Page 5 - CB-Bookmarks

How to Get the Most from Your Bookmarks!

Thank you for purchasing this collection of Victorian bookmarks! These bookmark designs are based on
a variety of Victorian sources, including page decorations from books and magazines of the 19th century,
and stained glass designs from Victorian design and stained glass reference books. I hope they bring you
many hours of coloring pleasure!
Now, the first thing you’re probably thinking is: This paper is no good for bookmarks! True! (In
fact, in my opinion, this paper isn’t much good for coloring, period.) So please understand that you are
absolutely free to copy these bookmarks onto cardstock. I have included a permissions statement on
the copyright page that you can show to any copy center that wants to make an issue over this (some do).
You are free to copy as many pages as you wish, and make as many copies as you wish. (I do ask, as a
courtesy, however, that if you want to give copies to friends, please buy them a copy of the book and let
them do their own photocopying!) You are also free to scan these images on your personal scanner and
print them yourself on your preferred paper stock.
If you don’t want to photocopy the bookmarks, but would prefer to color the pages in the book,
simply laminate them afterwards to get the sturdiness you need. (I recommend laminating them anyway;
see below!)
Here are some tips on getting the most out of your bookmark collection:

1) Choose a suitable paper stock. If you haven’t printed bookmarks before, I recommend testing
several types of cardstock to see what works best with your preferred coloring medium. Paper that works
well for colored pencils, for example, may not work well for ink. Always use a matte stock; never use
glossy card stock. Make sure your ink won’t bleed through the paper.

2) Make sure your paper works with your printer. If you are printing your own bookmarks, make
sure you can use your chosen paper stock. Thick paper can jam. If you are having bookmarks printed at
a copy center, check with the clerk, as they may not accept papers designed for inkjet printers.

3) Color first, then cut!

4) Once you’ve colored the bookmarks, cut them apart carefully. I recommend using a ruler and a
razor-blade or a safety paper-cutter; it’s easier to achieve a straight line this way than with scissors. If
you use glitter pens, handle the bookmarks carefully, as the glitter tends to rub off.

5) Protect your bookmarks—and your books—by laminating them. A laminated bookmark will
literally last for years. (Lamination will also provide the sturdiness you need if you choose to color your
bookmarks directly on these pages.) You can laminate five or six bookmarks at a time for under $2.
Lamination also protects your books. Again, if you use glitter pens, the glitter tends to rub off, and you
don’t want it to rub off on your book pages. Even colored pencil can rub off in a book. A laminated
bookmark also makes an elegant, practical gift.

Unless you have a laminating machine at home, take your bookmarks to the nearest office supply store or
copy shop. Ask for legal-size lamination sleeves; these will hold five or six bookmarks at a time. Be sure
to cut your bookmarks apart before laminating them! Do not try to laminate the whole page and then cut
them apart! Lay your bookmarks out on the sheet, with about ¾ of an inch of space between them.
Arrange them so that the long edge of the bookmark is lined up with the short edge of the lamination
sheet. Don’t line them up “the long way,” and don’t line some up horizontally and some vertically (even
if you think you can “save space/money” this way). Your goal is to make sure each bookmark spends as
little time as possible in the laminator. Otherwise, you can get unwanted bubbles and ripples.