A layout for book lovers...

I have only done a handful of double page layouts in the past but there was so much I wanted to fit into this one I figured I was going to need two pages. Click to zoom in on the pics.

"Use your library. You'll miss it when you leave."

Since I read this quote recently on Brain Pickings I had been thinking about doing a layout about my library, or more specifically, how my library makes me feel. I am one of those people who can't bear to give away or sell a book, so I have HEAPS on my bookshelves - luckily most of them are good reads. Originally I planned to use a single shot of our bookshelves, specifically the bespoke Jarrah bookshelves we had made by Wildwood Designs in Gladesville. These were a splurge but I think books deserve to live somewhere special. And it makes me feel happy and at peace every time I sit in the comfy reading spot with a big cup of tea, right next to all those gorgeous books.

I found these great papers from Bo Bunny's Weekend Market collection that I thought would fit the theme nicely. I inked around the edges in gold and used a Hemmingway quote for the title. 

I tried to get a nice shot of the bookshelves but as they are up against two big glass windows it was hard to get a decent photo looking into the light. I settled on an angled shot and made it monochrome to hide the crappy exposure. Under this is a vintage postcard from the 50's and a little doily (more vintage paper for sale here in the RaineCloud shop).

I have made a reading light from a Pink Paislee die cut lightbulb and some antique lace (more lace available in the RaineCloud store). 

On the right hand page I've used a dust jacket from a 1940's novel which opens to reveal my favourite books, each mimicking a little book themselves. The brads are from My Minds Eye.

You can see there is also a beautiful quote from Carl Sagan hidden inside the manilla envelope. 

Once you open the book...

I have printed eight 8cm x 6cm photos of my favourite books and fixed them to folded pieces of Bazzill cardstock to make little 'books'. Inside each one I have written about why the book is special to me.

My favourites:

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
White Teeth - Zadie Smith
A Few Fair Days - Jane Gardam
The Dice Man - Luke Rinehart
Morvern Callar - Alan Warner
Running a Hotel on the Roof of the World - Alec Le Seur
Cannery Row - John Steinbeck
1984 - George Orwell

Have you scrapped some of your favourite collections? You're welcome to add a link in the comments section!

Incorporating vintage paper into your layouts, part 4

I just wanted to share a layout I completed last weekend using some vintage paper, this time from a 60's era book of sewing patterns for babies. I've used the paper and photo of Holly as a anchor for the other bits and pieces including vintage lace (more available in the shop), and a flower I made from some doily offcuts and a short string of pearls, held together with a button. What do you think? If you like the flower there's a few more for sale here.

I had to try really hard not to add a mini-cluster at the top of the page or get too fancy with the embellishments; I'm forever overdoing my layouts, but I like how clean and simple this one has turned out.

Also in the layout:  Graphic 45 Kewpie Cute paper, Tim Holtz trinket pin, Pink Paislee Nantucket die cut.

Here's parts 1, 2 and 3 in case you missed them:

Incorporating vintage paper into your layouts, part 1
Incorporating vintage paper into your layouts, part 2
Incorporating vintage paper into your layouts, part 3


Have a great weekend!

On reading...

"What an astonishing thing a book is. It's a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you're inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic."


- Carl Sagan, from from the 11th episode of his legendary 1980s Cosmos series, titled "The Persistence of Memory". via Brain Pickings, a site I highly recommend you check out. 

Inspiration: high drama

I wanted to share this beautiful layout my talented friend Karyn created using a paper pack from RaineCloud. I love the raw corrugated cardboard background and the unusual shape of the layout. It contrasts really well with the glam trims and chiffon flower.

(Hey Karyn, you like how I've titled this post High Drama? And your layout is of Rhyallie? Appropriate, hey?)

I think it looks awesome don't you? Karyn used the inspiration kit below for her pretty layout.

Check out the shop for more inspiration kits. They're great to have in your stash for when you're feeling less than inspired!

What have you been making lately?