Stay Crafty Self Care Bookmarks

When I’m able to take some personal time during the week for self care, I enjoy paper crafts and reading. Today, for some additional inspiration for the current Hero Arts Stay Crafty Challenge, I’ve combined those interests and I’m sharing a set of bookmarks that I made with a few of my favorite simple techniques.

Although each finished bookmark is different, I used the same basic steps making them. First, I trimmed panels of heavyweight Hero Hues Premium Cardstock to 2-1/2” by 6”. Next, using assorted dies, I cut small stencils from acetate. I inked over the die cut shapes and repositioned the stencils repeatedly to create patterned backgrounds. I also stamped a message from the No Trespassing Stamp & Cut set multiple times on each panel. Then, I stamped, colored, and die cut a variety of images, shapes and positive sentiments that I clustered together to embellish each bookmark. Arranging the elements is so much fun and so satisfying!

To make my first bookmark, I used Navy and Sea Salt inks to create the background and stamped images. I also used several of the Nesting Clouds Infinity Dies. I used the adorable Fun in The Rain stamp set and the handy coordinating dies to create the cute images and timely message. On a few of the bookmarks, I included travel embellishments made with the From the Vault Travel set and coordinating dies. I secured the pieces to the bookmark with adhesive dots and double-sided tape.

For the next bookmark, I used the Tea Pots and Handles Infinity Dies and the Cups and Handles Infinity Dies to make the stenciled background. I created a collection of coffee themed elements with the Cup of Love stamp set and Cup of Love Frame Cuts. Two of the images I embossed on vellum. For variety, I embossed the sentiment onto a tag die that I cut with the Tag Infinity Dies. On each of the bookmarks, I also added a single enamel dot.

For the floral bookmark, I created a butterfly background with the From the Vault Bugs Frame Cuts and Aquatic ink. I stamped, colored and die cut a pair of beautiful flowers and a sentiment with the Hero Florals Tulips set and dies. For the other assorted elements, I used the From the Vault Celestial set, the From the Vault Bugs set, and the Nesting Circle Infinity Dies.

For the final bookmark, I created a heart background and a few heart shapes with the Nesting Hearts Infinity Dies. Since I plan to send this one to my niece, I included a cute image of a bear and a sweet sentiment from the Unbearably Thankful set. Although I decided not to embellish these bookmarks further, including a ribbon at the top of a bookmark is as easy as punching a hole near the top edge at the center and then looping a length of ribbon through the hole.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope that you are well and that you are finding time for self care. Happy crafting!

Click on products to shop:
PS763 Acetate Sheets 3" x 4.75" -...
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DC275 No Trespassing Stamp & Cut -...
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DI426 Nesting Cloudy Infinity Dies...
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CM152 Fun In The Rain - Hero Arts
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DI370 Fun In The Rain Frame Cuts (D)...
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CM358 From the Vault Travel - Hero Arts
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DI639 From the Vault Travel Frame...
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DI564 Tea Pots and Handles Infinity...
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DI565 Cups and Handles Infinity Dies...
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CM433 Cup of Love - Hero Arts
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DI733 Cup of Love Frame Cuts (C) -...
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DI197 Tag Infinity Dies (H) - Hero Arts
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CM354 From the Vault Bugs - Hero Arts
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DI636 From The Vault Bugs Frame Cuts...
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CM420 Hero Florals Tulips - Hero Arts
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DI726 Hero Florals Tulips Frame Cuts...
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CM357 From the Vault Celestial - Hero...
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DI199 Nesting Circle Infinity Dies...
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CM434 Unbearably Thankful - Hero Arts
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DI734 Unbearably Thankful Frame Cuts...
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Nesting Hearts Dies - Hero Arts
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AF339 Aquatic Bold Ink - Hero Arts
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AF234 Navy Mid-Tone Shadow Ink - Hero...
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AF434 Sea Salt Reactive Ink - Hero Arts
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PW110 White Embossing Powder - Hero Arts
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PS772 Classic Vellum Layering Paper...
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CH324 Pinks Hero Hues Enamel Dots -...
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PS330 Hero Hues Sampler Pack 2020...
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  • Leanne in Cali

    Love these bookmarks! Fun ideas and a great way to use die cuts to decorate and personalize them!!

  • donna mikasa

    Oh I love your bookmarks, Jayne—they’re all so wonderfully colored!

  • Henriëtte

    Gorgeous!! I love crafting and reading too and these bookmarks are great.
    They would be awesome to make and send to some bookloving friens, just to let them know that
    we are thinking of them and give them a hint what they can do on the moment.
    Thank you so much Jayne for the great inspiration, stay safe and have a wonderful week.

  • Cynthia O.

    Wow, great group of bookmarks. Thanks for the inspiration!

  • Barbara-Jean

    Cheery creations!