Fall Bookmarks Made From Water Color Painting

With a wee bit of water colors and a fine tipped pen you can create lovely Fall Bookmarks. Make enough for all the books piled on your table with left-overs to hand out to your friends!

Although I love a good read in the summer, come the fall, when nights grow longer and cooler, I become a voracious reader. I will admit I am apt to use just about ANYTHING for a bookmark, and because I tend to read at least a half dozen books at a time, I’m in constant need of many bookmarks. And although magazine lap flaps do suffice, I am partial to pretty bookmarks. Earlier this week I decided to make some fall bookmarks. I planned to do a water color picture with plenty of autumn colors, then go back in and draw leaves and acorns on the painting. After, I planned to cut up the water color and use it for bookmarks.

Well, sometimes plans change! When Tim came home and saw me putting the finishing touches on the drawing, he expressed strong opposition to me cutting up the painting! “I love it. You need to frame it or something.” When I told him I needed to use it for a blog post, he suggested printing the design on card stock paper. The added advantage is I could run the paper back through the printer and have the pattern on both sides of the bookmark.

I complied, of course! And the bookmarks turned out quite pretty even on the card stock! Here’s a bit of a “Where’s Waldo?” challenge! Find the bookmarks on the painting!

So now I have the bookmarks I wanted and a rather fun print of leaves and acorns. I am not totally sure of what I’ll do with it yet, but when I know, I’ll be sure to share!

BTW… If you do not feel comfortable drawing leaves, simply go outside and gather some, then trace them on a page. If you do not have a variety of leaves to collect, simply go on line and do a google search on leaves. You can copy photos of leaves and print them. Then, simply cut them out and trace around them.

Materials for Fall Bookmarks

• water color paper
• water colors
• painters tape
• spray bottle
• fine tip permanent marker
• pencil
• eraser
• yarn
• clear contact paper (optional)

Tools for Fall Bookmarks

• Rotary Paper Trimmer or
• Scalloped Scissors
• Paper Punch

Prepare your page for painting. I like to use painters tape and tape my water color paper to a protected surface. This helps stop it from curling while you are painting.

Using a mist spray bottle, spray your water color paper and water colors and let set for several minutes.

Dip your brush into your water colors and allow the paint to bleed on the paper.

Keep adding more colors until you are satisfied with the results. You can dab any pools of color if you like.

When the paints have dried completely, remove the tape. Your water color is now ready to draw on.

Begin by lightly drawing leaf shapes on your paper. I like to look at the blotches of color and draw shapes on top of them. Using a fine tip permanent marker, trace over your penciled in drawing. When the marker is completely dry you can go in and erase the light pencil marks.

Continue adding leaves, acorns, swirls and dots until you fill your page.

I was planning on cutting up my water color into bookmarks but when Tim came home and saw the page he asked me not to. He loved the painting/drawing and wanted to frame it. (My biggest fan!) So, on his suggestion, using card stock paper, I copied a suggestion of my painting. The good thing about this is I was able to turn the card stock over and print the other side so when I made my bookmarks but sides were covered in the design.

Using my rotary cutter and a scalloped blade, I cut my bookmarks 2″ x 6″. You can also use scalloped scissors or just use regular scissors and leave the edges straight.

Using a paper punch, place holes in the center of the bookmarks about 1/4″ from the top.

Cut yarn 12″ long. Fold in half and draw the center through the hole.

Bring the 2 ends through the loop and lightly pull.

Place a knot at the 2 ends of the yarn to prevent them from unraveling.

You are now ready to find a good book and curl up and read!

When I decide what I plan to do with the original, I will be sure to let you know!