The Crafty Chica’s Art de la Soul: Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life by Kathy Cano Murillo is a unique and fun craft book.
The book has ideas for helping tap into your creativity and for getting inspired. Beginner crafters will find craft terms and supplies explained. More experienced crafters will be inspired by the wide variety of projects and materials. The projects all end with “Take it to the Next Level” ideas. The ideas may be ways to turn the project into a gift, to expand the craft into new projects, or to embellish the project even further.
The projects come with full-color photographs and easy to follow step-by-step instructions. The instructions are very friendly, too. They read like one friend telling another how to do a project. Murillo also includes tips for more successful projects with ways to measure carefully, reminders to smooth out fabric, and how to use a bone folder.
She’s got recipes for milk bath and caramel body polish, perfect for the home spa or gift giving. There are chapters on honoring your ancestors, ways to spruce up your wardrobe, recording your memories, lighting up your patio, and crafting with friends.
Beyond the fun craft ideas, I love this book for two reasons. I love Murillo’s made up words like “frump-girl blues”. But mainly, I love her personal essays. There is sweet one about lighting a candle for her grandmother, and a hysterical one about spray painting her shoes. I also like that the book explains a lot of Latino culture. It’s a blending of history, pop styles, and fun.
Murillo wants her readers to “tap into your creative juicy juices and put them into overdrive.” She tells us to “Never let anyone make you feel unworthy or silly about something you love to do.”
For more craft ideas see:
Product Review: Paper Crafts Magazine