Thursday, April 21, 2011

Blog Tour- TYV Crafting with Kids: review and giveaway!

Crafting with Kids Blog tour
Jennifer Casa, of the ever popular blog Jcasa handmade, has just published a brand new children's craft book titled Teach Yourself VISUALLY Crafting with Kids. It's bursting with art and craft projects- 75 to be exact. Wow! It's organized by each season, but also includes:
  • holidays
  • gift giving
  • party crafts
  • games
Jennifer, with the help of her two girls, has created a fabulous resource filled with tried and true classics (play dough, marbled paper, tie die) with fresh approaches.  Plus tons of fun new ideas that will inspire children and their grown-ups, alike. It's the perfect book to have on hand for rainy days, vacation time and any time you need help coming up with an enticing activity. It's geared towards young ones, with each project having a step by step visual guide, but many crafts would be engaging for an older child to do on their own. I was honored when Jennifer invited me to be part of her blog tour and strategically requested the week that my children were off on school break. Seemed like the perfect time to dive into some fun art time. And it was, however, I must apologize to Jennifer... I am so off my game this week (absorbed in some family stuff with kids at my side), and somehow changed the date of my tour stop in my head. My calendar told me otherwise this afternoon  and I felt like such a bumbler!  So now I'm here, a day late, but gushing no less about her lovely new book
 Here's our first project that we enjoyed together:stained glass butterflies
At the beginning of the week, when the the temps were still so low, there was a need for  a colorful pick me up. These "stained glass" butterflies did the trick. They were made by grating old broken crayons onto wax paper and melting them together. Instead of using craft sticks for the bodies, I was inspired to sew them into a strand like this other project in the book which we'll make next:
suncatchers
They came out beautifully, but the process was the best part.We all had fun!
 stained glass butterflies
Don't they just glow in afternoon light of our sun room? Might have to make some more soon to go with our upcoming sun catcher strands... we have a lot of windows!
sunroom butterflies
Crafting with Kids a fantastic book to have in any parent, caregiver, or teacher's library. And yes, I have a signed copy for one of you courtesy of Jennifer and our shared publisher,Wiley! Please leave a comment in this post between now and Sunday night at 8pm EST. Don't forget to leave your email if it's not linked to your blogger profile. I'll announce the random winner on Monday morning. Good luck!
Here's the whole tour schedule for more reviews, giveaways, and interviews:
Tuesday, April 5 (release date)  -  JCasa *handmade
Wednesday, April 6  -  The Crafty Crow
Thursday, April 7  -  Sparkle Power
Monday, April 11  -  WhipUp
Wednesday, April 13  -  A Stitch in Dye
Friday, April 15  -  Smile and Wave
Monday, April 18  -  Elsie Marley
Wednesday, April 20  -  Maya*Made (Oh dear!)
Friday, April 22  -  Stitches in Play
Tuesday, April 26  -  Aesthetic Outburst
Thursday, April 28  -  Artsy Crafty Babe Pin It

72 comments:

  1. This would be the perfect accompaniment for our approaching winter months!

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  2. Yes, please! I've been waiting for her book to come out.

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  3. I know just the mom who would really appreciate this book! And I wouldn't mind sneaking a peek myself!

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  4. oh, my 3 children & i would really enjoy this book, so please enter me in your giveaway ~ thanks !

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  5. Thanks for the chance.

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  6. This book looks wonderful! I am ALWAYS looking for crafts to do with my kids.
    Thanks for the chance to win!
    ~Michelle
    falafelandthebee(at)gmail(dot)com
    www.falafelandthebee.com

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  7. what a wonderful resource and great gift for family.

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  8. this book looks seriously good. thanks for the butterfly idea and the giveaway!
    you might like my super simple tutorial on making a crinkle paper toy for a baby
    http://goingtothefarnorth.blogspot.com/

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  9. oh i am very excited about this book - the blog tour has been so much fun. only, i want to make it all!

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  10. We are always looking for new craft ideas around here. Love the butterflies!

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  11. This looks great! Thanks for the giveaway.

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  12. What a wonderful book! We need some new ideas around here for the upcoming summer break.

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  13. Again a an inspiring book give-away on your blog! Wow, I would really like to start doing projects from that book with my girls and their cousins and friends!

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  14. Thanks--love the butterflies! We'd greatly enjoy this book!

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  15. Would be graet to win a copy and use it with my 4 children :)

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  16. We are always looking for new craft projects around here!

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  17. what a beautiful book! would love a chance at this!

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  18. I would love, love, love to get my hands on a copy of this. Love Jennifer's crafty ideas!

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  19. I would love a chance to win this book!

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  20. Wow, I would like to make thing with my kids :-)
    Jette / Villa Ko

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  21. sounds like a fun interesting book

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  22. Looks like a great book! I'd love to be the happy winner!

