sometimes i stroll through netgalley and i’ll find a little gem outside of my usual reading preferences that catches my eye.
Shitty Craft Club was a bright and colorful one I needed to see what kinda artsy shenanigans it would walk me thru.
this book is part self-help awareness-ness, reflections on mental health, and the call of the junk draw full of strings, pom poms, and beads.

i absolutely enjoyed the crafts which include—beaded BFFS bracelets (duh), a corndle (candle made of corn beads), and. if you have a loved one allergic to shellfish, ahem like i do 🥴, a shrimp wall hanging 🦐🦐🦐

kooky& funny & reflective this one’s for the kids who took to their sewing machines to recreate a lady haha costume aka me

tysm @NetGalley and @itsamreece for this kitschy lil book of inspo!!!

I won't deny that undoubtedly the reason I grabbed this book is due to the name. In a world full of "5-Minute crafts" that claim to be useful but are actually ridiculous, I was so excited to see what this book would bring and if any of it would be useful or just fun. While the word "useful" may not describe everything in this book, it is most definitely fun! The craft descriptions are clear, the tools and supplies needed are largely things any casual crafter will have on hand, or at the very least, don't cost much, and at the end of it, you have your very own "shitty craft". This craft book is perfect for anyone with kids, or anyone who is just looking to kill some time and make something gaudy, silly and fun. I love it, and I look forward to making more crafts!

Sam Reece did such a great job putting this book together around a really tricky theme. From personal letters to funny stories this book could be shelved in a lot of different places, but for me by the end of this book I actually would put it in self help and improvement section rather then under the hobby section.

There were so many moments when the conversation was on mental health, personal growth and healing that had nothing to do with the actual act of crafting but rather on the end result of creating something out of what is around you.

The pictures were all fantastic and the actual crafts themselves were easy to follow and really heartwarming. But for me it was the compassion and open mindedness around mental health struggles and navigating moments of internalized perfectionism that really stuck to me, Reece made me laugh throughout this book and I cant wait to see what other things she will do next.

-Thanks to Sam Reece and netgalley for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for a review

Thank you for the E Arc Netgalley and Chronicle Books. This book is most definitely about shitty crafts and how to “make” them but I guess I was expecting something a little different. There is a lot of commentary in here that is probably unnecessary and while the author writes with humor most of it fell flat for me. I didn’t hate it but I wouldn’t recommend it.

I absolutely loved this book! The author sounds like someone I would love to sit around, glue sparkly stuff to ugly stuff, and drink wine with. Her ideas for fun, shitty crafts were amazing and the directions were clear and humorous. I am now off to buy rolls of aluminum foil to sculpt myself a shrimp. IYKYK!

As a huge Amy Sedaris fan who proudly displays her copy of “I Like You” in a prominent position on the coffee table, I was beyond excited for this book.

The Shitty Craft Club is a cute read with some funny crafts, but none that were utile or that I would take the time/gather the supplies to make. I might have a different outlook if I were an avid Sam Reece follower on TikTok, but I ultimately felt that the writing and crafts didn’t always flow/connect, making the book seem more like a blog entry with mostly jokey crafts interspersed.

That said, I’m still rating it 3 stars because, while it would seem I am not the ideal audience (and would not purchase this book for myself), I can see others who follow Sam enjoying it.

This is less a book with specific instructions about how to make crafts than an approach to crafting. It's interesting because it's much different than my own approach, which is more about transmitting traditional knowledge and connecting with our forebears. But this approach is just as valid! It's more about self expression and self discovery (some poignant moments in here from the author), letting go of perfectionism, and connecting with your own brand of creativity. I can dig it!

The downside is that the tone is a little too chaotic Millennial for me? Like it doesn't probably doesn't actually use the word "adulting" but it has that vibe, of making humor out of the struggle to like, drink water or do any basic task. Not my particular brand of humor.

This is both a crafting book and a memoir. Which honestly for a memoir, this style of book was fantastic. I felt like we really got to know the author and her thoughts and feelings as well as how she uses crafting to help her in her life. The title is hilarious and the crafts insides are pretty shitty - they’re basic but if you take a basic craft idea you can make it your own and it’ll be either more or less shitty, depending on what you’re goal is.

As a memoir, I won’t be rating this book. As a craft book it’s closer to a 3⭐️. Besides the super basic nature of the included crafts, there just isn’t much crafting in it. Of course it is really short so that’s part of it too.

