Spell Crafts: Creating Magical Objects (Llewellyn's Practical Magic)

Rating:
Summary: Sadly Misleading
Review: Besides the limited examples of hex signs, spell candles and corn dollies, the book is essentially good for lining birdcages and as an alternative source of heat-fuel. I am extremely dissappointed in it's almost complete lack of atuhenticity and credibility. The cover title explicitly states "creating magical objects". The contents of this book essentially amount to an arts and crafts session at summer camp, and are about as 'magical' as belly lint. This book was obviously created with pagan children in mind and should be marketed as accordingly. I really think that an intelligent, earnest pagan adult deserves better.

Rating:
Summary: Still seeking broom instructions!
Review: I enjoyed this book, yet haven't made anything from it yet. I was looking for some more practical objects, and items to enrich my personal space. It is a good one to have for a home library, and I intend to review it several more times (especially when I am feeling crafty!) This is good for hanging out with my daughter (10 years old) and her friend, because we like to do crafts together.

Rating:
Summary: Fun way to make Magic
Review: I really enjoy Mr. Cunningham's books they are very insightful. As an artist I love creating things, and using the element of Magic and crafts together is really inspiring. This is a must get book if you like working with your hands.We'll miss you and your words Mr.Cunningham!

Rating:
Summary: Ideas and Practical Help
Review: If you are a crafty person there's always some joy to be found in other crafter's ideas. I bought this book because of the great instructions for making corn dollies and found that the brief chapter on wheat is really useful. There are several nice potpourri recipes in here. I enjoyed the short and thoughtful essay on the true meaning of craft. Some of it may seem way too simplistic such as the chapter on making flower garlands...basically you get some thread and a needle and some flowers and you string the flowers...uh...okay. There are directions for sand painting, hex signs, making an ojo or "god's eye" weaving, and some other Campfire Girl-type stuff that would be fun to share with kids.
Like all of Scott Cunningham's books this is very basic and geared toward the beginner. It has good direction that can lead to a better understanding for the beginner of the mindfulness and intent that makes putzing with stuff into a Craft that is magically satisfying, useful and fun.

Rating:
Summary: Just a cookbook
Review: Ignore people who says "don't read this book" about any book in the world. Absolutely every book on the planet has some knowledge to be gained from. Even if the book doesn't have something you will use, it still taught you what you should and shoudlnt' be looking for, and what you personally believe to be true. Also, not all book's meanings are simple and straightforward...sometimes you have to look deeper....

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, just as all his books are!
Review: Scott Cunningham is, for the most part, one of the best writers for the beginners of Wicca. In this book, he shows through diagram and text just how to make items that can be of use for spell work. He does say in this book that "all properly designed spells will work if they're properly performed." Those who feel his spell work and crafts are useless may not be properly designing OR performing the spells included! I would recommend this, and all of his other books, by Scott Cunningham.

Rating:
Summary: Packed Full of Great Things
Review: This book has joined my collection and I have found it to be a good resource book.. Full of useful information as are all Scott Cunninghams books.. Would recommend

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: This is a really good book with lots of history on crafts and using your hands. Lots of ideas and recipes!

Rating:
Summary: Crafty Book for the CraftWise
Review: This is a reprint of the original book published in 1993. As Scott wrote then: "We freely admit that this is an unusual book. It challenges the reader to take part in the entire magical process, from crafting the tools to utilizing them in ritual. It harkens back to the days when everything was handmade, when stores were few and people had to be self-reliant."

The book is broken down into two major sections. The first "beginnings" contains chapters of information about magical tools, laying on of hands, 'the true meaning of craft', `what is magic?', goal of magic, and `empowering your crafts'.

The second major section is "the ways". This is the section on working the spells, and is divided up into chapters by topic, such as `sand painting', `a pentacle, protective plaque, runic dice', `a magic mirror', `spell boxes' and many, many more.

There is a third section `the tables', which gives tables of correspondences for colors, herbs, shells, stones and more.

The book was written with David Harrington, a long time friend and co-author who also put together the biography of Scott Cunningham with deTraci Regula.

The book is reflective of Scott's style of simple and easy to understand step by step instructions, personal insights, and the respect Scott had for working with magical energy. The first chapter "The Magic of Hands" is a wonderful essay on the evolution of hands and mind as magical tools from the first gestures to the final thought. It is worth the book alone for this chapter.

But Scott and David include many other gems that make the whole book a worthwhile addition to your library. They give expert advice on how to make your crafts and how to make them count, how to use them in your spellwork and what to expect when you do work spells with your crafts.

If you are the `do it yourselfer' type of hands-on witch who loves to get their fingers into their work and feels, as most of us do, that if you make it yourself it can only enhance your work, this is a good book for ideas to expand what you already practice.

For the beginner, who Scott always wrote for, this book explains how to get started, what basics you need to know and what to do with it once you get started.

Rating:
Summary: Crafty Book for the CraftWise
Review: This is a reprint of the original book published in 1993.  As Scott wrote then: "We freely admit that this is an unusual book.  It challenges the reader to take part in the entire magical process, from crafting the tools to utilizing them in ritual.  It harkens back to the days when everything was handmade, when stores were few and people had to be self-reliant."
The book is broken down into two major sections.  The first "beginnings" contains chapters of information about magical tools, laying on of hands, 'the true meaning of craft', 'what is magic?', goal of magic, and 'empowering your crafts'.
The second major section is "the ways".  This is the section on working the spells, and is divided up into chapters by topic, such as 'sand painting', 'a pentacle, protective plaque, runic dice', 'a magic mirror', 'spell boxes' and many, many more.
There is a third section 'the tables', which gives tables of correspondences for colors, herbs, shells, stones and more.
The book was written with David Harrington, a long time friend and co-author who also put together the biography of Scott Cunningham with deTraci Regula.
The book is reflective of Scott's style of simple and easy to understand step by step instructions, personal insights, and the respect Scott had for working with magical energy.  The first chapter "The Magic of  Hands" is a wonderful essay on the evolution of hands and mind as magical tools from the first gestures to the final thought.  It is worth the book alone for this chapter.
But Scott and David include many other gems that make the whole book a worthwhile addition to your library.  They give expert advice on how to make your crafts and how to make them count, how to use them in your spellwork and what to expect when you do work spells with your crafts.
If you are the 'do it yourselfer' type of hands-on witch who loves to get their fingers into their work and feels, as most of us do, that if you make it yourself it can only enhance your work, this is a good book for ideas to expand what you already practice.  
For the beginner, who Scott always wrote for, this book explains how to get started, what basics you need to know and what to do with it once you get started.