Tutorial: Handmade bookmarks make a great back-to-school gift

About a year ago, my mom decided to go back to school to get her master's and become a high school math teacher. (She will be an excellent teacher, by the way. I should know since she homeschooled me through the 6th grade. Thanks, Mom!) I'm so proud of her, and since the fall semester is about to start back up, I wanted to make her a little something - in particular, something she could use while in school. I wanted something practical but also handmade and kind of cute. How about a bookmark? Yes, that will work.

So, here are the bookmarks that I made. I'm going to pick out a few and send them to her. Hope she likes them!

(I don't know if Mom will look at my blog again before these bookmarks make their way to her, but if she does, sorry to spoil the surprise! Pinky love!)

Anyway, I think this makes a good little gift, so here are the ridiculously simple instructions in case anyone wants to make ones like mine.

Materials -

• Clear beads ($1.99 for a huge pack)
• Flower charms ($2.67 for a dozen)
• Ribbon ($2 - you will need 6 inches for each bookmark)
• Cute cardstock or paper (price varies - I just used some I had on hand); 
• Paper box used to package food (e.g., cereal box)
• Elmer's glue ($1)
• Scissors ($1 - 2)
• Hole punch (maybe $5?)

Time - approximately 10 minutes per bookmark

Step 1 - Cut the shape out of the paper food box. The length and width of my bookmarks varied somewhat, but I kept the length around 7 inches and the width around 1.5 to 1.75 inches.

Step 2 - Generously apply glue to both sides of the cardboard and adhere the paper to it. Then cut the excess paper off the sides. 

Step 3 - Punch a hole in the top. String the charm onto the ribbon and pull the ribbon through the hole, with most of the length (~ 4") being on the front side and a smaller portion on the back. 

Place a clear bead on the ribbon and pull it to the base, and then pull the other side of the ribbon through the bead. This is what will hold the ribbon in place. I think it looks cuter than a knot.

Tada! Happy reading! :)