I purged a bunch of books recently. With the exception of some that I know SOMEONE has in boxes in the attic, I believe I am now down to the collection of books I really love. Not just my favorite books, but some of my beloved childhood books, and some books signed by the authors. I had 17 boxes of books that went to Half Price Books. (For which I got a whopping $17. Paid for lunch that day, anyway.) I actually love taking my books to Half Price because I know someone will love to have the books at a bargain. To me it's more of a donation than a sale.
I have a stack of books I use for art journaling and cards in my room - some dictionaries, some in foreign languages, some Nancy Drew books and other books with illustrations that are fun to use in projects. But one of the things I kept finding for the purge pile was DICTIONARIES. Geez - how many dictionaries can one person have? Don't answer that - my back still hurts from hauling them to the car. I was trying HARD to remember the last time I had used a paper dictionary for something other than art. It had to have been in college, which was an unspecified LONG time ago. It's funny how something that was so essential in my childhood is now on the dust bin of history. That escalated quickly!
I still love them though - I love looking at the pronunciations, and the way they're all neatly laid out the same. What an undertaking the first one must have been! So imagine my delight when I pulled out my big art journal dictionary - it's humongous - and I found this page on Noah Webster. So of course I had to read it - this is why art projects take three days, people - and I saw that he grew up on a farm, and was passionate about educating people about the importance of agriculture. Having just finished Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, this little fact spoke to me, and I thought I would use his bio page as the background for this beautiful wheat image from Power Poppy. I am nearly as obsessed with wheat stamps as I am Eiffel Tower stamps. This one is gorgeous because it's big enough to really paint. I gessoed the dictionary page - with paper this thin, I like to gesso both sides - it flattens out the warping. Then I stamped the image with waterproof ink, and watercolored it (supplies below.) I love the bright colors against that vintage, distressed page.
The sentiment is from the same stamp set and I used the Stitched framelits to cut that out of watercolor paper.
I'm hopping again with the MISTI team today, and you can win their prize - your choice of an original or Mini MISTI, AND the Power Poppy Prize - they are giving away (2) $25 gift certificates. Just leave a comment on all the blogs for your chance to win. The list is below - good luck! :)
Loveyameanitbye.
Simply beautiful...
ReplyDeleteI have never used a book page as a background, but I really love the look.
ReplyDeleteThis is really lovely, Lydia! I love how you colored the wheat...the colors are so vibrant....and the use of a book page is so clever! Just beautiful! :)
ReplyDeleteLOvE. LoVe. LOVE.
ReplyDeletePretty....plus I learned something (to coat front and back of a thin book page with gesso. Thanks for sharing your work and the tip. ;)
ReplyDeleteLove the use of the book page. Great card!
ReplyDeleteSimply beautiful! One day I'm going to get brave and actually use my Gesso for something like this!
ReplyDeleteAWESOME card! Love the image on bookpage!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful interpretation of a lovely stamp
ReplyDeleteI find it difficult to deface a book in any way, even ones I no longer want. But one of these days I'm going to take the plunge and rip a page out of one and use it in a craft project!! LOL Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work, love the newsprint background.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the gesso tip. Great post.
ReplyDeleteFantastic!! The paper is just amazing!
ReplyDeleteThis is so lovely - thank you for alerting me to the blog hop!
ReplyDeleteHow interesting...I am also curious about so many things...and I love audio books...lovely card by the way.
ReplyDeleteMost wheat stamps are straight and stiff, I like that this one is wispy.
ReplyDeleteLove, love, LOVE this!!! I have a plant book that I want to use this way...got it at goodwill. Just need more time in my days!!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous card! I love a printed background like this!
ReplyDeleteThat's an awesome card.
ReplyDeletePretty colors and pretty image! Reading your post, you made me glance up at my shelf over my computer to check if I still had my dictionary. Yep! :)
ReplyDeleteI would never have thought to use a page from a book for a background. Very cool!
ReplyDeleteLove your background and technique. I always enjoy seeing other people's creations. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAwesome design love the background!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful page!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of a page from a book. Thanks for sharing and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI love this Lydia, what a beautiful image and sentiment! A great job on it!
ReplyDeleteWow! You use an actual book page to stamp and paint on! Love it. I may need to try this, as we have a lot of books.
ReplyDeleteGreat use of a book page. I keep wanting to but don't have any books I want to rip up!
