So we're deviating juuuuuust a little bit from pencils today to bring you something nostalgic and totally fun. I swear, Caroline has been talking about making these since I first met her more than two years ago. She discovered that I still use the same flat, navy blue Spacemaker (the type that can clip into a binder!) that I had when I was in grade school, and she always eagerly asks if I make glue bookmarks with it. 

What? Glue bookmarks? Never heard of such a thing. 

Apparently I missed a craze (and a really satisfying project) back in the 90's when Spacemakers and their nubbly tops were all the rage, and Elmer's white school glue was readily on-hand. Check out what I made with Caroline's very thoroughly guided instructions! 

What you'll need:

• Washable markers
• White School Glue (we plan on trying with clear later!)
• A pencil case with a flat sort of indent on the top - one that's about bookmark size and length
• PATIENCE (it takes 5 minutes to make, 2-4 days of waiting to dry)

Step 1: Clean the last 20 years' worth of graphite, grime and grit off the top of your pencil case. 

Step 2: Draw a pattern on the top of the case. Some bleeding will occur, but I think you can still get a little detailed with it! 

Step 3: Before the marker dries too much, pour a fat bunch of glue aaaalll over the pattern, filling up that top indent (try not to overflow! Too much glue just takes even LONGER to dry). Do a little gentle tap-tappy-tap to get the glue to spread around and get the air bubbles out. 

Step 4: Loudly proclaim "That's IT?!" while you cry over the fact that you won't see your work until after the weekend.

Step 5: Appreciate the way the markers have started to bleed through the glue. Is it done yet? No. Wait another 2 days. (It's done when the glue is no longer white!)

Step 6: Peel your new bookmark off of the top of the pencil case! Admire how satisfyingly it pries off in one quick peel, and how the glue has picked up the textures from the top of the case remarkable well. 

Step 7: Repeat with any other receptacles that seem like they can hold a thin layer of glue. Or, you know, as long as your patience will hold. 

(Also pictured - Alyx's little marbled  dried glue square)