August Papertrey Ink Blog Hop

It's "Blog Hop" time at Papertrey Ink and I am excited to be participating this month! Papertrey Ink issues a challenge on the 15th of each month when new products are revealed on their website and participants have until the 25th to prepare their projects. A variety of crafting supplies can be used, however projects must include at least one Papertrey Item.

This month, the following photo (credit) was posted as inspiration for the Blog Hop:



This is a wonderful photo. It reminds me of a late summer afternoon and it has a very vintage feel to it - check out the lining on the suitcase! Most wonderful of all, it contains some of my very favorite things: books, strawberry jam (okay - I don't know for sure if it is strawberry jam, but that's what I am guessing), ribbon, flowers (in a lovely shade of pink) and a floral scarf/tea towel.

I love to read, and one of the first things I noticed in the photo were the two books in the suitcase. I have been wanting to make some hand-stamped bookmarks for quite awhile, so I decided that would be the first part of my project. Although it's still summer and the weather is nice here in Northern California, I know that autumn isn't too far off. I love curling up with a good book when the days begin to get shorter and cooler. Lighting a beautiful scented candle adds a warm glow and increases the "coziness" factor quite a bit. On that note, I decided to embellish a jar candle to coordinate with the hand-stamped bookmark. I realized that the bookmark and candle would actually make a wonderful gift, along with a book, so I also created a coordinating 3 x 3 card.



I wanted to keep my bookmark fairly flat without a lot of layers so it fits easily inside a book. I decided to include a button at the top, which looks very cute as it "peeks" out of the book. I chose the "Celebrate Today" sentiment because I feel that reading is something that really keeps us grounded in the present moment - and what is more joyous than taking some time each day to read a good book, your favorite magazine or perhaps even reading to your child?



Speaking of reading, you can see the book "The Help" in the photos with my bookmark. Yes, I'm a little late with regard to reading the book since the movie was released earlier this month, but better late than never! I am thoroughly enjoying this book - I was hooked from the first sentence! It's definitely one of those books where I could finish it in two days, but at the same time, I don't want it to end so I am taking my time...or at least trying to. I plan to see the movie, and I am hopeful that I will finish the book while the movie is still in the theaters. Of course there's always DVD!



Here is a list of supplies that I used to create the bookmark, jar candle and 3 x 3 card. All supplies are from Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted. Stamps (Think Big Favorites # 4, Friendship Jar); Cardstock (Kraft, Pure Poppy, Spring Moss, Vintage Cream); Patterned Paper (Green Tea Leaves, Sugar Plum); Buttons (Ripe Avocado); Felt (Simply Chartreuse); Dies (Limitless Layers Collection 2.5 inches); Punches ( 1 1/4 inch and 1 3/8 inch circle); Self-Adhesive Rhinestones. The candle is from Michael's - one of their seasonally scented jar candles which are a great deal when they go on sale (perfect for stocking up to make gifts throughout the year).



Thank you so much for visiting my blog, whether you stopped by as part of the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop or you currently follow my blog. I am happy to have you here.



I always try and wrap up my posts with a quote and I happened to come across the following quote in the last couple days and thought it would be perfect for this post since it is related to reading.

"We read books to find out who we are. What other people, real or imaginary, do and think and feel is an essential guide to our understanding of what we ourselves are and may become."
-Ursula K. LeGuin

Wishing you a wonderful day.