Digging through some old cassettes (!) the other day, I was reminded of a great little crafting trick. Many of my prized mix tapes have laminated covers I made myself – with clear packing tape. Once I'd made a bunch of shiny, liquid-impervious tape covers, I expanded operations. Next up was homemade bookmarks. I have one that's lasted about 15 years now. They're easy to make from supplies you have around the house. They're also a fun activity to do with creative Brownies, Boy Scouts and bored kids at the cottage. Who doesn't have scrap paper and a roll of clear tape hanging around? It's so simple you hardly need instructions. I like to make bookmarks from old postcards, photos or collages of pictures I've found in books, magazines, etc. Make sure you laminate something sturdy or the bookmark will flop around.

See? Canadian Tire money may make a kitschy bookmark (especially if they discontinue it), but it's a little too bendy for good results. Card stock, light cardboard, even old Go Transit passes (for you GTA commuters) make a sturdy bookmark or base on which to paste embellishments.

Once you're done making the decorative paper part, pull out a piece of clear tape that's a couple inches longer than the paper. (If your bookmark is wider than the tape, seam a couple of pieces together, making sure there are no air bubbles or wrinkles. Place the tape sticky side up on the table, then slowly smooth the bookmark into the tape. Again, make sure there are no air bubbles or wrinkles.  If there are, press down with your fingernail -- or a fancy bone folder, if you're the Martha type.

Repeat on the other side, pressing the edges together to create a solid seal. Trim the tape edges back so there's a clear border around the bookmark. It can be any width you like, but a scant 1/4 inch is probably plenty. Once you're done, you can punch a hole in the top and add a tassel or ribbon.

Odd shapes, especially when inexpertly coated in glitter (it's not my strong suit) aren't ideal. But if you're neater than I am – or like a little chaos in your crafts – you can make just about any shape you like. Just make sure your glitter isn't too lumpy. I'll have to work on that!

Happy laminating!