This is sooooo cute and just right for a teacher or bookworm.   I'm a bookworm.   Thank you for sharing.  From what you've stated and the images, I guess size of pages and the leather covers are up to the individual.  Right?

Right! I didn't want the charm to be too big, so I tried to keep the stack about an inch tall. You can make them as large or small as your heart desires. I cut the pages first, before I cut the covers. Then as my stack of pages grew, I smushed them against the piece of leather that would become the cover to see how big I needed to cut it. I also sewed the pages together in a makeshift binding before I added the cover, just for extra security.

I'm overwhelmed and excited by the response to this. Thanks so much, everyone!

Thanks you guys!

Bookstorebabe, I think a belt would work too as long as it's a thin one. I will say I think fake leather is probably easier to work with than genuine.

One of my favorite bloggers posted about this necklace available on Anthropologie's website a few months back.
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=20860656&catId=JEWELRY-NECKLACES&pushId=JEWELRY-NECKLACES&popId=JEWELRYACCESSORIES&navAction=top&navCount=354&color=000&isProduct=true&fromCategoryPage=true&isSubcategory=true&subCategoryId=JEWELRY-NECKLACES-PENDANTS#BVRRWidgetID

It was retailing for something like $165. I figured it would be pretty easy to diy. So I did.



First, I looked around my house for leather-like items to cut up for the covers. I had a bag that my dog had chewed the straps on. I had an old placemat that I had purchased to make into a purse.



I remembered an old red purse I had that would be perfect. My dog had chewed the straps on it, too. Then I remembered that I had finally thrown it away. I kicked myself. Then I headed to the thrift store.

I found an old green purse for a few dollars. A few dollars was more than I wanted to pay, but still considerably cheaper than the Anthro necklace!



I set out molding the pages out of white fimo that I had laying around. I scored the sides. I poked a hole in the middle. I baked them.



I sandwiched them between the cut leather and mashed things around a bit. The "pages" cracked.

Time for round two.

I did some reading about the Anthro necklace, and found a similar one on Etsy. The shop-owner on Etsy was selling actual usable books. Made with real paper!

So I started cutting up books.


I cut and I cut and I cut! And then I used a needle and poked a hole in the middle. I inserted a headpin through the middle, found a suitable chain, and voila!



I love it.

I can't wait to see all the submissions!

I see three of mine! This is such an amazing project.

Thank you!

I decided, after some prodding from my mother-in-law, to make my own graduation announcements. I didn't want something boring or something that would mimic the school-provided ones. I started thinking about the party invitations she had made--they look like books! She's planning a book themed graduation party for me, so I thought, what about announcements that are also bookmarks?

It took a little while for them to evolve into what I wanted. How will people KNOW that they're bookmarks?


They might be a little rough around the edges, but I think they'll do just fine! I made all the envelopes, too.



Hopefully, they'll be well-received.

I decided to make my own graduation announcements, and since my graduation party is going to have a book theme to go along with my English degree, I decided to make bookmark announcements. I've never made bookmarks before. Is there something I should do to them to make them shout "bookmark!"? Or will people get the hint? I was thinking about tying a piece of ribbon at the top, but that will need extra postage. :-/ Should I put a little note on the back that says "I'm a bookmark!" I want these to be as simple as possible.

Also, how thick do they need to be? I feel like mine aren't very thick, but neither are a lot of the bookmarks I've used in the past.

Any comments or suggestions are welcome!

Maybe I'm missing something, but how do you ink the inside of the bendy parts? I found myself ruining a bunch of markers trying to get in there.

Thanks for the tips! I have that card handy, so I'll be sure to take it with, along with a printout of the front page of this thread.  

I thought it said "hard candy" so I went back a few pages to see if someone recommended bringing candy while you wait! Duh. Sometimes my eyes read faster than my brain.

I read it that way, too.


No one has viewed my book yet.