In the meantime, here are this  week’s worth of bookmark related links that I’ve found, from September 12 through September 18.

Enjoy!

Bookmarks In the News

Articles:

Laine discusses the history of libraries using bookmarks to enforce their lending rules as well as the proper care of their books, at BiblioBuffet - Link

Rick Sammon at Rick’s Digital Photography Learning Center discusses using bookmarks printed with your photos as a way to promote photographers – Link

You can pick up a bookmark with the list of books that will be read by the Book Mill Reading Group of the Maynard (Massachusetts) Library – Link

Contests :

The Maryland Judiciary is sponsoring a Conflict Resolution Day Student Bookmark Art Contest, and submissions are due Oct. 1 – Link

Laura at I’m Booking It is giving away bookmarks to those who leae a comment at her book review site – Link

Over at Home School Blogger they are giving away a beautiful tatted bookmark as part of a website promotion – Link

The Juneau (Alaska) Public Library is holding their annual bookmark design contest – Link

Make Your Own Bookmark

Make a wire clip bookmark that’s a bit different and interesting, by DIY Maven at Curbly - Link

Instructions for making a paper based corner bookmark with a corduroy button as an ornament, at Sue’s Stamping Spot – Link

Create your own bookmark at the Long Island Children’s Museum – Link

On-Line Bookmark Collections

Coleccionista Chilena de Marcapáginas:

Olga displayed part of her collection at the library of the Padre Luis Beltrán school to motivate the students for their bookmark design contest – Link

Mondopunt:

A short discussion of bookmark collector Arnaldo Bieto – Link

A series of bookmarks dedicated to Cuban and Latin American singers – Link

A festival for collectors in Barcellona on the 20th of this month – Link

Collecting Bookmarks:

A golden retriever and a sharpei on these bookmarks, along with a photo of Shivaya’s dog – Link

A metal clip style bookmark with a red heart ornament, from Germany – Link

Two more paper bookmarks with photos of dogs, from Poland – Link

Forgotten Bookmarks:

A decorative decal with a graphic image of  two unicorns – Link

A handwritten note about Christmas and Charlie Chaplin – Link

A Please Do Not Disturb sign from Hotel Astor – Link

A postcard from the US Hotel and discussing a Suffragette General Conference - Link

A Nantucket property map from 1927 – Link

Flikr Images:

A pair of beautiful clip bookmarks made from silver wire and beads, by Brenda of The Jewelry Box – Link

Hand Made Bookmarks:

A set of clip bookmarks with stamped images as ornaments all part of a Bookmark Challenge, by Sue at Susie Sunshine – Link

A hand-painted bookmark with a haiku, at Teri’s Painted Daisies – Link

A corrugated cardboard bookmark made for a craft challenge, at Sarah’s Paper Tray – Link

A beautiful multicolored tatted bookmark, at Wanda’s Knotty Thoughts – Link

A stitched bookmark with an interesting knot pattern, by Sue at Mind N Soul – Link

For a first attempt at a handmade bookmark (for a craft challenge) the result is pretty nice, at Rainmac’s Place – Link

Another bookmark created for a craft challenge, this one at Jan’s Cards Crafts & Musings – Link

2010 Bookmark Challenge:

Jen gives us an update on the 2010 Bookmark Challenge, including an announcement of an embroidery book that focuses on bookmarks – Link

Enjoy!

Bookmarks In the News

Articles:

An interesting encounter over a bookmark led to a book about Tombstone Arizona, including the shootout at the OK Corral – Link

Contests :

The Candid Canine is holding a contest with a Sherlock Holmes shaped bookmark as the prize – Link

Bookmarks For Sale

You can buy a bookmark featuring Barack Obama from Amazon – Link

Free:

Some promotional bookmarks for the book Rampant are available at Cornucopia of Reviews – Link

On-Line Bookmark Collections

Mondopunt:

A reference to two new bookmark blogs and events happening in September – Link

A beautiful set of bookmarks from the Rioja Alavesa, a wine region in Spain – Link

