Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Old School Bookcovers and Gift Wrap in One


A couple of weeks ago my friend and I were having a conversation about mid-life musings. As you know, I am not a spring chicken so this subject comes up a fair amount these days. Heads up young ones...... after 50 you are going to be surprised where your head goes. I can't speak for everyone but I certainly have found it to be the most thoughtful time of my life. It does seem to be a time of "sorting", sorting through and establishing where you stand on your marriage, your friends, your health, your kids, your job, your whole life in general. Bit by bit it gets "sorted" into a place in your life, the one you can now see is going faster than you have thought possible. What works is going to stay and improve, what doesn't work is going or gone. I had the best laugh when my friend said "I thought life after 50 was going to be easy, I am more confused than ever". I knew exactly what she meant. Been there..... doing that.


This friend and I exchange books on our birthday, we pass along our best reads or in this case a book about our favorite subject......musings of middle age. I thought the content was good, the cover not too exciting for a book gift so I thought I would try an old-school method of folding a book cover and gift wrap in one. I know you have seen this, just a little gift wrap reminder. Just make sure the gift wrap paper isn't too thick, you do want nice, crisp edges.


You might have to be over 50 to remember book covers. I really don't know if they teach that type of folding skill in schools these days. This technique works better on soft cover books or if you remove the dust jacket from any hardcover. It certainly makes for a lovely gift wrap and book cover all-in-one and I think I might do a whole section of books in my dressing room in this lovely vintage Paris Street map design.



I wanted to try the blue version of that green flower I used last week and was able to ribbon wrap the firm stem, almost like a flower wand. I also put a Paris label on the cover so if she decides to keep the cover she can write in the title. As I mature, I also notice I buy more books with short stories and selected writings. That's the other thing that happens after 50 and I hate to tell any fellow booklover this sad truth...........you are not going to be reading way into the night anymore. You will nod off by page 5 and it is my only mid-life disappointment. Everything else gets "sorted" nicely....... as it should by now.




All photos by Sande Chase ~ A Gift Wrapped Life

35 comments:

  1. lovely, dear one. and yes, I totally remember LOVING book covers. they were the best part of school....I have a love affair with paper...so your work is right up my alley. beautiful job with this one...

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  2. This is a wonderful idea Sande.....The book style wrapping is gorgeous. I remember taking such care to cover my school books - I loved the whole process and would plan eagerly the paper that I would have for the year. xv

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  3. I just LOVE this tradition that you have with your friend. {Sometimes it's more fun to get a gift from a girlfriend then anyone else.....they seem to know exactly what you need and also "get" you!}
    The paper is so much fun and the blue flower ~
    irresistible! I am giving several books away as gifts in the next few weeks...b-days, graduations, etc. and I think I will make personalized covers like this. Bellisimo!
    xx P&H

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  4. I do remember book covers. My mother insisted on making them for all my books! Thanks for making me smile Sande.

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  5. Sande, your gift book cover is so charming and thoughtful. I can't explain but i find it quite moving too... And the label is just great !

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  6. Sande, Love this post, Yes I remember doing book covers for all my boys books with garbage sacks no-less. Nothing as pretty as this wonderful Paris map paper. I really like this idea. I can so relate to all that you are saying. You always seem to put into words beautifully what I would like to say. I should start giving you my thoughts and you could articulate them for me. Always elegant, always lovely, Kathysue

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  7. Oh, Sande, you brought me right back to making book covers for all my school books. I always loved doing it. Some years it was just with old shopping bags, but even those we decorated and made our "own." Other years, my sister and I gathered up scraps of fabric and sewed book covers, too, which was really fun. My favorite was a grey pinwale corduroy with tiny red and blue flowers. I LOVE the idea of wrapping a book gift this way! Thanks for yet another brilliant idea. xoxo Gigi

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  8. This is really beautiful!Love the colors!

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  9. Sande, I adore your idea of wrapping/covering a gift book, but I never learned the art of covering my schoolbooks! (maybe my mother did it while I slept?). Could you write a tutorial? And are you still using your blog to show us the 1,2, 3's of creative ways to wrap our gifts? Those were my favorite blogs. I have to admit that I have never had a Tiffany, Bonwit or Hermes box to regift and I have looked everywhere for Cavalini stickers like you use. Maybe you could write just a few tutorials telling us beginners exactly how to make a beautiful presentation with our gifts.
    Thank you for much!

