The Pocket Paper Engineer, Volume I: Basic Forms: How to Make Pop-Ups Step-by-Step

Reviewed by Kelli Glesige for Reader Views (08/06) Author Carol Barton has taken her twenty years of experience in the art of paper engineering, design, and bookbinding to compile an excellent instruction book on how to construct pop-ups. Concepts are presented in simple form with do-it-yourself models to make and refer back to. Handy pockets are included for storage of the finished projects. I, for one, have always been fascinated with pop-ups, usually found in children's books. Opening a flat page of a book to reveal a three-dimensional form is the premise behind this workbook and is a part of what a paper engineer creates. I was thrilled to see just how easily the included cards can be assembled. I intend to take what I have learned and put it to use in my scrapbooking projects as well as on some greeting card ideas. A pop-up is defined by its automatic movement, pulling out and away from the pages of a book or card as it is opened. Pop-ups come alive when a page is opened, and different pop-ups work better with pages opened at a right angle or slightly more. Pop-ups might be confused with the Eastern art of folding paper forms called origami, but the difference lies in the factor of movement created by pop-ups. "The Pop-Up Paper Engineer" is a spiral bound workbook with sixteen do-it-yourself cards, allowing one to get experience in the particular pop-up form presented. The two most basic forms are the box and the triangle, and clear step-by-step instructions are included and thoroughly explained. Combinations of the basic box and triangle forms can be combined to create more complex designs while layered pop-ups will give even more versatility. This is a great resource if you want to learn what's behind the fascination of creating pop-ups. The spiral binding makes for easy opening and page turning, plus the projects can be easily removed. Basic supplies needed to construct pop-ups are covered along with the history of paper engineering and how it's been used. I highly recommend this workbook if you are into paper crafting or scrapbooking. You will see just how easy it is to spark up your projects by including pop-ups on your pages! Your imagination will get a workout!

Carol Barton has created the ultimate instruction book for anyone who is would like to learn to use pop-ups in their creative work- and there may be more of you than you think. The potential for the use of pop-ups becomes limitless with the information from this guide. Moveable books is not a new art. But this book takes the art form of pop-ups into the realm of possibilities. It begins with basic structures and progresses in nice, slow steps into complex, multi-layered pop-ups. It is the gift of the author to be able to describe and explain each step so that even beginners can follow easily. From basic box shapes it continues through triangles (including doubles and upside down), combinations of both and onto many different layered designs. Each step includes a pattern with all the spare parts needed that the reader/artist can use to make that pop-up card. This hands-on approach is what sets it above other instruction books of this kind. It is also possible to order a complete set of these samples if you do not want to cut up the ones in the book. Each chapter has a pocket to hold both the spare parts and the finished card. Very clever. Introductory chapters describe how pop-ups work, basic supply lists and hints to further creativity, final chapters examine safety and suppliers and the importance of paper grain. Well chosen quotes adorn each manila chapter divider. The Pocket Paper Engineer is concrete enough to walk anyone thorough the steps of making a pop-up card but it also gives clear, concise instructions to enable the reader to take the information onto any level they desire. It stretches the imagination in many directions as it expands the journey from flat creations into three dimensional art. This spiral bound work would be a wonderful gift for authors, card makers, scrap bookers and other visual artists. It is appropriate for both beginners and advanced paper crafters and artists. Its sturdy construction will allow it to become a permanent reference book in any collection. We can look forward to the future since this in Volume I in a planned series of how to books on this subject. For added wonder be sure to follow the author link below to explore Ms Barton's other work as she expands the traditional boundaries of literature. Fascinating for both art and literature lovers.

Carol Barton has captured the essence of paper engineering and presented it so clearly that anyone will be delighted to make the samples included in her step by step examples. However, for myself, I preferred to order the Extra Cards so I could leave the book in tact. What a terrific idea to offer Extra Cards for the samples! Using children's artwork aids the accessibility of the information but does not detract from the awareness that advanced creators can employ the forms for more sophisticated endeavors. I note the cover says: Volume 1: Basic Forms. I look forward to Volume 2 and hope it is in the near future.

I've just read the other posted reviews, and I have to add that this book is, in itself, a work of art. There isn't a single aspect of it that isn't tastefully and professionally designed. The front and back of every page and every template are exquisitely rendered, and the how-to aspects are clear and understandable. It's one thing to have the skills to create imaginative pop-ups, and quite another to be able to convey it as naturally and intuitively for the reader as Carol does. I don't have the heart to tear out the perforated patterns on my copy, so it's fabulous that complete replacement sets of the inserts are available. This book is a welcome and rich addition to the world of pop-up. (signed) Andrew Baron, winner of the Movable Book Society 2004 Meggendorfer prize for Best Published Paper Engineered book.

This is more than a "how-to-do" book - it has several examples for the readers to try out the techniques & principles. And it has pockets to store them. I think it's a great idea that extra packets of examples are provided at extra cost in case you made a mistake or don't want to use the ones already in the book. It also will give us (especially pop-up book collectors and artists) a greater appreciation and understanding of how the pop-up books are designed and created. What makes this book even more interesting and entertaining are the quotes placed on different pages relating to creative endeavors. But the bottom line is that it's a great reference guide for any future pop-up book projects!