Collecting Bookmarks:

A magnetic clip bookmark with an image of the American flag – Link

Forgotten Bookmarks:

A photograph from a 50th wedding anniversary – Link

A blue flower pressed between the pages of a book – Link

Hand Made Bookmarks:

A scrapling bookmark at Just For Fun – Link

A paper bookmark and card shown at Teri’s Cards and Toppers and made as part of a Tuesday Taggers challenge – Link

A stitched bookmark made on a scrap of linen, at The World’s Largest Collection of Smalls – Link

A paper, fiber, and plastic bookmark, made by Tina Janiga at When Life Gives You Scraps – Link

Some nifty polymer clay baubles make up the ornament on this hookmark at Zuleykha’s Polymer Clay – Link

Another Tuesday Taggers challenge bookmark featuring a photo, at A Work of Heart – Link

A second bookmark from A Work of Heart, this one is on paper and has a nice saying – Link

Miscellaneous:

Mushroomgarden is the proud owner of a new Gorjuss bookmark – Link

A bookmark promoting “For My Right To Have A Family” day in Bolivia – Link

In the meantime, here are the bookmark related links that I’ve found, from August 22 through August 28.

Enjoy!

Bookmarks In the News

Articles:

Over at BiblioBuffet, Laine discusses an art project from 2001 which involved altered (or marked) books installed in libraries and included the legendary bacon bookmark – Link

Here’s a description of the NamelessleTTer art project where hand crafted bookmarks are placed in public library books with appropriate themes – Link

The International School Library Month Bookmark Project is looking for additional schools to join their bookmark exchange – Link

Make Your Own Bookmark

A free cross-stitch image and pattern for a bookmark with mini-roses, at Needlework - Link

Another free cross-stitch image and pattern for a bookmark, this one has little owls, at Happy Thread – Link

Bookmarks For Sale

Free:

Bookmarks are available from the USDA Food & Nutrition Service for their Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Healthy Children Ready to Read Initiative – Link

On-Line Bookmark Collections

Forgotten Bookmarks:

A Hummel designed bookmark – Link

A credit card receipt and invoive – Link

A postcard with an image of a forested lake – Link

A note card with an image of a bird – Link

A bookmark from Gotham Book Mart – Link

Hand Made Bookmarks:

A variety of tatting samples with several bookmarks, at 25 Motif Challenge – Link

A stamped image used to make this fun paper bookmark, at Memories Unleashed – Link

A stamped paper bookmark and card, by Sheila at American Stamper – Link

2010 Bookmark Challenge:

Updates on the promotional bookmark for the 2010 Bookmark Challenge and a new bookmark design – Link

Enjoy!

Bookmarks In the News

Articles:

At BiblioBuffet, Lauren has a fantastic interview with bookmark collector Lois Densky-Wolff – Link

Contests :

The Daphne (Alabama) Public Libary is holding a Back-To-School Bookmark Contest – Link

Make Your Own Bookmark

A tutorial on making a paper bookmark and a tassel, at Instructables – Link

Wee Folk Art has a free pattern for making a felt koala bookmark – Link

Instructions for making a bookmark from a photo, by Deeli at Thrifty Fun – Link

A folded paper bookmark embellished with stamps and embossing, at Paper Source – Link

Corner of the Library:

An illustration of President James Monroe – Link

Bookmarks For Sale

Free:

Here’s an offer for 10 free copies of a cat themed bookmark, by Kathie Freeman who has a cat themed book – Link

On-Line Bookmark Collections

Mondopunt:

A set of beautiful bookmarks illustrating the stained glass from a variety of homes and museums – Link

Collecting Bookmarks:

A pair of colorful fish bookmarks – Link

Forgotten Bookmarks:

A couple of post-it notes with life sayings – Link

A great old catalog postcard for fine men’s clothing – Link

A post-it note about urinalysis and lab tests – Link

The cover of a booklet on growing sugar beets – Link

Three stamps from a hollywood series – Link

Flikr Images:

