For the Love of Reading

The challenge over at SCS today is the Ways to Use it challenge. Today's theme is patterned paper, using what you have in patterned paper and giving it a new look.

Well I'll tell you the story first and then you can see what I created...so keep reading please!

My mom has been a seamstress and a very good one for most of her life. She has worked professionally and privately sewing, has sewn myself and the kids countless treasured items. Truly beautiful work. She's retired now from work. And still does sew, but she also has arthritis badly in her hands, and sometimes I think you just need a break from your original hobby. She was looking for a new one to keep her busy, especially in the evenings.

I kept encouraging her to read. She knows how much I love it and what it means to me, but she kept arguing that reading was boring and put her to sleep. I told her "well, you're not reading the right books then!" So I lent her some of my favourites....and guess what?! She's hooked! She's just LOVED reading often staying up till 1 am because the story is so good. She's discovered a new passion and hobby. It just makes me happy. But she told me the other week when I was at her house and we were both on the couch reading our books (so funny), that she needed a bookmark. I said, "Well, I can make you one".

And here it is. I love the chair and books from the new Flourishes set Chairs to You, and wanted to create with them together. I had this idea of giving the strip of patterened paper (from Holiday Treasures) overstamping of books and adding gold Zig Painty to make it look like special editions of books. So though it's a subtle effect with the designer paper, it really gives it depth and texture.

I watercolored the large chair and added gold accents for the upholstery tacks. I also put the layers of the bookmark through the reverse side of the Top Note die on my Big Shot to give it the look of an open book (picture laying your paper outside of the die, and only hanging the top edge over the cutting section of the die where it just cuts the top edge this way - the result - a reverse image of the die looking like a book).

I added ribbon to one side, so as not to cover up the book feel, but also to make it look like a ribbon bookmark in a bookmark. I added some beads to some of the ribbons too. I kept the details pretty simple and flat so it won't interfere in the books.

Recommended Read: So what book did I giver her? Well, I gave her about 4 books from one of my very favourite authors, Linda Nichols. She weaves story and character masterfully, I have not read one book of hers that I haven't LOVED and have been completely wrapped up in!

My favourite is the first one I read - "At the Scent of Water" (I've read it at least 3 times now). It's a beautiful story of loss and longing, and coming back to faith, of forgiveness and redemption. Her writing really moves me and inspires me. I highly recommend it!

Back tomorrow with something SUO! :)

Recipe: Stamps: Flourishes - Chairs to You; Ink: Black Stazon, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red; Paper: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Holiday Treasures DSP, Watercolor; Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Reinkers, Gold Zig Painty, Oval Punch, Sticky Tape, Striped Ribbon, Flirty Ribbon, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Clear Beads, Gold Cording

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For the Love of Reading