How to Make Glass Domed Bookmarks
Easy DIY glass domed book marks or book clips
One thing I love about Britain is their history of crafts.
On YouTube you can find some amazing documentaries on brands (they would probably just call them companies back then) that started multiple generations ago.
From bookbinding to paper marbling to decorative chocolatiering to tailoring. It’s one of the reasons I’m an Anglophile. It’s also one of the things I’m most envious of European countries – their long history and tradition for the art of craft.
I remember coming across one video that was shot in the 1970s about paper marbling and binding that was so inspirational. Everything was done by hand or vintage machinery.
Sadly, after being in business for so long, like many others in the book arts, the advent of the eBook and mass market publishing, meant their sales dried up; most of their marbling commerce came from selling beautiful endpapers to bookbinders for repair or for their original designs.
But today I’m not posting about paper marbling (but I will later, because the 70s video inspired me enough to try it.)
For a beekeeping friend?
An Easy Holiday DIY Gift
This is a medium to easy craft project, and since we’re just around the corner from the holidays, it’s something that makes a great little gift or stocking stuffer. Or something to include with the book you’re gifting.
Nature is always in style as a theme
Glass Domed Bookmarks Clip
Bookmarks are one of the easiest projects for a crafter, and the very easiest is a paper bookmark.
These are not paper, and they do require the purchase of a few objects, but they're fairly simple to make and the end result is really quite pretty.
If you're familiar with, and love John Derian paperweights, you'll like these - they're like a miniature and much less expensive off shoot of those.
I chose the theme of Naturalist for my bookmarks.
These are often made to give as gifts, and nature is something that never goes out of style. Also, I was inspired by John Derian again.
Glass Domed Bookmarks Clips Supply List
Base metal holder
Glass Domes
Scissors
Glue
Paper design
Steps:
The first thing to do is to figure out what you are going to use for a design.
If you're printing something, make sure the glue you're going to glaze your image with (in order for the dome to attach to it) won't smear.
I use a glaze glue that is specially made for inkjet printers, but you can experiement.
Once your have your design and you've cut it down to fit your base (bases vary in shape and size, but make sure you get one that you can easily find glass domes for. Usually, if a site sells the clips, they'll sell the domes as well).
Glue your image to the base - I always let this dry a bit before attaching the dome.
Coat your image (now attached to the base) with a layer of glue or glue glaze, and press the dome onto it.
You can also put a layer on the bottom of the dome as well - when you press it down, make sure to press hard enought to remove any air bubbles.
Let it dry - you're done!
Butterfly Bookplate with Glass Dome
I've made sets of these with different themes as well - historical figures, for example Joan of Arc, as well as Shakespeare characters. I think this year I'll make another batch to give and feature a vintage pastry theme. Maybe give them with a cookbook?
Glass Domed Bookmarks Clip Tips:
I recommend using a very strong glue for the paper attaching to the metal, since the glass dome will be held on by the paper. I used a glue that was like a 'crazy' glue type, with extra hold
The glue I used on top of the paper, was a glaze glue called Annie Howe's Glamour Seal.
Resources:
I bought all my findings (the base, dome etc) on Vintage Jewelry
Annie Howe's Glamour Glaze is available on etsy here