An interesting bookmark embellished with preserved forest plants, by Girl Land – Link

Hand Made Bookmarks:

Lovely little bookmark made from paper, stamps, and ribbon, by Chris at Catt’s Stcratching Post – Link

Here’s another cute bookmark elaborately crafted on paper, at Catt’s Scratching Post – Link

A very elaborate bookmark made for a friend’s daughter, by Lorraine Robinson at Crafty Coo – Link

Some collage bookmarks using recycled cards as bases, by Lisa West at Letters and Laces – Link

Miscellaneous:

Here’s the promotional bookmark for illustrator Mandy Hedrick – Link

2010 Bookmark Challenge:

Jen at Needle and ThREAD discusses her progress on the next Bookmark Challenge and mentions our discussion about the Battle of the Bookmarks (which I will leave as a tease for now) – Link

Here are the bookmark related links I’ve found from August 8 through August 14, 2009.

Enjoy!

Bookmarks In the News

Articles:

Lauren at BiblioBuffet has a fascinating article reviewing the effort used to “sell” World War I to the public, illustrated with two bookmarks from that period – Link

Contests :

Fazoli’s Restaurant has a Friendly Reader Program where kids can get a bookmark on which they record five books they’ve read to receive a free Kid’s Meal – Link

A Harry Potter bookmark signed by J.K.Rowling is being sold at a silent auction in Aberdeen (Scotland) for charity – Link

Make Your Own Bookmark

Here’s a great little tutorial on making a cross stitch bookmark, from the Guardian UK – Link

A photo tutorial on making a crocheted bookmark, at Cards By Paula – Link

A crochet pattern for a Fish in Ocean bookmark, by Rachel at Crochet Spot – Link

Favecrafts has a collection of 10 different bookmark craft projects – Link

Corner of the Library:

An architectural view of Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence, Italy – Link

An image of Robert E. Lee – Link

An etching of General Winfield Scott – Link

A photo of General U. S. Grant – Link

An etching from the book Little Lord Fauntleroy – Link

On-Line Bookmark Collections

Mondopunt:

An interesting post with bookmarks from architecturally interesting museums along with photos of the museums themselves – Link

Eight bookmarks from the wine region of Rioja Alavesa (Spain) – Link

Forgotten Bookmarks:

An unmarked postcard with a cartoon illustration – Link

A classic illustration from an engraving – Link

Dried and pressed four leaf clovers – Link

Hand Made Bookmarks:

A stamped and colored paper bookmark, by Sara at Luminous In My Chaotic Dreams (Life) – Link

A beautifully crafted paper bookmark, by Elaine at Quixotic Cards – Link

A stitched kitty bookmark, at Moonish’s Joyful Life – Link

Miscellaneous:

Some Sock Monkey bookmarks, at Camp Sock Monkey – Link

Here are the bookmark related links that I’ve found, from July 18 through July 31.

Enjoy!

Bookmarks In the News

Articles:

Lauren from BiblioBuffet has created a beautiful tribute to bookmarks and bookmark collecting using a poem by Frank X. Roberts, pictures of several lovely bookmarks, and her own insightful prose – Link

An article about the witches of Lancashire, their trial in 1612, and the legacy of tourism – all inspired from two souvenir bookmarks, by Frank X. Roberts at BiblioBuffet - Link

Contests :

The Little Elm Library (Texas) is holding a bookmark design contest with the theme Inkheart - Link

Maybeads makes fantastic lampwork beads, and she has a contest to give away a ribbon bookmark made with her beads, at 2 Sisters 4 Art – Link

Make Your Own Bookmark

A amazingly long article with video clip that discusses using the tear-out tongue from a tissue box as a bookmark, at The Morning Call – Link

A corner bookmark and card made from paper and stamped, at Ellie’s Stamp Garden – Link

