Stencil Girl: Mixed-Media Techniques for Making and Using Stencils

(My review seems to have sparked a lot of feelings of hatred. For my part, I don't like these feelings, so I decided to pull the review, but not my rating. The furor seems to have died down now, so I'm re-posting it.)I'm trying to decide if this deserves three stars, but I hesitate to bash the book. Some people might like it. For me it's a 1.5 star book, for the rest of the art world, maybe a three.There are NO PICTURES on the Supplies page which is unfortunate because the projects call for a number of supplies I haven't heard of or am not sure about: wood icing, wood burning tool with shading tip, Thermofax screen (no instructions on how to make or get one). You'd have to use the Internet to make sure you were getting the right things. But in essence she says you can use anything. To quote, "I think you get the idea."The book promises techniques for making stencils. These are LISTED on the supply page: Hand-cut stencils (examples include E-Z Cut Stencil Material, acetate, contact paper, scrap paper), found objects, masks. She didn't even say anything about using masking tape. It's like you have to do the work, but you've paid her to do it by buying her book. A picture is worth a thousand words and would generate ideas for stencil material, but NO PHOTOS of supplies. The only technique I see for making a stencil in the book is cutting accordion-folded paper dolls out of paper.There should be a section on Making Stencils where you're shown a number of fundamental ways to make and use them (besides cutting them out of paper or using an X-acto knife and Mylar sheets). Instead, the book plunges into a complicated and ugly first project using unfamiliar materials and a complimentary pair of stencils you might not be able to find at the local craft store. She tells you to let the stencil be your composition tool.One instruction says: "Add paint wherever you'd like. Get enough on the board to lightly cover the whole thing." (Whether I'd like it covered or not?)A great deal of the book is devoted to 3-D projects. A hole-punched tin can lantern covered with fakey jewels, a sequin-studded star ornament, a cupcake. These were a waste of pages-art book turned crafty. I don't want to make junk like that. When my kind, mild-mannered husband saw the dimensional Easter egg tree painting, he laughed at it. (These ugly projects are not viewable in the Preview the Book feature Amazon offers.)The best part of the book was the art work by other people and there was quite a lot of that with short descriptions of techniques and materials.Stencil Girl reminds me of the old days when you'd buy a music album by an unfamiliar group. You liked the one song you heard on the radio, but it turns out that's the only good song on the album. In re-perusing the book while writing this review I still haven't decided to keep it. I like some of the pictures and no-hassle returns cost money, but if I'd had a chance to look through it before I pre-ordered it (which you can't do when you pre-order the book, you make your decision based on the book's description), or had seen it in the bookstore, I wouldn't buy it.

****I bought this lovely book hoping that it would help me find creative ways to use the many stencils I own. It is a gorgeous book and the author seems very talented. Each chapter has step-by-step instructions for a project along with pictures of each step, followed up by examples of other artists' work using the same medium; for example, if it was working with felt, there would be some examples of what other artists had done with stencils and felt. The work seemed very creative to me.Unfortunately, I wasn't able to follow the instructions for any of the projects. I couldn't understand how to do the steps. I would need definitions of some of the words and instructions for the techniques the author wrote about--maybe to have the steps broken down into 4-5 mini-steps. It was far beyond me.For example, the first instruction for the first project: "Begin with a Claybord substrate. Carve into the surface with a craft knife or carving tool, using geometric stencils as a guide." I don't know what a Claybord substrate is. I have a craft knife but can't really tell exactly what she is doing in the picture. The second instruction: "Add another more detailed stencil under the original stencil. Put a thin layer of Wood Icing (about as thick as the stencil itself) on the area covered by both stencils, using an offset palette knife." I don't know how to position the stencils...there is a picture, but I still can't figure it out from looking at it. I don't understand Wood Icing. I don't have or know how to use an offset palette knife. There are pictures, but I was unable to understand this project--or any project--by studying them.It gets harder as you go along. If you understand what I wrote above, this book may be perfect for you. I am saving it because it is a gorgeous book and certainly is packed with ideas. When I learn more about how to use stencils, I will return to it. If anyone has any recommendation for a good book for beginners with stencils, could you please leave your recommendation in the comments? I would appreciate it.Recommended, but not for beginners with stencils or mixed-media.****

This book is project based. I'm really not interested in following instructions for doing something someone else has designed. However, I learned several new ways to use stencils, that I want to try incorporating into my own work.

I think that the title is misleading as I found just one sentence about making stencils which is what I wanted to know about.

Fast delivery and great book

Disappointed. Personally I thought the projects were ugly. It was not inspirational or comprehensive enough for me. I haven't even finished reading it.

Such fun

Great book with nice coloured photographs & great service! Thanks!