"Shitty Craft Club" by Sam Reece is a whirlwind ride into the world of chaotic creativity and crafts, backed with tongue-in-cheek humor and charm that's hard to resist. However, as an enjoyable read as it is, it doesn't entirely hit the mark for me, earning a solid 3 out of 5 stars.

Reece spins amusing tales from her life and intertwines them with craft instructions, creating a unique blend of memoir-meets-DIY guide. These narratives are fun and often relatable, offering some light life lessons along the way.

The "shitty crafts" themselves are as wild and weird as advertised, ranging from pom-poms to rhinestone shrimps made of aluminum foil. The ethos of the Shitty Craft Club - creating for the joy of it, not for perfection - resonates throughout.

However, as a professional crafter, I found the selection of projects a tad repetitive and lacking in variety. There's no doubt that Reece could have expanded her repertoire to include more diverse and less repetitive "shitty crafts," adding more depth to this crafting journey.

Overall, "Shitty Craft Club" is an enjoyable romp through crafting chaos. It's definitely not a crafting guide in the traditional sense, but more a celebration of the imperfect, the weird, and the wonderfully bizarre. So, if that sounds like your cup of tea, give it a whirl!

I loved this!! Shitty crafting is so now my thing!! I already had 3 glue guns,so I just needed the rhinestones. This is so funny and some good projects to do.
I just reviewed Shitty Craft Club by Sam Reece. #ShittyCraftClub #NetGalley
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I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but I had an okay time reading it. I was surprised about it being something like a memoir and not as many crafts. But the crafts included were delightful, as were the pictures, as were the words of encouragement.

I got this ARC from Net Galley.

This is not your normal book of DIY crafts, which is what makes it so special. The title makes it clear that we're no longer in the realm of pinterest perfection or designer dupes. Reece focuses on how crafting can be an act of self care, even if the result isn't necessarily something we've been taught to strive for. Creative hobbies can often feel daunting or challenging when we look at them through a lens of perfectionism, but in the end...they should just be something we enjoy doing, whether we're good at it or not. There is joy in creating something silly- or even "shitty".

Very funny! Loved learning how to glue junk to trash and call it a craft! I never thought about it that way. I imagine her crafting sessions are hilarious and very relaxing. No judgements! LOL

Oh my goodness...this book made me smile!! I am a HUGE crafter....I have been since I was a little girl. And I've read lots of craft books and tried lots of different crafting over the years. Some crafters take themselves soooo seriously. This book....did not! It was a hoot! I loved that it reminded me that I can be silly and have FUN while crafting! I enjoyed the pictures and laughed along with the humorous witty instructions. (I also loved the membership card at the beginning and the oath!) So, grab yourself a glass of wine, plug in your gluegun, slide your hand into the crack of your chair/couch and dig out some supplies (old buttons, lint, paperclip...) and have fun crafting!

This book is really cute, and it’s exactly what you would expect it to be. The crafts are cute, glittery, and kitschy. These crafts would be great in a middle school or high school art room, but in a well funded art room, because a lot of the materials would need to be present in abundance in order for a lot of people to enjoy making the crafts. I say that these would be great for a middle or high school students, because that’s the only demographic that would enjoy having bright, maximalist, and glittery crafts filling up their space. This would also be great for parents with kids that need to give them something to do, I guess it also could be for that very small demographic of adults who don’t mind clutter and want to fill their space with original art that they made.

This book is utterly brilliant and healed a part of me that became broken during the pandemic. Sam Reece (I had surprisingly had not heard of her until I requested this ARC), is hilarious. I found myself laughing along to her stories before the crafts were shown, realizing that I wasn't alone in my experiences.

My favorite thing about reading this book is that I think I'm finally ready to accept myself as I already am,

I have followed Sam Reece AKA Shitty Craft Club for a while on TikTok, and I love her approach to crafts. Nothing is too off the wall--she gets an idea and figures out how to make it happen. I love her sense of humor, and love of everything bejeweled. Her book Shitty Craft Club captures this very well. It's like talking with your creative, funny friend who always encourages you to try something even if it's a bit silly. The ten chapters of Shitty Craft Club offer some fun crafts for inspiration, but the most valuable parts of this book is Sam's encouragement and humor.

I love the title of this book. I loved the humor and all of the photos of the crafts. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Absolutely hilarious! Sign me up the Shitty Craft Club! The books gives you permission to craft any damn way you please!

While I didn't personally love the crafts included, I think it will still get frequent use by patrons. We will definitely be purchasing for the collection.