The Art of Shrinkable Plastic

I was browsing Shrinky Dink project images on Google, and I found this book—Shrink, Shrank, Shrunk by Kathy Sheldon—that I didn't even hesitate to browse! The pictures on the cover (kudos to the designers at Lark Crafts) sold me on the book, and when it arrived yesterday in the mail it did not disappoint. The arrival of the book was also perfectly timed because I was planning on messing with shrinkable plastic for a mini-project in my Creative Kids book. Not only are there great, fun, and amazingly sophisticated projects in the book, but you'll want to read through the first several pages that describe what can be used as shrinkable plastic and how to use it. The book teaches great techniques and gives trouble-shooting advice.

I got out my Sharpies last night (because I find that permanent fine-point markers are easiest to work with and create the best results) and threw together some Batman-inspired action bubbles to use for my book. I really wish I had the multitude of shaped paper punches that I'll bet most scrapbookers have among their craft tools (and let me just say that these would be especially perfecto for the cameo pendants in Shrink, Shrank, Shrunk) because they are so simple for creating shapes. Shrinkable plastic can be temperamental, and it doesn't cut very easily with scissors or even a craft knife (I have found).

This is a great rainy-day activity for kids, and even if you aren't trying to make detailed creations like those pictured in Shrink, Shrank, Shrunk, all you really need is something for cutting the plastic and a variety of permanent markers and colored pencils. If you have a regular hole punch and some string—instant necklace!

Glass Charms Mini Project

I am referring to several projects in my upcoming book as mini-projects because many of them are very simple and 3 steps or fewer. One of these mini-projects is how to make glass charms with an image on paper and just three more inexpensive, easy-to-find materials. I created some fun kid charms this weekend that will be used for the book, but these Halloween-theme creations [pictured] are just for kicks. I love old monster movies like Frankenstein, and I think eyeballs are hilarious but creepy to use for Halloween decorations. In fact, I'm waiting for someone to sell giant eyeball beanbag chairs so I can buy one just for myself!

If you were going to make these glass charms for yourself, what kind of images would you use for them? And would you make these for a charm bracelet, or something else?

First Submission Deadline is Here

I just finished posting all of the initial sample files of Creative Kids Photo Guide to Bead Crafts to my publisher's ftp site, and it feels so good to be making headway. The publisher will now design the book cover and interior based on photos and text that I supplied.

I revised the table of contents for a little better structure, and all projects with have a 3-star system for indicating the level of difficulty. The "All About Beads" chapter is truly unique. Not only does it identify different types of beads but also tells you how to make several different types of beads, charms, and pendants yourself. Handmade is always best, in my opinion.

The book will also have a picture glossary of tools and materials as well as a chapter about beading techniques. These sections are designed to give kids what they need to get started on the 15 different projects that appear in the second half of the book.

In the coming days, I will start to share some great kids' crafts that won't be in the book but that are killer dynamite, so stay tuned.

Macaroni Beads

Today, I'm making dyed pasta beads for a mini-project in my book. I'm planning approximately 9 mini-projects that will appear in a section about beads, then 15 other fun projects to make from all kinds of beads.

Sometimes, we have to experiment until we find something that works. As people who like to be crafty, I'm sure we all can relate to spending a lot of time and motivation to make something that in our mind's eye was going to be fabulous only to be disappointed by results that weren't quite what we expected. Don't be discouraged. Try, try again. We crafters are also scientists theorizing about the best way to create something. 

Making dyed pasta beads is relatively easy. It requires patience, and the rest is experimentation with colors, types of pasta, and quantities. Some pastas respond better to the color mixture than others, so prepare yourself for surprises.

What can you make with dyed pasta beads? How about jewelry, garlands, a beaded curtain, wind chimes? Are there any other ideas popping into your head?

Creative Kids Photo Guide to Bead Crafts

I'm delighted to start this new blog to announce the future publication of Creative Kids Photo Guide to Bead Crafts (Quayside Publishing, Fall 2014). Today, I mailed the signed contract to my publisher and submitted the final outline for the book. I can't wait to share some of the details with you as soon as I am able to. But I also want this blog to be a forum to share other people's astounding beaded kids' crafts that I think are inspiring. Oh, and I will probably venture off topic and explore other playful kids' projects just because I think the imagination is a terrible thing to waste. Don't you??

In December 2012, my first book, "Bead Bugs," published. That was a very exciting endeavor but also very challenging. The book has 13 different beaded wire bug projects, and since it's publication, I have conducted workshops at libraries, sold bug jewelry at craft shows, and created beaded bug kits so that crafty people can purchase the materials without the fuss of searching for the beads and wire at craft stores. If you want to purchase a beaded bug kit, just visit atomicrose.etsy.com. You can also purchase a signed copy of my book in my Etsy shop!

With beaded kids' crafts well under way, you'll probably start seeing pictures of my messy kitchen table and my failed experiments, so check back often...and let me know what you're working on. When people get together to bounce ideas off of each other, great things happen.