WITCHES | CREATIVITY | HANDMADE BOOK | CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING

I Made This Special Book for My Granddaughter

A fun, creative project for both young and old

When my granddaughter was three years old, she was fascinated with witches. I found her several books with witches, but one day set about making a homemade one for her.

I used black Bristol board 6x9 inches - as far as I recall since I didn’t write these details down. The cloth images were then glued onto the Bristol board. After each page was made, I added holes on one side and attached them all together with string.

On a 5x7 inch piece of fabric, I didn’t do any planning or drawings of what I would do. I just cut out shapes and ironed them in place on the background fabric, using fabric I’d previously ironed fusible webbing on.

Since my granddaughter was at the counting stage. I chose to use numbers to go with the witches. That way she could also have fun counting the witches as I read her the rhyming part I wrote to go with each number.

The cover for the handmade book I made for my young granddaughter.

When I first read this to my grandchildren, my eight-year-old grandson said, “Um, she lost more than her shoe. Her whole foot is gone!”

Out of the mouth of babes. He’d noticed something I hadn’t. And we had the biggest laugh about it. Adding another layer of fun to the book.

In this picture, I fused little pieces of fabric for the eyes and lips, using tweezers to place the tiny bits in place. Tedious work, though I’d soon learn a better way of doing it for the next pictures.

For this image, I made the facial features with a lead pencil. So much quicker and easier! Creative problem-solving at its best!

Soon, I came to realize just how much work I had ahead of me. Each picture increased the number of witches needed! Time for even more creative problem-solving to kick in.

Problem solved, in taking the easy way of making more witches. Hide most of their bodies behind a tree.

Again, what’s most important? Faces, of course.

Another clever way of saving myself work. Although, making the burlap sack took up much more time than I thought it would.

If you’re a witch and can work magic…

Who knows? Maybe this is how witches sleep.

And unexpectedly, the story came full circle, back to a shoe. Could this be where the first witch's shoe went?

And when I reached the end, the thought of making ten witches was just a little too much. So I found another creative problem-solving solution — or a clever way of getting out of too much work. But I did add a special detail to the broom.

Or maybe it’s really a mop. Can a witch also fly on a mop? I’ll leave you with that question to ponder.

And a reminder that when looking for something you can’t find — such as a witch book for a grandchild — maybe you can make it yourself. Because you never know what you can do until you try.

Happy Halloween to all!