Making Bookmarks!
A true delve into creating for creating’s sake
I love paper crafts—making cards, and scrapbooking if I have something to scrapbook about. But the thing about cards is I only have so much to say in them and so many people to send them to. As for scrapbooking, few opportunities present themselves. About a month ago, I was thinking about all my stamps, washi tape, and paper that I’ve been itching to use but just sits in my desk drawers. Enter, bookmarks!
It’s the perfect amount of space to do a little scrapbooking, use my art supplies, and try a million different themes, techniques, and combinations. Do I need as many bookmarks as I have made? No, but I can give them away and this ended up being an exercise that is quintessential to me, creating for creating’s sake. The bookmark itself has an inherent purpose, to save your spot in a book. What’s on the bookmark cannot change that purpose (assuming you can still fit it in a book) so it’s the perfect playing field for creativity. You don’t have to worry about “what this will be” or “why does it need to exist”. It’s just art, and it’s just fun!
I also enjoyed the challenge of using the art supplies on hand as inspiration and limitation. I went into the project with no plans and pretty much made it all up as I went. How lovely it is to see what has come of it! If we are honest, there are some bookmarks I don’t like, but that’s also kind of the point. You can’t know what you think of something until you try. And as I oft quote: “Take chances, get messy, and make mistakes!” -Ms. Frizzle
This is my encouragement to you to revisit your creative materials, see if you can think outside your normal box with how to use them, make yourself a creative playground, and create!
And now, if you are curious, some of the said bookmarks:
As a bonus, if you’d like to make some bookmarks or book-inspired art, here are a few fun prompts I’ve been using to spark inspiration!
Inspired by your favorite book, but the finished product does not look like the book cover
Inspired by your favorite genre
Select your least-used creative tool that you already own and find a way to use it in a design
Inspired by maps
Inspired by your relationship with reading
Inspired by your reading journey
Inspired by your favorite quote (from a book or about reading)
Create a project that tells a story
Inspired by a childhood favorite book
Inspired by your favorite character
Happy Creating!
