Looking for something fun to keep the kids occupied? Or maybe something nice that they can make for a gift? Pack-o-fun magazine is the perfect craft magazine for parents and kids. It has craft projects that range from very simple to more complicated, from things that you can make with your kids, to projects that they can do on their own. Each issue is packed with so many crafts that there is seriously something for everyone. Check it out today and start crafting!

Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts; and A-To-Z Guide with Detailed Instructions and Endless Inspiration is truly a gift for crafters.  The beautiful designs and photographs provide
a multitude of  ideas for projects.  Everything you need to know:  supplies, templates, techniques.  A lasting reference for crafters and artisans.

This Saturday at 11 am teens in seventh through twelfth grades can make mom a super cool and personal gift for Mother's Day. Decorate a vase and fill it with a fresh bouquet. All materials will be supplied. Register online here. 

Made From Scratch: Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life by Jenna Woginrich is another ‘how I did it’ book about living a DIY sustainable lifestyle. The book covers a wide variety of activities (a number of which may not even occur to you as particularly unusual): keeping chickens, bees, working dogs, and rabbits; growing food; baking bread; thrifting; sewing and knitting, and playing music on traditional instruments like dulcimer and banjo.

Saturday May 2nd is National Scrapbooking Day! This special day was first created by the National Scrapbooking Association as a way to celebrate and promote the art and craft of Scrapbooking.  Join me and the thousands of people who will be celebrating and participating in National Scrapbooking Day Events all around the world.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with crafts! Visit Kaboose to learn how to make a foam mariachi guitar, a clothespin doll and the Mexican flag. For library materials related to the holiday click here.

Have you heard about the 50 States Project?  Throughout the upcoming year 50 photographers, one for each of the 50 States, will photograph the State where they live. Every two months each photographer will be sent an assignment by e-mail, they then have two months to produce one image in response. The images must represent both their style and the State in which they live. January's assignment was People and photos from around the country can now be seen online.

Get crafty with help from these books. These craft projects with They Might Be Giants playing in the background could lead to a very fun rainy day!

Nature's art box: from t-shirts to twig baskets, 65 cool projects for crafty kids to make with natural materials you can find anywhere by written by Laura C. Martin; with drawings by David Cain

Crafty kids: fun projects for you and your toddler by Rosie Hankin

Don't miss the annual scrapbook convention at the Rock Financial Center May 7-9. This popular event features classes and many exhibits. For more information see the MegaMeet website.

Recently I spent time in Savannah, GA, where, on a local hotel TV channel, I viewed John Berendt, author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.  He described how he fell in love with Savannah and decided to live there for a while.  His book not only details the murder that took place at the historical Mercer house, but also depicts Savannah's history, beauty, and some of its idiosyncratic residents.  Upon returning home, I checked out the book and the mo

April is National Fly a Kite Month, so take some time to investigate kites in fact and fiction at your library. If you’re feeling really adventurous, take a trip to one of Canton’s parks to fly your own kite.

Secondhand Prose Used Book Shop April Specials. . .
All gardening, craft and hobby books are buy two, get one free.
This is a great opportunity to stock up on the books that make you dream of leisure days in the garden or fashioning that new doodad for your dining table centerpiece.
Come see the great bargains on great books in Secondhand Prose

R. Buckminster "Bucky" Fuller was the architect, mathematician and inventor who popularized geodesic domes. Chosen by many today for energy efficiency, domes can be a fun do-it-yourself project. Want to build your own clubhouse? Check out Domes by David MacCaulay then make your own geodesic dome with these instructions.

Why should you never iron a 4 leaf clover?
Because you don't want to press your luck!
Find more fun riddles like this as well as games, recipes and craft projects to help you celebrate St. Patrick's Day on March 17th.

Celebrate the spring equinox on March 20th by making a craft with natural materials. Make a bird feeder, wind vanes and herb dolls with the help of Nature Smart: Awesome Projects to Make with Mother Nature's Help or learn how to make paper-bag puppets, clothespin cowboys and a space station with

If you're like me you love to scrapbook but just don't seem to find time to fit it into your busy schedule.  Scrapbooking doesn't have to  take a lot of time.

Knit Night is Monday, March 9 from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Drop in to enjoy time with other handcrafters of all ages. Compare projects, ask for help with a tricky stitch, or learn how to knit! Crochet, embroidery, and other handcrafts are also welcome.

photo by Todd Huffman used under Creative Commons license

Spring is in the air! Check out some of our great craft books, especially the ones highlighting spring. Get out the scissors, glue, glitter, and brightly colored paper to have fun making flowers, birds, and baby animals. Enjoy!

While it's still too cold to do any planting outdoors, I find myself looking for projects that will help me get ready for those warmer days. Instructables has a tutorial on making your own durable plant markers from materials you might have around the house: an empty aluminum can and heavy gauge wire. It's so easy - the tutorial includes photographs of each step!