The schools have reopened; you are all geared up to embark again on this beautiful academic journey. Most of you have equipped yourself with new books, bag and a number of other stationery items; however, the list of stationery items feels like never-ending.

While studying, one of the most overlooked, yet highly useful items, is a bookmark, to make you remember where you left off while reading. Bookmarks are easily available in bookshops but they are expensive, so I have brought for you a DIY so that you can make beautiful and simple bookmarks in no time.

Things you need:

1. Pompoms (14, size: 1.5 cm or bigger for both flower and caterpillar)

2. Craft sticks (2, large)

3. Googly eyes, two pairs

4. Hot glue

Directions:

1. We will start by making a pompom flower, the number of pompoms depends on the size of flower you are making. I used 1.5 cm pompoms, so I used seven pink pompoms for the petals, and one yellow for the centre (head). Start by dabbing hot glue on the side of head and paste the pink ones around it carefully, pictures 2 and 3.

2. Paste googly eyes in the centre of the head and make a smile with the marker, see pictures 4 and 5.

3. To make the stem, I used the coloured craft stick to give it a more vibrant look, you can use plain and make any pattern or leave it as it is.

4. Paste glue on the top of the stick and then paste flower on it, picture 6.

5. To make the caterpillar; take six or seven pompoms, you can use one or multi-coloured pompoms, paste one into another, see picture 7.

6. Paste googly eyes and make a smile, and paste it on the craft stick, see pictures 8 and 9.

Here you go, your simple and cute bookmarks are ready!

For suggestions, you can write to ithecraftman@gmail.com

Published in Dawn, Young World, September 4th, 2021