ReplyDeleteI too like book pages for backgrounds, especially dictionary pages. I do still use the dictionary that Santa brought me when I was 8. It's pretty beat up but I love it and could never part with it.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty and unusual, great job!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a book lover but I have no issues using them for art too, especially dictionaries and encyclopedias. I use Dover Publications free samples for a lot of other novel/classics/fairytales/crosswords/etc for books I don't own or don't want to destroy and just age/style the paper according to my project needs. Love this card! But then again, I love Power Poppy images so you couldn't go wrong!!!
ReplyDeleteReally pretty. Good idea to use pages from old discarded books.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous technique, and beautiful card.
ReplyDeleteReally cute card! Love the design.
ReplyDeletenatgodfrey4@gmail.com
beautiful
ReplyDeletethe work is beautiful and I would love a misty.
ReplyDeleteAnn
So pretty. I love the image on top of the printed text.
ReplyDeleteQuite lovely! I've never tried art journaling but certainly admire those who do!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely idea! Great looking card.
ReplyDeletewhat totally makes this card is the use of BLUE!
ReplyDeleteLove this, Lydia! I'm a huge dictionary fan, too, from the tiniest pages to the largest ones! Marcella's beautiful stamps make Power Poppy one of my very favorite stamp companies! ♡Dawn@Petals.Paper.SimpleThymes
ReplyDeleteGreat choice of background page for this beautiful artwork.
ReplyDeleteI love the image on the book. Thanks for sharing your this beautiful technique with us
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to use old dictionaries or books. Beautiful card!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful! I haven't tried this before but I think I Will!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful page!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. Very creative. Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty.
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous! Love the background.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful and unique!
ReplyDeleteThis makes me smile. It's really beautiful! Thanks for the tip about using Gesso on both sides of the dictionary or book paper.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the gesso tip. Lovely card!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Love the look of the wheat on the book page.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty
ReplyDeleteand lovely
stamping.
Carla from Utah
Love your background and beautiful coloring. Thanks for your inspiration.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card, love how you used the book page.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty! I'm like that with dictionaries too. So said that kids today don't even get a chance to flip through one nowadays. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSo cool. Something I would like to try!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I rescued an old encyclopedia volume from a set my parents were throwing away. It's really fun to use the pages on cards!
ReplyDeleteLovely wheat stamp, that's a new one to me!
ReplyDeleteLydia, I love the vintage look of your dictionary page with your brightly colored wheat. TFS my friend. Hugs...
ReplyDeleteThis is really cool Lydia love the colouring of your image and the background page looks great!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love (and appreciate) this. I too love me a good old fashioned dictionary. So sad that they are falling by the wayside, so to speak but time marches forward and with that comes changes we can't always control, unfortunately! However, I cannot think of a better or more beautiful way to preserve them even if it is merely one page at a time. A gorgeous image and sentiment!
ReplyDeleteHow pretty! Love the pop of blue on here!
ReplyDeleteCool card! Now I wish I had some great old dictionaries and such lying around!! I love this look! Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! I love the text for the background, and your beautiful coloring! Beautiful wheat image!
ReplyDeleteI have a really large dictionary I was about to put in the recycling bin, but thanks to you I'll be ripping out pages for backgrounds. Lovely card and thanks for the tip on the gesso.
ReplyDeleteOh wow Lydia, this page is really lovely - the wheat stamp is terrific and your colouring is super
ReplyDeleteLove that wheat stamp! I have two paper dictionaries. A 1937 edition of Webster's Practical Dictionary..purchased from a thrift store and used for backgrounds and 2001 Webster's College Dictionary that serves double duty. I place my cards in it once they are assembled to sit overnight so they won't come unstuck at a later date. And I also actually use it - gasp! - to look up words!! Old school.
ReplyDeleteLu C
Amazing--I'll never look at a dictionary the same way.
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty creation! I'm one of those people who can't stomach defacing books (I don't do stamp surgery either!) but I can appreciate the beautiful work that other people manage with book pages. The text background really does look lovely and it is a great way to make use of old books.
ReplyDeleteLovely card! I love the story of the card the most. This card comes with a piece of you beyond your amazing artwork.
ReplyDeleteLove your page. For a recovering Catholic schoolgirl of the 40s and 50s, coloring in a book? - omg! 😀 Love it! Thanks for the tip about the gesso.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about using a page from a book, but this looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteYour card is lovely Lydia
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I have old books as well to use on my projects! Too fun
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Love how you used the book page!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card Lydia. I love the idea of using a page from an old book as background.
ReplyDeleteWow, wonderful project. Love the image and amazing background.
