Rosie’s craft book shows you how

BY PEGGY BROWN | peggy.brown@newsday.com

May 1, 2008

Rosie OÂDonnell's new book Crafty U (KidRo Productions / )

Most of us might change careers a couple of times - but just how many public lives has Commack's own Rosie O'Donnell lived, anyway?

Well, let's see, to name just a few: standup comic, Broadway actor, TV host, over-the-top fan of Tom Cruise, bestselling author ...

... Not to mention willing lightning rod for controversy, from her campy feud with Donald Trump to her vociferous views before leaving ABC's "The View" (just after being named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World: "the TV host who loves a fight").

Whew! And she just turned 46 (in March).

She's also the founder of Rosie's Broadway Kids, a program to bring musical theater to public school students in New York City, and Rosie's for All Kids Foundation, which provides day care and other services to poor children.

Perhaps her favorite role, though, is that of mom - she has two boys and two girls, ranging from around kindergarten age to tween.

And in that role, she's come out with her third book, a big change from the tone of her 2007 tell-all memoir "Celebrity Detox: The Fame Game."

In "Rosie O'Donnell's Crafty U: 100 Easy Projects the Whole Family Can Enjoy All Year Long" (Simon & Schuster, $21.95), Rosie enlists her trademark abbreviations to make a point:

u r crafty - i swear - u r

And:

u r art

"Crafts are my way of relaxing," she writes. "My friends say they can tell how stressed I am by the number of craft projects I'm working on." She says she wrote the book, aimed at ages 5 through 12 and their parents, "to inspire families to spend more time together - crafting!"

She helps you set up a craft corner and choose supplies, which are often found objects: bottles, cans, string, newspapers.

The projects are organized by seasons and holidays - "Cheep-Cheep Chicks" for spring; "Way-Cool Painted Sneakers" for summer; "Mummy Dearest" for fall; "Glitter Globes" for winter. There's also a section called "Rainy Day playdate" ("Oink! Meow! Glove Puppets") and "Every Day Is a Decoupage Day" ("Take a Snapshot Tray").

All of which may prove what she writes: "A craft project is a great way for children to explore their creativity, build confidence and learn how to express themselves."

See rosie.com/craftyu for tips and videos in which Rosie (sans makeup; she's just a mom) shows you how.

Yes, you can cans

"Colorful paint and cool trims transform tossables into a pencil holder, a vase for dainties, or a place to stash craft pens. Grown-ups: Teach kids about the joy of recycling an old, clean can into a bright and shiny new thing!"

What you need:

Foam paintbrushes, acrylic craft paints, clean tin cans with labels removed, artist paintbrushes, craft glue, colorful paper trims

How to make:

1.Paint outside of cans using foam brush and craft paint. Let dry.

2.Paint bands of color around the cans using the foam paintbrush and craft paints.

3.Paint stripes, polka dots, pretty flowers, squiggles or anything you like on cans using an artist paintbrush for detailing. Let dry.

4.Apply colorful paper trim with glue along the top and bottom of the can.

- From "Rosie O'Donnell's Crafty U" (Simon & Schuster)