4.13.2012

Mer Mag in Hand in Hand: Crafting with Kids (And a Giveaway!!)

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Friends, I've been dying to share this gem of a book with all of you! Hand in Hand: Crafting with Kids, by Jenny Doh, hit the shelves on April 3rd and I've been waiting until after all the Easter holiday fun was over to introduce this book you. If you are not already familiar with this new title, you are in a for a treat! It consists of 20 craft bloggers who focus on creating with kids and share one project each that you can do with your little ones. I feel so honored to have been selected to be amongst this great group and know you will love the book as much as I do.

If you follow this blog at all you'll know that I'm just a bit passionate about creating art and crafting with your kids. It has added so much to my life, and to the life of my kids. And what a treat it is to read all of the wonderful thoughts and experiences about creating with your kids from the many other bloggers in this book. I really was inspired to work hand in hand :) with my Littles, all over again!

The other contributors featured in this book are:

I was lucky enough to meat a few of these ladies in person at ALT, such as Dana Willard of MADE and Rachel Faucett of Handmade Charlotte and they are just as inspiring in person as you will find them in this book and on their blogs. Many of these other bloggers have inspired me and my kids in days past and many others have been a treat to discover and explore for the first time.

Here are a few spreads from our chapter. It was so fun to really explore and express how I feel about creativity and cultivating it in the home.
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There are some fun shots from our South Pasadena home that I miss from time to time. (I especially miss all that space in the kids room!).
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And there is a shot of how we ended up storing our geometric floor puzzle. (We adhered it to the wall with Velcro which made for some great movable wall art! And then when we wanted to have more free reign and play with it on the floor, we simply removed the tiles from the wall and placed them on the floor in fun and interesting patterns).
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And for our craft contribution, Little A and I show you how you and your kids can make a personalized keepsake pillow from an original drawing, fabric and a bit of embroidery floss.
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We loved working on this together and still treasure this pillow!

If you are interested in perusing the many creative activities found in this book (which of course you are!) just leave a comment and I'll enter you into the drawing for a free book! And I'd LOVE to hear something creative (big or small) that you and your little one(s) love to do together.

You have until the end of Wed. April 18th to comment and enter the Hand in Hand book giveaway! From there I will randomly select a number from the comments and reveal who has won the book a week from today, Friday, April 20th.

89 comments:

  1. Oh wow.
    I am new to your blog--found you via Babble.
    And I love it.
    This book is blowing me away!
    How utterly fabulous.
    I'd love to win it, and if I don't, I'll pick up my own copy anyway.
    I am pretty passionate about pursuing creativity with my kids.
    We go through a lot of duct tape, let me tell you.
    And since you asked, here is my treatise on kids and time to create--you'll find lots of their projects there.
    http://lillyandthebrothers.blogspot.com/2011/08/time-to-play.html
    Can't wait to look all around your fabulous space!
    Love from,
    Greta

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  2. Wow, would LOVE to have and share the book with my little ones... I try to share my passion for creativity to my small loved ones.( Look at my blog)
    Having a MA in textile design, my passion is also my work-but I am always looking for inspiration ;)

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  3. This book sounds amazing & looks gorgeous! Congratulations on being featured in the book! I'd love to win one for my girls & I!

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  4. We make little books out of scraps of paper and write notes in each other's books most days. The kids love to leave us notes and love to read what we have written.
    Can't wait to see the book!

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  5. love it
    in my blog, one ideea ;) http://filofteia.blogspot.com/2012/04/saptamina-altfel.html

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  6. That pillow is just lovely!! Nice book, congrats!

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  7. Right now we love working on messy projects, glue and paint are favorites. This book sounds wonderful.