A video with instructions on making a hookmark with beads and bangles incorporated in the ornament, by Joey Whittaker at ABC4 – Link

Instructions for using flowers, leaves, or other keepsake items in a laminated bookmark, by Angela Forsyth at Examiner.com – Link

A tutorial for a stitched card bookmark, by Sam at Cardstitching - Link

This site links to a PDF that has instructions for a crocheted 4 leaf clover bookmark, at Crafty Beats – Link

A chance to meet other to make western landscape bookmark, at the Autry National Center of the American West in Los Angles (California) – Link

Corner of the Library:

An engraving captioned Lord Lufton and Lucy Robarts – Link

Engraving captioned Mrs. Tulliver – Mill on the Floss – Link

Engraving captioned Mr. Waken – Mill on the Floss – Link

Photo of a lion statue – Link

Engraving from The Undercurrent by Robert Grant – Link

Engraving titled The Little Schoolroom – Link

Bookmarks For Sale

Here’s a combination bookmark, pen, flag dispenser and book strap – at Everyday innovation – Link

One of these bookmarks is given out free with each purchase at Suzywan’s Magic Store – Link

Several different customizable bookmarks can be made at Businesscards Express – Link

A pair of gilded clip marks with a pearl and a brass clock face ornament, at Anthropologie - Link

Paperclip bookmarks with monogram ornaments, at Polka Dots & Paisleys – Link

Etsy:

A set of 5 clipmarks with iphone icons on the ornaments, by BearDuck - Link

Ribbon bookmarks that use hand-made lampwork beads for the ornaments, by Maybeads - Link

On-Line Bookmark Collections

Forgotten Bookmarks:

Some interesting photos used as bookmarks – Link

A sad rejection card (or am I identifying with the recipient?) – Link

A photo with hand written notes – Link

An 1875 death notice – Link

A telegram from 1938 – Link

A sticky note, a scrap of paper, a Costco card, and a coupon – all in one book! – Link

A 1950’s baseball card – Link

A phot of two wagon racers – Link

A photo of a woman in a large wicker chair – Link

A class phot with inscription – Link

Flikr Images:

A found bookmark consisting of a leaf and a note, by sankax - Link

Hand Made Bookmarks:

A stamped paper bookmark with lots of strawberry images, by Dawn at Froggaritaville – Link

A hand stitched bookmark received as part of an exchange, by Nic at A Girl As Mad As Birds – Link

Some cool looking corner bookmarks, at Stampin With Karen – Link

Corner bookmarks with Hello Kitty images, by Monique at Moe’s Stamp n’ Stuff – Link

Beads and crystal form the ornament on this hookmark, by Dee S. at Cut Out & Keep – Link

A lovely paper bookmark made with stamps, by Therese at My Gorjuss Work – Link

This paper stamped bookmark has a very cute interpretation of Edward from the book Twilight, made by Mariska at Sending You A Little Smile – Link

A paperclip bookmark with a stamped paper ornament, by Charmaine at Oodabug Alley – Link

A set of bookmarks made for an exchange, from paper and crocheted, at The Adultrrous Whores Club – Link

A lovely corner bookmark, made by Ellie Jacobson at Ellie’s Stamp Garden – Link

Some lovely tatting including a bookmark, at 25 Motif Challenge – Link

A set of fabric bookmarks, by Mel L. at Cut Out & Keep – Link

Some stamped paper bookmarks, by Trena Brannon at Stamping, Painting, and Coloring Make Me Giggle – Link

Some very cute corner bookmarks made with stamped paper ornaments, by Viviane Casale at Handmade by Vivi – Link

Miscellaneous:

Here are the upcoming, new bookmarks promoting the new Twilight film – New Moon (and this is just one of many, many links announcing these bookmarks) – Link

A fabulous promotional bookmark by Courtney Milan, a romance novelist – Link

Another promotional bookmark, this one for the book Dark Knowledge by horror author Keith Pyeatt – Link

A promotional bookmark for Julianna Hynes, PhD and her book Living On Purpose, at Tywebbin Creations – Link

Enjoy!

