Making Bookmark Greeting Cards

Read through the tutorial before starting.

Step 1: Select cardstock and marker colors

Select colored cardstock for your card blank and a coordinating color of cardstock for the bookmark. For this card choose a medium tone cardstock for the card blank and a coordinating colored marker that can be seen when drawn on the cardstock. Two warm colors, orange and light brown, are used in the sample card. For more color combination ideas refer to the color wheel concepts in the Paper Weaving Card tutorial.

Tips: When using colored card blanks it is important to use contrasting colors. The easiest way to do this is to use white cardstock as a major element of the card. Dark colored card blanks require special consideration since standard markers and rubberstamps aren't very visible on the dark background; however, gel pens and metallic markers can be used to good effect. For messages inside a dark card, a liner of white paper is used.

Step 2: Cut cardstock

For the card blank, cut a full sheet of letter size cardstock in half to make two 8½″ by 5½″ card blanks. Fold the card blank in half to make a 4¼″ by 5½″ card.

For the bookmark, cut a 2¼" by 5" strip from colored cardstock and a 2" by 4½" strip from white cardstock.

For attaching the bookmark to the card two photo corners are needed. Cut two ½" by 2" strips of colored cardstock to make your own color coordinated photo corners.

Step 3: Make bookmark

Since the bookmark is the major design element on the card, make it first. Using rubberstamps, stamp images on the white cardstock. Let some of the stamped images go off the edge of the cardstock.

Color the stamped images using markers or colored pencils. Be sure the colors coordinate with the cardstock colors. In the sample card, a splash of blue, orange's complimentary, is used to liven up the card.

Glue the white cardstock strip to the colored cardstock strip. Punch a hole at the top for the ribbon. Cut a 12 to 15 inch length of ribbon and fold in half. Poke the fold through the punched hole, front to back, and thread the tail through the loop—pull tight.

Step 4: Decorate the card

Decide where to place the bookmark on the card front—to the left, the right or in the center. Using the marker draw simple decorations on the card front.

For the sample card, squiggled lines with dots were drawn from the left side and the right side using the brush tip of the marker. The spaces between the lines were filled with small and large circles drawn with a fine point. A darker marker was used to draw every other row of circles. A message was stamped in the blank space where the bookmark will be attached.

Step 5: Attach bookmark

Two photo corners are used to mount the bookmark on the card front. Slip one photo corner on the upper right corner of the bookmark and another on the opposite corner. With the two photo corners on the bookmark, press the bookmark and photo corners in place on the card front.

Tip: To make photo corners, fold both sides of the ½" by 2" strip on 45° angles to form a corner. Trim the tails. Apply glue or double-sided tape to the back of the corners. Use them to attach the bookmark to the card as described above.

Step 6: Finishing touches

Decorate the reverse side of the bookmark with markers and rubberstamps, punches, stencils or decorative paper.

Add a message to the inside of the card using black and colored markers or a printed verse that is matted in a coordinating color of cardstock.