Dress You Up: 30 Simple Accessories to Make and Wear

London-based crafter Nicholas successfully channels the 1980s glam of her teenage years into inviting and over-the-top handmade accessories in this snazzy book of 30 projects. Using the most basic materials, Nicholas transforms humble objects into extravagant treasures. In the Pom Straw Disc Mix project, for example, multicolored plastic straws, synthetic yarn, and card stock yield a festive (if not durable) necklace. Other projects of note include a magazine collage crown, sequin earrings, and tissue paper leis. Nicholas draws readers into her creative process with photos, step-by-step directions, and personal anecdotes about each project: a photo of Elizabeth Taylor in a Bulgari headpiece, for example, inspired Nicholas to make a “daisy queen” headband to wear to a Egyptian-themed birthday party. The projects can be redundant (notably, there are three separate shoe pom-pom designs), but the book’s appealing design—graphic borders, colorful backdrops, and lush styling—keeps readers engaged. (Apr.)