A bookmark for Mum - Mother's Day gift craft tutorial

If you are like me, special days seem to sneak up on me. I like to make handmade items, but sometimes I leave creating until the last minute. By then, I don't have enough time and a frantic trip to the shops is in order.

This little craft project is made up in no time and it uses a lot of materials that are found around the house. The bonus in all this, is that even though this gift looks lovely, it involves minimal cost. This project is simple enough that children could even make up their own version to give to Mum!

Materials:

• paper - I used an old book page, but any paper would suffice.
• paints - a main colour and white to lighten it. I also used some watered down black paint for highlighting
• scissors - normal scissors (I also used some fancy edging scissors, but this is optional)
• brush - nothing fancy - anything to get paint down (a cotton wool ball would do)
• something to mix paint on
• decoupage glue - watered down PVA glue could work (test first)
• scrap coloured paper to match your main colour - a used some pink and black in a picture on a magazine page.
• ruler
• pencil
• black permanent pen
• access to computer and printer (or use words out of a magazine) 
• cotton bud
• rub ons (optional)
• hole punch and ribbon (optional)

Measure and cut out a rectangle of paper, slightly smaller than the size of your desired bookmark (mine was 14cm x 5.5cm).

Mix up two shades of your chosen colour - one darker (or straight out of the tube) and one lighter (mixed with some white). I chose pink and a light pink. Mix each colour with a small amount of water to make the paint thinner (about the same consistency as milk). I did this to get a 'watercolour' type of effect. If you desire the paint to be thicker, skip mixing with water.

Paint the lighter colour all over the paper with the brush or cotton wool ball, leaving about a 0.5cm border around the edge (no need to be too precise). Let dry a little (a hairdryer would help this process) and then paint splodges of the darker colour on top. Let dry.

Whilst the paint is drying, fold the scrap of coloured paper in half and cut out half a 'heart' shape, beginning at the fold (see above photo). This allows for a perfectly symmetrical heart when opened up. Repeat this process until you have 3-5 hearts (odd number amounts look better).

Arrange the hearts on the paper and once you are pleased with the layout, adhere with decoupage glue. Paint decoupage glue on the top of the hearts. Let dry.

Draw in some little hearts around the glued down hearts with the permanent marker (I used a fine marker). I also added a wandering line of dots. Outline the glued down hearts.

Using a computer, I typed out the sentiment 'I love you Mum' and printed it out (I like using a basic typewriter font). Cut up the words and glue them down with the decoupage glue (paint over the top as well). If you don't have access to a computer, cut out words/letters from newspapers/magazines. I added some rub ons, but this is optional.

Water down a tiny bit of black paint and apply it around the edge of the paper. I used a cotton bud for this. I added a little bit more watery black paint in the corners. Draw around the edge of the words with the permanent marker.

Adhere the bookmark onto the cardboard with the decoupage glue and apply a thin layer over the top. Let dry. Trim around the edge with some scissors (I used some fancy edging scissors).

If so desired, add a hole down the bottom of the bookmark with the hole punch and tie through some ribbon. I used three different types of pink ribbon.

Your bookmark is now finished!
You could possibly laminate the bookmark before adding the hole and ribbon to give the bookmark a little more strength.

I hope that this provides you with an inexpensive but unique gift option. You could team this bookmark with a book that Mum has been wanting to purchase or a gift voucher from a bookstore for the ultimate Mother's Day gift.

Have fun creating!

Wonderful Wednesday - Mum

It is amazing to think that we have just entered the month of May. Shortly we will celebrate 'Mothers Day' - a chance to thank Mum for the love, support and nuturing that we have received. I thought I would find some inspirational, handmade items that could be used as gifts, especially for Mum from the Madeit website...

Vinatage Pattern Journal by 'Left hand books'

What a unique gift - a journal with a vintage pattern as part of the front cover! Hidden between the covers are pages made of good quality paper, ready for Mum to jot down notes, recipes, craft ideas, etc. I love the idea of using a dress pattern as the front cover - so resourceful!

 

Decorative Pears by 'Red Stitch Designs'

I instantly loved these pears the moment that I saw them. I love their simplicity - black and white and simple pear shape. I love the added touch of the wooden stem. A beautiful gift to decorate Mum's house.

Eye glass case by 'Eleven Roosters'

How beautiful! I love the shape of this eye glass case and I love how the motif on this fabric is central on this case - a lovely touch. Lined and padded, Mum's glasses will surely be kept safe.

I hope that this provides you with some inspiration!

