February 28, 2011
Wolf's fun, resourceful projects offer straightforward ways to
reuse common materials to make accessories, jewelry, household decorations, games, and gifts. Leftover tissue or wrapping paper can be used to create decoupage plates; old crayons are melted and baked into molds to make multicolored crayons; and unused CDs and DVDs are transformed into funky, freeform bowls when melted in the oven. While some projects are of dubious usefulness
(a tote made from playing cards, for one), the ease of most of the activities should inspire readers to see the recycling bin as a potential treasure trove. Ages 8–up.
April 1, 2011
Gr 4-7-While paper folding has little relationship to this book, the material itself is frequently used in the crafts. Recycled may also be a stretch, for while some projects do use recycled materials, like ice-cream containers, many require scavenging items that might not be so common in recycle bins such as wallets, ribbon, bobby pins, lampshades, thumbtacks, tissue paper, cloth napkins, glass plates, and pipe cleaners. Missing is any overview regarding materials, processes, or the concept of recycling; this is simply a craft book. Specifics about the types of glue and detailed steps to insure success are omitted. Like recipes for chefs, these projects require interpretation, previous experience, and/or plenty of patience. Forty different assemblages include bags and carryalls, jewelry, coasters, corkboards, scrapbooks, and toys. Black-and-white photos depict the finished products along with one or two images of the steps to produce them. Although production specifics are lacking, the variety of ideas is inspiring.-Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library
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