Saturday 3 November 2012

Book Review: Ultimate Papercraft Bible

The second book I'm reviewing this month couldn't be much more different from the first! 

To start with, the Ultimate Papercrafting Bible is HUGE. It's a massive hardback - 300 pages long and so tall it doesn't actually fit on the shelves I'm currently using to store all my other craft books (it's going to have to live with my lever arch files instead). And unlike State of Craft, it's not about personalities and trendy projects but instead is very much a traditional-style reference book of techniques.  
 
It reminds me a little of the huge DIY manual my dad bought me when I first moved into my old flat: a really detailed reference book with lots of clear diagrams and step-by-step instructions.


The first chapter,"Getting Started", covers equipment, materials and basic paper crafting skills like folding and simple techniques like adding decorative edges by stitching or punching. All the techniques are explained in step-by-step guides with easy to follow diagrams and extra hints and tips plus a few photos added to illustrate how particular techniques look when finished / can be used.  


The second chapter, "Colouring, Decorating and Texturing" includes colour washes, marbling, stencilling, stamping, glittering, gilding, and transfering images. From this point on in the book, tutorials and ideas for specific projects begin to be included to demonstrate particular techniques and processes.




Chapter three covers cardmaking, including adding inserts and making shaped cards, window cards, 3D cards, pop up cards and fold out cards. There are also some project ideas for making batch cards, like this change of address card:


Then chapter four focuses on making envelopes, decorating gift wrap (and gift wrapping techniques like tying neat bows), and making gift tags, boxes and gift bags. A few templates are included for the envelopes in this chapter.

Chapter five looks at scrapbooking - customising journal covers, cutting and matting photos, and adding text, embellishments and pockets.



Chapter six is all about papercutting, with lots of projects that have templates provided for them at the back of the book. I especially liked these garlands....



... and these candle shades:



Chapter seven introduces some basic origami techniques and step-by-step guides to a few simple designs like a flower, a bird and a notecard with a fan-like leaf:



Then the final chapter covers "Other Papercrafts" - including papier mache, techniques for making paper flowers, decoupage, quilling, and also making your own paper. 

Most of the templates in the book do need enlarging, but there's so much squeezed into this book that you really can't complain - plus many of the templates would always need enlarging as they're for quite large-scale designs like lanterns, etc. The majority of projects and techniques in the book don't require templates anyway. 

Because this book covers so many different techniques, I think experienced paper crafters might find it a little basic but I think it'd be perfect for a beginner. I think it'd also be a good book to flick through to spark ideas for new ways to use your paper stash, and it'd be a great fit for for someone like me who dabbles in paper crafting from time to time but could do with adding some skills to their repertoire!

 
Ultimate Papercraft Bible is published by Collins & Brown. RRP £25. It's available from Amazon UK, Amazon USA, The Book Depository and many other bookshops.

[Disclaimer: Collins & Brown sent me a free review copy of this book, and the Amazon & Book Depository links in this post are affiliate links]

6 comments:

Life in flowery wellies said...

Wow!
My daughters would love that will have to look out for it, we live in France and they seem to both do a lot of papercraft projects at school. They love oragami.
Looks like it will take some getting through.
Have a good weekend x

Lili said...

Oh, I already love this book!

Lone's Andet Univers said...

Hi "Craft" Friend Laura

I follow with great interest the books you show on your blog - Because Here in Denmark we DON'T have all these lovely books , and are forced to buy them in web-shops all over the world - but Do you know this one ? E-lounge.dk Where you might get them cheeper than in UK - Have a look if you like!

I know I´m drooling when I see all the books on your blog - And i did already spend over £330 on many of the books I have seen here on your space - Incl your published Super Cute Felt.
So keep on the good work of reviewing them so we can see a lot of the good stuff in the books that we cant get our hands on in Denmark

Hope you have a lot more on the shelve to review in the near future
Happy Felting and sewing to you
From Lone in Denmark....♥ ♥ ♥

Anonymous said...

Wow, this sounds a useful book!

Unknown said...

Lupin!
I love everything you made, is it possible? I just added your blog in mine, I hope it's fine.

Check out: http://lauramorosoli.blogspot.ch/

take care.

Laura

Bugs and Fishes said...

Nicky - yes, there are a ton of project ideas and tutorials in here! I think it'd be a great way to spark inspiration for a new project too, as you could set yourself the challenge of picking a technique and designing a card/etc using it.

Lone - Hiya! I'm so glad to hear that you're finding the reviews useful & I'm delighted to hear you've bought my book too (I hope you're enjouing it!) xx

Laura - thanks for linking to my blog, I really appreciate it :)