Customer Reviews

Special-Effects Scrapbooking: Creative Techniques for Scrapbookers at All Levels (Crafts Highlights)

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

 

 

I had the privilege of taking two workshops with Jill Miller at my first-ever scrapbook convention, way back in the year 2000.
Both classes introduced me to techniques we now call "Shabby Chic," all the rage in the scrapbook world at the time of this writing, but totally unheard of nearly three years ago. I wish that all my many scrapbook classes and workshops since those first two had been half as innovative as Jill's.

I was delighted to see that she would be publishing a whole book of her ideas, and waited eagerly for its release, which was quite some time in coming. Now that I have the book, I can say I was not disappointed. It's substantial in size and content, something one does not always get in the world of scrapbooking idea books, about 130 pages long. I don't really understand why it hasn't received more attention, because it certainly deserves it.

The book is lavish in its color printing and detailed close ups of the sample layouts, which cover every page. Jill comes to scrapbooking from the world of stamping arts, and this is THE hot trend in scrapbooking these days. She covers techniques involving the various pearlized powders and shimmering paints, metals including paints and leafing, all manners of distressing your media, and the newly hot textures, including molding paste, embossing and lacquers. Each project sample is clearly labeled beginner, intermediate or advanced, allowing the artist to choose which level with which they feel most comfortable. Materials lists are very clear, as are directions.

My guess as to the reason for its quiet entry into the market is that since it was a long time in production, some of the layouts look a bit "dated" in this trend of the week hobby. As scrappers, don't we all reflect back upon our earlier work and laugh at how far we've come? I would not let that get in the way of purchasing this treasure trove of ideas and instruction, though. The layouts are all lovely and timeless in their appeal, and the directions will allow the reader to venture into new territory using whatever level they are at right now. I can say that this really is one of the most comprehensive and innovative books I've seen in this industry--strong praise for a hobby that lately has at least one new "idea" book a week of late. If you like to experiment and do your scrapbooks for the joy of creating, you will not be disappointed with what you find in these pages. (Gwyn is a scrapbook designer for Fibers By The Yard and Scrapbook Impressions)

I thought Jill's approach to scrapbooking was refreshing. The book is so well laid out with so much attention to small details, she brings fresh, unique ideas to the technique. The speacial effect ideas are stunning and alot easier to create than you would think! Overall, it is the accessibility of the book that impressed me the most, it is a must-have manual for beginners and pros alike.

Jill Miller demonstrates some great techniques that are not only "do-able" but utilize items you already have in your house. She has some great ideas for not only scrapbooking and cardmaking but for embellishing plain frames for wall art as well. I highly recommend adding this to your scapbooking library

This book offers a very interesting opportunity for stampers to improve there scrapbooking skills and vice-versa. Although scrapbooking is the obvious showcase for the techniques described, any art journalist or card makers repertoire would be extended by the information in this book.

I was particularly impressed with the emphasis on creating your own unique background paper and ideas such as sanding embossed vellums for a whole new look...lovely.

Although the author used scrapbook pages as examples of specific techniques, it is the description of the techniques that represents the real value for money in this book.

Some beginners might find a number of the techniques a bit daunting, but this book would help the determined beginner achieve a whole new level of skill.

I think we have all gone to the store and gotten excited over the newest items in the isles and just had to have them. When we get them home we are not sure just where, when, or how to start with them and then they sit in the drawer. This is the book you need. It is presented and grouped by techniques such as Shimmering pages, Metallics, Inks, Chalks, Textures and more. Each of these chapters explains multiple techniques to achieve the given effect. Each project has a full list of materials needed, a helpful hint and a degree of difficulty. You can't go wrong with this one.

This book may have been imaginative for it's time, but had I seen this book in a store I never would have purchased it. I felt the layouts were dated and lacked that POP we are looking for. Some of the technique suggestions were good, but it was an overall disappointment.

The lay-outs in this book are beautiful, but the authers idea of beginner is way off the mark. If you have already spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars on scrapbooking supplies, this is a great book for you, but she is using techniques in this book that beginners wouldn't even have a clue about. The supplies that are suggested would be unknown to a beginner, and quite frankly, some intermediates also. If you are a seasoned veteran at scrapbooking, this is the book for you, but if you are a seasoned veteran, you probably already know all the tips and techniques in this book. I found this a much better picture book than reference book.

Jill Miller is a magician. Not only has she made absolutely beautiful pages but they are easy to make. With her easy to follow detailed instructions, tons of tips and tricks, I plan on making just about every page she has. Since I am not of the creative mind I have to be a copy cat and I can't wait until my friends and family see what I copy from Jill's book. If you only buy one idea book or magazine, make this the book. It is filled with just about anything you could do on a scrapbook page. Thanks Jill!

If I've had an opportunity to saw this book before buy it, I didn't it.
In my opinion the layouts showed in this book are overshot and simple; I don't recommend!

I personally put a lot of stock in the reviews when deciding to buy a book online. The contents page sounded great, the reviews were pretty good, but if I had SEEN this book there is no way I would have purchased it.
My recommendation is to find a way to see the pages BEFORE you spend 20$ on this book.