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  8. I have 2 smalll grandsons, so I need to learn this stuff! We have just started exploring with crayons and making little "collections" of found objects.

    so much fun

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  9. I love this book. It seems amazing

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  10. I found you via CRAFT. I love your site. Great ideas.I would LOVE this book!
    Dale

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  11. Seems like a great book to have on hand! And your pillow project is wonderful! I usually give kids art materials, stamps, paper, paints, stickers etc. and just let them do what they want. Patsy from
    HeARTworks

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  12. This book looks like so much fun!!!

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  13. oooh, i'd treasure this book! looks like there are lots of fabulous ideas inside! not a day goes by when my kiddos don't ask for a "project" to do. lately we've been creating "monster pet rocks" from all those rocks brought home from the park - paint and googley eyes are a fabulous combo! :) also, homemade playdough is always a favorite, as well as making solar prints with SunArt paper (when weather permits). cheers!

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  14. what a cute book! my boys love to do anything creative. last night we made salt dough book characters for a school project. they also like to sew and they're getting pretty good!

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  15. It is such a lovely book! I am not a mama right now...but I am going to school for elementary ed. I love fun ideas to do with kids!

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  16. I've got this book on hold at the library but would love my own copy!

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  17. I'm so happy for you! I'm trying to incorporate creative things to do with my girls. I sometimes run out of ideas but this will give me tons. Thanks to all the crafters who make it easier for us to make cute things with our kids.

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  18. What a fantastic book! We love painting, water play and play dough at our house. My 6 year old and almost 2 year old love creating and exploring! Thanks for the opportunity to win!

    I love the list of bloggers...I will pin it to have them all in one spot!

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  19. This book looks amazing! Great book design, and so many fabulous contributors!! I'd love to win a copy. :)

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  20. Oh, I forgot to mention that I did some posts over Spring Break about creative projects to do with kids, lots of pretty pics! Here's one of the links: http://flutterflutter.ca/2012/03/17/spring-break-diy-milk-art/

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  21. Well, I don't have little ones of my own, BUT I love spending time with my friends kids and love planning fun activities with them! I also oversee over 200 kids at church and am always looking for new ideas. fun fun fun!!!

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  22. My daughter is 22 months old and one of her current favorite creative activities is "painting" on coffee filters. She draws on the filters with washable markers and then "paints" using water and small paintbrushes. After the filters are dried, we cut them into shapes, make flowers, mobiles, etc.

    I would love to have a copy of this book. I'm always looking for fun ideas and inspiration for creative projects with my daughter and the children I care for. Thanks for the chance!

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  23. that is so cool Mer! I have to have this book!

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  24. The best project I did with my students was making button yo-yos. Of all the art/craft projects I've dreamed up, that was by far their favorite, a button on a loop of string. Some of them were still pulling out of their backpacks to play with three months later.

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  25. I NEED this book for ideas to do with my kid - soon to be kidS! I love arts and crafts and hope to pass this love onto my little ones. Great job getting published in it! As far as creative activities, right now, we just color with crayons and we're working on playdoh although he really just tries to eat it...

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  26. My 4-year-old daughter takes the photos that I don't add to my scrapbook layouts and practices her cutting skills (with safety scissors, of course) by cutting out the people from the photos, then gluing them into her own scrapbook layouts. She has a stash of leftover stickers and embellishments that I'm not planning on using anymore to add to her pages. We scrapbook together while her little sister is napping!

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  27. Thanks for the sneak peek! This book looks amazing! Would love to try some of these ideas with my son!

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  28. This book looks incredible. I don't yet have any babes of my own, but I am a teacher. I love to do projects that combine oil pastel and watercolor. Inspiring book!

    Lila (www.lingeringdaydreams.com)

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  29. Yes! I would love to be in the drawing to receive your free book, Please! My girls are only 2 and 3 months right now so we haven't done many complicated crafts together, but I love to find new hand and footprint ideas. They are such great keepsakes! I used to be a teacher but now I stay at home with them and watch a couple of kids and LOVE it so. Would love some more craft ideas from you! Anything to keep them active and learning :)

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  30. Looks like such a fab book! You always have great ideas here & I know the other crafters will too. I would love to get my hands on a copy - but if I win I will give it to my sis-in-law who loves to craft with her kids. And then I'll just borrow it from time to time.

