Honestly, my favorite season is fall and one of my favorite celebrations is Halloween. I love decorating the house, wearing orange/purple/lime green and black (I mean, when else can you pull THAT color combo off??) and making fun nummy treats for the kiddos. So I was ready to dive into “Witch Craft: Wicked Accessories, Creepy-Cute Toys, Magical Treats, and More!” by Margaret McGuire and Alicia Kachmar.
I was thrilled when it hit my mailbox, and quite frankly I had to coax it away from my kids. They kept fighting over who got to choose the first project! (My son make a list of the thing to make for him. I’m not even kidding.)
Once I wrestled it away from them, I started flipping through the full-color pages. So many projects, all with clear directions (if a little skimpy at times, but more on that later.) I decided to dive into the sleeping ghostie felt pin.
Here’s the photo spread from the book:
And here’s my photos of my ghost in process:
So, after following the directions as closely as possible, I realized that this book is geared towards intermediate crafters. For example, the instructions said to “transfer the pattern onto the felt,” but it doesn’t give you the basic instructions on how to do that. I used the freezer-paper method, but that’s because I’ve traced a lot of pattern pieces and it’s simplest for me.
The directions also state to use “10-14 stitches to make the eyes” but it doesn’t have an illustration of a running stitch, backstitch, etc. However, you can see clearly the effect your going for on the illustration- the authors just assume you can get there on your own.
But don’t get me wrong- the ghost is super-cute, and for me, super-easy. It’s a hand-sewing project and would be appropriate for ages 8 and up- a great way to get the kids involved. It only took me half hour to whip this cutie up, too. Something to be said for quick and easy!
Next I moved on to the fluffy bat (a request from my daughter:)
OK– a project with Fun Fur! Messy, but fun….
This was fun! Again, at times the book certainly felt geared toward intermediate crafters- there could have been some more tips on sewing faux fur, for example- but I think pattern is clever and it’s do-able in about an hour. (And my daughter snatched it up and is taking it to school tomorrow for show-and-tell. Again, I’m not even kidding! )
Lastly, I made an edible craft for snack time- the marshmallow skulls. OK, this one isn’t rocket science, but it’s so cute! And I didn’t think of it first…
My skulls are a little messy, but the kids were delighted! We ate them on graham crackers with Nutella, like upscale S’mores.
I’m also pleased to share that there are additional downloads, patterns and video tutorials offered Irreference.com, and there are some other really fun-looking books there, too!
Now for the nitty-gritty:
- Hard cover, 94 pages
- 27 projects that fall under the categories of decor, jewelry, wearables, and edibles
- Nice “shopping list” section for finding specific materials
- Glossary of sewing, crochet, and knitting abbreviations and terms, but no photo tutorials of how to make the stitches. Book assumes user has basic knowledge.
- Metric conversions included
- Fun and engaging!
- Retails for 10 bucks and change on Amazon.com
So after spending long afternoon with Witch Craft, I’m happy with the projects I made and am looking forward to making some more. IF I can get it back from the kids….
NOW FOR THE FUN! I’ve got two copies of the book to give away. Simply leave a comment telling me your favorite Halloween craft or activity & I’ll pick a winner at random on Friday, October 8th around Noon EST. I’m giving my other copy away on my CraftTestDummies Facebook page, so to double your chances head over there, too. Enjoy!
This giveaway is now over. Click HERE to see who won!
Note: I welcome everyone’s comments, but only US residents are eligible to win this one- thanks!
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So..curious for this book^^ I make sure that this book will inspire me in my creative creation..hopefully get one free
Making candy apples! Fun to make & good to eat!
Halloween is our family favorite holiday around here! We go all out decorating! Here’s a link to my blog http://www.buzybunny.blogspot.com to see all the goodies…and thanks for the chance! I would love to win!!
Right now I am working on a “Celebrating Box” which is a Halloween Hat Box from the Book “Bethany Lowe’s Folk Art Halloween” Page 36. I love decorating my house for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, what can I say? Mod Podge is my new friend! We have next door neighbors that are like our children, they have three kids, 10, 8 & 3 that are like our grandchildren, they go trick or treating then come to our house afterwards for a party, those Skull Marshmallow you show will be perfect to make with them!
I love carving pumpkins I look forward to it every year! I try to come up with a different technique every year! A new crafting book would be awesome and make Halloween even better this year in our new apartment!
I love making apple skulls – carving faces and soaking the apples in lemon juice and waiting to see what kind of scary face appears when the apple withers.
My favorite thing to do for Halloween is to carve the pumpkin! I always complain about cleaning it out and what a pain in the back side it is to carve it. But once the design is done, it’s lit with a candle and placed outside in the dark to glow… I’m so happy I did it. Always makes me smile! 🙂
Halloween is a favorite holiday in our home as well. Although my kids are grown, they still insist that I make “Graveyard Cake” each year.
That books looks adorable.
I love carving pumpkins
Hi!
My favorite halloween craft is making gravestones. We usually have a mini party to paint slabs of insulation foam using just white and black paints. They come out a bit cartoony, but they look great together and in the dark! And it’s a good excuse to have people over.
I like decorating the house but I hate cleaning it up first, LOL!
OMG, I love that bat! Need to see that book! I soooo hope I win it! Thanks for posting such cool things!
This looks like a really neat book. My daughter was born on Halloween so it was always a big thing around our house! I love the things you’ve made – especially the bat but those skull marshmallows are wicked cool too!
I do lots of Halloween stuff with polymer clay so I can see that ghost being made with polymer clay too – including the stitches!
Thanks so much for sharing your views on this book and all the other cool things you have shared on your blog!
hugs, luny
Hey, Luny!! Good to hear from you! I agree that the book is full of ideas that you an translate into the art medium of your choice. Interestingly, there are no polymer projects in this one. Maybe the next edition! thanks for checking in…
My favorite craft projects each Halloween are our homemade costumes. Even our dog gets one!
That furry little bat is the cutest thing ever! I’ve been trying my hand at plushies over the past several months, so that project in the book has definitely caught my eye. 🙂
I love that furry bat! My son loves things like that and would probably snatch it up for show and tell too! The crafts look like so much fun and things I could easily do in an evening at home 🙂
Pumpkin picking and carving are my favorite!