Elegant – and easy to
make– Blossoms
By Laurie Cinotto
Sterling Innovation,
June 2014
Boxed kit with paperback, £9.99 UK, $14.99 US, $15.95 CAN
ISBN 978 45491163
Star rating: *** ½
... and, it’s another
paper flower book! This one is not a wallflower – it stands out from the crowd.
Why? Because it is more than just a
book. It is a beautifully-boxed kit.
Known in the book trade as a “value-added” book. What you get is everything you need to make 9
different types of paper flower – plus an accompanying how-to paperback.
Here’s the kit inventory: you get 24 squares of crinkle
crepe paper (posh – not the stretchy craft shop variety), a roll of green
florist’s tape, stem wires, a pack of flower stamens – and the instructional
book. The flower designs are for: 1 Anemone, 2 Carnation, 3 Peony, 4 Poppy, 5
Rose, 6 Daffodil; 7,8,9: Dahlias 3 ways: Water Lily, Cactus, and Round.
The style of the flowers is realistic with a crafty touch
(the anemones have button centres). When I first saw this kit, I thought it
looked a little thin on the ground – but on closer examination, I was very impressed by the quality of the kit
materials and of the instructional book. Two other plus factors: the distinctive
crinkled-paper squares would be difficult to track down left to your own resources, and the price is quite reasonable for
what is provided.
The book is a slim paperback, but it does a very good job of
packing all you need to know into 64 pages. The author, Laurie Cinotto, is very
knowledgable. The text is written in a friendly conversational style and is
filled with plenty of paper flower-making tips. There are tutorials on how to
use floral tape, and how to attach petals. Leaves are considered optional, but
they do get a mention, as does leaf placement. The author also describes how to
make your own duo-coloured (in bands) papers.
As for the flowers: the Rose is breathtaking. The Round-Style Dahlia with fluted inner petals is a winner. The Daffodil is not very convincing – but that is a small quibble in an otherwise very nice package. There are full-sized photocopiable templates at the back of the book – for flower petals and leaves.
Beautiful Paper
Flowers is very giftable – perhaps for yourself!
Note: I was supplied with a review copy of the kit.
Note: I was supplied with a review copy of the kit.
