Hello friends! I hope you had a fun weekend! We had a great time visiting friends at a lake yesterday and the boys loved going for a boat ride and fishing. This week at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog we have a School or Study theme.
I hope you will join us in this fun challenge, and don't miss the last contribution of our August guest designer Simo from Ginny and the Sheep.
There is still time to join the Simon Says Stamp Kid's Summer challenge - Anything Goes with Glitter. You can find Anton's Glittery Cactus here.
I have had the idea of making a miniature bookshelf in my head for quite some time and since it fit this challenge so well, I finally decided to do it. As you might know, I love to read and I think that reading is very important, especially for kids, and I had such fun making this bookshelf and all those miniature books. The words spelled out with alpha dice translate 'read a book'. I took some step photos along the way.
As my base I used a Tim Holtz Vignette Tray and cut up a Baseboard to fit perfectly as shelf. The tray was coated with gesso and I covered the sides of the tray and the shelves with strips of paper as well as design tape. Add some matte medium first to make sure the tape sticks down well.
The side of the book shelf looks like this, very quick as easy with tape.
For the inside I used patterned paper and stamped it with my favourite alphabet stamp as well as a sentiment. The edges were inked with Ground Espresso.
The books were made using Tim's Matchbox die and grungepaper. Die cut book and then cut the top and sides so that you have a variety of sizes.
Cover the books with scraps of patterned papers. For the spine, I used Sticky-back Canvas for most of the books, and strips of paper for a couple. The insides were done with scraps of book paper, as well as small pieces of cream and manila cardstock.
I used hot glue to attach the pages to the book (be very careful not to burn yourself).
The bookshelf was decorated with tiny photos from sample sheets I got the last time I had photos printed. I also added rub-on sentiments, a mirrored heart, metallic stars and number stickers.
The books were decorated with rub-on words and Clippings Stickers.
I used these alpha dices also as bookends.
I love this quote from the Darkroom Door Bookworm set.
These three books are pretty tiny. None of the books were glued to the shelf.
I also used an ephemera notebook piece, and covered it with canvas at the book. A photo, rub-ons and a flower was added to it.
The bottom shelf was used for books only. I had fun picking the sentiments for the books.
These are the three tiny books from the top.
The tiny books looks like this on the front.
I picked papers that featured numbers, words and maps, to fit with the theme of learning.
The back of the books are covered too. The spines were inked with Distress Inks.
More little books. I had such fun making these.
An alphabet book.
There are also books on history and nature.
On this book, I used a tiny photo of my grandmother.
The title of the book above.
I really like the sentiment on the spine of this book. And the ABC comes from the SSS Tiny Alphabet stamp.
A little book about flowers.
I added design tape on the inside of some of the books too.
The pages were torn for a distressed look.
And here you can see all the little books.
Another view of the dimension of the shelf.
The books were made so that they only stick out a tiny bit from the bookshelf. You can also make them a little larger, if you want to.
When the books are removed, the shelf looks like this.
I hope you will join us this week in our School or Study challenge. As always, you have a chance to win a $50 gift voucher to do some fun shopping at Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in.
OMG!!! I absolutely love the details!!!
ReplyDeleteWOW...I'm in awe Anna-Karin...this is beyond clever! Those tiny handmade books are absolutely GORGEOUS..This is a real work of love and art, my friend!!! Perfect...Lots of hugs...Simona
ReplyDeleteOooh, this is so super cute!! I love how you made a whole unit of bookshelves AND the books!! all the details are absolutely brilliant!! LOVE it :-)
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Lols x x x
Oh my gosh, Anna-Karin, I'm flipping over those tiny books. How cute are they?!? I love, love this bookshelf and all the details you put into it. It's absolutely amazing!
ReplyDeleteCathie ♥
Oh wow Anna-Karin, I love making mini books and these are just fabulous, they look wonderful on the book shelves you created. A really wonderful project! x
ReplyDeleteserious love for what you have done with the Vignette tray Anna-Karin. Just such a clever idea.
ReplyDeleteFantastic idea, brilliant little books and amazing details. Just love this . Tracy x
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful details in this project. What a wonderful treasure to have. Thank you for all the details on how you made this project.
ReplyDeleteOMG! This is such a gorjuss projects. Love your idea and all the details. Tiny books. Love it! Love it! I'm a reader so this is perfect project for me. Stunning, really.
ReplyDeletewow-this is a spectacular bookshelf, and how I LOVE your special little books!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspirational project and a wonderful keepsake for your boys. Beautifully done Valx
ReplyDeleteHoly Moly!! This is truly amazing Anna-Karin! There is so much love in this project, so many details like all those awesome tiny books, and love how you have added in photos of your sons too! Fantastic project!! hugs, Maura
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness Anna-Karin what a labour intensive but ADORABLE treasure! I love this! You are more than a little creative to think of this and the attention to detail is nothing short of AMAZING! Such a great project, my hat is off to you on this one! Well done!
ReplyDeleteOh gosh! This bookshelf is stunning! And I have no words for your mini books - these are beyond amazing! So perfect detailed and colored and you thought about everything here. The background is fantastic too and the scrabble cubes are perfect for thos project. Hugs, Marzena!
ReplyDeleteThis week your creation is mind blowing!!!!! Your tiny books are FANTASTIC and I absolutely speechless! FAb project, one of my favorite of yours! Barbara
ReplyDeleteThis is such a wonderful piece of art Anna-Karin and I just adore every single element you've included in this project, it's stunning! :)
ReplyDeletethis is just amazing Anna-Karin...what a fun projects and those cute little books are just so adorable...hugs kath xxx
ReplyDeleteWOW!!! Just WOW!!! love how you made the books.... so so so perfect Anna-Karin!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning project!
Oh my, this is such a fantastic creation, Anna-Karin. Love your clever design and all the details are awesome! :)
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! You have really outdone yourself on this one! As an English major, a former junior high English teacher and an eternal librarian, I was literally giddy as I saw this project! What an incredible tribute to reading. You've perfectly combined all my loves in this project: literature and art. The books especially have my heart! Excellent job on a really beautiful masterpiece!
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool, Anna-Karin! Love that you've made a bookshelf with tiny cute selfmade books! They're all a mini work of art! So cute all those small pictures of the boys. Hugs, Sandra
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