Petra Boase – författare

This book features 25 inspirational sewing projects shown step by step. The beauty of applique celebrated in original and practical projects. Stylish items include a Shaker-style throw, a child's apron, a tablecloth and matching napkins, pillows of all varieties; plus decorative hangings, curtains and blankets. All the applique techniques are included, from using fabric markers, tacking over paper, cut-work and shadow-work to broderie perse and reverse applique. Suggests fabrics, trimmings, various stitches and embellishments so that you can make your project totally unique. With a gallery of exciting, contemporary applique designs by leading textile artists. Over 300 photographs showing step by step what you are aiming for. The technique of applique has been a popular hobby for centuries. Born from reasons of practicality and a desire for embellishment, applique allowed the craftsperson to decorate fabrics while making the most of precious textiles and other materials. Today, applique continues to fascinate designers who combine the traditions of the past with new designs and materials.This book is a guide to this versatile needlecraft, including 25 original projects specially designed by some of today's leading craftspeople. A comprehensive techniques section covers the equipment and materials you will need and helps you to master the basics. A gallery of work by contemporary textile artists reveals the almost endless possibilities of the craft and will inspire more experienced needleworkers to produce their own projects. With over 300 photographs and exquisite designs, this book is an easy-to-follow technical source and a stimulating guide to creating beautiful contemporary applique pieces.

This title features 25 tremendous T-shirt designs and creations to try! It includes eye-catching ideas for turning plain T-shirts into stunning originals. You can paint an underwater fantasy and a rattle-them-bones skeleton, or affix fabric pieces to make a game of noughts and crosses or even a pizza T-shirt! Simple instructions and over 250 fantastic photographs show you what to do every step of the way. It is ideal for 7- to 11-year-olds, with easy projects to start off with and more sophisticated ones for older kids. Decorating T-shirts with fabric paints, threads and material is both fun and easy to do. In no time at all you will be creating stylish T-shirts for yourself, your friends and your family. This amazing book shows you how to prepare T-shirts by ironing them and drawing templates, as well as how to use different types of paints and markers to achieve brilliant effects. It is also bursting with ideas. There are designs for sports fans, disco dancers and animal lovers. There are even T-shirts for fancy-dress parties. Most of the projects are simple to do. Others are more difficult and use special techniques - all clearly explained.Once you have decorated your first T-shirt, there will be no stopping you. You will be painting sweatshirts, adding glitter to leggings and even making fabrics for your bedroom. So get to it and get shirty!

This title features 25 amazing step-by-step badge-making projects. It features great ideas for making your own badges, including how to create a dotty dinosaur, a papier-mache cat, a funky bow tie, a lollipop and a birthday badge. It shows you how to make designs that use everyday materials, from sweets and sequins, to buttons and bows. It contains ideal projects for 8 to 12 year-olds, with simple designs to start off with, leading to more challenging ones for older kids. Over 150 photographs, with clearly explained instructions, show you what to do every step of the way. This is an exciting collection of fun-to-make badges that kids will love to create and wear themselves or give away to friends. With original ideas and designs like Felt Scotty Dog, Driftwood Boat, Fluffy Snowman and Paper Flower there are plenty of badges to inspire creative boys and girls of all ages. A clear and helpful introduction explains the materials you will use, like papier mache, salt dough, fake fur, glitter, buttons and paints.Techniques such as how to make dough and how to trace designs are included, together with easy-to-follow instructions for each project, whether it's painting, sticking or cutting. With lots of different badges for lots of situations - to keep or give as unique presents - each project is illustrated with step-by-step photographs and a clear picture of every finished badge.

This title features easy-to-make, effective costumes and fantastic disguises using everyday materials. It includes animals galore: a bumble bee, a cat, a lion and a tiger, a monkey, a mouse, a panda, a rabbit, a spotted dog and many more. It includes fun fantasy figures, such as a clown, a fairy, a pirate, a genie, a space-age astronaut and robot - or you can take on a new secret identity as a super hero or heroine! There are plenty of ghouls, ghosts and monsters, too, including a wicked witch, an Egyptian mummy, a mad Martian, a sinister skeleton, and a villainous vampire. All the projects are easy to follow, with step-by-step photographs and safety hints throughout. It offers ideas for all children aged 7 to 12, either to make themselves or with adult supervision. Kids love dressing up and creating fantastic disguises. Face painting is always popular, too, whether it's for a party, a play, or just for fun. This ingenious book contains 50 ideas for creating costumes at home, with expert instruction for wonderful face-painting designs that will completely transform the wearer.The projects include cute animals, fabulous fantasy figures, and creepy characters for the most terrifically horrific halloween ever. The costumes are simple to make, and don't involve any special materials. Many of them can be made by adapting old clothes, or by recycling materials such as boxes, foil or paper. These and the wonderful make-up techniques are all clearly illustrated in 400 step-by-step photographs to guide you through every stage - so start collecting, gluing, stitching and painting for hours of dressing-up fun!

This title includes 50 step-by-step activities to keep kids entertained. It offers fantastic creative ideas using everyday materials from around the home. It includes painting, printing, paper folding, papier-mache, recycling projects, salt dough, face painting and disguises, fun food, and much more. It you make your own art exhibition, paper-plate tennis game, indoor moss garden, pine-cone bird feeder, match-box puppet show, teddy bear's outfit and miniature town. All the projects are easy to follow, with step-by-step photographs and safety hints throughout. It is ideas for all children aged 7 to 12, either to make themselves or with adult supervision. It's raining again, and you've read all your books and played with all your toys, so what can you do until the sun comes out again? Instead of sitting in front of a computer or TV screen, why not make some of the exciting ideas shown in this book?There are painting and printing projects such as decorated eggs and a marbled book cover, recycled projects including a plastic bottle space rocket and a cardboard periscope that really works, paper projects such as a papier-mache piggy bank and an origami basket, recipe ideas including baked potato porcupines and pretty iced cookies, or you can dress up as a witch or a clown. So whether you are feeling hungry, playful or artistic, there is plenty here for you to do. Just use your imagination, have fun and forget about the rainy day!

This title features fantastic projects to make with threads and beads, including 12 different designs for friendship bracelets. It shows you how to create knotty, dotty bracelet designs, groovy sunglasses straps, badges and scrumptious scrunchies. It features simple instructions and over 280 stunning photographs that show you what to do every step of the way. It is ideal for 7- to 11-year-olds, with easy projects to start off with, and more sophisticated ones for older kids. Friendship bracelets are a symbol of companionship, which is why they make such great gifts for your friends and family. They do not need much equipment and they are not expensive or difficult to create. In fact, you can braid a bracelet almost anywhere! Make them to match your best outfits, or try experimenting with different shades of material. You could also fashion identical bracelets for you and your best buddies to wear. The fun doesn't end there, though. In this book you will also learn how to decorate your creations with dangling beads and how to weave beads into bracelets and necklaces. You can even decorate your hairband, bags and shoes. These look very professional and are sure to impress your pals.Once you have learned the knack of braiding and beading, you can let your imagination run riot and design your very own range of accessories.