Customer Reviews

Making Memory Boxes: Box Projects to Make, Give, and Keep

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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I connected with this book when I read the veryfirst sentence: "Anyone who has ever filled a shoe box with familyphotos or crammed small treasures into a cigar box has already made amemory box." I'm one of those anyones and I bet you are, too.Since practical, exacting, and thorough in text and visual instructiondescribe the teaching elements of the book, describing the actualboxes is a little more fun: quirky, playful, exotic, beautiful,unusual, practical, and sturdy are words that come to mind. The boxesare intended to please the eye AND to use AND to last. There is giftgiving potential here. Who wouldn't want at least one of thefollowing? The: postcard box, patchwork box, picture frame box,Victorian scrapboard, paper box, faux book box, artist's portfolio,jewelry box, button box, candy box, letter box, ornament box, and thebuttonhole stitched box. You will find many supplies needed aroundthe house, and a list of sources is given to help you find others. Youwill also find this a classy book!

By the time I had finished the introduction to this book and flipped through the pages of pictures, I knew that I, a ten thumbed, visually illiterate artist wanna-be, could make a memory box. Mauriello's instructions are so clear ("Whatever you do to one side of a board, do to the other")and the photos so vivid and carefully organized to show all stages of a project that I felt confident that I could buy the correct tools and supplies and construct a box of my own design. And what's more, I think I would enjoy the experience. The book is inspiring as well as beautiful. I have given copies to three friends who make their own holiday gifts, and they too are eager to make boxes.

This is a wonderful book filled with beautiful, unique boxes. Though they can be a bit time consuming, none of the projects are difficult and they can easily be made by a beginning crafter with a little patience.

The book starts out with the essentials of tools, materials and adhesives. I found the adhesives chart, which compares 4 different adhesive types, very helpful. There are also recipes for paste and methyl cellulose. Binder's board (Davy board) is the basic structural element for most of the projects. Principles covered include grain direction, parts of the box, measuring, cutting, gluing, covering with paper and fabric and making neat corners.

There are 13 different box projects, including a buttonhole stitched box, jewelry box, postcard box, picture frame box, faux book box, ornament box, artist's portfolio and Victorian scrapbook. The directions are excellent and include a materials list and step-by-step instructions accompanied by clear demonstrating photos. A large picture of the finished projects is also included. Conveniently, there is a list of suppliers in the back.

This book is perfect for bookbinders, rubber stampers and scrapbookers, and makes a great addition to any paper artist's library. The boxes themselves make great gifts for your loved ones and will be treasured for years to come.

I got this book at our local library and loved it so much that I had to buy it. I've loved boxes my entire life and can hardly throw one away. I'm so excited about the prospect of making my own boxes in any size, shape and color that I want. I've looked through a few books on this subject, but this is the book I'll start off with. I appreciate her exacting yet easy techniques and recommendations for the best materials, like Davey board instead of lesser cardboards that will warp. She also gives a technique for making your own bookcloth which excites me as a quilter/sewer.

This is a must-have book for anyone interested in the art of boxmaking. Barbara's vast teaching experience is reflected in the easy to follow step-by-step instructions which, when followed, will result in beautiful boxes. In the section on adhesives, Barbara takes the mystery out of the properties and usage of various adhesives (this section alone is worth the price of the book). You won't be disappointed in this practical and inspirational book.

Instead of buying "Making Memory Boxes" and "Making Journals by Hand", save some money and buy one book: "Making Memory Books and Journals by Hand". This book combines all of the projects above and then some.

All of these books have great projects and instructions.

The book, "Making Memory Books and Journals by Hand," appears to have the exact same text and pictures, for less money. And, it has two other books' text and pictures as well.

I purchased this out-of-print book on the basis of reviews by other Amazon customers--6 reviews of 7 gave it full five stars. However, illustrations which could make sense of her text are woefully lacking. For example, she mentions in "the essentials" section tools like 'folders, bone and teflon', 'potter's needle', and 'triangle' but does not provide corresponding illustrations. There are no illustrations either of technique--nothing to show you how to hold a tool or how tools should be positioned. Seems this would be useful say for getting a handle on mounting a box sidewall to the base using a C-clamped board, for instance.

If you already know what you are doing, I can see the projects she has as being adequate starting points; but, again, if you don't have a handle on the basics, you are going to have to some digging on your own.

Many of the photographs were done amateurishly as well, with image portions being out of focus in many cases. There are several pages too devoted to single images of say, different color paper, that have neither pedagogical nor inspirational nor aesthetic value.

Having seen this book I'd be hesitant to get another book by this author or publisher sight unseen.

The Making Memory Boxes book has lots of good projects to make. Some of the instructions are not as detailed as I am used to, and I've had a hard time recreating the projects in the book.

The photos are a great reference & I use them as ideas to inspire me.

Barbara Mauriello's book is one of the best out there. However, it would certainly help to take a workshop or two. Using this book as a reference or tune up after taking a class is ideal.