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  31. I would love this book, want to try the geometric tiles!!

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  32. I love your projects... can't wait to see the others!

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  33. On my list of favorites is coming up with new ways to create my kiddos. I love it. This book looks perfect! Can't wait to check it out.

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  34. Well, my lad is still too young to craft with, but I can't wait to do some of the projects you've posted over the years. (I'm an old college friend of Jon's and have been following for a while!)

    Congrats on the book!

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  35. This book looks fantastic - congrats!

    I love illustrating the stories my daughter tells. I am not a great artist but it's fun and my mum used to do the same with me.

    Thanks for sharing

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  36. I read You Are My Fave regularly and found you via her "10 Fave DIY blogs" post. But I've seen your blog mentioned in other blogs before, so I will be visiting you often now! I love to make crafts and want to involve my kids. I would love to check out this book!

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  37. Ooo! I would use this book everyday! What a necessary book for a curious pre-k child like mine!

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  38. What a wonderful book. Thanks for the give away!

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  39. Looks wonderful!

    We love sidewalk chalk. Our concrete is an ever changing mural of patterns, caricatures, and anything else we're into at the moment (think giant solar system). It actually looks pretty cool and is a great stress reliever.

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  40. that looks like such a fun book!

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  41. Oh Mer, you are one of my favorite bloggers ever!! I love this book and wish I could have it for me and my son. I am currently working on a nursery room for our soon to be daughter and my little one is helping me. We just colored the words of her name together!!

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  42. What a beautiful book! We are a family full of crafters, so we've always got a project going. My recent favorite was teaching them to use the sewing machine to make beanbag softies. Very fun!

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  43. Looks like a fabulous source of crafting inspiration and ideas! Would love to continue family crafts with my grandchildren!

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  44. That pillow is priceless! I can't wait to craft with my daughter and this book would be rest for ideas.

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  45. love this!
    would be an incredible resource for summer vacation adventures!

    our kids love watercolors - something that all ages seem to get into, especially in the summer when they can take off half their clothes, get messy on the back porch painting and hang artwork on the fence to dry quickly in the sun.

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  46. I like your fashion ideas for children, children ideas and tutorials. I practice sewing small bags with children painting sketch, like this owl:http://nitizasreco.blogspot.com/2012/03/miss-sovica.html

    With best regards from other side of globe.

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  47. definitely must have this book! (with your autograph of course :)

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  48. We'd love that book in the Smith house!

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  49. This book looks so amazing. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.

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  50. I have three kiddos under 7, and we love making crafts together. It would be a delight to have a whole book of great new ideas to use on a Saturday afternoon together. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  51. fun book! i would love to have one for my little family!

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  52. Your blog is always a great source of inspiration for me. Of all your crafty projects your DIY circle punch art is one of my favorites and I cant wait to make my own version for my baby's room! I love this book by the way!

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  53. Such a wonderful book! I would love to do some of the projects it contains.

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  54. Hi, Hope it is Ok the entries from Australia, I really want this book :) I really like your blog

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  55. Ooh, I want one! What a beautiful book!

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  56. I can't wait to get my hands on that book!

    Lately Creed's favorite is when I draw a mystery picture in white crayon and he watercolors over it to find out what it is.

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  57. The book is irresistable!
    We always have paper and crayons/colour pencils lying around, so my kids find themselves scribbling or colouring alot.
    I sometimes find myself joining in their little art piece as well!

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  58. love the concept of this book! can't wait to check it out

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  59. This book looks so fun! My husband travels a lot so I am constantly trying to find fun things to do with my two young boys. We went to Home Depot this weekend and, as usual, gathered Mickey Mouse paint swatches to use for a matching game. Simple and free, and I'm all about that.