Bookmarks In the News

Articles:

A fabulous article on railroad based bookmarks, by Laine Farley and illustrated with seven bookmarks from her collection, at BiblioBuffet - Link

A short article discussing the many found bookmarks which arrive in the donation box at the Book Bonanza, a fund raiser for the Burks County Public Libraries (Pennsylvania)- Link

Make Your Own Bookmark

A very good tutorial on making a stitched paper bookmark with a notebook, by Mel M. M. McCarthy at Mel Stampz – Link

Carolyn Carpenter has an amazing blog where she is posting download and print bookmarks created with images from 19th century publications, at Corner of the Library (I’ll be linking to individual posts in future Bookmark Bookmarks entries) – Link

A short article on making bookmarks from craft foam, by Lee Holland at Examiner.com – Link

Instructions on knitting this bookmark that looks like a scarf from the Harry Potter movies, which the author has called a bookscarf, by Laura K. Miller at Knitting With Laura – Link

A pair of downloadable images that can be printed as paper bookmarks, at On The Refrigerator Door – Link

Instructions for making a corner bookmark featuring a letter as its ornament, by Nancy Morgan at Paper Smiles – Link

A ribbon bookmark with a stamped paper ornament, by Kari Kechter at Stamping Made Easy – Link

Instructions with lots of pictures on making a corner bookmark with stamped monkey ornament, by Teri at Big Ideas From A Little Girl – Link

Instructions for making a bookmark from craft foam, at Crafts and Anything Nice – Link

Here’s a free pattern for knitting your own lace bookmark, at Interweave Press – Link

Bookmarks For Sale

This book light is built to save your place in the book you are reading (making it a bookmark) and also dim when you put the book down, at Dvice - Link

It’s a bookmark, a ruler, and a letter opener at Staples - Link

A knitting patter that you can buy for a cat bookmark, at Twin’s Knitting pattern Minishop – Link

The stamps you need to create bookmarks with Save The Date messages, at Stamp Time Somewhere – Link

A chrome heart shaped ornament on a clip mark as a wedding favor, at Best Wedding Solutions – Link

Etsy:

A new set of laminated bookmark designs, by Melia Dawn at Be Mused Art – Link

On-Line Bookmark Collections

Inside Books: Bookmark of the Week:

Simon discusses the bookmark incentives given by his local library in their summer reading challenge – Link

Forgotten Bookmarks:

A photo of a child on a chilly road from 1937 – Link

A large family photo – Link

A valuable offer coupon – Link

A receipt for the purchase of a knife – Link

A very cool advertising bookmark for Midnight Zephyr – Link

Flikr Images:

A bookthong with a felt ornament, by Meandering Craftily – Link

Hand Made Bookmarks:

Some beautiful bookmarks, painted with acrylics, by Gina Sjors – Link

A lovely set of paper bookmarks made as gifts, at Kathy’s Pink Needle – Link

Some very nice corner bookmarks, at Look Beyond the Picket Fence – Link

Miscellaneous:

Here’s a weird one: an advertising bookmark for Terminix featuring a cockroach ornament, at AdvertToLog - Link

Enjoy!

Bookmarks In the News

Articles:

Two beautiful bookmarks made from Bakelite are Lauren’s inspiration for this article on the material and the man who invented it, at BiblioBuffet - Link

Contests :

The Boonville-Warrick County Public Library is promoting a summer reading program where participants receive a bookmark on which they record the books they’re reading to receive various prizes – Link

Contest Winners:

Winners of the bookmark design contest at the library in New Orleans (Louisiana) have been announced – Link

The Wilmington Pulblic Library won first place in the Bookmark Category of the Massachusetts Library Association’s Public Relations Awards (wait, there’s a promotional bookmark contest?) – Link

Make Your Own Bookmark

Instructions to make a bookmark from recycled materials, by Brenda Flynn at The Gainesville Sun (Florida) – Link

