How to Repurpose Old Calendars into Bookmarks

Inside: Want a good way to reuse those old wall calendars? This creative craft project demonstrates how to repurpose old calendars into bookmarks.

Don’t toss out last year’s calendar just yet.

You can repurpose those dated calendars into bookmarks.

Because bookmarks are one of those things that always seem to get lost. Like keys, socks and your mind when you’re trying to find said keys, socks and bookmarks. Where do they GO?

Book lovers know you can never have too many bookmarks. So, why not easily create your own bookmarks from that calendar you were going to throw in the trash?

Besides keeping unnecessary waste out of the landfill, making your own bookmarks may also help you keep that New Year’s resolution of reading more this year. A pretty bookmark may be all the incentive you need to crack open a few more books.

Get ready to turn those pages. (And not lose your spot).

Here’s a step-by-step tutorial showing how to repurpose old calendars into bookmarks.

Every year, my mom buys me a couple of wall calendars for Christmas.

And every year in January, my eco-conscious heart hates to toss out the old ones, even if I am putting them in the recycle bin.

This isn’t my first old calendar redo.

In the past I’ve made envelopes from old calendars (and wrote about it for Organic Authority.) I’ve also framed the images from old calendars for easy wall art. But this year I wanted to come up with a new way to repurpose old calendars.

When researching ideas to repurpose old calendars, I found these gift tags from Real Simple. They looked like bookmarks to me at first and they inspired me to try to create bookmarks from my old calendars.

Want to make your own bookmarks from old calendars? Here’s what you’ll need.

Supplies you’ll need:

Old calendar
Poster board or thick paper
Bookmark (to trace)
Mod Podge
Paintbrush
Single-hole puncher
Twine or ribbon
Pen
Scissors

This is a great project for a chilly afternoon. Grab a mug of coffee and get to crafting.

Step 1: Trace the outline of the bookmark

With a pen, trace the outline of the bookmark you’re using as a stencil on the calendar image of your choice. Here I’m tracing the outline of a coffee cup from a coffee-themed calendar.

Step 2: Cut out the bookmark

Next, cut out the bookmark. Then, grab poster board or a thick paper. Here I have a small piece of white poster board.

(Tip: The calendar image itself is too flimsy to simply use as your bookmark. That’s why you’ll also need poster board or a thick paper. You’ll be adhering the calendar paper to the poster board, so it’s more firm. I also used the front and back covers of the calendar for this because they’re made of thicker stock.)

Step 3: Paint on the Mod Podge

Paint a thin layer of Mod Podge onto the back of your bookmark cutout. Working quickly, paste the bookmark cutout onto the piece of poster board (or thick paper.) Smooth it from the inside out to get rid of air bubbles.

Step 4: Add another layer of Mod Podge

Paint on another thin layer of Mod Podge over the top of your bookmark. This will seal it all together.

Step 5: Let it dry

Now, let the bookmark dry completely. It will probably take about 10 minutes.

Step 6: Cut out the bookmark

Cut out the bookmark. Now it will feel like a real bookmark. It’s much sturdier than the first time you cut it out from the calendar.

Step 7: Punch a hole

Using a single-hole puncher, punch out a hole at the top center of your bookmark.

Step 8: Thread ribbon through

Finally, thread a small piece of ribbon or twine through the hole. I like to loop the twine in half, stick the folded end through the hole, thread the folded end through the newly-made loop and pull to secure it. You can then knot the bottom two ends.

I’m still in awe of how well these bookmarks turned out. During a few days off work after the holidays, I went on a bookmark-making binge and made almost 60 of them. You can get a lot of bookmarks out of one calendar. I’ve given away a few to friends and now I’m thinking about selling them in my family’s antique booth.

These bookmarks make great gifts for the bookworms in your life.

Even better, if you’re buying books for friends and family, stick these handmade bookmarks into the pages for a special addition to the gift.

Want another creative repurpose idea? Reuse old calendars and turn them into framed art.

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