Kits have become almost a way of life in the craft world and they have certainly come a long way in a short time. In many cases this is the ideal way to try out a craft to see if you like it before investing a lot of time and money chasing down all the different tools and supplies required to complete a project.
Who would have guessed that construct-them-yourself gingerbread houses would be available in kits? Obviously the folks at Holiday Houses and Craft Kits thought about it, because they are the ones who have put together these kits that you then put together to make the standard Christmas gingerbread house with candy canes and gum drops (figure A) as well as Halloween gingerbread houses, St. Patrick's gingerbread houses (figure B), Hanukkah gingerbread houses, etc. They even make kits for Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary gingerbread houses. The kits come with all the makings: the gingerbread pieces all cut and baked, as well as all the decorations individually packed (the roof, the front door, etc.). Everything is fresh and edible for those who want to eat their houses after construction. Price per kit is $25.
Make-it-yourself books have become increasingly popular these past few years, and Books By Hand (Lineco) has made available kits for doing them yourself that are really quite wonderful. The kits come in a wide price range to cover books in a variety of sizes and styles. All materials are of archival quality for those who want to make scrapbooks. The papers are beautiful, the book cloth is imported, and the prices--which range from a kit for making three small books priced at $8 to an elegant album secured with grosgrain ribbon at $27--are very reasonable (figure C).
For those who are looking for either a project to make for a member of the male sex or for a project that a man or boy might enjoy, there are kits from The Leather Factory. The kit I showed was their Leathercraft Deluxe Kit priced at $129, which includes not only a large book with projects, directions, illustrations, photographs, etc., but a wide variety of the tools and supplies required to make a number of projects. The leather pieces are pre-cut. A how-to video tape is also included (figure D ).
For anyone interested in trying quilling, the place to start might be with the quilling starter kit from Lake City Craft Company. Directions and materials for making 15 different projects ranging from a tiny gift enclosure card to a beautiful quilled flower wreath are included. The price is $22 (figure E).
Paint-by-number may have celebrated its 50th anniversary not too long ago, but relatively new to the scene is the new paint-by-number-on-silk kit from Janylnn. The picture is printed on silk, and the resist is already applied so experience is not essential. Because the silk is not opaque, the numbers are not printed on the silk but on a pattern sheet that you can place underneath. For anyone who has not tried silk painting before or for someone who would like to try the old paint-by-number idea again, this should be fun. It's not the same but it's interesting (figure F).
Under the category of kits for kids is a long list from Hearth Song, a catalogue with which many parents are already familiar. The many and varied kits cover a wide age range, from about three years into the teens, and those for the younger children come with instructions that indicate whether or not parental help or guidance is required. The kits shown on the program were one for making a variety of crepe paper flowers (adults might like this one!) (figure G) and one designed with teenagers in mind for making wire and metal jewelry (figure H). For good quality items and an easy way to get your youngsters involved with crafting, this might be the way to go. Certainly this is an easy way for un-crafty parents to help their youngsters find the way.
Resources quilling starter kit for beginners
Lake City Craft Company
Nixa, MO
Phone: 417-725-8444
Website:
www.quilling.com
leathercraft deluxe kit
The Leather Factory (Leather Crafts) / Tandy Leather Company
Website:
www.leatherfactory.com
or
Website:
www.tandyleather.com
Crepe Paper Flowers Kit, Wire Art Jewelry Studio Kit
HearthSong is a supplier of unique craft kits and toys for children.
HearthSong
PO Box 1050
Madison, VA 22727-1050
US
Toll Free Phone: 800-325-2502 order
Fax: 800-638-5102 order
URL:
www.hearthsong.com
Holiday houses
Holiday Houses and Craft Kits
Lisle, IL
US
Toll-free Phone: 866-275-2547
E-mail:
holidayhouses@comcast.net
Website:
www.GiftsForAllHolidays.com
bookbinding kits
Lineco Inc.
Holyoke, MA
Toll Free Phone: 800-322-7775
Fax: 800-298-7815
Website:
www.lineco.com
Also in this Episode
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