Bookmarks!

Sometimes I wonder if I like making bookmarks because it's an excuse to give books as gifts... or if I like giving books because it's an excuse to make bookmarks. But since both are true, I suppose it doesn't matter, lol.

I've made A LOT of bookmarks in the last few years, a fact which is mysteriously somehow NOT apparent by clicking the BOOKMARKS label in my blog, but there are a couple of goods ones there, made from stamping, collage or washi tape. Collaged bookmarks miiiiiight be my favorite, though, so that's what I used on these. Often I just put a plain piece of paper on the back, but these happen to be double-sided, because, as usual, I had gotten out and fussycut waaaaaaaay too many images and it seemed a pity not to use them.

I'm taking a tiny bit of extra pride in the fact that the bits of vintage map I used happen to feature places near where the two recipients have lived. Also, I broke out my vintage bus tickets and my greenstamps... both of which make any collage even better, imo!

Elegant Embossed Bookmarks

I'm always pleased to be on the Ranger Project Page, and today it's with a step-by-step tutorial for making these beautiful and useful embossed bookmarks. I've used a pretty palette of Ranger Embossing Powders (there are more than 60 varieties!) with Simon Hurley's Floral Borders Stamp Set and you can read all about it by clicking -->THIS LINK<--! 

Collaged Bookmarks

I love collage, generally; vintage collage especially; and vintage collage bookmarks, most of all! These were made by special request, with a small wishlist of potential elements, including gnomes, fairies, toads, woodland and fairy tales. I *think* I covered all of the above.

I was excited to find a pretty forest scene illustration in a falling-apart childrens' book that was wide enough to cover the backs of both 2.5 x 7.5" bookmarks.

Luckily, I also had an extra fairy and gnome which I hadn't been able to fit on the fronts... I love the way they look like they belong in the forest!

The poppies, mushrooms and butterflies came from various well-beaten-up vintage field guides, which can often be found quite cheaply at garage sales and book sales. 

I'm linking my bookmarks up with Becca S's Heart's Quest Fantasy Challenge Blog (formerly The Fairy and the Unicorn) where fairies, gnomes, unicorns, mermaids, elves, yetis and dragons are ALWAYS welcome! ♥

"Outside of a Dog..."

My favorite Groucho Marx quote is, "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" and when I saw the brand new, soon-to-be-released, Eyelet Outlet Book Brads, I knew immediately I wanted to make a card which said that. So I did. And it's on the EO blog today:

My favorite thing about the Book Brads is that they coordinate realllllly well with the Book Washi Tape, so I wanted to use both products together. Of course, my lovely design team sister, Stephanie, recently made her own patterned paper using that same tape, so I had to think of an interesting variation. Having just made the "Chevron" collage in my sketchbook, it occurred to me to do a herringbone pattern. This was even easier, though, because thanks to the strong vertical lines of the books, it was easy to trim the tape perfectly straight with a snip of the scissors. And of course, being *tape* it's self adhesive. Gotta love that, right?

Another thing I love about the Book Brads is that each package contains the same pile of books in two different colorways: a sort of neutral tan, as well as bright primary colors. Also, you can position them as a stack, or line them up like they're on a shelf. And no matter which variation you choose, they look really nice with the tape, dontcha think? So I decided to make a bookmark, too.

All I had to do was adjust the shape of my computer generated text (the font is Comic Sans) and reprint. Since the size and shape was much more compact, I left off the Skinny Washi Tape, 4mm Summer Brads and Groucho-style Eye Glass Brads that I used on the card.

What's *YOUR* favorite quote? 'Cause I'll bet you anything that there are brads in the Eyelet Outlet store that could help you illustrate it! (...just sayin'...) ♥

on your (book)mark...get set...GO!

you might just remember that a couple of weeks ago gina and i had another fab ATC swap, which we both really enjoyed. what you may have forgotten is that gina also made me a fabulous bookmark, and i promised to do the same.

yeah. i forgot, too...until about five minutes after i *mailed* my half of the ATC swap! but when i remembered i set right to work, and in pennance i made TWO bookmarks: a funny one featuring my all-time favorite groucho marx quote (the front is on the left, the back is on the right):

text reads: "outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend...inside of a dog, it's too dark to read"

and a pretty one, with a sort of vaguely french theme:

dymo-ed text reads, "ne perdex pas votre page"

which means...if my very small amount of french and the google translator are to be trusted...

"don't lose your page!"

believe it or not, in all my years of papercrafting, these are the very first bookmarks i've ever made! i doubt they'll be the last, however, as they were SO MUCH FUN to put together...and...a fabulous use of small paper scraps, leftover rub-ons, and the last stickers in the pack!

tonight, when you're done making a card, instead of cleaning up your table, why not make a bookmark instead?! (i bet you'll be hooked, too!!!) :)

(~materials~ vintage: dog & book illustrations, sheet music, french text paper; patterned paper: pink paislee, creative imaginations, prima, sei, doodlebug, hambly transparency; rhonna farrer digital "french ooh la la" tickets; alphabet stamps: making memories; sticker: frances meyer; rub-ons: 7 gypsies; butterfly punch: martha stewart; eyelets: oriental trading; ribbon: heidi swapp; inks: colorbox & staz-on; other: dymo labels, raffia; adhesives: uhu gluestick; tombow monorunner)