DIY | Library Kit

 I love books. I think that's kind of a prerequisite for English teachers. For as long as I can remember I got a thrill every time we had "library" class. As a kid I used to make little slips of paper to go in my books where I would write the author and title and borrower so I could pretend that I was a librarian.


Because I'm hoping that my kids will want to play library with me I decided to whip up a little library kit for them as well as one as a birthday present for their friend.

I totally lucked out and at the office store where I went to purchase the date stamp and pad I found a random stack of REAL library cards on shelf for only $2.78. Woo hoo! It saved me printing my own!

If you aren't lucky enough to find real library cards you can download free printables at the Creature Comforts blog. I printed off the library pocket template to use for this project. It's a pretty cute blog, while you're there you should take a look around!

After printing off a template I then traced them onto paper from my Amy Butler stash.

Fold them as per instructions, glue and viola!

 Here they are stuffed with library cards. All ready to be taped or glued into a book!

The date stamp is a key ingredient. I had to search to find one that had a bit of a vintage look to it. Most office stores will have some version. If you want a "less potential mess" one you can get a self inking stamp.

I think the stamping will be one of the funnest parts.

A last minute addition to the gift were the cliche "librarian glasses". I just couldn't resist. I raced to the dollar store over the tall one's lunch hour and bought a few sets of child sunglasses and popped out the lenses.

Doesn't he look like he should be smoking a pipe and reading that book?

Why thank you Mr. Librarian. I will treasure this book!

Next up I made a few bookmarks from coordinating Amy Butler paper and used baker's twine for the tassel.

While my kit sat assembled it struck me that I should make patron library cards! Photoshop to the rescue!

I created a document that was 3" wide by 2" tall. I put a clipping mask on for the picture. The bar code was a free clip art I found in a google search.

If you would like to make your own patron cards you can download my psd file HERE. You will likely need some type of "insert image" action to insert the picture into the image layer and you can customize all of your own text!

Once you have it the way you like it, save it as a jpg, put on a word document and print. I made one for each member in Sadie's family so that they can all borrow from her library.

 

I bought the cute little case to keep it all together.

I'm not going to lie. I'm pretty excited to play library with my kids!

Wouldn't these be perfect little Christmas gifts as well?