Stretching the Imagination

I was surfing the net, looking for colored elastic, when I came across these bookmarks from Levenger. I just love them, I have never seen bookmarks like them, and I immediately wanted them. Alas! They cost $6.00 each!!

Well, I decided to take a shot at making my own. I really felt like they were a simple enough concept.

Here's what I used: 1 piece of matboard (2" X 5") 2 pieces of decorative paper (2" X 5") 1 piece of 1" elastic (14" long) decoupage medium sponge brush permanent markers E6000 adhesive craft knife dye (optional)

These are two that I made. I think they are beautiful and much more economical than the inspiration ones.

You can pretty much tell from the picture what I did. Just cut a slot in top of bookmark wide enough for width of elastic. Use marker to color outside edge of board. Decoupage paper to board, trim slot. When dry, slip elastic through the slot and glue ends together to form loop. Wait for adhesive to completely dry before attempting to use your bookmark.

If you want your elastic to be a different color, just dye it. The only dye I had around was soap dye, I used it and it worked just fine.

My bookmarks are shorter than the originals, only because it worked out better, mathematically, for the size of matboard I was working with. I didn't see any reason, other than cosmetics, for the bookmark to be that long, anyway.

Think of all the possibilities. Use Christmas cards to cover one, and give it with the book. How about paper with cats on it, in a book about them for your favorite cat lover. Or, maybe, patchwork paper with a book on quilting.

Just "stretch" your imagination.