I used Watercolor Distress Paper, cut it in a rectangular shape and added pieces of Tissue Tape (or painters tape works too) around the borders and in the middle.

I started by applying collage medium to the surface and pressing down pieces of old book pages. After a few minutes, before the paper fully adhered, I peeled it away, leaving behind bits of text for an interesting background effect.

Next came the paint. Using a silicon spatula (but any tool works), I layered different acrylic colors, letting them blend naturally. To add contrast, I used white paint to make marks—finger painting works great, but mark-making tools do the job too.

Once the background had some depth, I placed a stencil and applied a darker shade of paint around it. After removing the stencil, I continued adding color until the surface felt complete. For extra texture, I used Dina Wakley’s glossy spray to add more marks and let it dry.

Then, I peeled away the tissue tape, revealing the full background. I cut the piece into bookmark shapes, rounding the corners for a polished look. To finish, I sewed around the edges, inked them up, and added embellishments and stamping for extra detail.

Want to see the full process? I made a reel showing exactly how I created them—check it out on my Instagram page!