A tutorial on repurposing those ubiquitous advertising magnets as magnetic clip bookmarks, at Craft Chi – Link

A downloadable set of free promotional bookmarks for a series named Keyholders, at Tor/Forge – Link

Instructions for making an elastic strap bookmark with a paper bookmark as the ornament, at Instructables - Link

A standard bookmark made from fabric, by Arlette at Polka Dot Pineapple – Link

Bookmarks For Sale

You can buy this cross stitched bookmark and have it personalized, at LunaMark Crosstitch – Link

An interesting design for a bookmark with a light, at ThinkGeek – Link

Free:

At the website for Momnesia The Book, by submitting a story of your “Momnesia Moment”, the author will send you a free bookmark – Link

On-Line Bookmark Collections

Mondopunt:

Some additional bookmarks from San Jordi along with bookmarks promoting authors and reading – Link

A symposium on book arts will also have a session on bookmark arts – Link

A set of four bookmarks that are promoting pharmaceuticals – Link

Flikr Images:

Some great looking bookmarks made from recycled cereal boxes, by Creative Kismet – Link

A cloudscape in a bookmark shaped image, by Kevin Dooley – Link

Hand Made Bookmarks:

A handmade card with a stamped paper bookmark, by Julie Davison at Julie’s Stamping Spot – Link

Very clever (and lovely) ‘Asian Lady’ Bookmark made from paper in a kimono shaped cover, at Papercraft Pleasures – Link

A hookmark, handmade from the wire base to the fimo bead ornament, by Cindy Lietz at Polymer Clay Tutor – Link

A bookmark and card from a stamping workshop, at Julie’s Japes – Link

Some lovely fabric bookmarks made for a swap, both standard and clip styles, by Vanmarieke – Link

A set of bookmarks by the graphic designer DTM, at The Art of DTM – Creative Genius – Link

A very nice paper collage bookmark and card, by Marianne at Scap ‘n Stamp Canada – Link

A fairy themed collage paper bookmark, by Kersten at Collagevisions - Link

A paper bookmark with a wonderful woodblock print of a mermaid, at CraftGawker - Liink

Stamped paper bookmarks made for thank you gifts, at Savvy Style - Link

A clip style bookmark made from a jumbo paperclip, by Lana Lepinski at LunarLana - Link

Miscellaneous:

The Ireland Library has posted a selection of holy cards that were found as bookmarks in their collection (found via Marti Weil’s Ephemera Blog)  – Link

Technically, it’s a brochure, but since it was used as a found bookmark it’s a worth a mention here, and it’s a fascinating peek into the attitudes towards nuclear defense in 1955, at Forgotten Bookmarks – Link

2009 Bookmark Challenge:

An update on promotional plans for next year’s 2010 Needle and ThRead Stitching for Literacy Bookmark Challenge – Link

Results for the 2009 Bookmark Challenge are in from Fancy Works in Bloomington, Indiana – Link

Enjoy!

Bookmarks In the News

Articles:

An interesting article on poetry and bookmarks, both bookmarks mentioned within poems, and bookmarks that have poems on them, by Laine Farley at BliblioBuffet - Link

Here’s an update on that stolen Hitler bookmark that was recovered in Seattle. The suspect has pleaded guilty – Link

Contests :

The first annual Healthy Brain bookmark design contest is being sponsored by the Alzheimer Society of Brandt (Canada) – Link

Contest Winners:

Here’s an article recognizing Calvin Twombly, a 7 year old honorable mention winner of the Massachusetts School Library Association’s bookmark contest – Link

Brooke Elliot is the winner of her division in the same Massachusetts bookmark contest, themed “School Libraries: Learning for Life” – Link

Jennifer at The Literate Housewife Review announced the 25 winners of her contest to be the first members of the Bookmark It, Bookmark of the Month Club – Link

Swaps:

