My daughter is lucky enough to have an aunt who is the books editor at Martha Stewart. She was so excited when this book arrived in the mail! Betty is not always as interested in crafts as let’s say I am, but this book is so appealing she can’t wait to get started. I think top of her list is the marble run. The book has a good dose of science-y crafts, which it turns out appeal to my daughter. I guess I will have to save some of the super cute sewing projects for myself. Forecast for the weekend includes torrential rain, so I am very glad to have 175 fun ideas to keep us busy!
Matchbox camera
This matchbox project was inspired by “cameras” my brother and I used to make when we were kids out of band-aid boxes (back when they were tin, which really wasn’t that long ago, was it?). We taped on a lens and a viewfinder and snapped imaginary pictures. To make this wee version, I covered a matchbox with black paper, except the ends, which I covered in light blue washi tape. Then I folded a strip of paper to make a viewfinder, and sliced off a circle of cardboard from a toilet paper roll to create the lens.
Inside is the treat: an accordian album of tiny photos. I went old-school for this part—good old cut and paste. I printed the photos on regular printer paper (albeit high quality printer paper) and glued the photos in place.
Instagram photo books
More summer fun projects–Instagram antics! I’m trawling through the (seemingly endless) camera roll on my Iphone and modifying my favorites on Instagram (see above: first grade Crazy Hair Day). What I like about Instagram: turning all images into squares and filtering them circa 1976–and yes, one of the filters is called 1976. Once I get to 72 images, I plan to make a set of these wee photo albums from Printstagram (you get 3 tiny books for $10).
I also love this photo book by Elizabeth Kartchner at Dear Lizzy. She used Blurb to create her paperback album and had the savvy idea to keep some pages blank to write in captions and anecdotes by hand.
Summer Craft Camp
School’s out! (In 9 days–but who’s counting?) My list of summer hopes & plans grows with each passing minute. First on my list? Something frivolous & impractical that I can do with my kids like . . . build this children’s summer teepee by Courtney Cerruti from Creativebug! Creativebug offers online D.I.Y. tutorials for a fee, but this summer the site is featuring family-friendly “craft camp”–free video workshops of stuff to do with kids. Other workshops include making clothespin dolls with Amy Karol or Shrinky Dink earrings with Nicole Blum.
Knitting in the summer
Why do I get interested in knitting as soon as the weather gets brutishly hot? Maybe it’s the sitting still part of knitting and long and lazy summer days? Or the portability of a knitting project? Anyway, I’ve been thinking about delving into some knitting and I was so happy to have stumbled upon Quince and Co in my pinterest travels. Don’t you think these cardis are lovely? Of course, I love the stripes.
homemadecity.com 