The big book of home crafts. 2 - Sara Withers

Aimed mainly at the beginner, this volume (the second of two) contains a number of projects covering a range of craft techniques. The projects range from simple and traditional ideas through to exotic, innovative designs, and each one comes with step-by-step instructions.;The book is divided into six sections covering fabric painting, stencilling, tie-dyeing, batik, beadwork and Christmas ideas. The section on fabric painting covers techniques such as stencilling, sponging, masking and printing and the use of puff, glitter and pearly paints to achieve different effects. Templates are provided for all the projects which are painted espadrilles, customized jeans, butterfly T-shirts, abstract patterns, vegetable-printed aprons, printing with flowers, folk art picture, child's wall hanging, shopping bag, animal cushions, pillowcases and a doll.;The stencilling section includes 12 projects covering gift tags, wrapping paper, greetings cards, mirrors, mugs, pots, floor coverings, child's chairs, giving old furniture a new lease of life, wall stencelling, design your own stencil and a pattern library.;A new approach to tie-dyeing is introduced with 14 techniques helping to make table napkins, cards and jewellery, socks and hair-scrunchies, coloured T-shirts, silk scarfs, cushion covers, leggings, all-in-one cotton bodies, silk boxer shorts, silk sarongs, sofa throws, silk georgette shirts, duvet covers and pillowcases.;A description of equipment and materials needed for batik is provided along with projects to make greeting cards, gift wrap, sun calendars, dolly bags, pillowcases, garment fabric, pillow covers, fish on silk, window shades, portraits, an owl picture, a wall hanging and a gallery.;The section on beadwork provide a mix of glamourous and ethnic designs. The reader is shown how to make a Venetian-style glass necklace, stars and moons, a chain of fishes, a china blue necklace, a clay and tile bead necklace, a monochrome choker, a jasper necklace, an African choker, special beads and leather, a lapis and silver necklace, a sprung wire bracelet, a two-strand bracelet and a loom-made bracelet.;In the Christmas ideas section instructions are provided for making a Christmas wreath, stencilled invitations, place cards and Christmas cards.