Years ago, I found a poem about books that I absolutely love. Since then I’ve been imagining getting the last few sentences as a tattoo. Then one day my teenage daughter tells me she wants to paint a quote about books on her wall. Immediately, I knew it would be this poem by Julia Donaldson.

“I opened a book and in I strode.
Now nobody can find me.
I’ve left my chair, my house, my road,
My town and my world behind me.
I’m wearing the cloak, I’ve slipped on the ring,
I’ve swallowed the magic potion.
I’ve fought with a dragon, dined with a king
And dived in a bottomless ocean.
I opened a book and made some friends.
I shared their tears and laughter
And followed their road with its bumps and bends
To the happily ever after.
I finished my book and out I came.
The cloak can no longer hide me.
My chair and my house are just the same,
But I have a book inside me.”
― Julia Donaldson

Needless to say, she loves this. I’ve learned some things about painting with stencils that I wish someone had told me. My key advice is to have plenty of patience, and use a paint pen. Do NOT use paint with a brush or sponge. Messy and smudges all over.

Get a sharpie paint pen.