These craft stick pencil bookmarks are a great back to school craft. Whether you’re a teacher who wants to pass these out to your students or a parent who’s looking to make homework or reading a little more fun!
Craft Stick Pencil Bookmarks
The kids are back in school and homework is officially back in their lives. Soon they’ll be compiling science fair projects, doing book reports and practicing their musical instrument. Heading back to school is fun for kids and gets them back in touch with friends they didn’t see over the summer.
Make the homework portion fun too by creating these craft stick pencil bookmarks to keep their place in all those school books!
These are easy to make for most age groups. For kids in Kindergarten and possibly first grade, you may want to round the pencil points, as parents you can be the judge of that. To round them, simply cut them more rounded and use a little sandpaper.
Related – Back to School Checklist Printable
FIND THE FULL PRINTABLE INSTRUCTIONS AT THE END OF THIS POST
Supplies you’ll need to make craft stick pencil bookmarks
- Jumbo craft stick
- Acrylic craft paint: yellow, pink, peach, silver, and black
- Paintbrush
- Scissors
- Fine point black permanent marker
- Acrylic sealer
How to make the bookmarks
First, you’ll cut and sand. Then simply paint the craft sticks yellow, paint on an eraser and the silver metal portion. Then write the child’s name, a school subject or just “No. 2” to decorate the pencil.
I used CraftSmart paint on this project. It’s a great paint for kids and is inexpensive. You can find it at Michaels.
Variation: A fun variation for younger children would be to create crayon bookmarks instead of pencils!
And for older kids, these Avengers Bookmarks are great too (maybe even the adults will like these).
Last but not least, these punny printable corner bookmarks are perfect for older kids who will get a good laugh out of them!
Craft Stick Pencil Bookmarks
Supplies
- Jumbo craft stick
- Acrylic craft paint: yellow pink, peach, silver, and black
- Paintbrush
- Scissors
- Fine point black permanent marker
- Acrylic sealer
Instructions
- Paint each craft stick with yellow paint and allow them to dry.
- Paint about an inch or so of one end with pink paint.
- Leaving about ¾ of an inch of the pink paint visible, paint a stripe of silver over the bottom of the pink.
- In the same fashion as the pink, paint the other end of the craft stick with peach paint. When dry, use scissors to cut the end into a point. You can skip this step if you are concerned about the pointy tip with younger children, or you can round the tip with the scissors.
- Paint the end of the tip black for the pencil lead.
- Use a black marker to write whatever you like on the bookmarks. Some suggestions include the class subject (Science, Math, etc), the child’s name or for a more generic approach you can use “No. 2” and give them as back to school gifts!
- When everything is dry, apply a coat of acrylic sealer to your bookmarks.
Note:
- Each craft stick will need to be painted on both sides. Allow one side to dry before turning over and painting the other side.
Variation:
- A fun variation for younger children would be to create crayon bookmarks instead of pencils! Have fun!
This post was originally published on this blog on Sept. 22, 2012.
- Glowing Jack O Lantern Jars - September 19, 2023
- Glow in the Dark Monster Rocks - September 12, 2023
- Deco Mesh Pumpkin Wreath - September 5, 2023
Jill @ KitchenFunWithMy3Sons says
Love these Amanda! My 10 year old created pencils using sticks & thought of this on his own (thinking it was original…shh I’m not going to tell him you thought of it first) & glued them on a jar for his teacher. I was so shocked when he showed it to me…so creative. Never thought about the book marks…such a cute idea! Here is his post if you want to take a look… http://kitchenfunwithmy3sons.blogspot.com/2014/08/back-to-school-popsicle-stick-pencil.html
Amanda Formaro says
Oh my gosh Jill, that is so cute! And I LOVE that he thought of this himself, how awesome!!
Stephanie L. Robertson says
I’m trying to come up with a creative alternative to market my blog. I think this may be more memorable than just a bus card. Thx for sharing!
-Stephanie
Amanda Formaro says
Fun idea Stephanie!
Melba of buggalcrafts says
Such cuties!
Amanda says
Thanks Melba!
June says
What a great idea this is. Adorable, too. And kids I’m sure will love making them, especially as the new school year has just started. As soon as I saw the photos of them, they made me smile. Imagination can really run wild and free with all the ways you can decorate these – different themes, different colours, party favours (I agree with Karen), school projects. Thanks for sharing. Will pass the idea (via this blog post) to my friends who have school-age kiddies.
Kristen S- Craft Gossip says
So fun Amanda!! Love the pencils:) Just posted on Craft Gossip!!
Karen Howard says
I love the Birdy Egg for Easter! It’s so cute.Why not use for Parties too? Thanks.
Denise Bailey says
Brilliant idea!
Amanda says
Thanks Denise!