Christmas Bookmark Pattern

A Holiday Paper Craft Pattern

I'm trying to create reading bookmarks for my kindergarten class as presents that they can give to their parents for Christmas.

I'm totally lost on where to begin.

Is there a software package that I can purchase or what should I do first?

Please help me with this idea of mine.

Help!

Evelyn

Here's an example of what you could do with American Greetings Create-a-Card. Unfortunately this nifty graphics software for beginners has been discontinued.

If you don't already own it, you may be able to purchase it from a discount reseller or try eBay. However, the program will not be compatible with newer operating systems.

Print Shop is a little more difficult to learn, but is even more capable - and will do the job quite well.

The bookmark prints one to a page. Cut it out, fold in half along the dotted line and glue the two sides together.

Depending on your students' abilities, they can dictate their own message for you to type.

Perhaps they can sign their own names. The child's photo can be scanned in or pasted on.

If you have access to a digital camera, you could fill several of the ornaments with photos of the kids and their activities. Alternatively, let the children hand color and decorate the blank ornaments.

Here's How to Create the Pattern

1. In the home page that looks like a card shop, select Bookmarks from the revolving rack on the left side of the store.

2. Click on All to view the various designs. Don't worry that none of them appear suitable for 5-year olds. You will change the background and wording for your project.

3. Select a layout you like. I chose a double-sided bookmark so that it would be decorated on both sides.

4. Paste and Close.

5. You are now in the creative work area.

Click on the bookmark and the background will be selected.

Cut it.

You're left with the outline of a bookmark and some text boxes.

Click on the Art Gallery icon on the left side of the screen.

Click on Add-a-photo and type Christmas in the search box.

Click Find.

You'll see various Christmas designs that can be used, including the ornament one in the illustration above.

7. Highlight your choice and click Paste.

You can do this several times if you would like to give the children their choice of background.

Then Close to return to the work area.

8. I copied the ornament design and used two strung together to form the back; then positioned the third in the middle of the front, so that the text boxes could be placed above and below.

9. To change a text box, just click on it, delete the words you don't want and type in your - or your students' - own words.

You can change the type face using the font option, the size and color of the type. Just play with the various icons until you get the idea.

10. Add your digital or scanned photos and print!

Print you completed project out on stiff paper. My favorite, manila folder covers, would work just fine.

I hope this helps.

For more ideas, patterns and templates for computer crafts and paper crafts, please visit Computer Crafting. This is a gateway to all computer related articles on this website.

For more holiday craft ideas and patterns, please visit Holiday Crafts. This is the gateway to all holiday related articles on the website.