The Cloth Paper Scissors Book by Barbara Delaney, softback published by Interweave. ISBN 978-1-59668-397-6, price 17.99 available in the UK from www.searchpress.com

Any fan of Cloth Paper Scissors, the US magazine will have been clawing to grab hold of a copy of this. However, when I started to flick through the pages I kept having a feeling of deja vu – sure enough, this is nothing more than a selection of the best articles that have appeared in the magazine. So my advice is, if you have the magazines but want a collection of the best articles, or preferably if you do not have any of the magazines – buy it. However, if you are happy with your magazines and don’t want to pay again for the same articles – don’t buy it. I would have thought there were enough unpublished articles for Cloth Paper Scissors to have presented us with new ideas. The blurb on the book does state clearly on the back cover that these articles have been previously published in the last six years of the magazine. It should be judged on its content not that a reader may already have the magazines. The book includes all manner of work and media, ideas and inspiration for creating mixed media art. What it does, it does very well. There are ideas to get you started, printmaking with an excellent article on building layers by Beryl Taylor, one of my all-time favourite articles from the magazine, a good section on journals and book making, collage and assemblage – it gets a bit wild and wacky here, which is why I gave up my subscription to the magazine and switched to Quilting Arts, an interesting look at mixed media stitching and lastly selling your art, which offers ten tips and largely promotes Etsy, which I found amusing. This book should capture a new market, uninterested in magazines and subscriptions but willing to pay for a book from which they can gather ideas, inspiration and knowledge.

Cardmaker’s Hand-Lettering Workbook by N. Burke & M. Rodenhizer, softback published by Annie’s Attic. ISBN 978-1-59635-378-7, price 5.99 in the UK available from www.searchpress.com

Add a personal and professional touch to your car making by mastering the art of hand lettering. There’s a guide to hand lettering basics, an art that the authors fear might disappear owing to social media and email. The book then provides some exciting typefaces to use. There are seventeen different typefaces to use given as complete alphabets. The wonderful gallery shows cards featuring the different typefaces. The art of hand lettering will make your cards look great.

Embroidery on Paper for Cardmakers by Annie & Nico Heesakkers, softback published by Search Press. ISBN 978-1-84448-611-3, price 6.99 available from www.searchpress.com

Originally published in Utrecht, this book provides more beautiful embroidery designs on paper for card makers. The designs are very effective and the instructions very concise. The techniques in this new book are combined with decoupage techniques. The 30 designs will suit numerous occasions.

130 New iris Folded Cards to Make by Maruscha Gaasenbeek, softback published by Search Press. ISBN 978-1-84448-610-6, price 8.99 from www.searchpress.com

Building on the success of her first book, this has more ideas for iris-folded cards. This popular way of making cards is fully explored with ideas for all kinds of special occasions. A tour de force in iris-folding. The instructions are clear and the photography is good.

The New Encyclopedia of Techniques for Crafting With Paper by Ayako Brodek, softback published by Search Press. ISBN 978-1-84448-650-2, price 12.99 available from www.searchpress.com

This book has been updated from the previously published ‘Encyclopedia of Origami and Papercraft’ in 1991, which itself was reprinted as a paperback entitled ‘Artistry in Paper’. This book covers a number of paper techniques including origami, paper sculpting, bookbinding, papier mache and pulp and other techniques. It is clearly laid out, easy to use and includes fabulous diagrams and line drawings as well as examples of what can be achieved. Precise, step-by-step instructions are given to learn the basics of each craft. By and large, this is an introductions to various paper crafting techniques for beginners and students on basic art courses. The short quilling section has the best ideas I have seen for using quilling in any book. I also think the sections are quite thorough and the projects are ones that most people would want to try. I like it, it is very useful.

Outstanding Mini Albums by Jessica Acs, softback published by FW Media in the USA. Available in the UK, ISBN 978-1-5996-3032-8, price 15.99 from www.davidandcharles.co.uk

If you are looking for something different to do – this might fit the bill. Memories can fade and finding new ways to keep memories is an exciting project. This book is full of mini scrapbooks, records of days gone by, events, people, places and interesting ways to record them. 50 illustrated projects with step by step instructions and clear photography, will have you using all manner of unusual objects to store your memories in new ways. I like the CD-scrapbooks – great idea.

Scrapbook Secrets by Kimber McGray, softback published by FW Media in the USA. Available in the UK, ISBN 978-1-5996-3034-2, price 15.99 from www.davidandcharles.co.uk

Discover how to really scrapbook with the secrets laid bare in this book. Fifty secrets are revealed to help you make your scrapbook pages look professional. Learn all about layout, quick and easy ideas and new techniques. &5 projects are included to show you how to scrapbook like Kimber.

Beautiful Quilling By Diane Boden Crane and Judy Cardinal, softback published by Search Press. ISBN 978-1-84448-510-9, price 12.99 from www.searchpress. com

A compilation form other Search Press titles, this book is a stunning guide to quilling. There are some fantastic ideas in here. The chocolates look fit to eat, the angels are so sweet, the poodles just perfect. This book really made me want to take up quilling. For beginners there is a complete how-to section and for the advanced, projects that offer a challenge. The whole book has excellent photography and step by step instructions. It is truly beautiful and magical what you can do with paper.

Paper Sculpt Sensation by Marion Elliot, softback published by D&C Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7153-297-3, price 14.99 from www.davidandcharles.co.uk

If you love playing with paper, then this is a book for you. Great ideas to sculpt paper into gift bags and so much more. Established author, Marion takes you on whirlwind tour of all you can do with paper – you won’t believe the results – everlasting flowers, crowns, cornucopias, baby shoes – the list is endless. Follow the easy to use directions, master the techniques and you’ll be astounding your friends with your paper-sculpting skills. Great layout, great ideas, good photography and the kids will love it too.

The Complete Photo Guide to Paper Crafts by Trice Boerens, softback published by Creative Publishing in the USA. ISBN 978-1-58923-468-0, price 16.99 in the UK. Available from www.creativepub.com

This is a fascinating reference kind to many kinds of paper crafts. Each one is accompanied by detailed instructions, many suggestions and illustrated with good photography. I found some sections better than others but this is a handy reference to have. Once you have learned the techniques you can proceed to apply them to your own ideas. It includes ideas for cards, paper engineering, punching, stitching, folding, journal making and many other uses for that versatile medium, paper. Some great ideas make this a useful book.