35 beautiful projects to transform yourbooks-create cards, display scenes, decorations, gifts and more.
I have been fascinated by book art since it first appeared on the scene about fifteen years ago. In those days it was more a technique used by artists but in the last few years it has become very popular in the craft world. It looks very difficult to do, particularly the folded books where an image appears as if by magic.
What Clare Youngs has managed to do is to show her readers how to make some inspired book art pieces. For those of you who love books and think it is a travesty to cut them up, it is worth considering what Clare says in her introduction.
‘ Four years ago I wrote Book Art. In the introduction I talked about my love of books and how the decision to cut or fold doesn’t come easy. I still find this hard, but I have made a few rules for myself: I never cut up a rare book and I only use tatty and damaged books or samples that would end up being recycled.’
The book covers three main techniques:
Folded books includes many ideas, here are a few of my favorites: an ampersand, a butterfly a bird a knot and a star.
The making scenes section , has a little mermaid, a fairy tale castle, honey comb and bees and mushrooms and ferns, there is even knitted paper.
The chapter on refashioning pages includes brilliant origami slip covers that look very like, much of the ceramics currently in the shops. I love the little sailing boats and the baby elephant on wheels. There is a lovely selection of tags to make and hydrangers.
There are templates, tools and techniques.
Clare has such a strong graphic style and having read the book I came away wanting to make everything! So I can see what I will be doing in the autumn and winter.
Folded book art by Clare Youngs published by Cico Books £14.99 www.rylandspetersandsmall
Photography by Jo Henderson © CICO Books
Why not also check out CICO’s new craft website – https://makeetc.com
creativecolour.org 