Craft: transforming traditional crafts

My new favorite book of the moment is Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts: An A to Z Guide with Detailed Instructions and Endless Inspiration which debuts in bookstores tomorrow, March 31st. Not only is this book a concise craft compendium, it's eye candy and inspiration. Just flipping through the colorful pages makes me giddy with excitement to make something! The book is organized by craft techniques such as Beading, Etching Glass, or Silkscreening and within each section are a number of projects with illustrated how-to references or glossaries. For instance the Jewelry Making section has an illustrated guide on how to string beads and the Glittering section has a great visual glitter glossary so you can visually see the different types of glitter from shard glass to powder. I also love all the great tips filled throughout the book.

Here's the contents for the Techniques and Projects so you have an idea on the amazing breadth this book covers: Albums, Scrapbooks, and Memory Boxes, Beading, Block Printing, Botanical Pressing, Botanical Printing, Calligraphy, Candlemaking, Clay, Decoupage, Etching Glass, Fabric Flowers, Gilding, Glittering, Jewelry Making, Marbelizing, Mating and Framing, Mosaics, Nature Crafts, Origami and Paper Folding, Painting China and Glass, Paper Cutting and Punching, Paper Flowers and Birds, Photo Crafts, Pom-Pom Animals, Quilling, Rope Crafts, Rubber Stamping, Silkscreening, Soap Making, Tin Punching, Wirework, and Wreaths.

A few projects that look great to start with, especially for Mother's Day coming up are these vintage tea cup candles (p.99) and the beaded flower corsage (p.33). Heck, if your mom is a crafter herself, she'll love this book. I also love the entire section on glittering and the project to make the glittered birds pictured below (p.147). The back of the book contains all the project templates as well as a handy section listing craft tools and materials. From glues to scissors to ribbons, this section is great to let me know some of the items I'm missing in my craft supplies. (I totally need the circle cutter. Ok, I just really want one.) With over 400 pages of crafts, Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts is a must-have for any crafter because it's a book you'll find yourself going back to again and again for reference and inspiration.

To celebrate the release of Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts we have an huge giveaway for you!

• 1 lucky winner will receive a Martha Stewart Crafts prize package worth $100 plus a signed copy of Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts by Martha herself! (The prize package includes: a screw punch, doily lace edge punch, circle cutter, bone folder, tissue paper pompoms, butterfly holepunch, and bottles of glitter -- all from Martha Stewart Crafts.)
• 10 runners up will receive a copy of Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts

To enter the giveaway, email crownmarketing@randomhouse.com with the subject line: "Martha Stewart Crafts Prize Pack". Only one entry per person. Deadline for all entries are April 6th. Good luck!

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered!