Products for Gifting and Crafting -- Craft Sunday Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent these products in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

With 82 days until Christmas, it is time to start thinking about gifts you may want to create and is also a great time to start shopping. Afte all Amazon and Target are having BIG sales this week and purchasing now helps spread out some of the cost of the holidays. Today we are going to share five different products that make good gifts and also can be used to create gifts! I am going to share some different ideas but first a quick story of my inspiration. One of my friends has been working on a nook in her house. She found some photo for inspiration and was buying things for it. She was looking for the right size pillow for it and some wall art. Everything had to be blue or blue and ivory. We went shopping last weekend and were looking at pillows and pictures. Then I came home and started playing with these products to create the pictures for her. I bought some frames from Dollar Tree and painted two of them blue. So those two pictures she was looking for are the inspiration for much of this post! Let's start out with a product that makes a good gift (and I wouldn't use to craft until next year). It is the Colonial Williamsburg Blue and White American Style Wall Calendar 2027 by Workman Calendars and The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. 

Art Life Practice: The Guided Sketchbook -- A Relaxing Friday Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Do you like to sketch? It can be so relaxing. So can doodling. Have you ever wondered how to become a better artist? Personally, I love to sketch and doodle but am not much of an artist when it comes to drawing. My students on the other hand have been amazing artists, and sketching was something that truly relaxes them. So, for today's Relaxing Friday post we are sharing an interesting and informative book about sketching and art. The book is Art Life Practice: The Guided Sketchbook by Berry Stein. This is not a children's book however tweens and teens may enjoy it as well as many adults.

Picture Books About Finding & Sharing the Best Parts of You and Life

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

I love picture books that share people finding confidence in themselves or sharing their light with others. Today we have three newly released picture books that are around these themes and one about seasons too! We will start with the season one. It is Lyric's Favorite Season by Kelly Starling Lyons and illustrated by Cathy Ann Johnson. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7.

Nora T and the Champion Tree -- Middle Grade Novel Review with STEM

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

As autumn is hitting New England one often thinks about the trees. Well, I guess the leaves. When Hazel was young, we would take nature walks around the neighborhood and collect leaves. We would do crafts with them, and I would try to teach her about the kinds of trees in the neighborhood. It is important for the next generation to understand the importance of nature and taking care of it. Today we are sharing a middle grade book about a girl and some large trees. It has some STEM in it as well as the normal life things--friends, family, etc. The book is Nora T and the Champion Tree by Mona Martin Batchelor and illustrations by Maggie Latimer. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.

Night Ride -- First Children's Book Rendered in Stained Glass & It's Wordless!

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Do you remember the feeling of riding a bike as a kid? The wind in your hair? Having your own wheels and thus mode of transportation? It was so exciting to think you could go anywhere without needing the help of an adult. It was even better when you were with a group of your friends. Today we are sharing a very special picture book about a bike ride. It is the first ever children's book illustrated in stain glass, and it is wordless. The book is Night Ride by Christopher Myers. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8 but I always love wordless books for even younger!