Tuesday, 5 November 2013

Book Review: Scissors, Paper, Craft


Scissors, Paper, Craft:

30 pretty projects all cut, folded, and crafted from paper

By Christine Leech

Quadrille Publishing, 2013

Paperback £12.99

ISBN 978-1-84949-307-9



This book will bring a smile to your face (whether you are the gift-er or the gift-ee). It is part of the Simple Makes series from Quadrille Craft, and it is a collection of playful, easy-make papercraft projects.


The book follows the usual craft book formula of breezy upfront info (the paper glossary is especially good),  projects, and templates at the back. It is the attractive, inventive, well-designed projects that make this title stand out from the crowd.


All the projects here can easily be accomplished by a papercraft novice. The most hands-on project I could find were the Japanese-style notebooks (spines laced with baker’s twine) which required a drill or bradawl to make the lacing holes. The majority of the projects are cut-and-fold or simple papercutting ideas.


Most of the projects are home dec, or crafts to make to give. They are lively, dimensional, and make good use of pattern and texture. Case in point: the Rococo Mirror Frame, which uses paper folding and paper sculpture shaping techniques to create a whimsically ornate extravaganza out of brown  and corrugated paper and card. Nice. The Birdhouse Desk Tidy would make a welcome gift. (Love the notepad roof). A couple of the projects use LED lights, which adds another pretty design element to the mix.


The projects in the book are trendy and up-to-date (feather trend – yes, funky hipster vibe: yes, a bit, but not off-puttingly so). Lots of ideas suitable for festive decs or party time.


I have often found in my own personal papercrafting that bigging something up – or miniaturizing somethingoften works a treat. The author realizes this too: her Giant Gift Rosettes (supersized!)  are winners. 


Not all the pattern templates are same-size, but most of them are.

Verdict: an appealing, giftable title.

Note: I was supplied with a review copy of this book.




No comments:

Post a Comment