Read in 2011

Unfortunately I haven't kept track of the books I read in 2011, (as I type this I recall The Element by Ken Robinson, for example), but these are a selection of them. 

Some of them, like Running Hot, I read in ebook along with some out of copyright ones that I haven't listed. I think there is a running theme here, with Running Hot, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running and Run! I did start running again this year, completing the SMH Half Marathon in May - what will I focus on reading in 2012?

+ The last time I posted on what I had read for the year was the 24 books I read in 2009.

+ For those that love reading, but think they're too busy, this post will help you get back to books.

Image: 1

Book-themed prints

These gorgeous prints of books are available as covers for iphones (as shown), but also ipad, laptop covers or even stretched canvases.

Images links for purchase of the artworks as iphone, ipad or laptop cases, or as stretched canvases or artwork:

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10

Happy Holidays

I am on holiday at the moment. I may come in and share some photos, interesting links, books I have read or images I love over the next week. Or not.

Enjoy a relaxing break.

Merry Christmas

I would like to wish all the Booktagger blog readers a lovely Christmas Day. 

May you all enjoy a day of giving and celebrating with those you love.

There have been many Christmas posts over the last few weeks, here are some you may have missed:

+ Christmas wrapping with a book theme

+ book page garlands and bunting

+ Christmas book page wreaths

+ cards and wrapping with a colourful book theme

+ Christmas trees made from folded book pages

+ book pages Christmas tree ornaments to buy and make

Image

Christmas Eve

It's is Christmas Eve and I hope you have all can settle down for a peaceful and relaxing day before the festivities you may be celebrating with tomorrow. I hope you have enjoyed the array of Christmas posts here on the Booktagger blog. Here are a few more things I love that are Christmas and book themed.

 Trees made from book pages, either curls or from traced coins.

 Beautifully covered books as decorations around the house.

Christmas ornaments that look like paper mache from typed pages, painted in a glitter lacquer.

Beautiful Christmas and winter themed wrapping paper and gift tags. 

We will spend the evening reading T'was the night before Christmas, The Nutcracker, and a book on the Christmas story to children, sharing with family and excitedly going to bed. 

Images: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

Christmas wrapping

Here are some ideas for wrapping your gift with a book theme. Books make fantastic presents and they are also one of the easiest items to wrap.

You can wrap a book in book pages and add paper flowers to adorn them. We have featured paper flowers and how to make them on another Booktagger blog post. Adding a bright ribbon contrast beautifully with the printed pages.

Use book pages in place of ribbon. You can sew across pleated pages to create an interesting effect like this one shown.

You can also add a simple gift tag or ribbon constructed from the pages of an old book.

For templates and tutorials on how to make the gift tags and bows shown in the images above, click on the relevant image link below.

Images: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

Garlands and bunting

You can use book pages to create simple Christmas decorations like the bunting and garlands shown. These can be hung or used to wrap around your Christmas tree.

The ones shown are from black and white pages, but old Christmas themed books would also be fantastic.
Images: 1 & 2

Christmas wreaths

I made a wreath for our door this year before I saw this array made from book pages, so I won't be trying  them out until next year.

There are so many variations on book page wreaths.

Each with the pages rolled, folded or wrapped in a different manner.

Seasons Greetings everyone! What is hanging on your door?

Images: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

Happy Monday

 

This vintage poster makes me laugh, but also encourages me to spend lots of the time we have on holidays reading to my children. In the last week before Christmas you'll find a few more Christmas themed posts here as we get ready for celebrations and holidays.

What you may have missed:
+ cards and wrapping with a colourful book theme
+ Christmas trees made from folded book pages
+ book pages Christmas tree ornaments to buy and make

Interesting links:
+ literary wrapping papers
+ online literary magazine 'What the Dickens?'
+ children's Christmas books worth reading
+ Christmas craft books for Children

Images: 1 / 2 / 3 

Card and wrapping

A colourful array of cards with book themes. Not just to or from book lovers, but great for extending a themed when you are giving a book as a gift.

Giftwrap comprising rows of books.

These colourful images are from two sheets of giftwrap that feature the classic Penguin covers.

Below is a another sheet of paper of vintage books from the Bodleian library collection, with the covers selected from the Oxford research library's extensive array of books.

Images: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

Christmas trees from books

These beautifully folded book pages make lovely minimalistic decorations for Christmas.

Images: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

Christmas tree ornaments

 Book pages can be used to make rustic decorations for Christmas, like these spherical ones.

Lines from a book can be cut out and pasted over shapes, like this bird, or placed inside a glass ornament.

These are available from etsy {1 / 2 / 3}.

There is also a lovely tutorial for making your own Christmas star ornaments from old books or papers here.