Pockets, Pull-outs, and Hiding Places: Interactive Elements for Altered Books, Memory Art, and Collage (Paperback)

by Jenn Mason (Author) "As a paper artist and a scrapbook designer who enjoys all things having to do with paper, I have watched the blending of several artistic..." (more)
Key Phrases: accordion pullout, soft gel gloss, using ephemera (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
More and more artists are seeking clever ways to make their albums and paper projects more interesting and three-dimensional. One of the most exciting ways of accomplishing this is by adding interactive elements, such as doors that open and reveal hidden layers, and envelopes and pockets that hold secret text, personal letters, or special photos.

Pockets, Pull-outs, and Hiding Places: A Guide to Interactive Altered Books, Memory Art, and Collage teaches the paper engineering techniques for making three dimensional and interactive "paper tools" such as vellum pockets or hinged doors that reveal mini booklets underneath. These tools are applicable to alter book, memory art, and collage artists at any level of experience. The tools are also adjustable enough to be used in any style of work.

About the Author
Jennifer Mason's scrapbook design and paper art has been published in numerous books and leading art and scrapbook magazines. She worked as codesigner for Anna Griffin's Elegant Scrapbooking and also contributed to Sandi Genovese's Three Dimensional Scrapbooking. Her work has appeared on PBS, QVC, and HSN. She lives in Keller, Texas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Quarry Books (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592531504
• ISBN-13: 978-1592531509
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #81,094 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beginners goldmine, May 3, 2006

By	Karmagold (Texas) - See all my reviews

Buy this book if you are new to altered forms, pockets and pull-outs; the instructions and examples are all clear and explicit. There's 20+ techniques/models, so you'll get your money's worth. The examples are very mommy-track and scrapbooky, which is all good, but not the same as leading-edge altered art. (Hence the battle-of-reviewers found here. Sheesh.)

If you're looking for something edgier or with greater range in style and substance, consider the books and websites of Teesha Moore, Sarah Fishburn, Lesley Riley, Claudine Hellmuth, Lynne Perella, Jan Bode-Smiley, Sas Colby, Karen Michel and others in this class.

I gave this a 3-of-5 because of un-truth in advertising; the title, *Pockets, Pull-outs, and Hiding Places: Interactive Elements for Altered Books, Memory Art, and Collage*, is a misnomer.

175 of 195 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Deceptive Description--Not for Artists or Collagists, April 30, 2005

By	Picfactory (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This is described as being for artists interested in altered books, memory art, and collage. This is a misleading description. I was looking for ideas for the handmade books and greeting cards that I make. Everything in here is for scrapbookers, not for artists interested in book arts and collage. There's nothing wrong with scrapbooking, but I wish this had been more accurately described. I wouldn't have bought it if I'd actually gotten to see it first. There is nothing in here that I would think of as art--mostly it's tacky-looking scrapbook pages of the author's and contributors' kids and families. If this had actually had some original ideas in it that could be used in other contexts, I could forgive this, but these examples aren't all that original or interesting, and don't inspire me to try anything new. There's nothing in here that I can use in my work. Most of these semi-ideas have been done and seen before in other places, and are of little interest to anyone who is not a scrapbooker. It's another book jumping on the scrapbooking bandwagon that feels designed to encourage you to buy products to support the scrapbooking industry, not to teach you useful art techniques and skills. If you're a scrapbooker fairly new to the hobby, you might like this. If you are one of the "artists" the blurb describes who is looking for inspiration to add another dimension to your altered books and artwork, you might find this insulting and disappointing. They are marketing this to the wrong audience.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for Inspiration, May 26, 2006

By	V. Burris "occassional reader" (CA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought the book because I liked the ideas it gave me for my own altered book projects. I do wish there were more pictures explaining the processes, but the verbal instructions are very detailed. Not really good for those who learn by "seeing".

I like the numerous ideas they give in the book, making it the main reason I purchased it. It gives a great variety of layout concepts and designs.

Geared more for the scrapbooker, an altered book artist can glean a bit from the book. The templates in the back are very useful, making this a great resource! However, if you are looking for an altered book publication, there are better ones out there.