Two-Hour Scrap Crafts - Softcover

Crane, Anita Louise

3

5 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0806987596 ISBN 13: 9780806987590

Publisher: Sterling, 2001

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

We all save so many things just because we like how they look or they're dear to our heart--a beloved chipped plate of Grandma's; pretty remnants of lace, fabric, and ribbon; and jars full of buttons. Now is the time to gather them up, because with all those "discards" even a novice can make lovely gifts and practical accessories...in only two hours! Turn an old tablecloth into a beautifully matched set of placemats and napkins. Color-scan a favorite artwork onto heat-transfer paper, iron it onto a pillow, and embellish with buttons and bows. Customize covers for appliances small and large. You'll feel as if you have a treasure trove of crafts supplies--without spending a cent!

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

Scrap crafts are a great way to use up all those odds and ends and create interesting gifts and home accessories for minimal investment. And naturally we don't want them to look like we just threw them together from leftovers, so it's nice to find a guide that gives them a bit of class. Two-Hour Scrap Crafts features an impressive array of attractive projects in the Victorian vein: plump pillows and delicate lampshades dripping with lace; flouncy valances and furniture covers; button- and shell-encrusted frames and boxes; velvety ornaments; brocaded bags. The designs are stylish and the muted colors appealing, while the time-worn look evokes the feel of Grandma's treasures filtered through today's shabby-chic aesthetic.

Most projects require about intermediate crafting skill, though some are quite simple (such as stitching ribbons and lace onto purchased towels, or turning an old tablecloth into place mats and napkins) and several of the sewing projects demand more experience (including the ruffled dishwasher cover, the heavily embroidered crazy quilt pillow, and the tailored chair cover). Despite being reasonably detailed, the directions leave much open to interpretation, and a general introduction explaining the basics of each craft type would have helped greatly. There are a number of decoupage projects, for example, but the author invariably tells us simply to decoupage the paper or fabric onto our surface following manufacturer's instructions. Several charming projects utilize fabric panels of what appear to be the author's watercolor art, but the instructions call only for "heat-transfer art" with no explanation--how exactly do we get our artwork onto the fabric? Also helpful would have been a rough indication of ease or difficulty: the title trumpets a two-hour time frame, but less-advanced crafters may need considerably more time. It's a shame that more care wasn't taken here, but the lovely photos do show enough detail to make most of the items quite doable, and this is a worthwhile guide nevertheless. --Amy Handy

About the Author:

Designer, painter, photographer and writer Anita Louise Crane is best known for her one of a kind teddy bears. She has been a special occasion and wedding dress designer and seamstress, and the proprietress of Bearlace Cottage in Park City, Utah. She is the author of: Teddy Bear Magic, Two Hour Teddy Bears, Two Hour Doll's Clothes, Making Adorable Teddy Bears and Adorable Clothes for Dolls and Teddy Bears.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.