ReplyDeleteLydia, I so enjoyed reading about your books! I too am a lover of books!I find it horribly hard to part with any of my books though! You're braver than I! How wonderful that you found a page with script that worked with the image! Your wheat stamping & painting on this is BEAUTIFUL!!! ;)
ReplyDeleteI have seen Bible journaling, and this is so similar, that I wonder why i have not seen it before. This is fabulous and very stunning. I will have to take a leap.
ReplyDeleteDifferent approach, but, beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm not the only one who has a thing for wheat stamps!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards. I would love to own a Misti. The idea of placing everything exactly where you want it. I was a wood stamper, but this polymer is cool.
ReplyDeleteLove the background.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I have acquired a lot of
print paper and I use it a lot
for the start of my greeting
cards. Print seems to lend itself
to any kind of stamps I want to use
the wheat is great on this page.
thanks for sharing.
Very pretty!
ReplyDeleteWhat a creative way to use the book page! Love the wheat image too.
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous, Lydia!
ReplyDeleteI love your ingenious use of a book page for the background of this card and your choice of stamp and your watercolor technique is truly inspirational. Thanks for sharing! 🌾
ReplyDeleteso pretty:)
ReplyDeleteWow Simply beautiful - so inspiring:)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card as always and I need to get my dictionaries out of retirement!
ReplyDeleteOh Happy Day! I would love to win a Misti! :)
ReplyDeleteUnique idea. Can't wait to use it, but I'll be sure and say I got it from you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for using unwanted books.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely and unique card!
ReplyDeleteAint it the truth about projects taking 3 days, lol. Have yet to really get into tearing pages out of books - as the poster above commented, I find it difficult to do. Perhaps once we try it, it will become easier. Love the page btw.
ReplyDeletelovely use of an old book page and the colors are so wonderful thanks for sharing this
ReplyDeleteso creative, never even thought about using a page to stamp on..
ReplyDeleteLove this effect, beautiful job
hugs
I, too, have kept books to use on recycled art, but haven't been brave enough to remove a page! Great tip on the gesso...maybe today will be the day I get brave!!
ReplyDeleteI share your love of books. Up until now, I never would have removed or defaced a page. Now, I can't wait to try it. Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteLove the card, it's really beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLove how you colored the edges. I have done it a few times but not the bold colors like you used. Wil have to try it
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful! I've gesso'd thin paper before, but only on one side. Thank you for the great tip! Now I think I'm off to the discount book store for some dictionaries lol:)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and I love your background!!!
ReplyDeleteThere is something about wheat stamps, isn't there? I have a small collection, too, but not this one, beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLove how you used this dictionary page and the wheat image is perfect.
ReplyDeleteI love the paper in the background. Of course I had to stop and try to read it too! Such a lovely card.
ReplyDeleteLoving the use of book pages! Stunning card! Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeletewhat an amazing idea...thanks for sharing with us and especially for this amazing blog hop!
ReplyDeletePatricia
the PaperTemptress
Ooo (squeal) I never thought to use pages this way. Love it! I am going to have to try this out. Thanks so much for sharing your creativity with us.
ReplyDeleteXO April
Very cool Lydia - love the simplicity of wheat, what a perfect backdrop.
ReplyDeleteYour wheat is gorgeous and I love it on the book page.
ReplyDeleteYes! I, too, 'donate' to half price books for the same reason. although lunch isn't usually something I can afford with the buy-back money!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful creation! Gotta get me some gesso.
Love your blog!
Gorgeous, I have never thought of stamping directly onto a book page..
ReplyDeleteI love your use of old book pages! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLove the blues and the background. Great colors
ReplyDeletegiggle at your opening comment! :D
ReplyDeleteI love your original design featuring power poppy, Misti and such out-of-box thinking with a page!
ReplyDeleteLydia I feel this could be a tribute to the printed page. I use my biggest dictionary to flatten my cards. This blue beauty is so awesome. Thanks for sharing your book story and for the tip about gesso.
ReplyDeleteWow, what am amazing page you did. The blue is just stunning... love this.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to incorporate a page in my cards but I love how you did it!
ReplyDeleteYour card is lovely! Wonderful technique!
ReplyDeletebeautiful work!
ReplyDeleteVery cool. I love how you colored the image and shading behind the image. TFS
ReplyDeleteLovely treatment of the wheat image on the book page, Lydia! Like others, I hadn't seen this yet on books other than bibles, what a cool idea...
