I had a birthday not that long ago, and I received as a gift a card making book by those who know me well, and know that I like all things craft. This book 'The All New Compendium of Cardmaking Technique' was bought from TK Maxx and cost £4.99, although it has a RRP of £12.99 and has been published by Search Press.

I was very excited when I got this book as I was looking for ideas to extend my card making with new, interesting techniques to add to those I had already developed. I was very disappointed.

Inside there is a double sided contents page highlighting the various parts of the book:
-Card & Thread Cards
- Watercolour Cards
-Quilled Cards
- Eyelet Cards
-Quick Parchment Cards
-Silk Ribbon Cards
-Beaded Cars
-THree Dimensional Cards
- Glitter cards

Like a lot of craft books there is a section devoted to materials at the beginning, highlighting some of the basics that any card maker will need such as glue, a ruler, a craft board, punches, stamps, ink, double sided tape etc etc

Some of the basic techniques covered at the beginning include winding card with thread, using tracing paper, cutting with special scissors. I am actually really surprised this is even in the book, as it is more common sense than a technique. These few pages are then followed by using these techniques to make some cards, some of which are nicer than others.

The next technique involving watercolours is slightly more helpful, with some nicer lookind cards being produced from these ideas.

Quilling comes next in the book, and although this technique was already familiar to me, it does give some step by step photo instructions to help those unfamilar with the technique.

Eyelet cards may be less familiar with many, and the information provided is useful, with some nice card designs geven afterwards

Parchment cards seem to be quick a thing at the moment, an I did find this aspect of the book useful as it was an area of card making that I have never used. It does however require you to have a particular bit of equipment.

The book also takes you through silk ribbon cards which would certainly require some patience and time, beaded cards and three dimensional cards.

As I write I am conscious that this book sounds as if it has everything for the card maker, but I just didn't really like the book. Some of the cards, in my opinion, are not the nicest designs and I certainly wouldn't send them to anyone, but in some cases some techniques are rather basic. Yes, there are some new ideas that I will certainly be trying, but I don;t think it will be a book that I will refer to over and over again, as I have with other card making books I own. Of all the books that I have that relate to card making this was the one I was least impressed with - there is something that just doesn't make it as easy and pleasant to read.

All in all, £4.99 was an okay price to pay, but it certainly isn't worth £12.99. Also, if you are a regular card maker, I don't think this the best book to extend your ideas and techniques, and there are probably a lot better on the market for that.