Making bookmarks out of money -- play, money that is!

Recently, I donated one of my Nancy Drew book tablet cases to Book'd in Burbank, and the organizer asked for a stack of my cards, to distribute to participants. 

I obliged, but couldn't help imagining all those people tossing the cards into the recycle bin. I can't blame them -- I never know what to do with cards and other handouts hiding in my goodie bag.

Then I got thinking. Could I make a business card that people would actually want to hold onto? And showcase the fun of upcycling at the same time? Sure, I could.


The event attracts book lovers, so I needed to make something that book lovers love (besides books). Traditional business cards are rectangular and flat -- just like bookmarks! I'd make my own dual-use upcycled bookmark-business cards.

I ransacked my stash of play money (left over from journals made from game boards, like this one). I tried Monopoly money, but the pastel colors seem sad and tired. Also, the bills are too fat for my liking. Instead, I grabbed a stack of bright bills from a vintage game.

To make the bookmarks stiff, I created a base out of two pages from a book I'd already gutted to use as a tablet case (sorry, Nancy). I aligned the bills on the paper. To hold the bills in place, I used double-sided tape.

I did the same on the back. But instead of putting all the bills right-side up, I exposed the back side of half of them, so I could stamp my logo and website on top. Then I sewed the edges of each bookmark. First I sewed a straight stitch along the short ends of each bill.

I cut apart the 3 rectangles and sewed around the outside edge, using an overstitch setting.

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Next, I tried including one of my real business cards instead of the stamp. It's shorter than the play money, so the bookmarks themselves aren't as tall.

I like the way the long-nosed lady is pointing toward my logo. But the stitch hides my email address, so if I wanted to make more, I'd need to adjust the margins on my cards.

Here's what the bookmark looks inside a real book.

To give my bookmarks a final polish, I trimmed off the thread ends (nobody wants a hairy bookmark), and then packaged them up like a stack of real money.

I hope the readers attending Book'd at Burbank enjoy their gifts as much as I enjoyed making them.