Gifts Kids Can Make »

Sheila McGraw is author of Painting and Decorating Furniture, Papier Mâché Today, Papier Mâché for Kids, Dolls Kids Can Make, and Soft Toys to Sew. She is the illustrator of the best-selling children's books Love You Forever, and Lightning Bug Thunder as well as author/illustrator of Pussycats Everywhere.

Here's an easy book of enjoyable crafts projects for kids -- all with the aim of making a valued gift for someone important.

Step-by-step simple instructions show how to make high quality toys, ornaments, dolls, jewelry, pet toys and decorative items for all occasions. All of the gifts are made from easy-to-find materials that you probably have around the house: make a bunny from a facecloth, a hobby horse from a work sock, ornaments from spices and fruit, jewelry from magazine pages, a basket from a piece of rope and some cloth strips -- and much, much more.

When the gift is finished, wrap it with lively, inventive gift wrapping in the form of bags, boxes, card and bows that are made from both new and recycled materials -- all featured in the "Wrap It Up" section.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-McGraw provides directions for 14 inexpensive gifts that children can make from easily obtainable materials. A bunny made from a facecloth, a cotton sock doll, homemade dog biscuits, and a hobby horse are among the projects included. Many can be found in other handicraft books, such as Juliet Bawden's Making Presents (Random, 1994), but von Tiedemann has provided full-color photos of multicultural youth demonstrating McGraw's easy-to-folow directions. The approximate completion time is given for each activity. Cautions are supplied for handling tools such as hand saws, and advice is given for choosing the age-appropriate gifts (baby presents should not have loose parts). The book also has sections on creating attractive wrapping. Ideas such as embossing gift wrap with interesting designs using wet bond paper, a sponge, and any textured medallion or flat object will spark creative imaginations, yet take some patience. Other ideas, such as making a gift box out of old calendar photographs, are more quickly accomplished. A fine supplement to collections needing more craft books.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Library, Manassas, VA

• Getting Started Age Groups, Money, This Book
  

• Terry Bunnies
• Cotton Babies
• Birdies
• Apple Cinnamon Ornaments
• Citrus Ornaments Pomanders, Medallions, Topiary
• Pocket Purse
• Fuzzy Kitty
• Kitty's "Doormouse"
• Rolling Stones Brooch, Necklace, Hair Clip, Earrings
• Decorator Basket
• Baby, Baby, Baby!
• Doggie Deli
• Photo Frame
• Hobby Horse
  

• Bags Shaped Bag, Drawstring Bab
• Bows Loopy Bow, Plastic Bag Bow, Flower Bow
• Big Wraps Comic Wrap, Block Printing
• Crazy Christmas Stocking
• Envelope Wrap Pyramid Box, Ice Cream Cone, Valentine
• Cards High Tech Cards, Embossing and Burnishing, Ruffled Cards
• Boxes Jewelry Box, Soft Box
  

• Coffee Can Box
• Deluxe Lunch bag
• Foiled Again
• Shaped Bag
• Open Wrap
• Blue Jean Wrap-up
• Wild Beast Box
• Custom Box
• Custom Bag
• Lollipop Wrap