On Sept. 6, Amanda Kingloff’s inspiring new transportation-themed craft book, “Project Kid: Crafts That Go!”, screeches into bookstores. It’s divided into chapters based on themes that children obsess over: cars, trains, farming vehicles, boats, construction equipment, planes, and space. The how-to manual is crammed with DIY ideas for adorable playthings, such as a portable road system made from square coasters that can be used over and over again in a multitude of configurations.
In the “sky” chapter, Kingloff details how you can “say it in skywriting,” creating a decorative piece that would be a charming addition for a nursery wall or the bedroom of a third grader who’s honing his cursive skills. You form the child’s name in cursive using floral wire, attach white pom-poms to it, then attach the last letter to a brightly colored paper airplane.
The book has easy-to-read instructions, gorgeous photographs, and a “resources” chapter where Kingloff, a veteran crafter, shares the contact information of the companies where she gets her supplies (seashells, jewelry findings, and more); although, many of the components are household items that she cleverly upcycles. This is a book that parents will use to bust boredom, decorate playrooms, and create clever playthings.
Project Kid: Crafts That Go! book by Amanda Kingloff, $19.95, www.artis
