Chapter One How to use this book Dear Parents, We know that you and your family will love making the projects in this book. Take a minute to read about the special features of this book--then start crafting together. about the projects ... The crafts in this book have been specially selected for families who want to spend time together making fun stuff. From painting, sewing, and printmaking to stamping, decoupaging, and beading, you'll find hundreds of great projects to make and enjoy. And to spark the imagination even more, we've provided page after page of alternative ideas to help personalize projects and take them one step further. about the instructions ... Whether you have a crafting background or don't think you can draw a straight line, success is ensured with each of our projects. We walk you through each one with clear, concise, step-by-step instructions and helpful photographs when needed. Every project includes a complete materials list so you won't be caught without a supply once you've started. If a supply is a little out of the ordinary, we'll tell you where to find it, right in the materials list! We encourage you to play right along with your child, as half the fun of crafting is in the sharing of the experience. Your assistance will often be needed when using a crafts knife or scissors, or in other steps that should be supervised or completed by an adult. Practicing and reinforcing safety are very important when teaching the fundamentals of crafting. about the techniques ... This book includes a wide range of crafting techniques, including projects to paint, decoupage, print, bead, cross-stitch, and more. Each technique has been tested by professional crafts designers. about the patterns ... You'll discover dozens of patterns to use when making the projects in this book. Whenever possible, the patterns are full-size to make them easy to use. Remember to refer to these patterns when designing your own creative projects. For instance, just refer to pages 136-137 the next time you want to make an "I love you" card or a keepsake valentine! crafting in autumn When the seasons change, it is a reminder of the beauty that surrounds us each day. Autumn's glory inspires us to get in touch with nature--to linger over the unmistakable scent in the air, to stand in awe of the magnificent colors, and to use nature's gifts as inspiration for expressing our individual creativity. Come along and share ideas for making the most of autumn crafting. * Take a nature walk to collect fallen treasures. Take along a tote bag or two to hold acorns, pinecones, sticks, leaves, feathers, driftwood, or other items to use when crafting. * Teach the kids how to bargain shop and think ahead. For instance, shop for Halloween crafting supplies, decorations, and costumes the day after Halloween. * Visit the library to find information on how to dry gourds. When dried, the unusual shapes are fun to paint and decorate for any season. * Go on a family leaf hunt, gathering as many different kinds of leaves as you can find. Together learn from what trees the leaves have fallen. Then dry the leaves and spray-paint them in bright colors to use in decorating. * Make an autumn wreath by using finds of the season. Hot-glue leaves, bittersweet, pinecones, small gourds, and other items to a grapevine wreath. * Pumpkins not only make the perfect Halloween decoration but are also a welcome sight at Thanksgiving. To make sure you have some left for turkey day, buy a few extra at Halloween time and store them in a cool place until ready to display. * When school supplies are well-stocked in stores before school starts, keep your eye out for bright pencils, erasers, rulers, and other small items. Hot-glue them to a picture frame to make a fun back-to-school gift. * Before the snow falls, be sure to pick up all the fallen sticks in the yard. Use the sticks as accents on wreaths, in flower arrangements, and for snowman arms. * Designate a place where the kids can store crafting supplies and work on their projects. Remember to teach safety when using things such as scissors and hot-glue guns. Also keep newspapers and waxed paper on hand to protect work surfaces. * Have the kids make Thanksgiving cards for friends and family. Glue a leaf to card stock for the turkey's tail feathers and cut the head from construction paper. Add wiggly eyes, feet, and wattles for the finishing touches. * Visit a pumpkin patch or apple orchard to pick up pumpkins, gourds, and apples for holiday decorating and seasonal recipes. * Watch your local newspaper for places providing hayrack rides. These rides are great fun and give the whole family time away to laugh and talk. When you return home, have the kids draw a picture to remember the experience. * Start a school-year scrapbook. Purchase plain scrapbooks and let the kids decorate the covers. * Dried flowers work well in autumn arrangements. To enhance the colors, spray lightly with floral spray paint. * Have fun scouring flea markets and yard sales in search of wood crates and baskets. These items are perfect for displaying seasonal finds such as gourds, stalks of wheat, and Indian corn. * Start thinking of handmade treasures to make for Christmas and Hanukkah. Have supplies ready so you can get a jump start on holiday gift making. * For a lovely autumn centerpiece, make a pumpkin vase. Cut the top off the pumpkin and scoop out the insides. Add a plastic liner and then fill the pumpkin with dried flowers, berries, and sticks. If desired, tie a ribbon around the center of the pumpkin. Apple-Print Linens Set your table with welcome signs of the season--napkins and place mats embellished with striking apple motifs. what you'll need Apples Sharp knife Acrylic paints in apple green and red Paper plate Printer paper Purchased fabric napkins and place mats Permanent red marker now make it together 1 On a cutting surface, cut an apple in half, cutting from the top to the bottom and leaving the stem on one side. Be sure to cut straight and smooth so the apple can be used for printing. 2 Place some paint on a paper plate. Dip the apple half with stem into the paint, saturating the apple and stem. Dab off on paper. Press where desired on a place mat or napkin. Carefully lift from the fabric. Repeat, using desired color of paint. Let the paint dry. 3 Use a permanent marker to write phrases such as "An apple a day ..." or "Good for you" on the napkin. All-Aglow Apples Visit a local orchard (or head to the grocery store) to pick the perfect apples for this clever autumn centerpiece that sparkles with the season's brilliance. what you'll need Variety of apples Sharp knife Hydrogen peroxide Short taper candles Metallic-color chenille stems Scissors Ruler Colored beads Sequins Note: For safety, never leave a burning candle unattended. now make it together 1 Choose a variety of apples with fairly symmetrical shapes. Wash and dry the apples. 2 Using a knife, cut a hole in center of apple to remove core. Pour hydrogen peroxide into the hole to prevent the apple from turning brown; drain. Insert a candle into the hole. 3 Cut several chenille stems to lengths ranging from 6 to 10 inches long. String different colored beads and sequins onto the chenille stems. Curl the ends of the stems if desired. Insert the embellished stems into the apples around candles. Excerpted from 501 Fun-to-Make Family Crafts by . Copyright © 2001 by Meredith Corporation. Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
