I was pretty sure that I'd like Christmas Crafting In No Time by Clare Youngs before I even saw a copy of it, as I loved her previous book in the series, Papercrafting In No Time and also loved another of Clare's books, Scandinavian Needlecraft.
And guess what, I was right! I love this book and I want to make so many of the things in it.
Christmas Crafting In No Time is the same size as the Papercrafting... book: it's a large book with 170+ pages and 50 different projects. It includes a really wide mix of different crafts: papercrafting, sewing, clay modelling, working with tin, papier mache, printing, baking, cooking, candle making... plus other projects like glueing twigs together to make a reindeer.
The book is divided into five chapters: decorations, cards and gift wrap, cooking for Christmas, gifts and table decorations. There's a short guide to embroidery stitches at the back of the book, and each project includes detailed step-by step instructions with an easy to follow illustration for almost every step. There's a mix of easier / quicker projects and more detailed / time-consuming / advanced projects to choose from.
I like how in the cooking section, you're given instructions not just in making the items themselves but also in presenting them for gift-giving, so you could actually apply them to other cooked/baked gifts as well (I especially love the mini baubles tied to that jar of quince jelly - such a simple idea but so nice)
Some of my favourite designs from the book include these reindeer cards made with layered tissue paper...
... this "paper patchwork" gift-wrapping idea...
... and this yummy winter throw:
There are a couple of projects in the book which are similar to designs in Clare's previous books, but there are no actual direct repeats just instances where she's made a similar project but used a different motif.
For example, Scandinavian Needlecraft also includes stockings with embroidered designs in a similar style but the designs themselves are new ones (and actually in this instance I think the similarity is a bonus as you could mix and match the designs from the two books quite well to decorate Christmas stockings or other items like cushions).
These are the stockings in Christmas Crafting In No Time ...
... and these are the ones in Scandinavian Needlecraft. See what I mean? Similar (especially the snowflakes) but not a repeat. Plus they are so gorgeous!
Finally, the only niggle I had with Papercrafting... was that most of the templates in the back of the book needed enlarging (even most of the small ones needed enlarging by 125%), so I was really pleased to see that almost all of the templates in this book are full size!
Christmas Crafting In No Time is published by CICO Books. RRP £14.99. It's available from Amazon UK, Amazon USA, The Book Depository and many other bookshops.
[Disclaimer: CICO Books sent me a free review copy of this book, and the Amazon & Book Depository links in this post are affiliate links]
P.S. Rather awesomely, I've got one of the projects from this book to share with you guys tomorrow! Yay!
Looks fab! Clare Youngs is so very talented. I love her other new title, Book Art, too!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful book. I like it.
ReplyDeleteI think this needs to go on my wishlist. I have enjoyed book month, thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteI bought this book last year and made quite a few things in it with my 4 year old daughter. We made quite a lot of very pretty tree decorations from stiff white paper that we folded or cut. There are lots of other simple but effective things I want to try myself this year too.
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of all those different sections - very handy! I do like full size patterns too - sometimes you are just desperate to start a project and don't want to wait :)
ReplyDeleteSNJ - She is crazily talented! Book Art is in my "to review" pile and I'm really looking forward to it :)
ReplyDeleteKay - thank you! x
Anna - Great to hear from someone who has got this book & made things from it :)
georginagiles - Yup, full size patterns are fab for when you just want to get stuck in!