be my valentine bookmarks

I made these bookmarks to giveaway as Valentines. There are a few more on my table that are half done.  I used some old vintage fabric that I picked up at a thrift store a  long time ago. The fabric pieces were small, perfect for accenting the canvas.

A few people are doing Valentine exchanges and  I wanted do the same.  I thought it would be fun to make something that you can use all year long, maybe as a marker for a project in your favorite sewing, art or craft book.

I have 6 left to exchange, so if anyone would like to make me a Valentine in exchange for a Valentine book marker, let me know and we can exchange addresses and hopefully get these in the mail before Valentine’s day.  Just to clarify, I am looking for 6 different people to exchange with. Leave a comment saying that you are interested and I’ll get back to you. (thanks!)

If you’d like to make your own bookmarks, here is my ‘how to’.

You’ll need:
Canvas (heavy cotton duck)
pretty fabric scraps
glue stick
white glue
scissors
paper clamps
iron
sewing machine
thread
letter stamps
ink

1. Cut canvas into strips about 2.5 inches wide x 9 inches long.

2. For the back, cut pretty fabric into strips,1 inch (or so) shorter than the canvas and glue to one side of the canvas using a glue stick. Iron. (This step is optional, but it does add some extra sturdiness to the book marker).  The bottom inch that isn’t covered with fabric will be the fringe.

3. Fold the top into a point, glue and use paper clamps to keep in place until dry.

4.  Cut a small heart (or any other shape) out of fabric.  Glue into place with glue stick and iron.  This just keep everything in place while sewing.

5. With your sewing machine, sew freestyle around edges. Sew around heart too.

6. Pull threads of canvas to make fringe on the bottom edge.

7. Using stamps and ink (I use versa magic inks), stamp any message you desire.  I thought it would be fun to make some that said “reading is sexy”.  Heat set with hot iron.

8. Give to your favorite bookish friends for Valentine’s Day.

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24 Responses to be my valentine bookmarks

  1. Linda says:

    Can I be one of your valentines?

  2. virginie says:

    Idea to me plait well! I am in France, it is possible to make one saint international valentin?
    See you soon!

  3. liz says:

    i admit i’ve been slacking on valentine-making this year… but i’m up for a fabric bookmark swap if you are interested!

  4. Mousy Brown says:

    I’d love to swap! Might take a while to get to you from here in the UK but I’d promise to send it quick 😀

  5. yasmina says:

    What a beautiful idea!
    They look lovely …
    I’m pretty lousy at sewing but I think I might just give these a try!

    Yasmina

  6. christy says:

    these are super cute and so adorable!

  7. Jessica says:

    I love these bookmarks. Is there any way that I could place an order for one?

    Also, as you know, I worship over here at Creative Kismet. 🙂 I just gave you an award over at my blog for being a huge inspiration for me. Thank you Regina! Love, Jessica

  8. Cute! And looks like something I could even do.

  9. Cassi says:

    I love these, I’ve got to make some!

  10. Anne says:

    These bookmarks are so sweet!! LOVIN’ the tall skinny houses!

    I blogged your tutorial over at Craft Gossip Sewing:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-be-my-valentine-bookmarks/2010/02/07/

    –Anne

  11. Laurie Star says:

    Just wanted to tell you that I saw these on Craft Gossip today and loved them – love your work on Etsy as well! Beautiful! 🙂

  12. These bookmarks are lovely! There is something so arty about them. You would feel creative just sticking one in a book!

  13. Carrie says:

    These are lovely!

    I’d love to swap with you if you still have any left and think there is time for mailing.
    Let me know =)

  14. i really love this! sooo sweet! my daughter is always sewing bookmarks! i will show her these in the morning! thanks!

  15. I’ve been looking for a cute project like this to do in my Saturday art classes!This weekend there will be 15 five year old kids in Ireland attempting a simplified version of this! Thanks for the inspiration! x

  16. Love your bookmarks. Especially the fringe and freehand stitching. My son is making bookmarks for his Valentines at school too, but just cardstock and stamping. As I was looking at them, I envisioned a rocket ship. Wouldn’t these be adorable turned into rockets and given away as a favor at a space birthday party??

  17. Super cute! Love these! Thx for sharing!

  18. Tamara says:

    Thanks for your tute. I made some:
    http://tamarathomas.blogspot.com/2010/02/valentines-day.html

    I don’t have letter stamps, so I wrote with the sewing machine.

  19. Tina says:

    I love these. I’m trying to make something once a week for the year. I will definitely add these to the list.

  20. doro says:

    they look really great!

    I linked to your tutorial on my blog – thanks for sharing!

    doro K.

  21. Jordan says:

    Hi Regina, I am in love with these bookmarks! They inspired me to make some out of fabric and paper scraps I had. I blogged about it and put a link to your site as my inspiration. Thanks for blogging and making these! Keep it up!
    See my blog post here…
    http://www.allashby.blogspot.com/2012/02/sewn-bookmarks.html

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  23. What a wonderful idea! I absolutely love these bookmarks and will be making some this Valentine’s Day! Thank you so much for sharing!

    xx
    Lysa

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