Lotta Jansdotter Paper, Pattern, Play

As a fan of similar European titles celebrating paper like FLOW’s annual Book for Paper Lovers and Lizzie Lees’ “Create Your Own College”, I’m definitely the target audience for 200+ pages of nothing but glorious paper. But prior to my purchase, I should have explored Ms. Jansdotter’s previous work...because this book’s repetitive use of a neutral and sedate color palette doesn’t leave me very joyful. I typically like Scandinavian designs, but after so many pages of slate grey, taupe, and autumnal orange, I was ready for a few more touches of the unexpected. If you’re familiar with the similarly-bound FLOW book, you could argue their use of bold, bright color and whimsical motifs borders on the juvenile. Rest assured this is NOT that. If you want a very grown up, more austere paper play session, this may be a smart choice. There’s lots to see here but 85% of it isn’t ‘cute’. Just because this book isn’t my style and doesn’t especially motivate me to have a collage session or send a friend a note— I tire easily from too many grids, decorative borders, and dots—it’s quite nicely made and shouldn’t disappoint... as long as you know what you’re getting: mature and muted. About the wildest page included here is origami-esque cubes against a clover green.Along with oodles of meant-to-be-removed sheets of the relatively tame (double sided) patterns (in what I’d estimate is 28#lb paper), you also get some gift wrap, stickers/labels, tags, templates, a section of fold-out heavy stock, and postcards—postcards too small for USPS mail so will need repurposing. A scant section near the back offers a couple of guided projects along with a few photo/mood pages for inspiration. As I didn’t purchase it for a how-to guide, this lack of heavy text is preferred for me. If you’re after Paper Pattern Play for serious instruction, look elsewhere.These books are shipped without any protective outer wrap; mine arrived with every last page badly bent/crushed at the corner. Yay for more earth-friendly, but had I wanted this to give as a gift, unusable.Like any avid snail mailer and paper junkie, I will eventually use most of what’s here. Yet I am not as cheerful about it as I’d normally be; an entire collection of just one distinctive style, in one distinctively dull palette proves that while most all artists have a signature style, variety is still the spice of life. This one feels too curated. While I appreciate it’s a crafting title not aimed for kids, I think I’m too much of a kid at heart.

This is really cool and I will hate/love to take it apart. Such an awesome concept; creative and inspires creativity. If you enjoy letter writing, this is a nice alternative to the standard stationary kit. I like the colors, patterns, style of the artwork and that it’s creativity is meant to inspire and envoke a creative response. There is a welcome page that reflects the process of artists work, and creating, as well as an explaination of inspiration. The title doesn’t do justice for the content, and is the only part I am not super fond of, but surely not terrible, I’m just not sure it is as accurate to the content, but I guess it’s simply literal and could have been more thought envoking. Perhaps that’s asking too much.If you like to write letters, enjoy stationary and patterns, this is pretty unique.

If you are Lotta and paper lover... You must have this!!!There are a lot of designed papers and cards, stickers etc... and craft ideas.I'm going to get one more for my collection.

Love love love all the cool patterns. I feel like the choices are so chic and new. Very fun to play with and love that at the last few pages it has a ton of different ideas and templates where they give instructions of the different ways you can create with them. So if your truly a paper addict and lover like me this is most definently the right product for you!@

I thought it would be more inspirational. It's just lots of patterned card stock.

I’m using lots of Lotta’s papers on my cardboard notebooks.

I love this!!!!! So many different designs and stickers!

So fun to use in collage

Lovely book showing Lotta Jansdotter patterns. I bought it as a present but I may have to keep it for myself as unfortunately it looks like it is second hand (see the photo). I assumed it was new when I ordered it. Designs are 5 star, just the condition that let's it down.

Love all the patterns in it! Really great for scrapbooking and journaling :)

So many great papers and fun goodies. Love this book. Would buy more as gifts. Came fast and as a bargain book in perfect condition for a fraction of the list price!

Veel plezier