Lost In A Good Book

I have had such fun today, creating this bookmark for my lovely Swedish pal. Love this woman to bits! We met when our first-borns were babes and it was just one of those friendships where we 'clicked' from the get-go. I couldn't quite figure out why I liked her so much, because we're so different, and yet from the moment we met, she was a huge and wonderful part of my world and I wouldn't have it any other way. She's one of my nearest and dearest friends and I miss her like crazy now we are back in New Zealand. 

She asked me a while back, (knowing I like my crafty stuff) to make her a bookmark. This would be THE personal gift for my darling pal, as she reads more than anyone I know! Even my hubby and that's saying something. She inhales books!! So making her a bookmark is a privilege and a pleasure, as I know it's going to be well used. So I've been on the hunt, ever since she asked me, to try and find the 'right' image and the right bookmark shape.

I coloured an image up recently, but ended up binning it, as I really wasn't happy with the result and it just didn't 'fit' what I had in my head. That's a big thing for me, I hate to throw anything away, especially when I've spent hours colouring it! But it just wasn't right. Then I came across this image by Krista Smith from Saturated Canary. It's called Tea and a Book. Simply said, it's perfect. The only thing that would have made this image any more perfect, would have been a little Moomin character on the cup! My pal has a cupboard full of these fun and fabulous, highly collectable china mugs. 

My pal's actually an espresso drinker, which was an immediate bond between her and my hubby. But she does love a good herbal tea on occasions. So if you take a closer peek at the teabag tag, it reads Mynta, which is Swedish for Mint. I managed to squeeze it in there very carefully after a couple of failed attempts. Very fiddly!

I have such awesome memories of our times together, so many special moments and things I've come to love about her. One of her 'things' is she's big into stripes. A bit like me and my red gingham. So I paper-pieced a stripey shirt on the image, which is sooooo her! I had to do the hair blonde, as she has gorgeous Scandinavian blonde hair, which is always cut in fabulous short-cropped styles. Sadly it doesn't show up that well against my pale paper-pieced 'wallpaper' background, but it looks good in reality.

I wanted to add a sentiment to the reverse side of the bookmark, so when she uses it, she'll know how much she means to me and I found a perfect one from Inkylicious stamps.

The full decorated reverse of the bookmark


A close-up of the text

So there you have it, front and back of the book mark decorated, now just remains to post it over to my lovely pal before she sees this post! Hmm, may have to delay the post to be sure that doesn't happen. Thanks for stopping in today. I hope you enjoyed seeing my lil' make in celebration of friendship. Pop back again soon and I'll have more crafty makes to share. Hugs, Wends x

Challenges Which Inspired Me:
Fab 'n' Funky: #187 ~ Ribbon
Simon Says Stamp: Say It With Stamps
Loves Rubberstamps: #72 ~ Anything Goes
Saturated Canary Challenge: #53 ~ Paper Piecing

Dream Valley: #66 ~ Autumn (Autumn colours used)
I Love Promarkers: #188 ~ Songs = "You've Got A Friend" - James Taylor
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Going Dotty (Dotty Magnolia Doohickey border die)
Cute Card Thursdays: #289 ~ Signs of Distress (Forest Moss DI on all edges)
Southern Girls Challenge: Sing - Sing A Song, Sing Out Loud... "You've Got A Friend"
As You Like It: #12 ~ Favourite 'Not A Card' Project and Why (I loved making this bookmark. I'm not great at 'alternative makes', but I really LOVED making this for my pal and will do more again. Really fun, but also quick and easy - a perfect match for my impatience and limited skill set! LOL)

Update: I won the Southern Girls Challenge! Woop woop!!! Thank you ladies x