You don’t need to splash out on a lot of expensive equipment either. It all depends on what you fancy doing, then you can buy the required items and set to. Glass paints, punches, stencils and fancy punches are less important than a good selection of papers and basic cardmaking tools. There are lots of opportunities for recycling in here too, especially if you have another hobby like dressmaking or embroidery. Small odds and ends take on a whole new look when added to cards. Glass paint a wave (great for a man), try spirelli, make collages of waterfalls, try some very simple origami and paperprick a geisha. Even better, all the cards shown in the galleries have patterns! This is definitely my kind of book; no emptying the bank account to buy up the craft shop, plenty of recycling opportunities and some truly beautiful cards. Nothing is difficult to make, and there are plenty of instructions for everything as well as some imaginative twists on methods old hands might be a bit bored with. It all has either the opulence and color or understated elegance that is associated with the Orient. One of my favorite Search Press cardmaking books, I think, and one for my keeper shelf.

If you cannot find cardmaking supplies locally try SearchPress.com for a list of suppliers.