Posted on 11/13/2009, 10:58 am, by rackycoo, under general.
The editors at Klutz have published many inspiring and fun craft books through the years. Because my girls both love arts and crafts, they have both given and received several of the books for birthdays and Christmases. We’ve enjoyed the Friendship Bracelets book, Create with Clay, Nail Art, and The Fairy Book, to name a few. I have always loved sitting down with the girls and making projects from the books along with them. Each book contains enough supplies to make several projects, plus engaging, easy to understand directions, fun colorful photos, and plenty of tips and hints to make your projects successful. Photographic examples of completed projects are plentiful, and most of the projects shown can be completed solely with the supplies included with the book. If other supplies are needed, they are likely to be something any household would have, such as scissors or white glue. You can pretty much open a book, take the provided supplies out, and start creating immediately.
A beginner can successfully copy any of the projects shown in the books. Someone with a little more experience can use the supplies and suggestions included in the book as a springboard to make all kinds of unique and creative projects. Klutz offers many of its supplies for sale separately, so if you use up everything in the book and want to make more, you can go to their website (klutz.com) and stock up on more supplies!
I was excited to learn that our sponsor Klutz was sending me three books to review for this article, especially because they were books we didn’t already own. I received Paper Fashions Fantasy (recommended for ages 8 and up), Capsters (also recommended for 8 and up) and Shrink Art Jewelry (12 and up).
Paper Fashions Fantasy
I decided to try out Paper Fashions Fantasy first. Here I found templates for making bodices, skirts, sleeves, and even mermaid tails. Examples included in the book show how to make fashions for fairies, princesses, goddesses, witches, and mermaids. Included in the supplies were a generous stack of patterned paper, ribbons, beads and sequins, glitter glue, and 15 of the cutest little wire hangers that I have ever seen. I really liked that the examples in the book show unusual ways of using the stencils (large flower petals layered for a skirt, seashells as a bathing suit top, etc.) and that the book includes a page on color and pattern, where they explain the color wheel and show how you can use it to choose the colors and patterns for your outfits.
The first thing I made was a little casual dress, followed by a little fairy dress, using the stencils and papers provided in the book. I did a little embellishing with beads and sequins, and outlined the fairy wings a bit with the glitter glue. I just had to hang the dresses on those sweet little hangers!
After all that goodness and light, I decided to make a little witch. Again, I used templates and papers from the book, but this time I used a photo and gave my witch a jack o’lantern to hold. I thought it would be fun to dress up some old school photos in new clothes and make some art with them or display them in a creative way. Look how cute she looks visiting this shrine, made by DanniQuee.
The book suggests things you can do with your completed fashions, including making greeting cards, gift tags, and bookmarks. I love bookmarks, so I made this one using some mermaid tails. This book would be fun for any little fashion lover.
Capsters
The next book I played with was Capsters. I really enjoyed this book and the projects I made. Included in this book are 12 caps, 10 fun plastic charms, a large bottle of Capster glaze, and some little extra goodies like googly eyes, glitter, and lanyard clips. There are also 387 punch out backgrounds for use in the caps. My first three caps are made using backgrounds and charms from the book. I have to say: that glaze they include is really great. I have made bottlecap ornaments before using a different brand of glaze, but this glaze is really superior. I had absolutely no issues with bubbles, which has been something I’ve had to watch for with other products. This stuff is practically foolproof.
Here are the three ornaments I made with only materials from the book.
Once I did those, I decided to have a little more fun. I used this picture of a chef from the book, added in the glaze, and then let it dry overnight, as directed. The next day, I took a small nail and hammered in three holes along the side of the cap. Using jump rings, I attached three charms: a knife, fork, and spoon, to the bottom of the cap. I glued a magnet to the back with some industrial strength glue. I think this will be cute on my fridge, holding up my grocery list.
I chose another image from the book for this last cap, and added the word “snob”. For the back embellishment on this cap, I used a metal sun and a large rhinestone, both attached with the industrial strength glue.
I thought it would be fun to use that last cap on a little tin. I used decoupage glue to glue on coordinating scrapbook paper, inked the edges for a bit of an antique look, and then glued the cap to the top with my trusty industrial strength glue. This tin is perfect for carrying around mints, change, or any other items that your favorite snob would need.
Shrink Art Jewelry
Now it’s time for some fun with the Shrink Art Jewelry book. This book comes with pages and pages of patterns and designs you can trace on the shrink plastic, also included. Once you’ve made your charms, there are plenty of jewelry findings provided, including beads, links, fasteners, cording, and even a silver bracelet.
I started out by making a pendant. I chose one of the included patterns and traced it with a fine point Sharpie, and then colored it in using colored pencils. I love the way the colors look so rich once the plastic is shrunk down in the oven. I used the cord and beads provided to make this little bird pendant into a cute necklace.
Next, I thought I might like some earrings. For these, I used a rubber stamp and StazOn ink. (Very important: you MUST use a solvent ink pad, or the ink will smear!) After I stamped the image and punched my holes for wiring, I gave the skulls a little color with my colored pencils before baking. The earring wires were included with the book.
One of my daughters saw me making the jewelry and wanted to get in on the fun. She freehanded this giant beetle and left holes in his front legs to string up the chain to make a necklace. If you look closely, you can see that the bug has a pin stuck in him, as if he were displayed. The pin was added after the bug had shrunk, before the plastic had a chance to harden. You have to work quickly to do this, but if you don’t get it in on the first try, you can return the plastic to the oven to soften it up more.
Besides all the patterns and images, Klutz included some basic shapes for tracing. When I saw the tear shape, it made me think of raindrops. I traced three of them, gave them sweet little faces, and then freehanded a large cloud to go with them. The book includes a handy guide to help you determine what size your shrink art will be once baked. Before baking, I punched a hole in each of the droplets, plus 5 holes in the cloud: two for attaching the chain, and three for hanging each of the drops. I think this necklace is so cute! One of my daughters claimed it immediately, and my other daughter has requested that I make her one as well.
