5 comments about Great Rubber Stamping: Ideas, Tips and Techniques.

1. On first glance at the table of contents, this book may seem to be for crafters of all levels, but I think it is best for those who already know how to stamp. Overall I think this book is useful, but it has a few drawbacks mixed in with some good advice and projects.

   The first 17 pages of the Introduction could have been condensed into just a few. Also, I would have rather had pictures of the tools and techniques mentioned in this section, rather than just representations of finished products. I did think that the second half of the introduction was more informative. I especially liked the section on the elements of design.

   In the Simple Stamping section Ritchie does not clearly list materials or take you through the stamping process at the time you most need it. I can understand not doing this later in the book for the more advanced projects, but I wish she would have included more pictures of intermediate stages at this point. You might ask yourself how hard can stamping be? However, to newbies such as myself who do not know much about inks and papers and such, more information would have been helpful. I do like the general tips she has scattered throughout the book.

   The last section of projects is titled Frames and Backgrounds. This section contains the more advanced stamping projects. It is broken up into three smaller sections titled Embossing, Punch Art, and Special Effects. These projects all involve different layers of paper, ribbon, charms. By the way, all the projects in the book involve stamping on paper, but some of the techniques could be easily translated into projects using other materials.

   In the appendix there is an Illustrated Glossary which is very nice and a list of sources. These sources should be fairly recent because the book was published in 2001.

   I think people new to stamping may want to learn basic techniques from another book, but this book would be a good one to go back to after gaining some experience. This would make a nice addition to the collection of intermediate and advanced stampers because Ritchie has some really nice projects.




2. Lots of fun ideas, techniques (e.g. embossing, using a brayer, making envelopes,using windows), uses of different textures, etc. Has clear step-wise directions on how to do certain techniques. Not so complex that a beginner couldn't easily grow into this. I really like the discussion of visual appeal that is peppered throughout.



3. I love this book. It was delivered fast from Gary Smith as a used book. It was in A+ #1 condition. I appreceiatd the fast service. Thanks Gary!!!!



4. The book has nice photographs and examples of stamping, but doesn't have enough information about the techniques nor the supplies used. I didn't like it. I thought I would learned everything for stamping but this is not the right book. I think I would keep searching in other books.



5. I have been stamping for a year, and enjoy learning new techniques, getting tips, and seeing examples to get some creative ideas of my own. This book is organized, informative, beautifully illustrated, and has easy to follow directions and tips to make all my projects come out looking good. This book would be excellent for experienced or beginning stampers.

5 comments about Making Greeting Cards With Rubber Stamps.

1. I'm new to stamping and am quite impressed with this book, as it provides enough information for beginners like myself to really understand how to do the techniques, and has also helped familiarize me with the stamping terminology.

   My only criticism is that someone obviously goofed in putting the book together, as the first pages of the "Getting Started" and "Special Effects" chapters are reversed. I almost put the book back on the shelf at the store when I saw that, figuring the rest of the book would have problems like that as well. Fortunately, it's the only problem I've encountered... it's just a little disconcerting!




2. I've learned alot from this book. This was the first book I bought when I got into rubber stamping. I truly recommend this to anyone who really enjoys rubber stamping. The book comes with me when ever I travel. I bring it out alot when holidays and b-days come along for some ideas I can combine with a card to make.



3. This is a great book for beginners and has excellent explanations and step by step instructions for the techniques involved.

   The only thing that stopped me from giving this book 5 stars is that the designs in the book are a little dated looking, and the list at the end of the book of what stamps were used and where to buy them was not nearly complete and explicit enough.




4. I was thrilled with this book. I am a novice at rubber stamping and I wanted to make my own Christmas cards this year, so I bought Ms. McGraw's book hoping it would be what I needed. It is perfect for the beginner (and probably those who know some about stamping but want more ideas and information). The book is laid out in a format that is easy to follow and not overwhelming or confusing. It is written with specifics in mind. It offers plenty of options giving you room to stamp as fancy or as simple as you like. I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves stamps!



5. I am just getting started in the hobby of stamping and card making. This book was nice, but I have seen better. Maybe once I start doing more and become an avid card maker/stamper, I will appreciate this one more.

1 comments about Art of Rubber Stamping.

