Customer Reviews

Absolute Beginner's Decoupage: The Simple Step-by-Step Guide

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

 

 

For any person who has even a passing interest in learning the art and craft of decoupage, this book is for you! Alison Jenkins' colorful and easy-to-follow guide to "creating beautiful decoupage" delivers on its promise of being simple to use. When I first opened the book, I was in awe of the color photographs and immediately got ideas on what projects I wanted to try. I found the instructions on how to use the book very easy to follow, the step-by-step techniques instructions highly appreciated and the large photos and diagrams well-designed and user-friendly. As a librarian, I also appreciated Ms. Jenkins' inclusion of what artists can use as source material and what might not be of use due to copyright constraints. Finally, the ready-to-use sheets of decoupage templates and motifs that are included in the book are an added bonus! If you are looking for unique and functional things to make and give as gifts or keep for yourself, look no further than this book!

Being new to the art of Decoupage, I needed a sourcebook that explained the craft step by step. This book walked me through with color images, instructions, and supply lists for each method. There were also a variety of techniques, some of which I had not been aware of. Got my creative wheels turning. Should keep me busy for awhile. A good starting point for anyone!

As a complete beginner, I was hoping for the most basic of basics but this book seem to include projects I personally would not consider for beginners. I wanted your basic wood jewerly box, simple designs, etc.to start with but that wasn't the case. One review I read before purchasing this book indicated that the author covered the topic of copyright infringment, but I saw barely any mention of that. I now have a few completed projects I am in doubt about. I think this topic should have been covered more thououghly as I don't think people want to be sued. Some of the directions seemed incomplete. Example, one project for a glass vase showed the designs placed on the inside. Personally, I thought that sounded wrong. I would have thought the designs would be placed on the outside to be kept away from more water exposure but no explanation was given as to why the designs were placed on the inside. I also found the information about sealing surfaces incomplete. There is incomplete/barely/or none on surfaces such as plastic, fabric, paper. As a beginner, I would like to know how to prepare any surface. This book seemed more for an intermediate decoupage artist.

Really one of my favorite books (I'm a beginner) - this one steps you through both in words and pictures so you can follow along. It has different types of surfaces and tips for dealing with the differnt situations. Samples are really good but not intimidating.

If you're looking for a book that makes the craft easy, even for a novice, then this is the book for you. I've got no talent for arts and crafts, and had no prior instruction, but I really wanted to do this particular project. The book took me step by step, outlined all the materials I'd need, and described how to decoupage on various surfaces. I was very happy with the outcome and I'd recommend the book to anyone who wants to learn. Instructions are well written and easy to understand.

I rate this 4 stars only because what I had hoped for was not in the book at least not in the detail that I had hoped. I wanted to know more about a beautiful finish. The projects finishes still have the brush strokes in them and I wanted to know how to fix that . It is a beautiful book however and I did learn alot from it.

Absolute Beginner's Decoupage: The Simple Step-by-Step Guide Very detailed, beautifully illustrated, very helpful.