Making Bookmarks from Wallpaper Samples

Wallpaper books have such beautiful papers and lovely designs, it's fun to find a use for what might be trashed! 

Materials: 
    • Wallpaper sample book           • ruler 
    • Double stick tape                     • paper punch 
    • stiff paper like card stock         • satin ribbons 
    • scissors 

Directions: 

Cut a piece of wallpaper approximately 6 X 5".  Fold evenly into thirds. 

Insert a strip of stiff paper as wide as 1/3 rd of the total paper in the center, within 1/2" of upper and lower edges. 

Using double stick tape, prepare upper and lower edges to outside thirds to be stuck together, top and bottom and on the right side.  Carefully fold into center and firmly press neatly along all edges. 

Trim four corners and punch hole in the upper top.  Fold 12 1/2" of ribbon and insert into hole.  Pull ribbon through hole and cut ends through fold-half of ribbon.  Pull tightly and your bookmark is completed! 

Have you ever seen artwork similar to that above?  It's a birth certificate similar to one made by the Pennsylvania Dutch over 100 years ago.  The birth certificate above probably looks very different from yours.  How is the birth certificate above different from your own? 

Did you know the Pennsylvania Dutch were actually the Pennsylvania Germans!  In German, the work Germany is spelled "Deutsch" and looks so similar to the word "Dutch" that the name Pennsylvania Dutch got used and just stuck!  You don't need to see real Pennsylvania Dutch artwork to make your own birth certificate...just get your imagination ready! 

Materials:  
    • 11X17 Manilla or off-white paper        • Black and other colored crayons 
    • watercolors                                        • Pencil 
    • paint brush                                         • paper toweling 
    • water                                                 • newspaper (to cover your work area) 

Begin by folding your paper in half.  All birth certificates made by the Pennsylvania Dutch are symmetrical or the same on both sides.  Planning out your drawing first by drawing everything in pencil. 

Draw a large heart in the center and print in the middle: 

Once your finished drawing in all your decorations using pencil, use a black crayon to outline everything.  Choose bright colors to fill in your decorations and make them dark and waxy. 

When you are done with all your crayon work, choose very light watercolor colors and "wash" your birth certificate.  A wash simply means there is more water than paint.  Don't worry if your birth certificate looks "streaky" since that will help to make it look old. 

Now find a good spot to hang your birth certificate so that others can see it!