K14 | Sunday, April 26, 2015 | SFChronicle.com and SFGate.com HOME MADE Golden age of crafting

It’s possible there has never been a better time to be the crafty type. The creativity and competition behind blogs and do-it-yourself publishers have produced a

glut of elevated, thoughtful, sophisticated projects for Nicole Hill Gerulat modern homemakers, gift givers, parents and kids. Merrilee Liddiard, author of children’s craft book “Playful: Fun Projects to Make With and for — Chantal Lamers; [email protected] Kids,” says little ones will have hours of play with this do-it-yourself wood set.

Pretty Packages: 45 Creative The Playhouse: Awe- Materially Crafted: A DIY Make and Give: Simple and Playful: Fun Projects to Gift-Wrapping Projects: When some Art Projects for Kids Primer for the Design Ob- Modern Crafts to Brighten Make With and for Kids: it comes to wrapping, South Using Paper, and Books: sessed: For many do-it- Every Day: “A token of affection Merrilee Liddiard has created Korean blogger and designer The pretty pattern inside security yourself decorators, a hand- means the most when it is the most beautiful, magical Sally J. Shim admits she’s a , big boxes made touch is more than handmade and heartfelt,” write world to spark the imag- sucker for pretty packaging and and even beat-down file folders necessity, it’s a cherished Steph Hung and Erin Jang, the inations of both children and believes it’s an extension of the will be met with new eyes after hallmark of their lifestyle. authors of “Make and Give: their parents in “Playful: Fun gift itself. In her new book, “Pret- flipping through “The Paper Play- That seemingly effortless Simple and Modern Crafts to Projects to Make With and for ty Packages: 45 Creative Gift- house: Awesome Art Projects for artistry is celebrated in “Ma- Brighten Every Day” (Roost Kids” (Abrams Books, Wrapping Projects” ($19.95, Kids Using Paper, Boxes and terially Crafted: A DIY Primer Books, $21.95). “It’s the small $24.95). The mother of three Chronicle Books), Shim guides Books” (Quarry Books, $22.99). for the Design Obsessed” things that pack the most writes the popular children’s readers through the basics, Oakland author and mother to (Stewart, Tabori and Chang, punch: a secret note, a sweet blog Mermag.com, and beginning with proper wrapping two boys, Katrina Rodabaugh $24.95). Victoria Hudgins, treat or a little gift to brighten somehow she also found the techniques,. She also details demonstrates the ease of fashion- author of the blog A Subtle the day.” It’s a sentiment carried time to dream up this anthol- how to create custom paper gift ing playful art, decor and inter- Revelry,introduces a medium throughout the pages of this ogy filled with more than 25 bags and oodles of ribbon-tying active toys with scissors, glue, in each chapter, techniques incredible little book, thought- artful, modern and sophis- options, each one paired with paint and perhaps the of for working successfully with fully crafted and penned by a ticated projects. Children will detailed photographs and step- cereal the kiddos polished off that the materials, and then pairs pair of Martha Stewart Living be captivated by intricate by-step instructions. Shim’s morning. “Once you turn your them with several projects. alums. Handmade gift giving floral paper crowns, knight projects are bright and modern attention to the beautiful paper Must-makes include concrete will come easy with this com- smocks and (cardboard) yet rooted in simplicity, which scraps available to you, you will planters and a sleek pedestal panion as your guide, from fun swords, lovely soft trapeze makes them easy to appreciate quickly build a hefty stash,” she cake stand, fill-in-the-blank tattoos, to a dolls, decor-worthy illustrat- and re-create. No gift-giving writes. Projects work for parties, box lights, lollipop-like wax series of easy-to-embroider ed animal art pillows and the wrap is overlooked, from playrooms and everyday makery, dripper cake toppers, and nickname handkerchiefs and coolest cracker box and duct- tape party favorbags to such as simple paper garlands or garden globes fashioned even farmers’ market gift kits. tape trucks that any kid stitched felted gift card pouches festive paper crowns decorated from perforated metal hang- The “experience” gifts are sim- would be proud to load up as well as packaging ideas for with washi tape or triangle block er straps. ple yet totally memorable, like and mash across the house. gifting baked goodies. More prints. Her budget creations also how-tos on decorating a co- must-makes: her beautiful include a Volkswagen Bus box, a worker’s desk or creating a pro- hand-painted furoshiki (a reus- cottage playhouse and pretty gressive date that calls for little able traditional Japanese cloth much the cutest cardboard doll- more than envelopes, cardstock wrapper), yarn pom-pom top- house imaginable, complete with and imagination. pers and irresistible brownie-mix a pitched, fringed roof, modern jar kits. “,” faux bois paper floors and a mini garland to pull it all together.

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