School Holiday Project - Create a Bookmark with Stickers

I was recently given a set of stickers by a friend, who also generously gave me a set for each of my smaller nieces and nephew, when she learned that I was going to visit for a while. When I was with them, I suggested we use these stickers to make a couple of bookmarks for our Bibles, as the stickers all had a religious theme. The project is an easy one, but there are some things to look out for when working with youngsters. I point these out in today's blog.

The stickers we used needed to cut apart, as they were printed on request by my friend, for a specific purpose.

We allowed the width of the stickers to determine the width of the bookmark. Help the kids to understand the importance of leaving a small margin around the stickers. Smaller children may also require assistance with ruling a line, and even cutting out. Do not be too particular about getting it perfect, though. It is important that they do this themselves and develop pride in their own efforts, rather than being left with a bookmark that they had started, but that was corrected by an adult every step of the way.

We then selected the wording that we wished to include on the bookmarks. You may have to read this for smaller kids, but again, allow them to select the words they like, without unnecessarily forcing your own will upon them. I always suggest to parents, that if they feel the need to take over a child's project, that they rather start one of their own to do along.

After selecting the pictures we like, we arranged the stickers on the card and stuck them down when we were satisfied with the layout. Encourage children to try different layouts before sticking their stickers down. You may also need to help those clumsy little fingers to pull the stickers away from the backing paper. Only start the corners of the stickers and allow the child to remove the backing altogether. It is empowering for a child to be able and allowed to do things by themselves. Encourage a clean work space by keeping a small container on the craft table that can serve as a rubbish bin. Children should discard papers and off-cuts in the bin on the table and one of the children should empty this container in the real bin afterwards. This is how a child learns disciplined habits. Lead by example!

If the child is old enough, encourage them to rule a simple border around the card. This will be an introductory lesson to putting finishing touches on a project - a lesson that will be invaluable in later years, if developed over time.

I would have loved to have laminated the bookmarks at this stage, but I did not have a laminator at hand. We skipped this step and simply punched a hole in the centre of the bookmark.

Strengthen the hole with something. Even a piece of sellotape will do. This will prevent the hole from tearing when a ribbon is threaded through it. We did not have any narrow ribbons at hand and had to settle for using a wider ribbon. Cut the ribbon to length.

Fold the ribbon in half and push it through the hole, from the back of the bookmark. Those little fingers will struggle with this task, but be patient and allow them to do this by themselves, even if it means having to endure a couple of failed attempts.

Make a large loop and pull both ends of the ribbon through the loop. Remember that little fingers need larger loops than large ones.

Pull the ribbon tight. Do not pull too hard, or you will break the hole in the cardboard backing.

My niece could not be convinced that a thinner bookmark would be a better idea. I let her have her way. Experience with using bookmarks in later years, will bring this lesson home. There is no reason to have an argument over this at this early age.

I used my bookmark in my Bible.

You can watch a compilation video of the above steps on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/bdVfA7Mhdmo

Marietjie Uys (Miekie) is a published author. You can buy my books here:
You can purchase Designs By Miekie 1 here.
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