5 nifty, homemade bookmarks

I'm pretty sure that we can all agree that books make awesome gifts. But if you've ever given a book someone, you've probably noticed that it's not the most personal present. Especially if they specifically requested the book. So, I was thinking . . . why not throw in a homemade bookmark?

In the spirit of this idea, I've put together a list of some of my favorite bookmark tutorials on the internet. Just in case you're feeling a little crafty. Check it:

Page corner bookmarks

Bow-tie paperclip bookmarks

Scrap saavy bookmarks

Easy-peasy ribbon bookmarks

Jumbo clip bookmarks

See, don't those seem like they'll make your gift-giving a little more exciting? A lot of them look pretty easy too! But if you're interested in even more bookmark tutorials, check out this list at Tip Junkie . . . it's a bit intensive.

Have you ever given anyone a book (or a bookmark) for a gift before? What book was it and why did you pick that book for them? Also, do you have a hefty bookmark collection like me? Tell me in the comments.

DIY newspaper nails!

This weekend I did something fantastically girly that I've been meaning to do for quite a while. And now I'm going to tell you guys how to do it too. Because I'm all about sharing the wealth. But first, a picture:

My awesome newsprint fingernails. Excuse my horrible photo.

If you can't tell, I have lovely, wordy fingernails. And no, I'm not a professional nail stylist, so they're a bit messy. BUT THAT'S IRRELEVANT.

What You Need:

• Light-colored nail polish
• Clear nail polish
• Rubbing alcohol
• Strips of newspaper (big enough to cover nail)

What To Do:

1. Paint nails with light-colored polish. When dry, paint nails with clear polish.
2. Pour rubbing alcohol into shallow glass. When your nails are dry, soak nails in alcohol for ten seconds.
3. Press newspaper strips into fingernails.
4. After a few seconds, slowly remove newspaper strips.
5. When dry, paint nails with clear polish again

Project originally found at More Design Please.