Category Archives: Bookmarks

Pantone’s spring fashion colors fill out new tassel set

pms spring 2011 fashion color tasselsBookmark enthusiasts will find 10 each of 10 new spring fashion colors in this brand new tassel set. Save 20% by buying tassels in sets and be prepared to display your artwork or photos on bookmarks complemented by trendy colors.

In addition to artists, photographers and printers, bookmarks are an inexpensive and useful marketing tool for all sorts of businesses.

The designer has complete control over what’s printed or crafted on the fronts and back of the bookmarks. Customize or decorate the bookmark to make a great gift, a gift adornment, or a stocking stuffer.

Both the small and large vinyl bookmark sleeves are sold in the Oak Creek Printworks store, and have a hole punched at the end to string an adornment of beads, charms, or, to keep the price down, a 4-in chainette bookmark tassel.

5 Gifts Under $10 Artists Can Give for the Holidays

by Nancy Haberman

Once the excitement and frenzy of the new school season has calmed, artists know that it’s time to get going on holiday gift and card making. Regardless of the medium in which you work, you’ll get more satisfaction throughout the season if you begin early and put your energy into what you love to do, and that is to make art.

You probably can’t give everyone an original, especially if you’re in the business of selling your art, but whether you sell your art, give it away, or fill every nook and cranny of your home with it, you can still share your art. These are gifts you can make at home with your computer, printer, and professional packaging. Our resource guide may also be helpful. Create a high resolution digital image of your art and then try any of the following five ideas for artists who want to give gifts under $10.

1.Greeting card – a2, a6, a7

Note Card

For resource information on card sizes, image sizing, envelope sizes and protective bag sizes click here.

2. Enlarge, crop and and print your art on bookmarks in two different sizes. Enclose in bookmark sleeve and add a tassel.

note card image  cropped

3. Mat cut to order with 1/8″ foam core back and crystal clear bag, ready display or frame

4. 28-page Journal with your art on the cover

5. CD Calendar

Bookmark Genius: Recipes for Success

by Georgia Lange

Two of my favorite things to do this summer have been reading and cooking, which I rarely have time for during the rest of the year. Something about feeding both my body and my brain makes me feel at ease with everything, as though I am on vacation from life even when I am home. As I was sitting around the other day, munching on a delicious Moroccan salad that I had prepared and reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (a fabulous book that everyone in America seems to be reading this summer), my mind started to wander a bit. I remembered that I needed to write down the recipe of the savory dish Continue reading

Handmade Bookmarks – A Whole New Art Form

By David Heyman

When one thinks of different formats for artistic and creative expression, what comes to mind are paintings on canvas or paper, photography and handmade greeting cards, to name a few. One medium that is not as well known are handmade bookmarks.

Since they are not as common as other types of art, many unique opportunities exist for marketing these items, at retail stores, art fairs and shows, galleries and over the Internet.

Handmade bookmarks can be as simple as text and verses, with some basic graphics, that are printed on heavy stock on your home printer. For more elaborate creations, whether it be hand painted watercolors on thick 300 pound paper, a scrapbook collage enhanced with small inclusions, or even a stencilled paper cut-out, the sky is the limit for your options.

Artistic bookmarks can be marketed singly, or in sets. Encasing your bookmark creations in a protective sleeve is an important part of presenting a professional product, as many handmade items are delicate, and easily damaged. Heavyweight clear vinyl bookmark sleeves are ideal for any delicate or higher value items, while a thin polypropylene plastic sleeve works well for printed bookmarks.

A nice touch to add a bit of class to your bookmark is a chainette tassel. These come in many colors, as well as striped varieties, and will increase the perceived value of the piece.

Bookmarks can be practical, they can be collector’s items, they can even be fine art. Using some of these marketing tips, handmade bookmarks can also be a money maker for any artist too!

15 ways to sell your artwork

There is nothing better as an artist than to see someone display your work and to know that they love and appreciate it. Whether art is a hobby or you earn a living with it, there are always opportunities to sell your art. If you are struggling with how to go about it, the ideas below can be combined to create your own strategy for marketing your work.

Artist Cards, Editions and Originals (ACEO) – use as business cards to promote your work. Your original art on the front, your contact & product information on the back.

• Bookmarks – again, use as a business card with your art on one side and your information on the other.  Bookmark tassel and sleeve sets can get you started.

• Promotional pieces – T-Shirts, coasters, mugs, etc. – Check out Cafe Press.  Wear your art – “mobile marketing” – then hand out an ACEO or bookmark when someone is interested in your art.

