Bookmark Tutorial

It's Day 14 of...

Can you believe that Christmas is only 11 days away?  Can that be right?  It doesn't seem possible.  If you need to quickly whip up some great gifts for the special people in your life, check out this tutorial and scroll through the previously posted crafts that are all part of this crafty Christmas countdown.

Felt and Fabric Bookmark with Antique Page Clippings

Supplies:

*Felt

*Coordinating fabric

*Real pages from an antique book (If you just cringe at the thought of cutting real pages, you could use printouts or copies of book pages.  They do not have to be antique clippings either.  I just think using antiquated pages gives the bookmark a special touch.  Sheet music or a copy of sheet music would be another nice alternative.)

*Ribbon

*Basic sewing supplies (thread, pins, scissors...)

*Sewing machine

*Spray adhesive

*Hole punch

*Paper and pencil

Directions:

1. Measure and draw a rectangle (8 1/2 inches by 3 inches) on paper to use as your pattern.  Cut the book clippings to measure 7 inches by 2 inches.  Use your pinking shears to cut around the perimeter of the clippings.

2. Using your pattern, cut out pieces of both your fabric and your felt.  There are two options...

You can make a bookmark with a fabric front and felt backing or you can make a bookmark with two layers of felt.  (I made two of each type for this tutorial.)

 3. Spray a very light coat of spray adhesive onto the back of the page clipping and place it on the front layer of your bookmark.  Using the spray adhesive will help the clipping stay in place when you sew it.

 4. Secure the book clipping to the front layer of your bookmark by sewing around the entire perimeter of the clipping.

 5. Lay the front layer onto the felt backing and pin the layers together.

6. Sew around the perimeter of the two stacked layers using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

 7. Use your pinking shears to make a zig zag cut around the bookmark.  Be careful to cut right along the stitches but not through them.

8. Using a hole punch, make a hole near the top of the bookmark.  Cut a piece of ribbon and make a loop at its center.

9. Thread the loop through the hole feeding it from the front to the back.

10. Bring the tail of the ribbon through the loop and pull it tight.

Give your bookmark as a gift to the avid reader in your life or keep it for yourself as you dive into your next great novel.

Happy Reading!