Book Review
If you have ever had the desire to make your own cards to send
out to family and friend or even to sell handmade cards this is
the book for you! Quick & Clever Handmade Cards is inspiring
and attractive with full-page photos and complete step-by-step instructions
for 16 cards you can learn to make as well as descriptions of 2
variations for each card.
At the beginning of Quick & Clever Handmade Cards there is
an introduction by the author including a small section on how to
use this book. I think this makes the book more personal and also
shows dedication in her concern for having fun and success when
making your own cards. It also shows passion that is evident in
the unique and wonderful creations she has included in her book.
Following the introduction are several must read sections to familiarize
you with the tools, materials and supplies you will be using to
make the card projects in this book. The first section is Equipment
(including photos and descriptions of the basic tools needed when
making the cards in this book), Decorative Tools and Tools for Manipulating
Material, Adhesives and Trimming and Punching Tools. Next is the
section outlining the properties of the cards and papers used for
making the card projects. Embellishments contains short descriptions
of stickers, decorative adhesives, jewels, beads and other ornaments,
threads and wire and miscellaneous items such as stamps, glitter
and gel pens and how they can be used in combination with different
materials. It is especially important to thoroughly read the Basic
Techniques section because it contains step-by-step instructions
on how to prepare the papers you have chosen to use to make a card.
Clear, detailed photos as well as quick and clever hints and tips
accompany the instructions. The section on making envelopes to match
your cards is also very important because it helps you with everything
from choosing the right paper, embellishments, address labels and
sealing your envelope as well as making a template and the envelope.
There are card ideas for a wide variety of occasions (birthdays,
new home, Easter, weddings, thank-you cards, new baby, Father’s
Day, get well cards, engagements, Mother’s Day, and christenings)
as well as cards using napkins to give to the gardening enthusiast
or ones with a holiday motif for Christmas. There is also a Gallery
of great card ideas at the back of the book, which is broken down
into sections of cards for a variety of events: Celebrations (Valentine’s
Day, golden wedding anniversary, coming of age, Easter, births,
and Halloween), Sentiments (graduation, Girls! Girls! Girls!, birthdays,
sympathy, new driver, and a special thank you card (in sign language),
and Christmas (sparkly snowflakes, images of Christmas, a snowflake
tag, seasonal celebrations, winter holly, woven bauble, and funky
tree tags). And for those of us that have difficulty knowing what
to say in cards the author has included a section on sayings for
birthdays, general occasions, Halloween, Christmas, weddings, congratulations,
friends, romance and special days as well as inspirational sayings).
Some of the sayings are standard ones you would see in every card
but others give you new and interesting words to use to get your
message and feelings across for an occasion. There is a templates
section at the back of the book when I usually prefer them to be
with the craft but in this book they are more suitable at the back.
Having the template on the page would compromise the size and clarity
of the step-by-step instructions with photos, which fill up a two
page spread as well as having to enlarge it a lot to suit your needs.
Happy card making! |
