Keep kids entertained with Clare Youngs' brilliant collection of craft ideas including toys, jewellery, gifts and more that have been designed with the environment in mind. Every project incorporates some kind of recycled material, whether using a plastic bag as the sail for your orange peel ships or creating pretty fairies out of dried flowers. Wherever you are, there will be a project to make that includes the materials close to hand. If you fancy a day at the beach, make sure you gather a few shells for the shell mice, or pick up leaves and twigs on a walk in the forest to use on the leaf mobile. Even the back garden is home to materials that can be turned into a whole host of playtime essentials. Budding artists will love the ideas for natural dyes, bark rubbings and handmade paper, while junior gardeners won't be able to resist the cress heads that you can decorate with fun faces. Every project comes complete with easy-to-understand step-by-step instructions, plus all sorts of ideas for variations. So what are you waiting for? Get outside and get crafting!

Author Biography

Clare Youngs has always loved making beautiful handcrafted objects. She studied graphic design and went on to work in packaging for a number of high street stores, including Marks & Spencer and House of Fraser. Clare has since worked in illustration and book jacket design before deciding to turn her attentions to craft full time. Clare's other books include Papercrafting In No Time, The Perfect Handmade Bag and Scandinavian Needlecraft (CICO Books).