Loco for Book Wreaths!

With half a book of unused pages left from my last book wreath project just waiting to be turned into art I decided to attempt a different style this go around. I've been spending my evenings searching book wreaths on Google images. This Victorian style isn't my favorite but I've had the center pictures since before Wade and I were married. I think my mom picked them up from a garage sale. I've been hanging on to them thinking I could do something with them and so I thought this project would be a perfect fit. I'm thinking of hanging them in our half bath (not a lot of moisture) where I have a Victorian picture already hanging. These wreaths were fun to make and took a whole lot less time. If you google book wreaths you'll come up with loads of images and some tutorials. You tube has several tutorials as well. For this project I watched a tutorial by Jenna DeAngeles. For the book wreath I posted on my last blog I went to http://summerstead.blogspot.com/2010/02/book-wreath-tutorial-and-tip.html. I guarantee you this isn't the last vintage book craft you'll be seeing from me. I love books and now for so many more reasons!

P.S. Sorry about the glare and I will try to put together a list of directions for the coat rack I made (Thanks Jennifer!). It was super simple (hence the reason I attempted it). :)

Alot of Burning Going On

Late Saturday afternoon we took the kids out to an area close to our home to have a campfire and roast marshmallows. They had so much fun, especially the twins, but oh my goodness did they get dirty.





Aunt Amy is so talented! She sent Abby this dress she made. Abby loved it! I've really got to learn to sew.

I have been in the process of making this book wreath for some time. I started about two weeks ago and got half way through the process when the pages started pulling out with each new row I packed in (the folded pages are just pinned into a foam wreath). I decided to start all over, using hot glue (OUCH!) and pins this time around. It worked like a charm! For those of you who may think it's a crime to tear apart a book I have to admit it was a bit difficult at first. I went to a thrift store and found an old book that was pretty beat up and one that I didn't think anybody would be dying to get their hands on. I actually had to use 1 1/2 books because the first I bought didn't have enough pages (my wreath is pretty big). Both books were printed in the 1930's so they had nice thick pages and a cream tint. I love how this turned out! I am considering finding a nice thick ribbon to hang it from. We'll see.

Someone had mentioned posting this coat rack I made last winter. It hangs in our mud room. I love creating things that serve a purpose! It's fun and practical.