Customer Reviews

30-Minute Rubber Stamp Workshop

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The kids are at the neighbors, the spouse is at the tennis court, the house is clean enough for your mother-in-law to walk in unannounced...and you discover you've got an entire hour to indulge your creative muse without interruption - Halleluiah! This is precious time and the deviously creative mind of Sandra McCall has developed a very special collection of interesting projects that will appeal to the neophyte and veteran art stamper alike to take advantage of this rare free time. Although the projects don't take a bunch of time to complete, each one make it look like you spent an entire afternoon in the craft studio. The instructions are clear, concise and the illustrations easy to follow. The only thing better would be to have Sandra in the room with you showing you each step.

Here's how you make this book work best; right before sleep overtakes you, look over the projects and pick one that interests you - scan the directions and illustrations. Go to sleep and let the project soak in overnight. The next day, kick the family out, turn off the TV, make a pot of tea, grab the necessary supplies, review the directions and dig in!

The other way to approach this book is to use it as a resource when you need to make a hand-made gift for a friend or loved one...like the morning of the party or get together! McCall provides you with the guidance you need to maintain your reputation as the "artistic friend" or "creative cousin" who always wows `em with unique, hand crafted creations.

Oh yeah, I should mention that the projects tend to be on the artistic side as opposed to the "country craft-cute" side...which is code for "much more classier than most of the cheesy projects you'd find in other craft books." McCall's projects remind me of the kinds of things you'd find in higher end artisan shows or stores. They are unique and cool without being weird...a distinction you'll understand when you see the projects.

Most of the projects are easily expanded and include techniques that invite experimentation and application to other projects. The book is FULL of ideas...when you break down all of the ideas, it comes to less than .50 cents each. Even at full price, this book would be a bargain, folks.

Suffice to say, I am once again impressed with McCall's work. I like her style, approach and artistic sensibility and highly recommend this book for any art stampers or crafters who want to keep abreast of the latest and best trends in stamping and craft.

What a fun, idea filled book! The step-by-step- photos and instructions are easy to follow and beautifully printed. I bought this book for my niece who is a new stamper because I thought the title referred to a rubberstamp workshop where you learn how to do all the basics in 30 minutes. Boy! How wrong was I? As soon as I saw the book I had to have one for myself too. There is so much information on both product and technique. There are also lots of time saving hints for those of us who need them. The whole book is written in an informal, entertaining style that is irresitable. I read it cover to cover and I RARELY do that with an instructional book. You will definitely get your moneys worth with this book. This artsy book is on "making gifts" and not "stationary" although there are some excellent stationary ides in the book. I've used several of McCall's ideas as a jump off point- tweaked them to make them my own and they have since become best sellers at my craft shows! Thanks McCall!

Unfortunately I read the reviews and very excitely order the "30 minute stamp workshop" and while the style is definitely artsy, the proposed projects are very goofy. Sorry, I just don't know anyone that is going to wear the stamped barette I make them or use the cardboard stamped clock. I really was looking for a book showing "non-cute" greeting card, stationary and journal designs that I can whip out in 30 minutes or less thanks to step-by-step instructions. Yes, many of todays paper art magazine like Inspiration do show artwork and list supplies but I wanted more than that, like this book, but in stationary form.

if you are looking for specific project to make and have a certain type of aesthetic, then mccall's 30 minute rubber stamp workshop is for you. mccall's book has 27 projects, from decorative push-pins to bookends to a clock to wearables like pins, bracelets, and barrettes. the several pages of lists of tools and supplies was a bit daunting (but very very practical and useful); if you don't have most of these things already you will have to lay out some money. however, you would need most of these supplies to make any kinds of nice-looking projects using rubber stamping; once you have them, you can use them for projects other than the ones in mccall's book.

i have to say that for the most part i don't share mccall's aesthetic. a number of these projects look fairly "crafty" to me and a few are even a bit crude-looking to my eye, although i also think that some of these same projects are also conceptually quite inventive. for instance, the clock project in the book is largely made from cardboard that just gets stamped on, and it never looks like anything other than a cardboard clock. however, an artist with some imagination could find a way to elaborate on mccall's great concept and use her directions to make something that looks more "finished."

besides the clock concept, in this book my favorite projects (many of which i would use my own aesthetic to make, something that i think mccall fully intends) include the "art-a-tacs" that are pushpins with a flat ended marble attached. i really like what people are doing with the flat-ended marbles these days, making anything from these push-pins to jewelry with them. the tacks themselves are great, but again, i'm not particularly fond of the cardboard "utilitarian" look mccall incorporated with the pushpin holder. i also like the small book project, the leather spiral notebook (she shows you how to make your own wire spiral! nice.), the shade pull, and the shrink plastic button. mccall's examples with these projects are also the most visually appealing to me, and seem to have the most potential for people to build on based on their own color sense and stamp collections.

i am building a library of books about bookmaking, papermaking, and rubber stamping, and at the moment i probably won't buy mccall's book. i checked out a copy from the library to evaluate it, and in the end i decided that given my limited book-buying budget, i won't get the kinds of instruction and the number of widely-applicable ideas that i'm looking for (the most bang for _my_ buck is what i guess i'm saying). nevertheless, i do think the book will be best for people who want to make the specific projects in the book--mccall's instructions are terrific, clearly laid out step-by-step with good photos to follow along as you go. and, later on, after i've bought what seems to me to be the most "foundational" books i need for my library, i probably will add on mccall's book.

This book is somewhat mistitled. There are detailed projects but even better it is full of well spoken product descriptions and objecive recommendations.Tools are included as projects are carried out. A refreshing change from most stamp project books.

I am a big fan of Sandra McCall because she thinks outside the box. Her ideas are original, often funky, fun and fresh.

I bought this book, not to copy projects, but simply to learn some new techniques or get a new idea, then do my own designing. I never copy anyone else's design, I just soak up inspiration. In this regard, Sandra McCall never disappoints.

I don't always look to see who the author is before I decide, and I own a very large library of this type of book. I have recently realized that several of my all time favorites were written by this author. If you want clever ideas and inspiration, you can't go wrong.

I received this book promptly and in great shape. So far,I am enjoying the book and the new projects to try. Definitely was not disappointed.