Teepee that will be a perfect playhouse and retreat for years to come.

Some of life’s best moments are spent simply doing things in the presence of the ones we love, not necessarily doing the same thing together, but being together and working side by side. The craft projects in this book will help you to create just those moments with your child.

Print Editions:

Format: Paperback
Publication Date:	August 14, 2012
Pages:	160
Trim Size:	7 1/2 x 10
ISBN:	9781590309568
List Price:	$19.95 USD

Promotional information provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

Free Books With St. Patrick's Day Activities

St. Patrick's Day is next weekend. As parents and teachers prepare to celebrate with children, they may feel at a loss for something new to try. Today Amazon has two free books that parents and teachers can use to inspire activities for the holiday.

While these books are free as of the time of this posting, they cannot be guaranteed to stay at that price. Check the price next to "Buy" instead of "Prime" when ascertaining their cost.

Don't have a Kindle? No worries! Check out these free Kindle apps for your smartphone, computer or tablet by clicking here. Purchase your own Kindle, Kindle Touch or Kindle Fire to enjoy e-books on the go.

Easy St. Patrick's Day Crafts to Make With Young Children
\ Easy St. Patrick's Day Crafts to Make With Young Children by Michelle Buvala is a part of the Simple Crafting With Children series. This book includes 10 simple crafts that children from preschool through elementary school will enjoy. Most of the materials are readily available around the house or can be cheaply purchased at discount or dollar stores. Fill your home with shamrocks and pots o' gold as you spend some quality time together making crafts.

Get your Kindle copy here.

St. Patrick's Day Recipes Sampler
The St. Patrick's Day Recipes Sampler by by Shannon Farrell and Erin Kennedy is a part of the Holiday Entertaining series. Irish authors provide 12 authentic Irish recipes, as well as a bit of the history and tradition of the holiday. While children cannot make their own Irish cream, they can help make some of the other recipes, such as Irish Soda Bread.

Get your Kindle copy here.

I have taken advantage of these two titles being free and downloaded them for my Kindle apps. I will look at them more thoroughly later. Please let me know what you think of them!