The Complete Photo Guide to Cardmaking

Starred review from February 15, 2016

Watanabe has made a career out of her love for cardmaking and stamping, and in her first book, she shares an abundance of inspiring tips and techniques. The author's extensive stamping experience certainly qualifies her to teach a variety of stamping techniques, from the basics of employing rubber stamps with dye, solvent, and pigment ink pads to using stamps to create designs for embossing and mixed media projects. Yet stamping is just a small fraction of what's presented here--there are also ideas for paper cutting and folding, creative embellishment using everything from silk flowers to washi tape to ribbons and charms, and a fascinating section on mizuhiki, a traditional Japanese paper cord. Most of the tutorials appear on a spread that includes a large photo of the finished project, along with thorough instructions of the projects in progress, with close-up photos of each step. All required supplies are clearly listed, along with suggestions that guide the reader throughout. VERDICT Although this is a cardmaking book, scrapbookers, art journalers, and mixed-media artists will also appreciate the image-based tutorials and the abundance of inspiring photos.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2016
Both a detailed guide for the novice card maker and a source of inspiration for those with more experience, this book includes hundreds of color photos illustrating the techniques and projects described. For newbies, Watanabe provides detailed instructions for how to use the many tools available for paper crafting as well as for each individual project. Techniquesincluding matting, decoupage, collage, quilling, origami and other paper folding, pop-ups and pockets, quilt-inspired paper Bargello, embossing, stamping, watercolor, and moreare illustrated with clear instructional photographs. Projects are described with step-by-step instructions, and each step is accompanied by a photo, ensuring that even a beginner can accomplish the pictured result. Though some of the cards include a specific occasion or purpose, most are wordless and suitable for whatever the need may be. Watanabe's design style makes each card a small work of art or craft (or both), and her instructions allow any card maker to be an artist and to create a professional-looking result. Recommended for libraries where paper-crafting books are in demand.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)