Stained Glass Bookmarks

Each child can easily create five bookmarks with this project, allowing them to keep a few for their own use and give a couple away.

Materials Needed:
8 1/2 x 11" piece of thin white cardboard
Tissue paper, variety of colors
White glue
Small cup of water
Paint brush
30 strands of yarn (each 6" long)
Hole punch
Ruler, (about 2" width)
Pencil
Scissors

Directions:
Mix a little glue with the water, until it is the consistency of paint. Tear the tissue paper into small pieces. Place a piece of the torn paper on the cardboard, and use the paintbrush to paint a coat of glue mixture over the entire piece, making it adhere to the cardboard. Remove any excess liquid with the brush, and be sure the tissue paper is not wrinkled, but laying flat.

Add another piece of tissue paper (another color) and adhere in the same manner. Repeat until the entire side is covered with a mosaic of tissue paper, giving the appearance of a stained glass window.

When the covered cardboard dries, turn over, so that the tissue side is facing down. Lay the ruler evenly along one 8 1/2" edge, and trace a line the width of the ruler. Move the ruler from the edge to the line drawn, and repeat, drawing another line. Repeat until you have 5 lines, running parallel to each other, spaced about 2" apart.

Use the scissors to cut out 5-8 1/2" bookmarks, cutting along the lines drawn. At the bottom of each bookmark, punch a hole in the center next to the bottom edge.

Take 6 strands of yarn, hold them together evenly. Fold the strands in half, and push the middle through the hole, but do not pull the ends through. Take the ends of the yarn and push through the yarn that has been pushed through the hole. Pull tight, so that you have created a tassel at the end of your bookmark. Repeat with the other 4 bookmarks.