1. This is a great book for a beginning rubberstamper, and it is a shame that it is so hard to find. It has step-by-step instructions, along with illustrations and photographs. Michelle has a second book which is EVEN BETTER, called Rubberstamping, Beyond the Basics. She includes many money saving ideas, as well as lots of inspiration

No comments about Rubber Stamping (A Passion for Paper).

No comments about Creative Stamping for Scrapbookers (Memory Makers).

3 comments about The Weekend Crafter: Painting Floorcloths: 20 Canvas Rugs to Stamp, Stencil, Sponge, and Spatter in a Weekend.

1. I got this book from my local library and read it from cover to cover. It was informative, clear and made the process managable for non-painter types (like me). I had to have the book!



2. I read this book from cover to cover. I am not a painter and have never attempted anything like this before. I wanted to be sure that I was getting all the information I needed to be prepared in painting my first floorcloth. This book is a must have for anyone that wants to start painting floorcloths. The information is very detailed with step by step instructions for many projects. I learned so much about the differences in canvas,paints,techniques,what different tools to have and what they can do. You must check out kathy coopers website. It's great. She has given me the confidence and the background information to enhance my skills as a crafter and artist.



3. Having made several floorcloths, I was encouraging my sister to try it. I bought this book not only because it offers easy to understand step by step directions, it also makes you realize that you don't have to be an artist to create a beautiful cloth. The author's ideas are so creative, yet simple enough that anyone reading this book will be motivated to give this project a try.

3 comments about Rubberstamping With Watercolors.

1. I ordered this book(let) thinking it was a new book by Dave (whom I love). Sorry to disappoint... If you own his very first watercolor book, this booklet is merely an excerpt. I am returning it. It would be really helpful if Amazon would mention this kind of information along with the book...



2. i think it was kind of disappointing . i am not a watercolor artist but love to rubberstamp and I wanted to have more knowledge on the basics of watercolrs.This book shows easy projects and nothing to dazzle you with.



3. This is for a beginner in both water color and rubber stamping. It has nice ideas about both with technique and samples. Anyone that has done either stamping or water color painting will gain nothing from this one.

5 comments about The Ultimate Rubber Stamping Technique Book.

1. Until I bought this book I didn't think that I could create anything really interesting and professional-looking. Was I wrong! The Ultimate Rubber Stamping Technique Book provides excellent direction and, more importantly, really inspires you to try some new things. Even my husband has now taken a turn at stamping and found it to be far less complicated than he thought it would be.

   Bottom line: follow the directions in this book and you can be an artist, even if you can't draw!




2. Gail Green gives rubber stamping a new meaning with lots of fun projects available in the book. She makes everyone want to try their hand on some project that's fun and exciting even if they are not an artist. I throughly enjoyed trying the easy projects. I even enjoyed the project stamping bricks. This is a must have book for the true collector.



3. Not only is this book a must for beginners, but also for anyone else with any interest in rubber stamping. It has so many ideas and projects that it seems like anyone could find something they are interested in trying but haven't. For the beginner, it has very complete but very easy to understand directions for becoming a complete rubber stamper. I don't think a "How To" book could accomplish any more than this one does.



4. THIS BOOK IS THE BEST BOOK I'VE SEEN YET! THAT EXPLAINS HOW TO DO. MASKINGS AND BAYERINGS, AS WELL STEP BY STEP INFORMATION ON RUBBER STAMPING ON ANY SURFACE.
   I WAS JUST AT THE LIBARY TO AND I FOUND THIS BOOK AND SAT AND READ IT COVER TO COVER. I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN.
   I WOULD RATE BOOK AS EXCELLENT!!!!



5. I suppose this is a good book if you have NEVER rubber stamped or seen anything other that stamp on ink on paper. But I am rather inexperienced, and I thought this was not good at all for what I was looking for. If you are new to rubber stamping, fine. But if you have anything more than even the most basic experience, I'd pass on this and get something more advanced.

1 comments about The Fabric Stamping Handbook: Fun Projects, Tips & Tricks, Unlimited Possibilities.

