Paper Blossoms: A Book of Beautiful Bouquets for the Table

I bought five of these paper blossoms books. I'm very pleased and happy with these Ray Marshall books. The colors, patterns, cuts of these paper flower arrangements just amaze me. I also like the diversity of the five flower arrangements - ranging from Hawaiian, tropical, Asian, Victorian England, etc. feel. You can stare in awe at the details of these paper blossom bouquets for a long period of time. I recently gave this book as part of a birthday present to my co-worker, and she really loved the book (she loves flowers and making cards). I love pop-up books because I'm always fascinated by all the time and details pop-up book artists put into their work. I'm so very thankful that Ray Marshall made this book. This book is absolutely one of the best things to give as a gift. It's something that lasts forever. This book is better than a card and it's better than dealing with the waste and guilt of having dead flowers. I truly can't think of any household that wouldn't put this book to good decorative use. This book definitely gets people's attention. When I gave this book to my co-worker, this book stopped my boss in her tracks, and she asked, "What's that?" All of Ray Marshall's paper blossom bouquets caught her attention, and she thought it was a good idea as well. I'm happy with the size of the book and flower arrangements. And I like how the elastic holder keeps the pages and book protected. This book is a conversation starter, and is elegant, beautiful, unique, and different. It's definitely a keepsake book that belongs with all your photo albums. Like I said before, this book is such a great concept. I'm so happy that someone like Ray Marshall was able to turn this idea and book into a reality for all of us to appreciate and enjoy. I really don't know how Ray Marshall is going to top this book, but I'm looking forward to any future work from this man!

Updated - June 1, 2014This wondrous book has now come "full circle." I personally received this beautiful piece of artwork for Christmas in 2010 and it seems to be the gift that keeps on giving! It so resonated with me, that I have purchased and continue to purchase (now a total of 20!) Paper Blossom Pop Up Books for all sorts of occasions!Thought it would be fun to track where my Paper Blossoms purchases are spreading joy and what the occasion was:8 in Brooklyn (Bay Ridge)...where the pin began. (1 as a 10th anniv. gift, 1 as a b-day gift, 1 as a gift for a dinner party, 3 given as perpetual bouquets to forever memorialize loved ones, and 2 as Christmas gifts.)1 in NYC b-day gift1 in Rhinebeck, NY b-day gift1 in Hillsdale, NY b-day gift1 in Silver City, NM a healing gift for my brother recovering from heart surgery. A reminder for him to embrace "his inner child."1 in Trinidad a friendship gift to my friend's daughter who was visiting me1 starting from Stuart, Fl. traveling to Michigan in a brand new RV (RV warming gift!)1 in Portola Valley, Ca. as a housewarming gift1 in No.Hollywood (going to Las Vegas, Nevada once married) as a bridal shower gift1 in Portland, Oregon as a housewarming gift1 in Havertown, Pa. as a perpetual bouquet for my beloved Uncle Sam!1 in Wurtsboro, NY as a housewarming gift to a dear friend of mine who followed her bliss and relocated to her dream home1 in Alexandria, Va. as a gift to a new friend that I met on Cornell GBH website who is a birder, nature lover and an outstanding photographer! She is having a kitchen renovation and I thought this would be "just the perfect gift!"I usually keep a "reserve" of at least 2 Paper Blossoms Books in my closet for the special occasions that inevitably pop-up! ;)Again, Paper Blossoms is The Perfect Gift, The Perfect Price, with the Perfect Outcome! It provides a perceptual experience, lends itself to feelings of emotional well being, AND brings Awareness to the distinctive and inconceivable divine talent that people are gifted with...Ray Marshall has this gift and he is a Master of his Craft!

If you were wondering why the publication date of this AMAZING pop up book was so long delayed . . .LOOK AT IT!!!! It's absolutely astonishing! Perfect color and design . . . meets flawless paper mechanics. Everyone who has seen this book has been bug eyed and drop jawed. The ones who haven't been stunned speechless, won't stop talking about it.You'll see five exquisite, widely varied bouquets and arrangements that you can flip through, or--by employing the elastic cloth bands on the front and back covers to hold the pages open--actually place in a room as an arrangement, or as a beautiful paper sculpture. And the carefully combined color choices in each "Book-ay" guarantee that you'll find colors you will want to display.And because the blossoms are printed on beautiful heavy card stock, you'll enjoy "playing" with it too! In fact, the perfect pictures on the back cover invite you to open the tiger lilies, to arrange the plumes of the bird of paradise, and to fan open the petals of the iris. (Just raise the lower back petals and the iris blooms!) You'll feel like Mom and Daddy Nature!I think this may be the surprise gift of the year. (Yes, I did buy six.) Surprise! Love ya! Enjoy!