Paper Illuminated by Helen Hiebert
15 Projects for Making Handcrafted Luminaria, Lanterns, Screens, Lamp Shades and Window Treatments
Storey Books - September 2001
ISBN: 1580173306 - Paperback

Reviewed by Carisa Weeaks, MyShelf.Com
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Paper Illuminated has 15 projects for hand crafted luminary lanterns, screens, lampshades, and window treatments. It is definitely something for the hard-core crafter. It has 5 sections.

The first has information on enhancing paper. It shows how to select the paper and art material. It also shows how to begin making the paper translucent. You can also add color, texture, and dimension.

The second section deals with paper and candlelight. It has detailed drawings of how to make pop up lanterns, shadow lanterns, and votive candle covers. They are beautiful.

Section three concerns paper and natural light. It, too, shows detailed drawings, only they're of the various types of paper blinds, shades, room dividers, and screens.

The fourth deals with paper and incandescent light. This shows how to decorate battery-operated lights, wall mounted light fixtures, lamps, and any other kind of light fixtures. These projects vary from a simple four-piece pumpkin to a spinning lantern to even a mounted ceiling lamp.

The fifth section contains "lamp basics". It covers safety, light bulbs types, lamp bases, wiring and even the rewiring of lamps.

The end has the typical appendix, glossary, supply sources, and a bonus - patterns for some of the craft ideas.

This is a fascinating, absorbing craft book deserving of the 'ooh's and 'ah's it will receive from its readers. Some ideas are very simple and basic, yet some are so detailed that it would take an experienced crafter to create them. This is definitely a book for those like to fill their house with homemade creations. They're creative, inexpensive, and definitely bring out the Martha Stewart out in all of us.

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