I LOVE books. LOVE. I recently got a Kindle for my birthday and have fallen head over heels for e-Books too but nothing will ever replace my love of the printed word. There’s something about books; they hold promises and potential for adventure and discovery.

Some people do other things to books. They give them other opportunities to live on past their shelf life. Here are some of my favourites.

Vintage Study Book Envelopes – Happy August

Wreath made of vintage book pages – Maggie Paggie Designs

Cupcake toppers made from vintage books – Apples Modern Art

Wuthering Heights Book Clutch – Chick Lit Designs

Paper Heart Garland – Couture by Ayca Special offer: 10% discount from Couture by Ayca when you use the code: PRETTYPAPERTHINGS during the month of June!

And perhaps my very favourite thing to do with vintage books….grow crystals on them!

This is a piece by sculptor and installation artist Alexis Arnold of the book Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell in a crystallised form. This is what Alexis says about her creations – “The crystal growth highlights or creates the aesthetics of these once-utilitarian objects that are entering the world of obsolescence, as well as acts to suggest past narratives and post-human futures laden with nostalgia, wonder, and the interminable progression of time.” (cred: Made in Slant). I’m not sure if I quite understand that, but I think it’s magical nonetheless.