Trice Boerens
Creative Publishing International, 2009
With more than 700 full color photos illustrating some 15 paper craft techniques in more than 60 projects, The Complete Photo Guide to Paper Crafts could very well be "the ultimate step-by-step reference for crafting with paper" that it claims to be. But is it?
This book by Trice Boerens covers a wide range of paper craft techniques: punching, piecing, folding, collage, mosaics, weaving, stitching, cutting, quilling, book making, decoupage, sculpting, papier-mâché, and paper casting. Each technique is followed by a number of projects that are explained step by step with the help of photos, with even more photos showcasing other examples. Since this book is a photo guide, explanatory text is very concise, and this combination makes it easy to understand and follow the instructions for each project.
Surface decoration is also discussed in its own section at the beginning, explaining 24 ways to add texture and color to your paper via painting, stamping, stenciling, dyeing, rubbing, and distressing. Advanced users probably would have little need for this section, but beginners will no doubt find this useful. It would have been better for the latter, though, if the techniques for surface decoration were also stepped out in photos – this is, after all, a photo guide. Instead, each technique simply shows the end result, and not the process.
What's more, although this book does cover a lot of paper craft techniques, it seems to have missed out on a few. Paper piercing, embossing, and paper tole (or 3D decoupage) are nowhere to be found, and including these techniques would have made the book more complete.
Nevertheless, while it may not be the "ultimate" reference book because of these shortcomings, The Complete Photo Guide to Paper Crafts still makes a solid reference for paper crafters of all skill levels.
Note: This book was purchased with my own funds and is part of my personal library. I received no compensation for this review.
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