You swap bookmarks that contain your mini book reviews, at Swap-bot – Link

This is another book review bookmark swap, but internationally focused – Link

Make Your Own Bookmark

A tatting pattern for a cross shape that can be used for a bookmark, by Barbara Tozzano at Fortune City - Link

A video tutorial on making beaded book thongs, at Ashley Dupre Memoirs – Link

Another tutorial on making a corner bookmark from an envelope, at Cut Out + Keep – Link

Bookmarks For Sale

WARNING: this bookmark is shaped in the figure of a man which can be squashed in the pages of a book. Named the Dead Mark Bookmark, it’s available at Suck UK – Link

Etsy:

Here’s a Gorjuss bookmark titled I Found My Family In A Book – Link

And another Gorjuss bookmark, this one titled Ruby - Link

The House Of Mouse is selling a bookmark that can be customized with any of their mouse images – Link

On-Line Bookmark Collections

Punto de Papel:

Another (HUGE) collection of Harry Potter bookmarks; these are from the movie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – Link

Mirage Bookmarks:

A lovely brushed steel bookmark, engraved and cut out with an image by Gustav Klimt , for sale from Mirage Bookmarks – Link

A vintage bookmark from a French perfume company that also serves as a scented sample card – Link

Mondopunt:

A big set of bookmarks from Greece which highlights the native birds – Link

A lovely set of illustrations that promote several popular operas to a younger audience – Link

Flikr Images:

A beautiful vintage Christmas card and bookmark, posted by RipTheSkull - Link

The last post brought me to the Flickr pool Vintage Bookmarks, which is pretty fun to scan through – Link

Hand Made Bookmarks:

A lovely little bookmark tatted from some sample thread acquired in an exchange, from Joy In Tatting – Link

A ribbon book thong with a Parisian theme, by Mad Red Hare – Link

A personalized bookmark and card, by Peanutos – Link

Another bookmark and card by Peanutos – Link

Icons from the Galaga game are cross stitched into this bookmark, and it appears the bookmark isn’t available on Etsy anymore – Link

Here are a few handmade bookmarks that I believe are made on clothespins, by Deanne at Just Wasting Time – Link

Miscellaneous:

This competition came and went, but the bookmarks used as prizes are intersting to look at, posted at Reading Matters – Link

One of my many hobbies is gaming. This takes the form of board games, card games, video games, and role playing games. Steve Jackson Games is one of the major vendors in the role playing field, and the company is also known for their many games that have a humorous twist. Munchkin is a card game that fits into the dungeon adventure gaming genre with a serious splash of insider humor. A basic set comes with 168 cards, a six sided die, and a rule set. However, there are a lot of expansion sets and accessories available to broaden the experience, and the game is very popular – at least among the gaming crowd.

Well, I just discovered that SJG has a large set of bookmarks that are part of the game expansions. These aren’t just promotional bookmarks with cute illustrations from the cards, but actual game elements. You can “play” one of these bookmarks in the course of a game! There are at least 23 bookmarks in English and 9 in German.

Below is a sample bookmark from the official website along with its instructions:

You may use this bookmark in any game of Munchkin or its sequels. It may be used at any time except during combat. You may only use one bookmark (of any kind) per game unless you change sex. If you change sex, you may use a second bookmark. You may not use more than two in a game, no matter what.

1. Show everyone the bookmark so they can satisfy themselves as to the exact nature of its vileness.
2. Discard as many cards as you like, from your hand only, and lose as many levels as you like (minimum 1).
3. Your chosen victim now loses as many levels as the total of the cards you discarded and the levels you lost. You must chortle gleefully.
4. Give the bookmark to the victim. It’s his now. He may save it for later, or (if he is eligible) use it during the current game.
5. Note that once someone reaches 10th level, they have won. You can’t use the bookmark on them AFTER they win, because the game is over!

This discovery has my head reeling for two reasons. First, I want to collect all the bookmarks in this series. Second, the idea of using bookmarks as gaming elements has got my creative juices flowing.

Watch out for some new ideas in the near future!