Cut-Paper Play!: Dazzling Creations from Construction Paper

This book has great, simple ideas for using construction paper, scissors and glue. Older children can follow the directions themselves, and younger children, 3-6, can follow your directions. The illustrations are good and inspiring. I would never think up all these projects by myself. I now keep a stack of construction paper, several pairs of scissors and glue sticks along with this book for the grandchildren.

I got a good number of well received children craft ideas from this book for 4th through 6th grade kids, which were the level 3 crafts. The level 1 & 2 crafts are too simple for this age range of kids, but should be fine for K through 3rd grade kids. I also got several other very good craft ideas from Ms. Henry's other book, "Kids Art Works."

All that is needed are these three items, and you can make the cutest crafts! Because of the easy supply list, we use this book so much more often than other books that you might not have the needed supplies on hand for. This one we keep right in the kitchen and the children can make things whenever they like! we just got it for Christmas and have already made lots of the projects! and there is room to be creative - just using the ideas as examples and taking it from there.

For the last several years my summer school has included art every day for students whose ages range from 6-13. This book has an excellent selection of art projects that are appropriate for all these ages. Everything is made using construction paper, scissors and glue, which are readily available in the school supply room, are inexpensive and easy to work with. The projects turn out bright and colorful. My class has just completed a lively mural of a pond habitat after making fun frogs, fish, turtles and other aquatic creatures and plants, using ideas from the book.I love the instructions and lay-out of the book. The steps and resulting project are clearly shown in large drawings with minimal text, so it just takes a few minutes to read through each project.Some of the projects feature geometrical designs and patterns, which allow substantial room for creativity, some fold and curve paper to make them three dimensional. There is a good variety of themes including animals, seasons, nature, a still life, a robot, and a couple of cultural items. Although I haven't done it yet, the Panamanian mola looks like it will turn out stunning.If I want to stick to using paper, glue and scissors for my art classes, this book will give us plenty of fun and attractive projects to do for several weeks. Parents will also find it a great source for young artists at home.

Cut-Paper Play is an excellent collection of over 80 kid-approved construction paper creations for children ages 4 to 10. The projects are grouped by 3 different skill and difficulty levels. A variety of techniques is shown. All you need is different kinds of paper or cardboard, scissors, glue, sometimes yarn or a stapler. So the crafts are inexpensive, but very amazing. Two- and three-dimensional projects, mobiles and seasonal projects are shown. We got inspiration for many more paper projects for the future!