The Big-Ass Book of Crafts

Really well done and great quality.

I was leaning toward "too old" (refer to my title) to actually buy "The Big-Ass Book of Crafts." The language, you know, in the title. Indeed, it's a Big book, that's for sure, but full of the kinds of things I might have made in college when money was scarce. Still, one needs money to buy popsicle sticks to make lamp shades. But I get ahead of myself.Back to the shopping mall found in the halls of Amazon. I was looking for more crafts to sew, saw this book and kept going, then came back. Reviews were pretty positive. OK, says I, let's try it, despite the big back area.Wow, this IS a Big book--373 pages, including index, a list of things the author uses in making his crafts, and a list of resources. The dedication is to "all the people who think they aren't talented or crafty...." Between that dedication and the last of the indexed projects are over 150 different things to make. Author Mark Montano even advises the reader to brace him/herself against being called "artsy-fartsy" by friends and family.I have examined every single project and found just maybe a dozen I will actually pursue. There is a term that comes to mind concerning the crafts found here: shabby chic. A few examples: that popsicle lampshade, bronze baby sculpture (made out of a doll), painted wood rug, pen flower arrangement, drinking straw starburst hanging lamp, a copper-scouring-pad wine sock, twig chandelier (don't ask), and a felt-leaf window treatment. Just because I don't find these projects desirable doesn't mean the next person won't.On the other hand, here are some really clever projects:1. Art switch plates (that cover electrical outlets)2. 3-D photo looks really fun to do3. David Hockney photo collage4. Colorful lace glass plates5. Laminated luggage tags (an excellent idea)6. Stitched cards and envelopes (you take old books, cut out pictures, then stitch them onto colorful cardstock. The resulting product can be used as flashcards, or used to revive the ancient art of note writing.7. Glazed note cards (precious)8. Couture envelopes made out of magazine pages, shopping bags, printed papers from craft storesTwo pages are dedicated to each project with a detailed list of things to obtain and steps to follow. Photographs show every finished project! This surely is a thorough book!In fact, as I was leafing through the book to write this review, I discovered more desirable projects to pursue than I initially thought. The paper crafts with envelopes and note cards are really attractive and appear fun to do. So, I'm adding another star to my review.Meanwhile, my Amazon friends are reading Spinoza and I'm viewing photographs by Auxy Espinoza. I wonder if Espinoza ponders "the God-shaped universe?"

I really love this book for many reasons. For starters, it is visually appealing from the moment you pick it up. The pages are layed out well for easy reading and easy instruction following. I love the boldness of colors and design that beats a lot of stuffy craft books out there.For those who complain about the languge used in the title, grow up. It is 2011 and there is nothing wrong with the title. It makes the book all that more fun and spunky.For those who complain about the crafts that are featured in the book, you take yourself too seriously. Crafts, by definition in my opinon, are meant to be simple, easy, fun, and on the cheap side. You dont need to judge Mark, and his book, just because you wouldnt dare *GASPS!* put anything made out of popsicle sticks in your house. Many of these crafts would be perfect and fun to do with little kids and have them feel good about making something neat and useful. I too, was not keen on every single project, mostly because I didnt have a use for all of them. But that isnt reason enough for me to bash Mark and his ideas and creativeness. To say the whole book is a waste is ridiculous and borderline absurd. Mark does a great job of providing a platform to spring off of and use your own creativity to make the projects yours.Regardless of whether or not I complete projects from this book, this book got me excited and inspired to do and create. If nothing else, that makes this book a complete success.If you know Mark at all, or follow him on any of his social media platforms, it is easy to see he pours his heart and soul into his work. That alone deserves buying the book to make your own opinions and not follow the mass amounts of unwarranted and uncessary negativity.You rock, Mark. Keep on being awesome!

Some of this stuff is cool. Some of it is silly. Some of it is a little hip or edgy. Some of it is kind of cheap and trashy (where you wouldn't actually want to have this in your home).Some of it assumes you either have unusual supplies laying around, or that want to spend a lot of money finding them in order to make something "unique" just for the sake of making something unique or personalized.The instructions are usually clear, but not with some of the longer, more detailed projects; the instructions for those start to get confusing.Some of it isn't so much crafting as it is DIY home decor/furnishing. Which I'm okay with, actually -- that's why I used to watch She's Crafty with Wendy Russell (which is how I found out about this book in the first place).There is a lot of "Mark" in this book. I think there may be more opinion than there is actual craft instruction; it starts to seem like it's all about Mark instead of all about the crafts. For those of us who don't think the center of the world is New York City, it gets annoying after a while -- and I'm not really sure I'd want to clutter my glorified-walk-in-closet NYC apartment with most of this stuff (I say that having been known to claim furniture from alleys -- I have a slate topped oak coffee table I got that way).I think I'd rather decorate my two bedroom (for 1/5 the rent cost of a walk-in closet in NYC) with more elegant craft/decor projects from Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts. Plus Martha put a lot less of "her" into her book, than Mark put of his opinions/style/outlook into this book.I'm glad I bought this used at a reduced price. I'm really glad I didn't pay full price for this book, new.

when I buy a well-reviewed book of crafts, I don't expect to find whole pages (or several) devoted to kindergarten art such as the ghastly use of pasta and seeds stuck to a surface - to say nothing of the laziest page I have ever found in a craft book - 'get your nieces/nephews to draw a pic. Frame it.' (I am not kidding!) Since anyone picking up a craft book knows how to stick a picture into a frame and hang it on the wall, (& has the intelligence to think of it All By Themselves) his is a shameful waste of a page... no amount of dressing up such an insultingly basic idea with 'make bowls of snacks for them!', excuses it. Since I'm a fan of the author's how-to's on line, I was left feeling cheated by this book. Shame on the publishers, too, for allowing that page; they should have insisted a far less patronising tone.

heard about this book on an american craft programme on sky so was very please it was available to buy. it has loads of great ideas, most of which are very easy to do. i had to look up some of the products used as they have different names in britain but they are all readily available. there are projects in all types of crafts so there is something for everyone and they dont need extreme skills just a bit of patience on some of them. there is a second book so i shall be getting that shortly.

I like the idea of this book as a cool craft book for adults, but in reality, I'm not sure how achievable some of the projects are. I was expecting a book on crafting, not on DIY, household projects, or how to make toiletries - so it seems like the book is mis-marketed as a craft book, when it's not really about crafts.

This was quite disappointing. The graphics made it look like it was going to be rammed full of really edgy and innovative contemporary craft ideas but some of the projects are unspeakably naff. For example, the plastic bottle lightshade and a weird love of making things out of lollipop sticks- just how many lollies did the author have to eat to source all of these?! Also, like one of the other reviewers mentioned, it isn't clear to a non-US reader just what some of the materials are so you'll probably have to do a bit of research after you get the book. It's not all bad though- there are some good ideas and the book does look great. I'm looking forward to having a go at putting transfers onto ceramics in particular, the examples look really kitschy and would make an unusual present. I like the sense of the author's enthusiasm. Overall, it's probably more inspiring than instructive.

I didn't get as much out of this book as I would have liked- many of the projects were very DIY type projects, where I was hoping for more textile crafts. If you enjoy building things then this will be great for you, but perhaps not so good if you were hoping for something a bit less Bob the Builder! There is a section about health and beauty products, but to be honest none of the recipes were anything I haven't already seen on various websites. However, the tapped tin photo frames are beautiful and I am definitely going to have a go at them! Bit of a mixed bag really...