1. I like this book most because it provides a wide variety of creative projects. The techniques also can transfer to mediums other than fabric. The one drawback is that some projects have better descriptions and instructions than others. The author provides a good description of the tools and materials necessary to do fabric stamping at the begining of the book, but the book does not give instructions for some steps that more experienced crafters might already know. Despite this drawback, I found the book to be inspiring. So, overall I think it is a good book, but those readers who are beginners might want to start with another book and come back to this one.

5 comments about 30-Minute Rubber Stamp Workshop.

1. This book is somewhat mistitled. There are detailed projects but even better it is full of well spoken product descriptions and objecive recommendations.Tools are included as projects are carried out. A refreshing change from most stamp project books.



2. Unfortunately I read the reviews and very excitely order the "30 minute stamp workshop" and while the style is definitely artsy, the proposed projects are very goofy. Sorry, I just don't know anyone that is going to wear the stamped barette I make them or use the cardboard stamped clock. I really was looking for a book showing "non-cute" greeting card, stationary and journal designs that I can whip out in 30 minutes or less thanks to step-by-step instructions. Yes, many of todays paper art magazine like Inspiration do show artwork and list supplies but I wanted more than that, like this book, but in stationary form.



3. What a fun, idea filled book! The step-by-step- photos and instructions are easy to follow and beautifully printed. I bought this book for my niece who is a new stamper because I thought the title referred to a rubberstamp workshop where you learn how to do all the basics in 30 minutes. Boy! How wrong was I? As soon as I saw the book I had to have one for myself too. There is so much information on both product and technique. There are also lots of time saving hints for those of us who need them. The whole book is written in an informal, entertaining style that is irresitable. I read it cover to cover and I RARELY do that with an instructional book. You will definitely get your moneys worth with this book. This artsy book is on "making gifts" and not "stationary" although there are some excellent stationary ides in the book. I've used several of McCall's ideas as a jump off point- tweaked them to make them my own and they have since become best sellers at my craft shows! Thanks McCall!



4. I received this book promptly and in great shape. So far,I am enjoying the book and the new projects to try. Definitely was not disappointed.



5. if you are looking for specific project to make and have a certain type of aesthetic, then mccall's 30 minute rubber stamp workshop is for you. mccall's book has 27 projects, from decorative push-pins to bookends to a clock to wearables like pins, bracelets, and barrettes. the several pages of lists of tools and supplies was a bit daunting (but very very practical and useful); if you don't have most of these things already you will have to lay out some money. however, you would need most of these supplies to make any kinds of nice-looking projects using rubber stamping; once you have them, you can use them for projects other than the ones in mccall's book.
   
   i have to say that for the most part i don't share mccall's aesthetic. a number of these projects look fairly "crafty" to me and a few are even a bit crude-looking to my eye, although i also think that some of these same projects are also conceptually quite inventive. for instance, the clock project in the book is largely made from cardboard that just gets stamped on, and it never looks like anything other than a cardboard clock. however, an artist with some imagination could find a way to elaborate on mccall's great concept and use her directions to make something that looks more "finished."
   
   besides the clock concept, in this book my favorite projects (many of which i would use my own aesthetic to make, something that i think mccall fully intends) include the "art-a-tacs" that are pushpins with a flat ended marble attached. i really like what people are doing with the flat-ended marbles these days, making anything from these push-pins to jewelry with them. the tacks themselves are great, but again, i'm not particularly fond of the cardboard "utilitarian" look mccall incorporated with the pushpin holder. i also like the small book project, the leather spiral notebook (she shows you how to make your own wire spiral! nice.), the shade pull, and the shrink plastic button. mccall's examples with these projects are also the most visually appealing to me, and seem to have the most potential for people to build on based on their own color sense and stamp collections.
   
   i am building a library of books about bookmaking, papermaking, and rubber stamping, and at the moment i probably won't buy mccall's book. i checked out a copy from the library to evaluate it, and in the end i decided that given my limited book-buying budget, i won't get the kinds of instruction and the number of widely-applicable ideas that i'm looking for (the most bang for _my_ buck is what i guess i'm saying). nevertheless, i do think the book will be best for people who want to make the specific projects in the book--mccall's instructions are terrific, clearly laid out step-by-step with good photos to follow along as you go. and, later on, after i've bought what seems to me to be the most "foundational" books i need for my library, i probably will add on mccall's book.