At long last, an overdue update to The Bookmark Project!
This July, I’ll be attending the big event in DC called the World Children’s Festival! (I’ve mentioned July 4th as the weekend it happens but on the website it now says July 25 to Monday, July 27, 2026, so I’ll confirm!) I’ve been fundraising for the International Child Art Foundation (ICAF) for years now, and this is a natural next step for our community to get involved hands-on!
The Bookmark Guidelines
Let’s make the children served by ICAF at the festival this summer feel SPECIAL. Imagine owning your first piece of real ART from a grownup artist at the age of 8-12! So...with that, some guidelines for the bookmarks:
Handmade. It would be so lovely for each one to be lovingly created by hand, unique. Any medium is fine. No storebought, no digital prints of your art.
Themes. While they can be childlike (recipients are age 8-12), think about creating something that can still be inspirational when they’re 15, 20, or 30 - encouragement for even later in their lives! No religious or political themes, please.
Do your best. Nothing’s perfect, and kids need to know that - but let’s use our good materials for them and take our time. Quality over quantity!
Size. Your bookmark measurement is 2-1/8 x 6.5, I’ll slip it into a plastic sleeve and add a ribbon. Sleeves are already purchased so please don’t buy more; I’ll have ones that all match.
Nothing bulky. Paper layers can be fine, but limit thick embellishing.
Write an encouraging message to the child artist on the back of the bookmark in clear PRINTING, not cursive. No religious or political messages, please. Sign it with your first name and hometown only. See samples on the next page.
Postmark by Feb 28, 2026. I’ll assemble a big box to send to ICAF with everything at once.
Download the instructional PDF