I have always loved the Klutz books, and I still find them to be lots of fun. They are so full of inspiration. What will you make with your Klutz book?
I love the bottlecaps and shrinky dinks. I have found out that shrinky dinks are not my craft but you really rocked it! Maybe I should get the book and try it again.
Great projects Racky! I used to get Klutz books all the time when I was little. I think this will be a great christmas present idea for my son…I’m sure there are some that are a little less girly. I bet he would like those capsters ones too..
Oooh, I love the Klutz books! I’ve used a couple of them in the past and have always had success (specifically the Window Art, and a spiral art one whose exact title escapes me).
I really like what you did with these, especially the first one. I think I know what my youngest niece is getting for Christmas now. ^_^
These would be so much fun for my nieces (and for ME!!)…you did a great job of making stuff all ages can enjoy! I love the big bug the best…no wait…I love the mermaid tail bookmarker the best…no wait…I love…I love it all
I love the cloud necklace! I haven’t done the shrink art. What size did you make the cloud and tear drops before they were baked? What size hole did you make in the cloud to hook everything to it?
I would love to do this with a craft group I belong to. I think the girls can do it and would love it.
I have all of those, and more! I learned knitting and crocheting from klutz, and to this day I still make it a point to wander into the children’s section of the bookstores and see what new ones they have. I think by far, however, my favorite were the little “make your own itty-bitty” books. They have the big huge one that lets you make twelve fairies, then they also have smaller ones that have enough supplies for two princess, angles or ballerinas. All of my cousins and nieces ask for a new little doll for christmas each year.
I’ve used Klutz books in the past with nice results. I think you’ve sold me on the paper fashions book- I’ve got tons of photos laying around that need altering! Thanks!
The editors at Klutz have published many inspiring and fun craft books through the years. Because my girls both love arts and crafts, they have both given and received several of the books for birthdays and Christmases. We’ve enjoyed the Friendship Bracelets book, Create with Clay, Nail Art, and The Fairy Book, to name a few. I have always loved sitting down with the girls and making projects from the books along with them. Each book contains enough supplies to make several projects, plus engaging, easy to understand directions, fun colorful photos, and plenty of tips and hints to make your projects successful. Photographic examples of completed projects are plentiful, and most of the projects shown can be completed solely with the supplies included with the book. If other supplies are needed, they are likely to be something any household would have, such as scissors or white glue. You can pretty much open a book, take the provided supplies out, and start creating immediately.
I love the bottlecaps and shrinky dinks. I have found out that shrinky dinks are not my craft but you really rocked it! Maybe I should get the book and try it again.
I love, love, love the cloud!!
Racky, I LOVE what you’ve done!! I think the witch is terrific and your daughter’s freehand beetle is stunning.
Great projects Racky! I used to get Klutz books all the time when I was little. I think this will be a great christmas present idea for my son…I’m sure there are some that are a little less girly. I bet he would like those capsters ones too..
Thanks for the idea!!
They’re all great, what fun books! I really love the cloud and the beetle!
Oooh, I love the Klutz books! I’ve used a couple of them in the past and have always had success (specifically the Window Art, and a spiral art one whose exact title escapes me).
I really like what you did with these, especially the first one. I think I know what my youngest niece is getting for Christmas now. ^_^
GAH! I *NEED* Capsters! I’m going to e-mail Santa and tell him I expect it in my stocking Christmas morning.
I loooove KLUTZ. Seriously-they are amazing!
Totally love the Klutz books. You can do so many fun things with them. The rain cloud & rain is so adorable!!
These are really cute ideas! I want to buy them and play with the kids now!
These would be so much fun for my nieces (and for ME!!)…you did a great job of making stuff all ages can enjoy! I love the big bug the best…no wait…I love the mermaid tail bookmarker the best…no wait…I love…I love it all
So awesome! I seriously love all the Klutz books, I’ve always had good luck with their projects. I love the bottle caps!
I used to love the Klutz books as a kid - always on my Christmas list. But I love what you’ve done with them today too!
Wow great projects! I love the Capsters book. I think I will have to go check it out! The Shrink Art Jewelry turned out really cute too!
I love all of them! I think that Capsters is really cool though! I maybe to get that for myself.
Wow those are all awesome projects (I just wish I had someone to get them for for Christmas… other than me of course).
no kidding, Capsters is wayyy cool! and the shrinky jewelry is pretty swell too….LOVE the DOD earrings
I was just looking at Shrinky dink jewelry book yesterday. I may have to buy it “for” my dauther…LOL.
Your skull shrinkies turned out beautifully!
I love the cloud necklace! I haven’t done the shrink art. What size did you make the cloud and tear drops before they were baked? What size hole did you make in the cloud to hook everything to it?
I would love to do this with a craft group I belong to. I think the girls can do it and would love it.
I love them all, but of course my fave is the chef with the charms! *heart*
I totally grew up on Klutz books. Their clay book it what got me started in polymer clay!!
I have all of those, and more! I learned knitting and crocheting from klutz, and to this day I still make it a point to wander into the children’s section of the bookstores and see what new ones they have. I think by far, however, my favorite were the little “make your own itty-bitty” books. They have the big huge one that lets you make twelve fairies, then they also have smaller ones that have enough supplies for two princess, angles or ballerinas. All of my cousins and nieces ask for a new little doll for christmas each year.
I’ve used Klutz books in the past with nice results. I think you’ve sold me on the paper fashions book- I’ve got tons of photos laying around that need altering! Thanks!
Really cute !!
I would love to get the Shrink art jewelery and the Capsters book ^^