Handmade watercolor bookmarks are great gifts for kids to make for teachers and classmates. Bookmarks are useful so they won't collect dust or be put in the give away pile!
These artistic, diy bookmarks are easy for kids to make and the watercolor resist technique means kids can personalize the bookmark for the recipient.
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How to Make Watercolor Bookmarks
Not only do handmade watercolor bookmarks make a great gift, but making the bookmarks is a fun art project.
Materials
- Watercolor paper
- White crayon, or clear wax pencil
- Watercolors
- Paint brush
- Scissors
Optional materials:
- Laminator and laminating sheets
- Hole punch
- Ribbon and beads
Instructions
Cut watercolor paper into strips about 1 and a half inches wide and 6 inches long. If you are going to laminate the bookmarks, I recommend using thin watercolor paper rather than the heavy, expensive stuff.
Using the wax crayon, write the name of each recipient on individual bookmarks. Sure, your child's handwriting may not be perfect, but that makes each bookmark more special.
If your child has trouble with using a white crayon on white paper, if is perfectly fine to use a colored crayon.
Next, paint over the writing with watercolors. Allow your child the creative freedom to choose colors and method of application. The only necessary instruction is that they need to cover all the writing with watercolor paint in order to reveal the name on the bookmark.
If desired, paint the reverse side of the bookmark.
MORE: Creative fun with salt and watercolors
Optional Steps
After the bookmarks are dry, you will want to decide if you are going to laminate the bookmark. If they are gifts, I recommend doing so. Most people don't have their own laminating machine. We took our bookmarks to the local copy shop, which laminated them for us.
In addition, if you want to add a tassel to the bookmark, use a hole punch to make a small hole in the top of the bookmark. Next, tie a ribbon through the hole, adding beads, if desired, for an extra-fancy look.
Presentation
We wrapped each personalized watercolor bookmark up with a small moleskin notebook. If these are gifts for teachers, they may also love to get a new read aloud book for the classroom!
You could even have your child make personalized gift wrap.
Of course the teachers LOVED the bookmarks my son made. How could they not?
More Handmade Bookmarks
Once you discover how fun and easy it is to make your own bookmarks, you will want to try some new ideas. Here are some more diy bookmark ideas, plus a how to video for origami bookmarks:
- Magnetic bookmarks
- Paper clip bookmarks
- Mini beaded bookmarks
- Printable, read alike recommendation bookmarks
First published 2010, updated 2023.
Anna - Three Sneaky Bugs says
And what fun for Kiddo to see the names come to life with the paint - like magic.
mandy says
yes, a fabulous gift. how could you not love it? 🙂
Brenda from Flatbush says
Love this idea as a parent, and I'd love getting them as a teacher. Heck, I think I'd like making them, too. Hope you don't quit your theme here, I check in even though my kiddo's in HS by now.