Bookmark

Ages 5-7

Make a personalized bookmark that showcases a favorite color and shape.

Supplies

• 10" length of 1/2"- to 1"-wide grosgrain ribbon
• 2 craft felt scraps (no larger than 3" square)
• Coordinating embroidery floss
• Hand embroidery needle
• 1/2"- to 1"-diameter button
• Seed beads (optional)

Download the bookmark patterns, or instruct the child to draw a desired shape, such as a heart, star, bird or flower, that's no larger than 2" in diameter. Cut out the pattern.

Position the pattern over one felt scrap; pin, and then cut out the shape. Repeat to cut out the shape from the remaining felt square.

Thread the needle with six strands of embroidery floss; knot the end. Fold one ribbon short end 1/2" toward the wrong side; pin. Position the button over the fold on the ribbon right side. Hand stitch the button in place (1).

Align the felt shapes. Insert the remaining short ribbon end 1/2" between the shape lower edges; pin the ribbon and the shape perimeter (2). Thread the needle with six strands of embroidery floss; knot the end. Hand stitch the shape perimeter using a running stitch or backstitch. Knot the ends.

Embellish the felt shape by hand stitching seed beads, if desired.

Appeared in:

August/September 2010