I participated in a blogger gift exchange organized by Brooklyn Limestone and Rambling Renovators. Basically, each blogger was asked to put together a surprise package of their favorite things and mail it to another blogger. It was a great way to “meet” new friends and discover amazing products. I had so much fun!
Christine gifted me this lovely loot…
…plenty of paper goodies, the cutest mug and latte bowls, washi tape and an awesome print. My favorite was the One Line a Day memory book. How did I not have this already?! If you’re in need of a Mother’s Day gift idea, there you go. Christine spoiled me. Rotten.
I sent Alex a few of my favorite things.
I included my favorite all purpose cleaner, gold scissors and interior design book. Alex is a proud and crafty Canadian so I had to thrown in a maple leaf paper punch, too. But not before giving it a whirl myself! I thought it would be fun to DIY a magnetic bookmark to mark my favorite page in the Remodelista book. (It’s page 200, btw.)
Here’s how to make one yourself:
1. Cut a small rectangle from red card stock. (Mine was roughly 2″ x 6″.) Fold in half.
2. Follow step #1 using white card stock.
3. Cut the white rectangle along the fold to create two smaller rectangles.
4. Use a paper punch to cut a design in each white rectangle.
5. Glue the white rectangles onto the larger red rectangle. When the red rectangle is opened up, one design cutout should be right side up and the other should be upside down. This will produce a reversible bookmark in the end.
The bookmark should look something like shown above.
Stick two small magnets together and hot glue one of the magnets to one side of the red card stock with the other magnet still stuck to the glued magnet. The magnets should be positioned near a short side of the red card stock – not near the fold.
Place a drop of hot glue on the exposed magnet and fold the bookmark over. Press and hold firmly until dry.
Gently pull apart the magnets. Voilà, a magnetic bookmark!
Just fold the bookmark over the page you want to mark. The magnets should stick together and hold the bookmark in place.
There was an issue with my first try. My execution wasn’t the best.
I used magnets that were thicker and stronger than necessary. The bookmark stays put well but it’s so thick it doesn’t allow the book to close properly. I was trying to use supplies I had on hand already to avoid a trip to the craft store with three kids. I’ve seen thinner, self-adhering magnets at JoAnn’s. You should use those or something similar. (Sorry Alex. Maybe you can make a better bookmark with your new paper punch? Ha!)
You could also switch things up and try different colored card stock and various cutout designs. It would be a great handmade Mother’s Day gift to complement the One Line a Day memory book. Or any other book for that matter.
You can read more about the bloggers’ gift exchange here. Thanks to Stefanie and Jen for making it possible. You ladies are amazing!
images: Dana Miller for House*Tweaking
budget decor, DIY, housekeeping, inspiration