Customer Reviews

By the Batch: Creative Cards, Postcards, Envelopes & More

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Unlike many other card-making books that explain to the reader how to make the particular card shown, Judi's book teaches a particular technique that the reader can apply to any card with any set of inks, papers and supplies. After you look at all the luscious pictures, go back and read the text! By doing so, you will bootstrap yourself to a new level.

I love this book. It's very inspirational. Like most people, I work on my cards etc. one at a time but am tantilized to learn about making them in batches when necessary. You need to actually train yourself to let-yourself-go and still produce something exciting. The teaching in this book is great for beginners, yet still an invitation to challenge for the more experienced! An added bonus is Judi's wonderful storytelling!

This book is great for making you think about your creative process in a whole new way. I'm sure many of you, like me, make your cards one at a time, with one recipient in mind and by the time you've got out the right papers, stamps, inks, tools, and embellishments, it takes well over an hour or two per card (or maybe I'm just a perfectionist)!
Anyway, Judi Kauffman sweeps that mindset aside and says, "Just do it!" She uses a lot of different materials (cork, punches, clay, found objects, embossing/diecutting machines), but what I found most useful were her layout ideas in the front of the book--12 to 15 of them, all based on design principles that many of us might not have been trained in.
I know I have often sat pondering how to come up with a pleasing arrangement of elements on my cards and having a batch of standard designs to refer to will simplify the guesswork and speed up the process.
I also appreciate that she provides the manufacturer's names of the products she uses. I, for one, want to know why artists prefer special brands and in most cases in the book we learn why (e.g., use round sponges for daubing on soft colors of ink b/c they don't have the harsh edges that other square/triangular sponges do).
Overall, though Judi's style of cardmaking might not be your cup of tea (it wasn't mine in most cases), her freeflow methods and suggestions provide many a springboard for creative inspiration and guidance. This is a keeper for your creative library.

This is a book I will actually use! All too often, I buy a "How To" book, look at it, then never actually do any of the projects. The theme of this book is really appealing-to make handmade cards in a batch. These projects are fun. The text is written in a friendly-conversational style. The photos are fabulous. Just like cookies, if one is good, a batch is better!

is a wonderfully written, illustrated and organized book. I have been stamping and making cards for years. I often have problems deciding how and were to place things on the card. The layout section is a book unto itself. I have used it many times already and have not even scratched the surface of ideas.
It is tool to be kept close at hand or a book to relax and enjoy the wonderful art.

Most of us have grown up with the famous advertising slogan, "When you care enough to send the very best..."

Well, Hallmark lied. Because when you REALLY want to send the very best, you make it yourself. Which is exactly what Judi Kauffman teaches -- in a fun and compelling way -- in "By The Batch." Illustrated with wonderful photographs, the author demonstrates how to create and produce wonderful greeting cards, postcards and envelopes... all demonstrating your personal love, creativity and committment. And if you MUST include a corny poem or sentiment... at least it's YOURS... not written by some anonymous hack who works at some greeting card company!

It's terrific. In fact, I only wish I could send Ms. Kauffman a homemade "thank you" card using the skills I learned from "By The Batch." But I don't have her address!

I really enjoyed this book. It is well written, with clear instructions and great examples. This is the kind of book that you will go back to again and again. It also inspires you get out your stamping stuff and start making batches of cards. I highly recommend this book.

I've looked at lots of card design books and found many cards that I'd love to make, but it usually ends up that I don't have the right stamps, colors that go together well, the right papers, and I feel frustrated. I try to work with what I have on hand and sometimes the result is goof, sometimes it's not. This book was a great help! Now I can move beyond making a card that's an exact copy and really begin to work with the supplies that I have. The chapter on design layouts is just invaluable! Now I can plan ahead and be more assured of an outcome that please me from start to finish.

This is truly a marvelous book! The techniques included to make greeting cards in a bundle encourage creativity, are very artistic, and encourage originality in design. It is the kind of book any artist interested in greeting card design would like to have in his/her library for reference and inspirational purposes.

Not my type of card making. Some good ideas, but probably for the card maker who has been doing it for a while.