When it comes to putting together Easter Baskets for my family, I go light on the candy and heavy on more practical—yet still fun! —items that I know my kids will like just as much. Books, craft supplies, bubbles, jump ropes, sunglasses, and brightly colored socks are all finding their way into my kids' Easter Baskets this year. But, my favorite Easter craft is a Personalized Easter Bookmark. This is my kind of craft: personal, inexpensive and fun. Let's get started!

Materials

• small piece of cardboard (1 for each bookmark; side panels from an old cereal or pasta box will work wonderfully)
• assorted scrapbook paper or wrapping paper
• double-sided tape or glue
• ribbon (6-inch length for each bookmark)

• personalized text (cut out letters from a magazine or print up letters/words on your personal printer)
• pictures (that you won't mind cutting up)
• laminating paper
• scissors

Instructions

1.
Cut the cardboard to the size of the bookmark that you want (we happened to have pasta for dinner, and the side panel of an orzo box was the perfect size).
2.
Cut two pieces of scrapbook or wrapping paper to the same size as your cardboard. I use coordinating prints to mix it up a bit.

3.
Use double-sided tape or glue to affix one piece of the colored paper to each side of the cardboard. Don't seal the top yet—leave a little opening at the top of your bookmark.
4.
Take your strip of ribbon, fold it in half, and then insert it in between the paper and the cardboard at the top of the bookmark, creating sort of a loop or a tassle at the top. Then, glue or tape the top of your bookmark together to hold the ribbon in place.

5.
Personalize your bookmark by taping or gluing text and pictures. For Easter, I went with "Somebunny Loves You" and then added pictures of my kids to the other side. I also put the year on the bottom of the back.

6.
Laminate the front and the back of the bookmark.

Tips

• I make these for many occasions: Christmas, Back-to-School, graduation, birthdays, you name it, I've done it. It's a wonderful way to give a small personal gift. I usually tuck it inside of a new book.