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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

make:: the biggest snowflake ever :: (review & giveaway)



I just received a review copy of Side by Side: 20 Collaborative Projects for Crafting with Your Kids by Tsia Carson and am smitten. (Read to the end!! I have a copy to give away!)

The book is broken up into three sections. The first, features crafts that you can do with your children. The second is brilliant because each project is presented with two companion projects at different levels, so your child and you can work next to each other on independent projects that share a skill set. And the final section offers a few projects to do outside the home. 




As soon as I read the book, I knew that my kids would want to make the giant newspaper snowflake

One of Carson's tips for working with kids is to transform a typical craft project to something really big. I love this idea and can see how it might be applied to a myriad of projects around here. 



To make the snowflake, use making tape to tape double-spreads of newspaper sheets into a huge square. Carson recommends a 12 foot square but it works at any size. Ours was about 7 feet (four double spreads wide and tall). 

Fold the square into a triangle. Then fold in half as many times as you can. 

Round off the top. 


Cut your designs into the paper. (We made ours with guides to follow since there were 3-4 people cutting at a time).

The book offers templates, but the general rule is to cut away a lot of the snowflake from either side, without cutting all the way through. 



We had to take turns opening it. Each kid got to open one fold until the whole thing was revealed. We were so impressed with how great it turned out. 


So enamored with this huge beauty, the boys asked to hang it up in their room. It barely fit on the wall, but I can not think of a cooler piece of art!



Not only are the projects unique and engaging (how about a huge seed self portrait on the ground at the park?), but her philosophy is worth reading too. She offers great reminders on working with children on creative projects. 

This would make a great gift for a crafty family with several children!

Would you like to win a copy? Just leave a comment here and like me on FB too if you would. I will pick a random winner on Friday, October 19th. WOOO HOOO! Good luck!


39 comments:

  1. What a cool project! My two boys would love to do that (and I'd love to check out that book!) Great giveaway!

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  2. Love that snowflake, so cool!

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  3. That is so awesome!!! I can see that being a huge hit with my little ladies.

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  4. Love that Giant Snowflake! Great Idea!

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  5. oh me me me I love stuff like this!

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  6. Okay, we are totally making one of these for our winter front window. I love this. The book looks amazing. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. This is amazing. Definitely going to do it in the run up to christmas! :)

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  8. This book sounds fantastic! Would love to win a copy :)

    And I already like you on facebook :D

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  9. I loved doing snowflakes as a kid, you made a really cool snowflake! Like you on facebook. Would love to get that book :)

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  10. Oh my goodness, that looks like sooo much fun. I'd love to win a copy for me and the kids.

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  11. oh my gosh that looks amazing! I love the giant snowflake idea! What a great book to give away! Thanks Amy!

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  12. Is the giveaway open also in Sweden? :)

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  13. Love the snowflake idea. Thanks!

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  14. Soo cool, I sometimes forget how scaling something up or down can transform it! Love this!

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  15. What a cool snowflake! Thanks! I have already liked you on FB.

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  16. Amy, I love this project! Sounds like the rest of them are right up my alley. Thank you for the review :) We have made a giant origami crab with newspapers, which was utterly awesome.

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  17. Sounds like a great book! I love how your snowflake turned out!

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  18. So Cool! We will have to try the giant snowflake! I know my kids would think that was so cool!

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  19. cool. would love the book. thank you for sharing!

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  20. Tammi Crotteau10/11/12, 1:47 PM

    I would love to win this book for our new school Magnolia Montessori Academy.

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  21. Super fun! My girls would love this!

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  22. All the kiddos in my house (16mos to 14 years) would love this project!

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  23. All 4 of my kids would love this project. We will by trying it soon. Would love to read the book, too!

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  24. My girls were obsessed with making snowflakes this summer (yes summer!). They would love to make giant snowflakes. I would love to win a copy of this book and see what other awesome projects are in it :)

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  25. Love the large format- makes the ordinary into extraordinary!

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  26. Love the large format- makes the ordinary into extraordinary!

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  27. This is an awesome project! Especially for us Floridians who miss out on real snow. Pick Me!

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  28. What a great project, especially for us Floridians who don't get to see real snow. Pick Me!

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  29. This is great, I plan to do this on one wall as a festive decoration.

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  30. That is super cool! I would love to be entered.

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  31. My 5 year old and i have decided we love this project and its on the top of our must do list! But we also think its just begging for some glitter....may have to hang it up as an outdoor decoration ;)

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  32. I love doing something ordinary in such an extraordinary way

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    1. crazy! you are the last person to enter and you were picked!

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    2. I opened the mailbox and couldn't figure out what I was getting. Imagine my happy dance!

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  33. My kids made a gigantic snowflake yesterday. My five year old, Teslyn, told her dad that it was the best day ever!

    http://suchamazingthings.blogspot.com/2012/12/of-gigantic-proportions.html

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  34. I love this!! I want this book!

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