The Art of Metal & Wire
By Janet Wilson 

     Metal and wire might sound like unlikely materials with which to adorn greetings cards, boxes and neck purses but using them in this way is now very popular. If you have not tried it yet then here is a veritable cornucopia of original ideas, the latest offering from paper craft guru Janet Wilson. Try your hand at knitting a bag with wire, emboss metal sheets and add peel-offs and embroidery to embellish greetings cards. Make a handbag notebook that will not get dog-eared or use that old childhood French knitting bobbin to make unusual wire jewellery.

     As you expect with this author the instructions are clear and to the point, not needing many detailed photographed stages to state what needs to be done. This is a hands-on primer and every item in it has a set of instructions so if there is a picture of it then you can make it. The first thing the reader encounters however is a double-columned page listing a truly awesome list of materials that had me reeling; can I manage without such diverse things as bookbinder's glue, a nylon-headed hammer and Delta Paint Jewels? Do I need them for everything in the book? I don't have any of these things and I managed just fine; it all depends on what you want to make and as the items in this book are so diverse there is perhaps no basic list of supplies as there would be if you wanted to take up dressmaking or carpentry for example. There is a section at the front too that details how to use certain items which is handy so you can make a simple low-tech texturing mallet (if you have a hot glue gun). Also find out exactly how a wire jig and a wire winder work or what to do for with Friendly Plastic for best results.

     Unlike many craft books there are no holiday projects here (although there is a use for that empty Elvas Plums box after Christmas) and it might have been nice to have had a couple of festive cards as shiny metals seem to be tailor-made for winter holiday decorations. However, most things are very general purpose, and with a little thought can be altered slightly to fit the bill. My advice is to read the book through and decide what you want to make first before dashing out to buy a lot of equipment. But, whatever your choice, this is a concise primer on how to work with metal and wire that ought to appeal to a wide range of crafters.

     Recycler's Tip: For making cards or covering boxes why not save tin lids from coffee jars or margarine tubs. This is what I do and make my cards without having to buy pricey metal sheets very often.

If you cannot find materials locally, try www.searchpress.com for a list of suppliers.