Customer Reviews

The Complete Stenciling Handbook

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

 

 

I ordered this because I was looking for a good text for an online course in Stenciling 101 that I was putting together. I already own several stenciling books, and ordered more for review - but this was the hands down choice. Not only was it the most detailed book I found, with more explanations than anything else I've seen, but it covered so many interesting variations on the art of stenciling that I will also be using it as my intermediate and advanced text. Easy enough for a beginner because the explanations are so good - but with plenty of great new ifnormation for the experienced stenciler.

In fact, since reading it I have taken up several new forms of stenciling. The book absolutely inspired me.

Sandra has done it again - written the ultimate bible of stenciling! Many new and wonderful techniques are shown with clear instructions and wonderful step-by-step full color photographs. The chapters on faux marquetry and imitation textiles was fasinating, showing that anyone can stencil beautiful finishes with the best part being, it doesn't look stencilled! The designs are very up to date, touching on all the hot decorating trends. She also includes classical designs that will be here forever. I have been teaching stenciling for 15 years and I'm going to recommend this book for both my beginners and for seasoned experts. Perfect for all you 'Trading Spaces' followers who want to easily and quickly add a new painted accent to your home. I am going to try a velvet scarf with the amazing devore technique, I think they might just be what everyone on my gift list will be getting this year. I can make lots for a fraction of what it would cost to buy them. Sandra finishes the book with lots of sources for materials and a detailed reading list. If I could give more than 5 stars I would! Can you tell I'm trilled with this book? It's the first and only review I have ever written!

Stencilers who want a complete handbook to the art, from choosing between materials and tools to understanding paint differences, glazes, and equipment, will find The Complete Stenciling Handbook packed with essential details. The chapters on how to create different stencil effects, from producing raised art to using layered patterns, supplement techniques and discussions with plenty of color photos illustrating finished results. An excellent comprehensive guide.

Fabulous book. If you are interested in finding extremely unique ways to decorate your home, please get this book. It is easy to comprehend. What you get from this book you would pay dearly to have done professionally. I took the book to work and let my co-workers look through it. They also thought it was great and saw many things they would like to do in their homes. Buy the book.

You can't go wrong with any book by Sandra Buckingham, and she has really outdone herself this time. This has to be the most comprehensive book on stenciling ever published.

This lady is brilliant. Anyone who thinks that stenciling isn't an "art" has yet to read this book.

I first decided to buy the book because I had not done stenciling before and was considering doing some of it on projects I have under way with a friend. It appeared to have the "basics" I needed and some clever ideas to boot. Was I surprised when I finally sat down, almost a month later, to actually read the book. I literally read it from cover to cover. I couldn't put it down!!

Not only does Sandra Buckingham present the basic techniques of stenciling, she gives the reader a short course in art and design. She does this without bogging the beginner in too-much-information all at once, but with clear concepts and how they are applied throughout the book
(my favorite tip is that things don't cast shadows on the sky behind them!) Along with the notes on materials, equipment, care of tools, and safety tips was information on color, design and perspective.

While the author states up front that this is not a book of "projects" to produce, in fact many of the illustrations of technique would be workable as projects as they are presented. Her primary intention is to provide a compendium of techniques to equip the reader to do their own projects in novel and creative ways, and she succeeds quite amply. I thought of dozens of ways to apply what I read and have definite plans for using them.

Although many of the techniques the author presents are probably more than a little time consuming and some of them fairly complex, that their results are stunning is immediately apparent from the wonderful photos in the book and obviously worth the time spent on them. I have no doubt that the clients for whom she has produced these miracles are more than pleased with the results.

Especially delightful were the picket fence (p. 190) and children's room designs (p. 151-157). Even something as simple as a saying stenciled on the wall over a child's bed made the room more charming and personal (p. 264). My immediate thought on seeing the latter was that "someone loved sleeps there."

Amazing too were the impasto techniques that create an architectural or embossed look where they were used. The description of the method seemed very straight forward, and I will definitely give it a try, on paper projects if not on a larger scale. The foil and metal embossing also caught my attention as easily learned techniques that I might use in the immediate future for one of the projects on which I'm currently at work .

I found the artist's trompe l'oeil effects were tremendous. The fresco painters of ancient Pompeii would have been proud of her work. The rich looking red and gold drape on wrought iron rod (p. 168) and the delightful checkered gingham swag over headboard (p. 169) were impressive enough, but the shear curtain suspended from rings (p. 171) is utterly breathtaking!

If you're interested in new techniques for multiple types of surface, whether paper, wood, plastic, glass, ceramic, plaster walls, whatever, this is the definitely the book for you.

I picked this up through the "buy used" option from Amazon at a very reasonable price, although its worth the retail price and am very happy with it. I do a lot of crafts/stencils and find this book to add much to my knowledge base for stencilling. It's really complete and quite a substantial book. The pictures and text are thorough as well as inspiring. I will definately utilize the techniques shown. If your beginning or already an experienced stenciler this book is a good resource to have in your library. It seems so good to finally buy a book that delivers what it sells. Alehar

Fabulous book. If you are interested in finding extremely unique ways to decorate your home, please get this book. It is easy to comprehend. What you get from this book you would pay dearly to have done professionally. I took the book to work and let my co-workers look through it. They also thought it was great and saw many things they would like to do in their homes. Buy the book.

What a great book. I can't think of anything the author didn't cover. This resource explained/described/discussed everything I could think of related to stenciling but also much more. There are so many uses for this art form. I can see myself referring to this resource time and time again as I experiment with new materials and new projects.

Before attempting my first stencilling project I purchased several books on the subject, and also found Sandra Buckingham's book in the library. I decided that her book was the only one that really explained and demonstrated techniques in a helpful way, and in addition the stencil patterns that she demonstrated were very beautiful and exactly what I was looking for. I returned the book to the library and purchased it through Amazon so that I would have it available for future projects.