Paper Made!: 101 Exceptional Projects to Make Out of Everyday Paper

by Kayte Terry

Announcing the biggest, best, most innovative book ever on paper craft. Even better, this is not about how to use costly, artsy paper, but how to turn stuff around the house—magazines and shopping bags, candy wrappers and paint sample cards, wrapping paper, old maps, and paper towel tubes—into stunning jewelry, gifts, home decor, party favors, and much more.

Chances are you’ve seen the author’s cutting-edge work in the windows of Anthropologie, where she is the chain’s merchandising manager. An inveterate crafter who creates projects and styles photo shoots for magazines like Parents and Vogue Knitting , Kayte Terry takes the most versatile of materials and the most basic of crafts (remember snipping valentines out of construction paper?), and creates something completely trans- formative. Turn a sheaf of any white or graph paper into an amazing Scrap Happy Globe Lantern for the dining room. Fashion colored tissue paper into Songbird Votives, leftover raffle tickets into a Prizewinning Bowl, that out-dated pile of holiday catalogs into a picture frame. There’s a necklace made of playing cards, a gum wrapper bracelet, and barrettes made by quilling—a paper technique that goes back to the Renaissance. Every project is photographed in full color, and includes step-by-step illustrations and instructions. Truly a book that shows how to think outside the (cardboard) box.

Genres: Crafts, Nonfiction, Art

248 pages, Paperback

First published May 9, 2012

Reviews

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely compendium of all the greatest, most trendy paper craft projects. I have seen lots of these ideas before, but it's really nice to have them (and templates for them) all in one place. Also, the author is the creative director of displays at Anthropologie. Since I am always trying to steal their ideas for my library anyway, it's very satisfying to know that.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I nabbed this one off the "new books" shelf at my library and fell in love! I adore paper crafts and upcycling, and this book gives me lots of new ideas for what to do with my hoard of pretty paper scraps, colored cardstock, empty containers, and things I hadn't thought of such as old hardcover books!

As a public librarian, the book-related crafts have me thinking, oooh, bookcrafts--things to do with damaged books that can't be resold, or are too old to be useful but still have good bindings. (Though it might give patrons bad ideas about what to do with current library books...)

[Kkeym · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do a lot of paper art and craft and teach a class in paper craft, so I am always looking for inspiration. This book gave me some inspiration and it has some great projects for people interested in paper projects.

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ideas for using paper, new, vintage, and recycled. Could do without the lame puns as titles for every single project.

[LadyS · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fantastic for me. As a paper lover, half the fun was dreaming of the various projects that I could do with simple paper! you really don't need much to be seen as a creative genius! most of the materials are already around your house or can be obtained free! The suggestions are simple yet stunning! The instructions are easy to follow. Great book for those who like to make interesting knickknacks, handmade gifts or need ideas for decorating (events)

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a disappointing book for me. A lot of the crafts in this book were either hideous or I had no interest in making because I had no use for it. That being said, the photographs were great and the steps were nicely laid out with diagrams to further explain what the step is telling you to do. Perhaps you'll find this book more interesting than I did.

[Sharla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ummm…

I’m a lover of all things paper. That being said, I scour Pinterest for ideas and most of these projects are on Pinterest already, and many of them do not seem as generic-looking as the ones in this book.

I feel disappointed in this publication. Are there ideas I will use? Absolutely, but I’m not going to recommend this book to others.

[Tisha (IG: Bluestocking629) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sure you can find a lot of these projects, or something similar on Pinterest but it is so nice and convenient having them all together and in print.

Great collection of paper crafts that I will either follow the directions to the word or simply use as inspiration.

[K McBride · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do I read or do I craft? Seriously, there are insufficeint hours in the day!

[NayDoubleU · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super wordy but found some pretty creative ideas

[Slynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! Tons of inspirational projects with both old ideas done differently and new ideas. I will definitely be making some projects out of this book!

[Two Readers in Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great projects.

[Linds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful book with a wide variety of paper crafts ranging from home design, jewelry, sculpture, and book Binding.

[Cristalle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has some really great "quality" projects that look very professional (i.e. the scrap paper lantern) and some that look very crafty and somewhat cheesy (i.e. the circle paper necklace) This book does offer some interesting ideas and a broader view of what one can accomplish with paper and a bit of ingenuity.

[Anna Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While some of these projects were cute, some were useful, and some were creative (for which I gave three stars), I spent much of my time wondering how long any of these would hold up/last. I kept thinking of how I could do the same with recycled cans, wood, tin... fabric.

I think the book has heart and imagination, but maybe not so much logic.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many great ideas! Some I have seen before, but I like Kayte's easy to follow instructions and beautiful photography. I am on the look out for a partial roll of raffle tickets to upcycle into that cool bowl.

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is full of cool ideas, some of which I may find useful in the future (good, cheap craft projects to do with my daughter), but nothing really jumped out at me that I feel like I really want to make right now.

[Jane]

Most of these seem as if I made them, they'd look like a kids craft project. There were a few I might try myself and a few others, I might make as a speech activity (requesting, directing, commenting).

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

i've seen a lot of these paper crafts on pinterest, good number and assortment in a book. i've already made paper bird ornaments, rolled magazine paper frame & decoupaged glass containers. i do love paper, but prefer a more variety of materials.

[Marcie Lovett · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too hipster for me, with the too-cute project titles and making-something-out-of-nothing vibe. There were two or three projects I might actually make. A fun, quick read with nice photos and complete directions.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book! It strikes an excellent balance between re-using items and projects that are actually appealing :) There's a small bouquet of bookmarks peeking out of this copy, marking projects I'd like to try.

[Jennifer Robb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I applaud the author for compiling projects that use many items in ways that could be considered recycling. There are many projects in this book and most people could find at least one that interested them. There were a couple that interested me, but I didn't have the energy to start them.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really cool book. I think the projects look well made and not home made.

[Marge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely portrayed projects with easy to follow instructions. There just wasn't any one project that I had to start.

[Kelly Bennett]

Paper Craft Book Barb says is easy-to-follow and great photos

[Slmstanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't wait to break out the Mod Podge and get cracking on these projects!

[Joanne Wiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I was looking for!!! Many great projects that I will tackle and share.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some fantastic ideas in here I can't wait to try!!!

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many great ideas, so little time. This one is going back to the library, but onto my home library wish list.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A few good techniques but no one project I actually thought I would replicate.