DIY Wooden Bookmarks Featuring P Graham Dunn

        

     

Yay for March! And spring! And flowers! And P Graham Dunn! 

This March is definitely a bit unusual, however, and the world is all so different than normal. I originally started writing this post at the beginning of the month and now looking back and reading what I wrote, I realize I wouldn’t have written such an excited sounding intro. I want to leave it that way though, because we could all use a little excitement right now. That being said...I am so excited to share today’s DIY project with you all. I know a lot of people might be a bit bored at home right now, so I’m hoping this project will serve as some inspiration! 

   

I actually chose this project with my sweet Nana in mind. This month, she celebrated a milestone birthday and she absolutely loves to read. My Nana loves reading so much that she even writes down the titles of each book she reads in a special notebook to keep track of it all...and the list is SO impressive!  When I saw that P Graham Dunn had wooden bookmarks, I just knew I had to make some for my Nana (and share the how-to with you)! 

   

   

This DIY project is the perfect combination of crafting and painting. Of course, fine art and painting are my favorite, however, I have also been a huge fan of DIY and craft projects my entire life. You name it, I’ve probably tried it….crocheting, weaving, jewelry making, sewing, macrame, scrapbooking, candle making, soap making...just to name a few. Oh, and wood burning of course! So today’s project actually combines a little bit of wood burning, a little bit of painting, and some pom pom and bow tying, too! So fun, right?! 

     

   

Here’s what you need:

-Wooden Bookmarks from P Graham Dunn

-Wood Burner

-Pencil

-Acrylic Paint

-Assortment of yarn and ribbon

-Pom pom maker (optional)

-Varnish

   

Let’s create! 

   

Step 1: 

In this first step, you’re going to want to use a pencil to sketch out a plan for your wood burning. As you can see, I did a variety of designs featuring words, hearts, and flowers. While you’re sketching, you’ll want to turn on your wood burner so it can be heating up. Once it’s warm, you’re ready to begin! Wood burning can be a very complex form of art, but for what we’re wanting to accomplish with this project, it’s actually pretty simple. You’re just going to want to apply a small amount of pressure as you hold down your wood burner on the bookmark and drag it across your sketch. Just like drawing, but with a hot pencil? Haha Be extra careful on this step! 

   

    

   

Step 2: 

Add some paint! Gather your favorite acrylic paint and use a medium flat brush to add some color to your bookmarks. As you can see, I just added some simple brush strokes across each one. Think of the paint kind of like confetti and have fun dabbing it on! Allow the paint to dry before moving onto the next step.

   

Step 3: 

Varnish! This protects your project from dirt, etc. and gives it a tiny bit of shine. The varnish I like to use is a spray varnish and is very simple to use. Just be sure to spray an even layer across the front (and back if you want) and allow to dry. You’ll want to do this step outside for sure. 

   

Step 4: 

Our final step! This part is definitely fun. We’re going to add some tassels and pom poms to our bookmarks to make them extra cute! You’ll need some skinny ribbon and/or yarn. I chose a variety of colors and textures. Adding the ribbon is easy...simply loop it through the hole at the top of your bookmark and trim to your liking. 

   

   

If you’d like to try making pom poms, it’s helpful to use a pom pom maker. Wind your yarn around the sides (as pictured), cut, and tie. Be sure to leave the yarn long after you tie it off so that you can loop that part through the bookmark. I’ve added some photos below so that you can see the pom pom maker in action a bit clearer. 

     

     

   

That’s it! Such a fun project, especially during this time of staying home and quarantine. P Graham Dunn has been extra generous and given me a special coupon code to share with you. Upon check out, be sure to use the code “JOY” for 15% off your entire order! I’ve created several other DIY guides for my blog featuring P Graham Dunn that you could check out too if you’re in need of some family stay at home projects. It’s a great time to stock up on supplies and create your heart out! 

   

Happy creating!