(4) 4-6 Girl Crafts series. Illustrated by Nicole in den Bosch. Ross shows readers how to make accessories for kitchen use in a few easy steps. There's cutting and gluing--but no sewing--involved in turning an old shirt into an apron, for example. Some items seem less useful (e.g., ribbon-decorated rubber gloves, paper napkins with fabric pieces glued to them). Unfussy illustrations perk up the pages.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Girl Crafts series. Illustrated by Nicole in den Bosch. No-frills illustrated instructions explain how to create twenty different homemade stamps using inexpensive, readily available materials includes bottle caps, corks, buttons, and craft foam. Rudimentary craft ideas using the stamps--such as decorating invitations or making stickers--are also provided, as are directions for making an ink pad storage shelf and stamp storage box. A clean design makes the information accessible.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) 4-6 Girl Crafts series. Illustrated by Nicole in den Bosch. These twenty-one sparkly, flowery projects will appeal to girlie-girl crafters. Step-by-step directions for projects (jeweled necklaces and hats, butterfly sneaker clips, key covers and fobs) requiring easily acquired materials are clearly illustrated. Some crafters may be frustrated by attempts to manipulate the smaller or more fragile components (e.g., separated strands of embroidery floss).

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Girl Crafts series. Illustrated by Nicole in den Bosch. This volume shows how straws, "sparkle stems," thin ribbon, and beads can easily be turned into various "girl crafts": necklaces and bracelets, bookmarks, pictures, and small vases. The first five (of twenty-one) projects direct crafters to make the beads on which the other projects are based. The real-life results are somewhat less interesting than the cartoon illustrations appear.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Girl Crafts series. Illustrated by Nicole in den Bosch. Fairy costumes for girls and dolls, fairy wings, fairies' friends and furniture, and a maze are a few of the twenty-two projects made from pipe cleaners, craft sticks, artificial flowers, pony beads, glue, and other common items. Illustrated step-by-step instructions are clear, but some projects require components so small (cotton swabs, toothpicks) that crafters may be frustrated.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Nicole in den Bosch. Letter holders, decorations for doorknobs, and dresser-knob flowers are a few of the twenty-two projects made from tissue boxes, socks, artificial flowers, and other easily obtainable materials. Illustrated step-by-step instructions are clear, and most projects have acceptable results (though a table made of cardboard and paper-towel rolls will likely collapse). A short introduction or summary would have been useful.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Girl Crafts series. Illustrated by Nicole in den Bosch. Ross creates twenty-two girlie craft projects (e.g., poodle pins, dolls' bonnets) from discarded jewelry, artificial flowers, clothing, and other items. They can all be done solo, but feel-good introductions explain why they'd be fun to do as a group. While some of the project ideas are creative, others aren't exciting or original. The accompanying illustrated directions are easy to follow.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Girl Crafts series. Illustrated by Nicole in den Bosch. Twenty-two projects for children interested in "no-cost and low-cost" scrapbooking encourage the use of common art supplies (pipe cleaners, markers, paper, glue) and a few more obscure materials (blister packs). The simple techniques and straightforward directions are clearly illustrated.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo