What are the earmarks of the perfect craft?

1. Having the ingredients on hand when you feel the urge to construct it,

2. Easy enough for your skills or to stir the desire of craft-making in your child,

3. Fast enough where you can see progress,

4. You have many choices in which to proceed,

5. And it's something you could really use.

Well, the Pellon Bookmark scores 4 stars on all counts. See for yourself.

INGREDIENTS

Pellon scraps or other thin, but stiff interfacing.
Newspaper to protect work surface
Crayons, pastels, pencils, or markers of various colors
Course thread, yarn, or decorative seam binding
Round, colored 'price' tags (optional)
Paper hole puncher (optional)
Construction paper (optional)
Glitter (optional)
Glue (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut your Pellon scraps in the shapes you want. Rectangles, squares, ovals, circles, stars, etc.

2. Place them on layers of newspaper.

3. Color and decorate.

Try putting 3 of your 'price' tags in a bunch. Draw in strings for a balloon bouquet.

OR

Punch many holes out of the construction paper. Glue these to your bookmark for the confetti effect. For a garden effect, make each circle a flower, and draw in stems and leaves. Make a border out of these holes by gluing them all around the edges.

OR

Use your glue as a glaze and brush on entire book mark (either alone or after you've finished with your artwork). Finish with a light sprinkling of glitter. Let dry.

4. Punch a hole at the top of bookmark and tie on your yarn or seam binding. Make a bow or let the strands hang.

These unassuming bookmarks can fit anywhere, a regular book, scrapbook, notebook, or between the pages of a paper back. About the only place they don't work is in your Favorites Folder on your computer. You're on your own there.