Customer Reviews

Vintage Paper Crafts

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

 

 

These are simple projects - you do not need any more instruction than you get , it's not rocket science. I love S. Evertson too , and own her books as well , but the pictures she provides are often already cut and altered , which is it's own set of problems. So is the re-sizing , at least for me! ( I don't think my printer likes me much.) (I'm also pretty sure it's not the same one she has.) I'm certainly not going to complain , though. Anna isn't as whimsical as Sandra - her style is an eclectic and elegant one. Google her and take a look , see if you like it. I read a comment about these not being "practical" , and they aren't. They're decorative , fun little things to screw around with when you feel like creating something just to make it , I think , instead of bending your mind around the one that's giving your brain a cramp. And you can always pick an item in your home you'd like to modify , and adapt a project from the book to that - pick something that has a pleasing look to it , and go for it!

Anna doesn't use much you can't find yourself the same way she does , other than actually travelling. The materials can be found the same way I find them - go look. Look at thrift stores , garage sales , dollar , craft and fabric stores , antique stores and online. Look for images in the Library of Congress , which is a nightmare of navigating but doable (good maps to download) or get great clipart on ebay. If you're dedicated , and I say this with a smile , you already know that! You can actually google "found objects" and come up with stores that will sell them to you (who knew? I didn't , at least not until just recently!).

Oh , just buy it - it's a fun one.

After being inundated by dark "altered" arts lately, this book is a welcome reprieve from the grungy. It delivers unique, fresh, and LOVELY ideas for using vintage paper items. I will buy as many Anna Corba books as she publishes.

I love this book! The photographs are beautiful, and the ideas are fresh, smart, and easy to do. It has become one of my favorite reference books! I highly recommend this book.

I am a great craft book fan and looked forward to receiving this one. It is visually pleasing and even includes quite a bit of ephemera for the reader to use (must be photocopied and not cut because it is two-sided, but that's OK).

My problem was that, with the exception of the intro where the reader is told to 'go to flea markets - and the one in Paris is great' none of the projects had any sourcing guidelines at all.

I also found the instructions were quite bland - meaning they were numbered and typed without any step-by-step photographs - only pictures of the completed projects. Even the descriptions often left you wanting a little more.

Overall - great book as a jumping off point for your imagination; I just wished she shared more techniques rather than a bevy of finished projects.

I absolutely adored this book. There are many beautiful art project ideas with easy to follow instructions. Anna Corba also provides many vintage images in the back of the book that you may use to create these or other art projects. I have made many of the art projects and they came out better than I ever expected. This book is a MUST HAVE.... loved it.

I couldn't be happier with this book! The projects within are definately for vintage lovers. Neat ways to use vintage paper ephemera, easy, clear instructions and supply list, with lots of tips. The pics are great too. I created several of the composition notebooks, covered with sheet music, and old pages from children's books, and they sold like hotcakes. Be prepared to be inspired and get creating!

Was disappointed in the ideas. Seemed to be more of an extension of the author's collections, than ideas for the reader. Scanned the book it and put it on the shelf, won't be one that I use as a constant reference.

I had the honor of taking Anna's workshop this past week after which I purchased her book. The whole package is one of simple elegance. Anna is showing a way of life through her book and artwork. I found this book a wonderful journey outside of the hassles of daily life. It is visually restful and that is a good thing, especially with mixed media which can be over-stimulating at times. The book's format is beautiful and allows you to fully appreciate the lovely artwork. This is a wonderful book to leave out, on my coffee table to puruse again and again. To remind me to slow down, simplify where I can, and enjoy beauty for beauties sake. Thank you Anna:-)

I enjoyed this book, which I thought had some inspirational projects and ideas. I like Anna's style and didn't mind that the book includes no "step-by-step" instructions. I do think more photos could have been included (I noticed several duplications) as well as a CD containing the ephemera. A trend is developing now of including clip art in the final pages of craft books. In my opinion, if clip art is to be included, a CD (which costs only pennies to produce) containing the clip art images should also be included. Having to take a book apart to copy and resize pages is not a good thing. I won't be taking my book apart to copy it; so the purpose is defeated.

This book isn't worth the $ if you're a crafter looking for true inspiration. Sure, the projects are pretty but nothing we haven't seen before. Author does NOT go into details with the projects and I honestly was left wondering, "Does she really want people making this stuff? Or is she just trying to get her name out there?"

If you want a look at this book, get it at the library or flip through it at the book store. It's not worth buying at full price, however.

I recommend Pretty Little Things by Sally Jean Alexander instead, and also browsing artful blogging blogs and tutorials! Those are better than this book!