Book Review:
The introduction to 101 Christmas Crafts: Ornaments, Decorations,
and Gifts includes a must read section called Before You Begin.
It includes information to help you through some of the problems
the author, Pat Richards encountered with products and methods (i.e.
fusible adhesive, what worked best for her and for different types
of projects, using metallic thread, and gluing on trim versus sewing
it on). There is something for every type of crafter in this book:
knitting, crochet, sewing, quilting, embroidery, plastic canvas,
beading, clay crafts, decoupage, paper crafts, natural crafts, environmentally
friendly recycling crafts, woodworking, papier mache, and unique
crafts to give the person who has everything. There is also a sources
section available at the back. I like that the photos in this book
display the crafts in real life or attractive settings. It is also
nice to see that the patterns necessary for making the crafts are
included with the instructions, not in a separate section of the
book.
This book is divided up into three categories/chapters: Elegant
Christmas, Homespun Christmas and A Wild and Wacky Christmas. These
chapters are further divided into three subsections: Ornaments,
Decorations and Gifts. The chapter Elegant Christmas features Ornaments
that are very Victorian (i.e. Victorian Garland), traditional and
ornate (with flowers, ribbon, tassels, doilies, bright, regal and
rich colors). There are a variety of methods to making these projects
such as embroidery and reusing old ties (Embroidered Heart Ornament),
quilting (Crazy Quilt Ball, using old silk ties) and unusual ornaments
such as the Dragonfly, and the velour and felt strawberries with
seed beads that are very realistic, almost yummy enough looking
to eat!).
Decorations in the Elegant Christmas chapter include recycling
wrapping paper or cards to make Display Plates, Victorian style
stockings, tree skirt and table runner as well as Napkin Rings,
Guest Towels and Round & Square Victorian pillows. Gifts include
pins, sachets, Velvet Fruit, magnetic frames, an Embellished Headband,
a Crocheted Evening Bag, a Crazy Quilt Eyeglass case (using scraps
from old ties again), beaded key and eyeglass chains, a decoupage
bracelet and embroidered bookmark.
The chapter Elegant Christmas is followed by Homespun Christmas
and A Wild and Wacky Christmas, which are also divided, into the
subsections Ornaments, Decorations and Gifts. I had so many favorites
in all of these sections of all of the chapters it was hard to choose
in the end. Some unusual ideas in the Homespun Christmas chapter
include the Button Sunflower and Daisy Ornaments (good for someone
who likes sunflowers and daisies), the Open Heart Ornament (made
of air hardening clay), the Play Clay Pretzel (very realistic with
real salt on the pretzel) and the Peanut Shell Santa Ornament and
the Walnut Shell Craft (both environmentally friendly).
A Wild and Wacky Christmas contains Ornaments, Decorations and
Gifts with out of the ordinary elements for Christmas crafts such
as cardinal and blue jay Paper Birds, fun foam Slotted Animal Ornaments,
Kite Ornament, Spider Web (pipe cleaners and pom poms), stained
glass Butterfly Ornament, Flower Garland and a Decorated Clock (with
a personalized fish motif). Also popular are the ornament motif
crafts including a tree skirt and a pillow. There is also a polar
fleece hat and scarf for which you can match the pattern of the
polar fleece. You can also make a very warm looking polar fleece
afghan with a fringe. The polar fleece crafts are good for people
who sew and don’t knit but still want to make hats, scarves
and blankets. |