ReplyDeleteLynn Mathers
I love that simple watercolor image on a book page. What an awesome idea for backgrounds!
ReplyDeletepretty watercoloring!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous Card. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this idea! I have gotten rid of 75% of my books over the last 5 years, but am sure I still have some left I can use for this neat idea! Thanks soooo much for the inspiration! (and I love your blog title ... as a writer, would love to hear the story of it's inspiration sometime!) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteReally pretty card. I would not have thought to use a page in this way. Thank you for sharing your card and technique.
ReplyDeleteLove the dictionary paper background and the strong watercolours.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting idea. Not sure if I will ever be able to just tear a page from a book, I have this deep rooted belief that books should be looked after and cherished, not torn apart...
ReplyDeleteGorgeous. Love the book page background. My old textbooks might actually come in handy for something.
ReplyDeleteThere is just something about stamping over text that appeals to me, and so I love what you did here, Lydia, especially the pretty blue shading behind your wheat image! Thanks for reminding me about stamping over text - I may go have a play today!
ReplyDeleteI use old books and their pages in my artwork, but have not thought to use it as my background on a card with a stamped image. Thanks for another idea for my tool box. I've never used a Misti, but have always wanted to. Be nice if I was chosen the winner. By the way, love, love the card and the bright colors against the vintage book page.
ReplyDeleteThe color combination you used for the watercolor is so pretty and done well!
ReplyDeleteSuch creative thinking, the book page looks lovely. Do you know if anyone sells pages. I don't have a used book store close to me. It makes a stunning card. Thank you for being part of the blog hop.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful image and when combined with the text... all I can say is Ahhhhh. Pure loveliness!
ReplyDeleteOh how lovely! Clever use of the book page!
ReplyDeleteI love the look of watercolouring on book pages. Your colours are fabulous! What a beautiful project.
ReplyDeleteLove this page! I have so many OLD dictionaries but the thought of pulling them apart makes me cringe. I keep 2 newer old dictionaries for projects. I'm going home after work to make something! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLove the image on the book page. I have had a hard time trying to find a book I feel is nice enough for a project and that I won't feel horrible for taking apart. My search continues... with further inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThis is so pretty!!
ReplyDeleteOh, what a fabulous way to use an old book page, Lydia, and I also love the vibrant color after you laid some gesso down. Beautifully done! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteHi! Your project has provided so much inspiration on how I might transfer my card making insights to my scrap booking pages for older ancestors that I do not have photos for but instead some written documentation. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI am a book lover--to read and use in crafts, too. Love your card.
ReplyDeleteLove the card and choice of watercolors and book page! Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI did not avert my eyes because how could I comment on what you made?! We have in common the fact that reading sidetracks us.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful! I love the idea of stamping on a book page!
ReplyDeleteThis is a fun creation. I like to use pages from books too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely page, I think dictionaries are really cool too!
ReplyDeleteLovely.
ReplyDeleteCute art project. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGreat use of dictionary page for this card !
ReplyDeleteGreat idea for a card front. It is so pretty. When I remember I use pages from books for cards and mini books. As to the keeping of books--two of my friends and I share books then donate to library book sale. I've kept a few just so someone else will pass on later.
ReplyDeleteThis is very beautiful. I love the idea of using book pages. Your water coloring is nice.
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteReally pretty card. Love the page background.
DeleteI love stamping on printed pages - thanks for the reminder with this sweet projects!
ReplyDeleteThe background colors you used really set off the stamped image nicely.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card with that page and watercolored background.
ReplyDeletenever thought of using a dictionary page great idea
ReplyDeleteHi would sooooo love to win this prize.....either prize would be fine with me too...thanks sooo much for sharing your gorgeous design with us!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, unique card, Lydia! The bright colors are great against the printed page. Thanks so much for sharing with us and for participating in this great hop and giveaway.
ReplyDeleteReally like the background you used, beautiful card!
ReplyDeleteLydia, this is fantastic. Much more interesting than just using a text stamp.
ReplyDeleteLove this card. I tried one similar once stamping a rose on a dictionary page. Love the colors. Glenda Kraft
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful! Such a cool idea to stamp against the bookprint!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, I cannot wait to look through my old books again
ReplyDeleteLovely idea for books. Very pretty.
ReplyDeleteI have a few books that I was planning on donating. I think I will have to keep one just for this technique!
ReplyDeleteI read - a lot. I didn't know that using gesso on a page would stop it from warping. Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteWow... love the bright colours and the final outcome...its stunning
ReplyDelete