Customer Reviews

A Designer's Eye 2 - Patterned Paper

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

My favorite is the mini-book ideas that are part of the last challenge section -- The book is a fabulous fusion of ideas on how to use different types of patterned paper like polka dots, stripes, florals, geometrics etc. Ali's own style is about perfect balance -- goes from simple geometric to artsy collagy and the other designers featured in here with her provide a range of styles to give you inspiration on placing patterened paper on your page -- fearessly! None of them feature the heritage type look or papers, so you are getting more contemporary inspiration in this book. Amazon has this book only about 6 months after publication, so the paucity of reviews -- I had to buy my copy on ebay coz I couldn't wait after just breathing in her last book. Enjoy!

Well, I cannot believe I'm the first person to review this book! After wrapping up the first Ali Edwards book for myself under the tree this year, (which I could not put down) I immediately went seeking more. This book does not dissapoint. Using beautiful examples of her own work, plus several others (not the same artists as book 1) this book not only inspires, but provides clear directional schematics mixing (not matching) and using patterns successfully. Paper companies create patterns that coordinate. The methods displayed herein, in contrast, go well beyond -- providing a customized, artful and insightful approach. The last chapter challenges the reader with specific do-able projects. Do not miss this treasure.

I really love this book! Ali Edwards strikes a nice balance between artistic yet meaningful scrapbook pages. No overdone over-embellished pages here - she always focuses on the photo and the story. Every scrapbooker could learn from her. At the same time, she is not a minimalist (i.e., devoid of personality) and uses artistic touches, collage and embellishments judiciously. She has many creative ideas, and yet what I find most refreshing about her work and philosophy is its essence of simplicity and timeless good taste. These pages will never look dated - though they are definitely "of their time", but in a good and meaningful way. By the way, I am a 52 year old architect who practices modern design and (as a hobby) teaches scrapbooking and papercrafting. There really aren't too many great how-to books out there, but this one is definitely on my short list. Can't recommend it highly enough

As for design theory - there is a small "Why this works" section. Which just really isn't enough. The book lays out sketches with PP. However, I really wanted to learn about mixing my own PP's in a more proficient manner. This is why I rated a 2. The layouts were gorgeous and a pleasure to look at. I wouldn't have paid as much for just layout viewing though. But if it was a sketch book/scraplift book you were looking for then I'd rate it a 5.

A great book for putting patterned paper together in your scrapbook. This book gives you a method to follow and shows great examples of pages that have been completed! A great resource!

Ali has pulled together an amazing idea collection to how to use patterned paper on your scrapbook pages. Love how the book is organized into paper styles. If you like her column in Creating Keepsakes you will definately want this book.

I have loved reading Ali's articles in Creating Keepsakes, and was very excited to finally buy her books. There are great ideas, but Ali's message is always clear when it comes to scrapbooking - it is about the photos and the stories behind them. A great book for helping to use that huge collection of patterened paper that all scrapbookers have.

I was so looking forward to reading this book....but was disappointed when I got it. There is not enough how-to's. The "why this works" doesn't tell you anything...unless you are a graphic artist.
It didn't seem to have enough about why I should or shouldn't use florals, stripes etc....or at least I didn't get it.
It is just a book of page examples really...if you like to scraplift then it is fine...but for how-to's forget it.
Sorry Ali!

I'm disappointed with this book. The only type of instruction or teaching is a couple sentences under a layout. I was expecting more meat and potatoes of design theory. Plus the book just stops at a certain point...there's no conclusion, no index, no thing. It just stops. Weird.

I'm giving the book 2 stars because some of the layouts are amazing. I want to scrap like Jamie Waters when I grow up!

I was really surprised when I received this book, because so far, every book I've ever bought (and I have two shelves full) with the Simple Scrapbooks or Creative Keepsakes names on them I have absolutely loved. I devour them in two nights and flag the majority of the pages to scraplift later. This one, however, was different. The very reason I switched from Memory Makers books to "Simple" and "Creative" books is that I don't like the look of pages that have a lot of mismatched pieces from all different styles and lines stuck together. I am much more into clean, structured pages that are very pleasing to the eye. Then again, that's how I've always felt about fine art too. I've always been much more drawn to realism than to abstract art. I have a need to understand what I'm looking at. So this book may be perfect for some scrappers who are more on the artistic side, I myself, am more like Becky Higgins and Cathy Zielske. Stacy Julian's pages are about as "abstract" as I can handle. I wanted this book because I have a hard time getting started on a page with patterned paper. So many decisions! Ali does a good job explaining "Why it Works" on each page of this book, but it's not something I'm going to remember and apply to my own work. I did flag about 10 pages in this book, but again, they were more on the "simple" side. Nevertheless, I'm still going to order her first book, "A Designer's Eye" because I've read some great reviews on it. We'll see.