The New Photo Crafts: Photo Transfer Techniques and Projects for Fabric, Paper, Wood, Polymer Clay & More

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly Good!
Review: This book was so much better than I thought it would be. I expected the usual tacky, cliche photo crafts, but that was not the case. There were quite a few ideas I had not seen before (and I have a LOT of craft books) and lots of other projects that were nicely updated to the tastes of today's more sophisticated crafter. I especially liked the "Vintage Print Quilt" which can easily be done by those of us that don't sew, as it's all zigzag stitching. The author uses a number of different photo materials and methods in her projects -regular photographs and prints, photocopies, image transferring to fabric and polymer clay, digital photographs and hand-colouring photos. I haven't read all the text, so I can't say if it's well written, or not, but many of the projects certainly look interesting. You will not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly Good!
Review: This book was so much better than I thought it would be. I expected the usual tacky, cliche photo crafts, but that was not the case. There were quite a few ideas I had not seen before (and I have a LOT of craft books) and lots of other projects that were nicely updated to the tastes of today's more sophisticated crafter. I especially liked the "Vintage Print Quilt" which can easily be done by those of us that don't sew, as it's all zigzag stitching. The author uses a number of different photo materials and methods in her projects -regular photographs and prints, photocopies, image transferring to fabric and polymer clay, digital photographs and hand-colouring photos. I haven't read all the text, so I can't say if it's well written, or not, but many of the projects certainly look interesting. You will not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Not very exciting
Review: While not completely without merits, The New Photo Crafts was a big disappointment from a publisher (Lark Books) whose books are usually exciting and interesting, both visually and instructionally. The book begins with a quick overview of photography methods, types of film & cameras, and an intro-duction to taking a "good" picture. The first chapter is perfunctory and uninspiring, but is okay as a basic (very basic) overview to get the reader started. This book, however, lacks the usual quality, visual and instructional excitement usually found in Lark books. Many of the projects are very shoddily put together: Anniversary Couple Commemorative Portrait is very roughly cut out around the edges as is the diorama photo on page 35. These projects look amateurish and slapped together. The refrigerator photo frame magnets are insultingly basic--just pieces of cut out felt with a photo sandwiched in between and a magnet glued to the back. Any half-way intelligent or talented crafter could come up with that one out on their own. The School Friends Frame was another project that was amateurish, unattractive and completely uninspiring: Photocopied, individual portrait photos of schoolmates, placed around the perimeter of a sheet of white paper with a child's drawing in the center and the whole thing plopped into a clip frame. How exciting is that to "create" to anyone more skilled than a grade schooler? The Fabric Photo Album was a mess. The fabrics and findings appeared slapped together with no thought to composition, color or pleasing arrangement. The first line in the instructions, ironically, says to "Take the time to plan the design." Perhaps the designer of this project should have taken her own advise. The book is not completely without merits, however, and there are some projects that are interesting. The lampshade project is funky and fun, and could be adapted to any size shade and fixture, with endless themes. The Flip Books are a fun project, and the Carmen Miranda doll is a real fun, funky way to use a photograph in an unexpected way. I liked the light switch plate a lot--it has clear instructions, and many possibilities depending on the type of room and photo used. The polymer clay transfers are another great idea. There are quite a few ideas for different handmade cards and folding book-type cards that are nice, too. But overall, in my opinion, this book was not worthy of the Lark name, and I couldn't recommend it to crafters who are more advanced or who are looking for something really original.

Rating:
Summary: Not very exciting
Review: While not completely without merits, The New Photo Crafts was a big disappointment from a publisher (Lark Books) whose books are usually exciting and interesting, both visually and instructionally. The book begins with a quick overview of photography methods, types of film & cameras, and an intro-duction to taking a "good" picture. The first chapter is perfunctory and uninspiring, but is okay as a basic (very basic) overview to get the reader started. This book, however, lacks the usual quality, visual and instructional excitement usually found in Lark books. Many of the projects are very shoddily put together: Anniversary Couple Commemorative Portrait is very roughly cut out around the edges as is the diorama photo on page 35. These projects look amateurish and slapped together. The refrigerator photo frame magnets are insultingly basic--just pieces of cut out felt with a photo sandwiched in between and a magnet glued to the back. Any half-way intelligent or talented crafter could come up with that one out on their own. The School Friends Frame was another project that was amateurish, unattractive and completely uninspiring: Photocopied, individual portrait photos of schoolmates, placed around the perimeter of a sheet of white paper with a child's drawing in the center and the whole thing plopped into a clip frame. How exciting is that to "create" to anyone more skilled than a grade schooler? The Fabric Photo Album was a mess. The fabrics and findings appeared slapped together with no thought to composition, color or pleasing arrangement. The first line in the instructions, ironically, says to "Take the time to plan the design." Perhaps the designer of this project should have taken her own advise. The book is not completely without merits, however, and there are some projects that are interesting. The lampshade project is funky and fun, and could be adapted to any size shade and fixture, with endless themes. The Flip Books are a fun project, and the Carmen Miranda doll is a real fun, funky way to use a photograph in an unexpected way. I liked the light switch plate a lot--it has clear instructions, and many possibilities depending on the type of room and photo used. The polymer clay transfers are another great idea. There are quite a few ideas for different handmade cards and folding book-type cards that are nice, too. But overall, in my opinion, this book was not worthy of the Lark name, and I couldn't recommend it to crafters who are more advanced or who are looking for something really original.