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  23. Thanks for hosting such a fab giveaway, Maya! The "Big Kids" (preschoolers) at our small school would love to explore these crafty projects - they've been learning to sew (little pillows and stuffed animals of their own design) lately!

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  24. ooh! Wax paper and crayon shaving stained glass, I forgot about that (as well as most other such easy and fun crafts from my childhood). I've been doing a lot of babysitting lately and it seems like this would be good to peruse for activities.

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  25. Would love to win this for creative play with my kiddos.
    Cheryl

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  26. My kids and I would love this book!

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  27. My grand daughter (Lili) would love to win this book ... she's so crafty but her Mother isn't. Maybe Mom could learn?

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  28. What a great resource - what fun projects!

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  29. I'd love this!!!! What a treasure!

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  30. Oh this book would be the perfect thing to get me started crafting with my two girls. I need a little help letting go of my fear of mess in our little house.

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  31. This book would get a whole lot of good use over at our place. Thanks, Maya.
    beeperbebe@yahoo.com

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  32. This book would be a perfect summer companion at our house!

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  33. Looks like a beautiful and fun book!

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  34. We're always interested in new craft books! Thanks Maya!
    ~ joey ~
    joeyvo@telus.net

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  35. Oh wow - looks like a great crafty book!
    clair.shearar@gmail.com

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  36. How fun! I love those butterflies!

    -Amy
    Crafting by Candlelight


    bibanon1@gmail.com

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  37. those butterflies are absolutely beautiful - wonderful colors.

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  38. This book looks delightful, a great thing to share with my 2 daughters!
    pelemilgmailcom

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  39. Ooh, this looks so nice. Thank you for the opportunity.

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  40. Looks like a really great book! Now that I am home with my 3 kids, a copy would really come in handy.

    Also, thanks for the great blog - so much great information!

    herbstsa (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  41. your butterflies are beautiful i have done a similar project like this with the neigborhood children. the splashes of color are nice.

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  42. I'm always on the lookout for kiddy-craft inspiration! Thanks.

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  43. I've been eyeing this book - looks great!

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  44. OOh this looks gorgeous, and just the sort of book I'd expect to see on your blog! My Bug and I are always looking for new craft ideas.

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  45. That book looks like just the thing for me and my 2 girls!
    vonken@casema.nl

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  46. We need more crafts, never have enough! Thanks!

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  47. Thanks a bunch!

    smyleelis at hotmail

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  48. What a great resource! This would be great for our Preschool Co-op. Please enter me! Thanks!

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  49. Beautiful butterflies! This book looks great, thanks for the giveaway!

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  50. This looks fabulous! I just checked out of the library Visually Teach Yourself Crochet. The series is fantastic.

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  51. From all the reviews I've seen this book looks amazing and would be wonderful addition to the craft library. I love making things for my little one and I hope as he gets older he will love doing crafty things too. Thanks for the chance to win.
    nlczerw(at)gmail(d0t)com

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  52. I'm so excited to examine this more closely! kaseymgm (at) gmail (dot) com

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  53. OOooohhh... I'd love to win this book for some new inspiration.
    Eva
    Denmark

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  54. ohhh! I know I can put this book to good use! Fingers crossed! donna@recreate.org

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  55. Looks like a great book! Thanks so very much.

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  56. I love how you combined ideas from two different projects. I'm sure Jennifer's book is full of opportunities like that!

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  57. The perfect book for some spring and summer fun! Thanks for the giveaway.

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  58. We would love to win this give away, the kids and me.

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  59. I've been following the blog tour like a groupie! I would love to win this book! Thanks for the chance!

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  60. This looks like a fabulous book. We can always use more craft books! Thanks for the chance.

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  61. Oh! I LOVE the Teach Yourself Visually books - they are just fabulous and I would really love to win this book! Summer is coming, after all :)

    -Gemma

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  62. Always looking for fun things to keep my three young ones entertained! Sign me up, please!!

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  63. That book sounds fabulous, especially with summer coming up!

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  64. Oh my gosh! This would be perfect! My daughter LoVeS crafts, and I have such a hard time finding projects that she cans do and enjoy! ~Brandy

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  65. I've been anticipating this book!

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  66. This book looks wonderfully inspiring! Thanks for the chance:)

    Happy Spring!

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  67. Am loving the idea of this book!

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  68. Oh my, would I ever like to get my hands on this book. A granddaughter would be the very happy recipient of all this craftiness with her nana. Such fun!

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  69. I would love to win this book! As a step-mother to 4 there is never enough inspiration! :)
    thank you for this giveaway.

    volfima [at] gmail [dot] com

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  70. What a fantastic resource! Thanks to you for hosting, and to Jennifer and Wiley for their generosity. I'd love to explore these pages with my son!

    Katie - katiet838 at yahoo (dot) com

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