What's the difference between "of" and "out of"?

Question

What's the difference between the two?

1. She crafted the bookcase out of solid pine wood and then painted it.
2. She crafted the bookcase of solid pine wood and then painted it.

Answer 1

We use of when it is obvious what substance has been used to make something:

This little doll is made of wood.

We use out of when we emphasize the substance from which something is made:

This little doll is made out of wood, not plastic.

So, both of your sentences are correct. But the accent is on different things:

She crafted the bookcase out of solid pine wood and then painted it. (it was solid pine! whether you are "excited" about the use of pine wood or the fact that it's solid depends on the context)

She crafted the bookcase of solid pine wood and then painted it. (it's just a fact, solid pine wood is a basic material used)

Answer 2

Both are acceptable, as would be

3. She crafted the bookcase from solid pine wood and then painted it.

A minor difference in connotation is that from and out of draw attention to the material used, solid pine, whereas just of places a bit less emophasis on material.