• Mail your art
– Use postcards of your art to advertise your work, sell sets of postcards or give as gifts
– Envelope art – advertise as you send out your mail

• Sell prints. These days it is easy. Fine art printing companies are widely available on the Internet and elsewhere. Many of them do digital capture as well as the printing itself.

• Develop a blog or your own online gallery. At a minimum, get a simple web page where people can view your work and contact you – people expect this.  Get a free hosted blog at WordPress.com. If you decide you want your own website, check out free web hosting here, then get free blogging software for your website at WordPress.org.

• Sell on eBAY or ETSY – great places to sell your specialty greeting cards or even original art. List your work on eBay to appeal to consumers who don’t have the time or inclination to pay gallery prices. Set a reserve price that assures you’ll get a decent return on your time.

• Art shows – This can be a great way to get your work seen in the local market. Galleries often host these shows, so they do all the advertising. See our recent blog article for information on shows and how to prepare for them. To find shows in your area you can go to festivalnet.com, or Google “craft show index”.

• Set up a booth at your local farmers market, flea market or swap meet to sell your work. This can be fairly inexpensive.

• Ask to have your art displayed at local libraries, restaurants, Barnes & Noble in the café area, etc.

• Sell through an online artist cooperative.

• Network – join museum or artists’ groups and local business community groups.

• Enter competitions.

• Display or sell your work at church & temple bazaars and holiday boutiques, convention centers and community centers.

• Approach companies that will sell your product. Just because you are an individual, don’t assume that companies won’t want your product. Check out Lady Bones.

Bookmarks Can Be Inexpensive, Personal Gift

Turn your artwork into custom-made gifts that fit your budget

by Stephanie Ferguson

In these tough economic times holiday giving can be a challenge. Many people are turning to homemade gifts, and in my opinion a homemade gift is the best kind. Looking for a great, personalized gift that says “I made this just for you”? Looking for something your children can give? Look no further.

bookmarks1 bookmark fan2

In addition to being something everyone needs and uses, bookmarks can be a great way to show off artwork. Besides having your artwork printed, you can use your children’s original art, or they can prepare art on the computer. Another idea is putting together a collage using mixed media. And you can personalize the gift for someone special. Only your creativity limits the final product. Slip the art into a vinyl bookmark sleeve, add a tassel and your task is complete. If you want to protect the bookmark and dress it up as well, save money by purchasing the bookmark sleeve and tassel together as a “bundle.” The more sleeve and tassel bundles you buy, the more you save.

Gift ideas include:

• Stocking Stuffers
• Enclose with gift books
• Children’s gifts to grandparents
• Child’s gift to teacher. Decorate the front and write a poem or message on the back.
• Showcase your own artwork on the front and put your contact information on the back so the bookmark can do double duty as a business card.

When it comes to tassels, Oak Creek Printworks carries more colors than anyone.  Holiday favorites include Tinsel Twist (red and green with gold tinsel), Christmas (combination red and green), Candy Cane (combination red and white), Royal Blue, Red, Green, The Precious Metals set includes Antique Gold, Silver, and Copper.

Our bookmark sets include the plastic sleeve, and a tassel. You can buy the card blanks separately. If you are interested in custom printed bookmarks, we can do that for you too!

We’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment on this article by clicking on “Add Comment” below, or send us photos of your creations (jpeg format, 72 dpi). Perhaps your work will be posted on our blog!

Bookmark sleeves, tassels, great giveaway, marketing promo

Everyone can use a bookmark, especially one that includes an attractive panorama image, and a bookmark that is original or personalized with a custom image has even more lasting value. Photographers and artists who work in all media can keep their image fresh and in front of customers by printing or mounting it onto bookmark-sized card stock and then protecting it in a vinyl sleeve. Bookmarks also a great idea for any business person who wants a small gift to leave behind. Decorate the bookmark sleeve with a high quality 4-inch chainette tassel, and you’ve got an affordable marketing tool that customers will keep and use over and over again.

These 6 mil clear vinyl, acid-free sleeves are archival quality and come in a two sizes. Because the sleeves are heat seals, the inside dimensions are slightly smaller than the outer dimensions, so, be sure to make your bookmark slightly smaller than the outer dimensions of the sleeve, itself.

For the large sleeve [BMSLV] measuring 2-1/2″ x 7-1/8″, we cut our bookmark card stock to 2-3/8″ x 7″.

For the small sleeve [BMSLVs] measuring 2-3/8″ x 3-1/4″, we cut our small bookmark card stock to 2-1/4″ x 3-1/8″.

With either size sleeve, because the vinyl is a completely clear protective covering, you have a permanent, two-sided work of art, slash, promo piece.