Weekend Wonders - A market, Mum and marking

This weekend ended up being quite a busy weekend...

Our church held a fair on Saturday morning. I ended up looking after the plant stall and despite the cold weather and the showers that passed through on occasion, it was an enjoyable experience. It was great to meet new people and even though plants aren't my most knowledgable area, we sold most of the stock that was donated. It was wonderful how a group of people all pull together and pitch in to put this event on - from looking after stalls to making, baking and creating all the items to be sold. A mammoth effort!

Sunday, was a funny type of day. Unfortunately, I am not a mother, so Mother's Day triggers a variety of emotions for me. However, my main focus is my thankfulness to be blessed with such a loving, caring and nurturing mother, that I still love to chat to. My parents live some distance away and I don't always see them, so I try and pass my love onto them on such a day as this, through phone and post (although I must admit that my mother's gift will be a little late...). Sometimes,I think it would be great to take Mum out for lunch, etc like some other people do, however, distance does not permit us to do that.

For me, work has its pressures for the next five weeks or so, and some time was spent today catching up on some assessment work. I try and limit the time that I spend on work on the weekend, but weekdays don't contain enough time unfortunately. However, I make sure that I have time to switch off and relax. I enjoyed spending some time today knitting and also continuing my next doll. Limbs are currently being attached and then I can focus on the costume. I will show a sneak peak tomorrow...

I hope that you had a lovely weekend!

Wonderful Wednesday - Love you Mum!

Mother's Day is sneaking up very quickly. It's a wonderful opportunity to thank Mum for her love, support and guidance, not only during our youth, but her continued nurturing now. Whenever I am feeling down, or want to bounce an idea, Mum is a wonderful person to have a chat with. Therefore gift ideas for Mum are my inspiration for this Wonderful Wednesday. Hard to choose...

Clutch bag by 'Ooakbags'

Apron and cookbook by 'Jilly Jumbles'

Paperclip bookmark by 'Little Poppet by Ali'

Pearl necklace by 'Two Cheeky Monkeys'

What to give my poor Mum?.. I have made a special card and have a handmade goodie in the post for her.

 

Have a lovely day!

Friday thoughts - A card for Mum

April is speeding away and May is just around the corner. Very shortly, I will help the children that I work with, to make a special card for their Mum or Grandmother. I thought that I would also get myself a little organised and make my Mum and Mother-in-Law a special card for each of them. I decided that I would also share how I made these cards on this blog for you to have a go. It is also easy enough for children to complete, although supervision and some pre-cutting may be necessary.

Firstly, the items that you would need:

A white card (I have pre-folded cards that measure 10.5cm x 15cm), a piece of patterned paper, a piece of paper for the 'backing', scissors, glue or adhesive tape, foam squares, ruler, pencil, paper cutter (if you have one), embellishment (this can be a paper cut flower or simply a picture from gift wrapping that matches in colour.

A note on the papers: I chose a striped paper for the central rectangle and the same pink/red colour for my backing rectangle. Choose a solid colour that is part of the patterned piece of paper and find a piece of paper that colour for the 'backing' rectangle. Usually a darker, rather than a lighter colour, works best.

1. I like simple designs, so my card is made up of two rectangles and an embellishment. If you are making the card with young children, you may wish to pre-cut the rectangles and get them to do the gluing. Don't fuss too much if their rectangles are off centre, it is their own special design. To make the 'backing' rectangle, measure a rectangle 7cm x 8 cm on the solid colour paper (with the ruler and pencil) and cut it out. Glue it just above centre on the front of the card.

2. For the central rectangle, measure a rectangle that is 6cm x 7cm with the pencil and ruler and cut it out. Glue it in the middle of the solid colour rectangle.

 3. Adhere an embellishment in the centre of the patterned rectangle. I used the foam squares to adhere the flower on my card to emphasise the embellishment.

4. If you like, add a sentiment underneath the rectangles. I used a gold sticker, however, you can use 'rub on' sentiments. For children, I type some sentiments on the computer and print them out on coloured paper. The children cut a sentiment out and glue it underneath the rectangles. You could simply, write a sentiment. A finished card!

6. If you want to add a special touch to your card, you could add a liner. Fold a piece of paper that is the same size as your whole card, in half. Trim the liner to fit just inside your card (if necessary) and glue it down the centre of your card. You may wish to glue down one side of the liner, not the whole liner, otherwise the liner tends to bubble when the card is folded.

This same card making principle could be used to make birthday and thank you cards. Changing the colour scheme to more 'earthy' tones would make the card more masculine.

Have fun!