Waving hand bookmark: step-by-step instructions

Μaria Chatzi, author of the ebook “Ο magikos kirios Kolotoumpas grafei istories”, shares with us step-by-step instructions to create our own waving hand bookmark, inspired by the fairy-tale “Chairetismata & Efches” by Iraklis Lampadariou!

What about the materials?

- a strip of thick green craft paper, dimensions: 5x12 cm

- a small piece of white scrap paper, dimensions: 4,5x5,5 cm

- a piece of colorful scrap fabric, a little smaller than the strip of thick green craft paper, with bright colors

- fine point markers, colors: two shades of green, black, orange (or red)

- hole puncher for paper

- a label cut from thick craft paper, dimensions: 4x2 cm, color of  your choice

- a colored pencil, the color you would like your waving hand to be

- a ribbon, 16 cm long, any shade of green

- pencil

- scissors

- glue

Instructions

1. Draw a hand on the white piece of paper – use your pencil, first, then trace over it with your black marker. Draw eyes and a smile on your hand, using the colored markers (no black) – it is better to draw the iris of one eye a bit lower than that of the other, although looking in the same directions, to give your hand the  “crazy happiness” look.

2. After that, color the hand with your colored pencil and glue it on the upper part of the thick green craft paper strip. Wait till the glue dries.

For steps 1 and 2, look at picture 1.

3. To continue, punch a hole at the bottom of your bookmark, with your paper hole puncher. This is where you’re going to pull through the ribbon from and tie it. You could put a little glue on the back side of the ribbon, after tying it, to secure it won’t get untied.

4. Cut a sleeve shape out of the colorful fabric and glue it as if worn on the arm.

5. To finish your project, take the black marker and write the word “Hi” on the label and glue it on the lower part of your bookmark. Wait till the glue has dried completely.

For steps 3, 4, 5 look at picture 2.

Your bookmark with the friendly waving hand is ready!

Another idea

Cut around the bookmark, as shown in picture 3. Draw and cut out a paper ribbon, glue it diagonally on the sleeve and use your black marker to write “Good morning” on the paper ribbon. Close the bookmark between the pages of your book, with the friendly hand showing at the top of the page, as you see in picture 4.

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3 

Picture 4

Author Biography

Maria Chatzi has graduated from the department of English Language and Literature of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and has worked as a teacher of English. She is also a self-taught artist, she designs crafts for kids and adults, jewelry and other home décor items. She’s been a creativity enthusiast for over fifteen years now. She writes articles and activities on Creative Writing and Craft projects, offline and online.

She spends a great deal of her time volunteering for public libraries in Thessaloniki, where she offers creative courses, mainly creative writing and crafts for kids. She also teaches jewelry making and various techniques for crafting with recycled materials.

Both her contribution to public libraries and the publication of this mini ebook, with a Creative Commons License, are an offer of free services for the common good in the local community and an effort to promote Creativity.