Paint on Paper

This book is quite unlike any other craft title I've seen recently, and will appeal to a very broad base of crafters, from scrapbookers to beaders and card-makers to mosaic artists.

An incredible range of paper-decorating techniques are covered in the book, including dry-brushing, stippling, daubing, layered stamping, reverse stamping, lino-block printing, stencilling, encaustic art, batik, wax stencilling, sun paint, dip-dyeing, stamp-pad staining, scrunching off, embossed motifs, wax rubbing, marbling, monoprinting, vegetable dyeing, and metallic effects. I could go on and on - there are more than 130!

The techniques are interspersed with clear and colourful photographs and plenty of creative application and project ideas. The text is conversational and easy to follow.

The first section of the book is dedicated to describing the various kinds of paper used in the book (I had no idea there were quite so many different types of paper!), as well as the paints, dyes, glazes and tools you may need. There's even a very simple explanation of how to test the acidity level of any piece of paper, using ordinary household bits and pieces. You'll have to get the book to get the full instructions, but I'll give you a little hint - you'll need red cabbage, amongst other things. Intrigued?

Paint on Paper presents a selection of accessible projects and techniques, and is suitable for those just getting started with crafts, as well as advanced crafters looking to give their work a new twist; it's also likely to be a hit with children and their art teachers. In fact, this is the kind of book that every crafter should have on their bookshelf, because it's bound to come in handy soooner or later...

Reviewed by Kerry-Anne Gilowey

Also available in Afrikaans as Verf op Papier