The Encyclopedia of Scrapbooking Tools & Techniques

This guide to everything scrapbooking (for the uninitiated: decorating a photo album) will acquaint both novice and experienced creators with the astounding array of products and methods available to them, but those looking for step-by-step instruction will be disappointed, as no instructions for individual projects are provided. While the bulk of the book is an alphabetical guide, from ABC Scrapbooks to woven paper, perhaps the most intriguing section is on the history of scrapbooking, which describes the history of scrapbooking from Ancient Greece to today, with stops along the way for Queen Victoria's personal album and Mark Twain's contribution to the art. Profiles of women calligraphers, book binders, card makers and paper designers add depth, even if they're surprisingly similar. The book's focus on traditional family-oriented pages keeps it from being as all-encompassing as it could be, and the style of the pages may not be sophisticated enough for urban scrapbookers. Photos.