Lotta Prints: How to Print with Anything, from Potatoes to Linoleum

by Lotta Jansdotter, Jenny Hallengren (Photographer)

Beloved Scandinavian designer Lotta Jansdotter shows how easy it is to print patterns on all sorts of surfaces. Using stencils, rubber stamps, homemade screens, and other easy techniques, the projects and processes range from simple prints easy for beginners to more involved projects for experienced artists. Stencil leaves on the walls, stamp flowers on wrapping paper, screen-print on a skirtthe sky's the limit. Beautiful photographs inspire while step-by-step instructions and illustrations explain the basics. Plus, Lotta has included eight ready-to-use stencil pages with hand-drawn patterns, so crafters can easily achieve her signature style. Our innovative format, with perforated stencil sheets and a catchall envelope at back, makes this a fantastic resource for any aspiring printer.

Genres: Crafts, Art, Nonfiction, Sewing, Design, Scandinavian Literature

120 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2008

Reviews

[Darby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I keep going back and forth between giving this book 3 or 4 stars. The style of the prints, the photos, the set up of the book - inspiring. Just lovely. The actual instructions to techniques used - lacking. Most of it is basic printing information that is found online or in other books - with better instructions. So it didn't give me any new ideas as far as techniques but as far as inspiration - yes it did! Really easy designs that would leave anything you print on looking lovely. One such inspiration I can't wait to try is the wall hangings. They were ceiling to floor simple cloth wall hangings with a simple print on them. Very pretty - giving a room a splash of color with a minimalistic approach. I don't know if it is a book I need to own but I do think it would provide me inspiration print design if I had it on my shelf but probably wouldn't inspire me one which technique to use. Another plus to this book - many of the print designs could go for either male or female. They are very unisex friendly. Often prints books I have seen are very hearts, flowers and sunshine type designs but this book often has geometric designs put together in a very pleasing way that would work for any gender.

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

love, love, love lotta jansdotter. this book features her inspiring printing designs and ideas, in much the same way that denyse schmidt's quilting book features her ideas. it's as though they're saying, yes, i could try to make these items for you and sell them to you, but why not try to make these ideas your own and make your own things? here's exactly how to do it. now, i just need to buy my own copy. the library (surprise, surprise) is not circulating the loose patterns in the back of the book. definitely added to my wish list.

[Cami · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me of how much I loved print making in Mr. Weight's art class in high school.
I'm excited to try the techniques in this book.
Oh, wait! I did. I put the face of my favorite poet William Butler Yeats on a pillow. Cooooool....

[lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book really isn't much different than the many other books out there on printing. It's more inspirational than instructive; the directions for different printing techniques are vague enough that they would seem not very helpful to someone who doesn't already have experience with printmaking.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

must. own. book. so. good. drooling.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well designed book, lovely to flick through. Comes complete with some easily copied designs but objectively is really only a taster. Lots of examples of how various types of print can be used but scant details of how to actually do it.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ideas and instructions.

[Aubrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this book five stars simple because I plan to do every single thing in it, and then some because it inspired other ideas within me. Great photos and steps too! Very creative ideas.

[sleeps9hours · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t actually do any projects, but a lot of neat ideas.

[Marykickel · Rating 1 out of 5]

You know what? I'm a big sucker for books like this.
ooooo. i love her designs. i want to make her designs.... Ten minutes later I'm totally over it. I don't want to spend all day carving linoleum to put it up on the wall...i want lotta to come and stencil my freaking walls and stairs herself. but that ain't gonna happen.
I'd be willing to swap this book with someone for something good. i still have all the patterns and everything.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the methods are so simple and straightforward, it is a wonder we are not all printing simple designs on our own clothes and linens on a regular basis... or at least they SEEM simple and straightforward!

Last summer she posted on her blog the instructions and stencil pdf to make a summer skirt. Some of her secrets are using acetate sheets or contact paper for the stencil and Pebeo Setacolor Opaque Fabric inks for the ink medium. http://www.jansdotter.com/en/workbook...

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thing I like about Lotta Prints is that is geared both to the professional and the hobby printer. Instructions are simple, supplies and equipment accessible. Ok, so maybe it doesn't teach you how to run your own print line, but it covers a great deal of methods, and one can do almost all of them from home. Not surprising Chronicle Books is behind this title. I'm not quite ready to give this back to the library, but my time is up. It may be one for purchasing.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love and WANT this book. Printing (any kind) has been my favorite kind of media since college - it's an easy, fun process, leaves so much room for creativity and personalizing (is that a word?), and can look either super professional or edgy, whichever feel you're going for. I adore everything Lotta creates...

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not a good how to. The tutorials are vague. But true to Lotta style, it is filled with fantastic creative ideas. This book is good to get your juices flowing, but not for teaching (more of an intro to printing).

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

many cool ideas. will probably purchase this book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cool!

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book that motivated me to do things with potatoes I have never considered. How nice that someone so talented and creative is happy to share her ideas and inspirations!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I'm into diy projects lately and she has a great design style.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring and information. A how-to book that's good enough to read cover to cover, and it comes with stencils for projects.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great photos, beautiful projects, easy instructions. Just a fantastic book featuring Lotta's signature style. Definitely inspired me to start some new projects.

[Sarah]

on hold until i have a little more time...

[Preethi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous!

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the step-by-step instructions for her projects and the design of this book is just gorgeous. I just started making prints and will be using this for reference and inspiration.

[christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very inspirational book for anyone who is interested in printing things.

Her design sense and ideas are fresh and stylish.

[Katherine Lamm · Rating 4 out of 5]

just great inspiration. Nothing necessarily new here for those who like to do this stuff but still a good source of ideas.

[michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful images!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

So inspirational - I want to print everything!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

must make prints! One Day!

[Julyan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the ideas but only wished the instructions were a little more detailed. Nonetheless, i take it as more room for me to experiment and toy with the ideas and create new ones!

[Johanna Inman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is full of beautiful photographs and inspiring ideas but i wish there was a little bit more instruction. I enjoyed flipping through the pages, though.