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  60. Any suggestions for teenagers? My littles are biggles and I would love to do something creative with them in their bedrooms.

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    1. Karen! Yes, I definitely want to do some creative ideas for teens. And a teen bedroom, well the sky's the limit there! So many fun ideas you could do.

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  61. oh, please, please, please... pick me - i hope i'm lucky enough to get... :O)

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  62. Oh, man! Would love to do any of those projects with my son!! Such a talented group of women. Inspiring.

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  63. One of my students sent me your blog a couple of weeks ago and now I am so happy to be able to take part in this draw! Our easter bunny was delayed this year because we were out of town but she will come this sunday and we will make your lovely pouches! I will keep my fingers crossed for your book has been in my amazon wish list since i first saw it was beeing published...thank you... warmest wishes from south america. :)

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  64. I'm new to the blog and super glad to have found it!

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  65. Lovely blog..AND love your pillows & prints!

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  66. I love the floor puzzle on your wall.

    Thumbprint art is about as creative as I get, but I"m thinking of borrowing my cousin's tradition of giving the kids white shirts for Easter then having a tie-dye party. It's been fun to see how their shirts turn out each year - I little imagined you could achieve such variety with that technique.

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  67. we do lots of gardening and cooking. trying to put the garden goods to good use takes some major creativity sometime-- especially with my picky eaters!

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  68. This book looks fantastic! I would love to win!
    My littles are 4, 2, and 3 months... so life is a little too crazy busy to plan many creative activities, but I try! We color a lot, and make homemade playdough. My oldest likes to use his chalkboard easel to tell stories with pictures before bedtime... one of my favorite things. :)
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    holly.neufeld@gmail.com

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  69. Such a fun book. I love the pillows made from child's art! Keep up your great creativity!

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  70. I love the blog (of course) and would love the book. No kids of my own yet, but with as many nieces and nephews as I have I am always looking for new ideas. On of my favorite projects is making yarn dolls. Great for both boys and girls, though the boys grow out of it faster. :o)

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  71. Beautiful blog, beautiful work.. Loved it.
    My little one is 1 year old now. I was thinking that he was a baby before, and now, I am feeling that he is a little boy now. Then, I read your post about your Little A's becoming A at age 6. :)

    With my little boy, together we imitate lion's sound so far :) So, we had a birthday party with lion theme. :)

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  72. I don't have a kid of my own, but I love making felt toys for my 4 month old nephew. I'm practicing for the day we will be able to work on one together.

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  73. This is perfect! i have a one year old daughter, and growing up I never had that chance to be creative with my parents. I've been looking for ways to help her be creative and support that imagination! :)

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  74. This book looks amazing! And BTW- I love your blog! I think you may be my design soul mate!

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  75. I love that embroidered pillow! I love taking the art of a child and setting it apart and elevating it to the level of fine art for the home. Why not?! It already is, it's just how you present it.
    I love having Lucy draw with crayons on watercolor paper and then letting her watercolor over her own artwork. So pretty!

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  76. Looks like a fun book. Leile loves 2 things getting dirty and creating things.

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  77. I love the pillow also. Hat a wonderful book.

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  78. What a wonderful book! My three yr old Cora Evelyn, is currently obsessed with painting. Painting on paper, her face and hands or any object within her reach. I will have to check out this book for any ideas on paint + toddler...

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  79. Nothing beats a bit of inspiration to stop the procrastination!

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  80. This book looks wonderful, my twins and I would love some new craft ideas. Lately we are into acrylic painting, I kept some sticks gathered from our walks and we decorated them...next project would be to decorate those gathered stones into ladybugs, etc...and add them to our garden.
    Through your post I have just discovered some wonderful blogs new to me such as little red caboose. Thanks.

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  81. Lovely! I've been running out of supplies, and need some help entertaining the kiddos while I study for the bar exam!

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  82. What's better than a cool book for crafting with kids?! Thanks for the opportunity!

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