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  10. I'm 42 and I remember having to cover all our school books. I never would have remembered that if you hadn't written about it. I enjoy hearing your musings on life.

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  11. The blue flower is wonderful and so is the wrap.

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  12. Oh...I am so there with you! I do remember book covers (mostly with daisies from the 60's) and I love the flower on your wrapping. The book itself interests me. Sometimes...if the novel is good, I can still read until 2:00 a.m.-I just need a nap the next day:)

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  13. So where did you get the Paris map paper?

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  14. It is like going back to public school when we covered our textbooks but our covers never looked like this. Beautifully wrapped. I especially love the Parisian paper. Great blog.

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  15. i *love* gift wrapping and love the idea behind your blog. glad i found you.

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  16. Oh Oh oh my Sandegirl! That map covered book with your velvet touch is the VERY VERY BEST!!! LOVE IT! A gift that would not even need wrapping!
    XO

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  17. It is quite moving when you receive a give as beautiful as this, the memories, the thoughtfullness, the friendship.

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  18. One does not need to be over 50 toremember book covers. I am under 39 and I love them. My family adores antique books so I was brought up seeing them everywhere. The parisian paper is delightful in so many ways;-)

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  19. Oh you are so funny, I loved this post. I really do adore that Paris paper and picking out the soft blue in it for the gorgeous ribbon and flower...perfect.

    big hugs DJ

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  20. What a lovely reminder of something I used to love - I used to wrap my school books in pretty paper - and which seems sooo long ago. BTW it's not only after the age of 50 that the "all night reading sessions" stop I used to read like mad and now I can't stay awake to even finish a chapter - why? Love from London x

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  21. I just adore the way you write..intelligent and thoughtful. And thank you for the lovely idea. I've been wanting to cover some of my cookbooks (permanently) and this may work very well. Rachaelxx

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  22. Fond memories of a youthful time: covering books for school in the fall with carefully selected wrapping paper.

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  23. i LOVE this idea. and the way you did yours is, of course, so gorgeous. new music too! just means i gotta stay on your blog longer! :)

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  24. I think I have to get some of that paper - I love this idea and the paper you chose is simply perfect! Marija

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  25. What a great idea Sande, and so pretty! I'm not spring chicken either. I've received two books on the big "M" subject (I'll leave the word off of your blog). Wouldn't they have presented nicely with these book covers?

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  26. So much love for this <3
    Sarah @http://www.inkandbelle.blogspot.com

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  27. A beautiful idea - and charming in blue!
    And I am OFF to visit your new advertiser - I LOVE LOVE LOVE estate jewelry! Those pieces are amazing! KJL? I'm there.
    -SF

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  28. Oh Sande,
    What a great post. I am way over fifty and only a little away from sixty !! You have taken me back to my schoolays when we had to cover all of our books and, my dad taught us very well and I am a dab hand at it so, when I buy a book for a gift, I am definitely going to wrap them as you suggested. They look wonderful.
    I must also buy the book ' in The Fullness Of Time '. Do you think that it's too late for me !!!! haha. XXXX

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  29. What a wonderful idea... the book covers are beautiful!!

    xoxo Laura

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  30. Beautiful, beautiful post! I ~so~ enjoy your blog, dear one! So fun and refreshing for this pastor's wife stressful but "blessful" life!

    I often come here for fun, for food for thought, for a change of pace...

    Grace and Peace!

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  31. What a perfect post... you always hit the nail on the head! I love your musings and your gift wrap!

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  32. It's a rainy day here,and I was delighted by your lovely tradition of trading a speciaal book with a friend and your photos of your beautiful gift wrapping. What a wonderful post.

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  33. I see you posted this a long while ago, but it would appear that I 'needed' this one today! (I saw the pic at the bottom of your current posting)

    Loved the photos... I want to look for that book....

    And I found your comments about being 50 something and 'surprised where your head goes... as it goes through a time of "sorting", sorting through and establishing where you stand on your marriage, your friends, your health..... so true!

    What's lovely about this blogging thing is discovering so many amazing women along the way as we journey together in our different places on this blue planet.

    Your gorgeous blog is a gift to so many, me included!

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Your comments are such a lovely addition to my day. Thank you.

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