I received one of these upcycled Christmas card bookmarks as a little gift and it is just too clever not to share. This bookmark is an ingeniously folded old christmas card. I took it apart to figure out the pattern and I am gladly spilling its simple but intricate secrets. Make a bunch for stocking stuffers, for an afternoon craft with the kids or to mail to friends far away for the holiday.
Materials Needed:
- Fronts of old christmas cards (thin ones work the best)
- Yarn or Thread Tassel (optional)
Directions:
- Grab your assortment of pretty christmas cards. (Any cards will really do)
- Measure and cut the card down to 4 x 7 inches.
- Try to capture the bulk of the picture or design.
- Fold the card in half the long way, right sides together.
- Now, fold the card in half again. I like to fold each side separately so it is a crisper fold before putting it together to fold in half.
- Measure 1/4 inch down the single fold side of the bookmark. mark this so that you do not cut past it later.
- Now, on the double folded edge, measure up 1/2 inch from the bottom and mark at 1/2 inch intervals until you have 11 marks.
- On the other side on your 1/2 inch line, measure up from the bottom of the card 1 1/2 inches. Mark at 1/2 inch intervals until you have 11 marks.
- These marks should be offset at an angle. It will look something like this above.
- You will now cut the angles every half inch being careful to stop 1/4 inch from the edge. Make sure you are cutting from the double folded edge. You will make 11 cuts.
- Now open the card back up carefully.
- Fold it in half again with the right sides facing out. Make sure that the angle cuts from a V shape as you look at them.
- Begin folding up every other V shape starting from the bottom. As you fold them up, tuck them under the next V shape. Move up the bookmark folding and tucking. Tuck the last V shape under the top V. They should hold in place.
- You can leave the bookmark as is or punch a hole in the top and string a yarn tassel through it.
A beautiful bookmark from a card you might have thrown away!
Hint: If you have a smaller card, just make fewer cuts. You will just need an ODD number of cuts for the folds to work.