Looking for a fun craft idea the kids can really get stuck into? These fun & easy homemade bookmarks that kids can make are a lovely way to combine crafting with reading — and they make sweet, simple gifts too.
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Do your kids love crafts and books? Making homemade bookmarks is the perfect project for a rainy afternoon. Using simple items like paper, ribbon, fabric scraps and craft supplies, your child can design a bookmark that’s both fun to make and genuinely useful for marking their place in their favourite story.
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Homemade Bookmarks to Try at Home
#1. Covered Bookmarks
For this fun project you’ll need cardboard, some patterned tape and a few old magazines to cut quotes from. Start by cutting rectangular bookmark shapes from the card, then let the kids cover them in tape of their choice. For extra flair, they can add funny sayings or quotes cut from magazines or comics.
No tape handy? Pretty wrapping paper folded around the card works just as well. Fun, easy and endlessly customisable!
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#2. Goggle-Eyed Corner Bookmarks
These goggle-eyed bookmarks are a lot of fun to make. They just involve a bit of cutting, folding, gluing and some silly eye-drawing. If you have stick-on googly eyes at home, they work brilliantly here too.
#3. Heart Bookmark
Make these sweet origami love hearts — all you need is one square sheet of paper! Full instructions are on Instructables and in the video above. This one also makes a lovely handmade gift for Valentine’s Day.
#4. Ribbon Bookmark
Image: Blissfully Domestic
This clever ribbon bookmark idea from Blissfully Domestic is another beautiful, creative option. You’ll need coloured ribbons in a few widths, a utility knife and some beads to decorate.
It’s best for a grown-up to cut the slits with the utility knife, then kids can take over threading the ribbons through.
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#5. Shark Origami Bookmark
Image: Kids Activities Blog
Shark fans will love making this Origami Shark Bookmark from Kids Activities Blog. With its cute pointy teeth, it’s a fun but friendly shark to mark a page with. You’ll need card, paper and googly eyes.
#6. Stained Glass Bookmarks
Image: First Palette
These stained glass bookmarks from First Palette are lovely. Make the base from card stock, then decorate with tissue paper or crepe paper for a stained-glass or tie-dye effect.
This one takes a little patience, as it needs a few rounds of gluing and drying, but the finished result is well worth it.
#7. Penguin Bookmarks
Image: Red Ted Art
These penguin bookmarks are adorable and clip onto the corner of the page. Find full instructions on Red Ted Art. You’ll need black, white and orange paper or card, plus a pen, scissors and glue.
#8. Unicorn Bookmarks
Image: The Inspiration Edit
We love this idea from The Inspiration Edit for adorable unicorn bookmarks. You’ll need coloured craft paper, card, a pen, scissors and glue.
#9. Corner Bookmarks
Image: Wake and Whimsy
If your child can manage a few basic stitches, this bookmark craft from Wake and Whimsy is a lovely one to try. All you need is felt, scissors, a needle and embroidery thread — then let their imagination take over.
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#10. Harry Potter Bookmark
Image: More Than Thursdays
For the Harry Potter fan in your house, this felt bookmark project from More Than Thursdays will go down a treat. It involves some cutting and gluing, and there’s a free template to help you along.
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#11. Colour Card Bookmark
Image: Pinterest
Got old paint colour cards lying around from a DIY store? Choose a card, punch a small hole in the top, thread a ribbon through and tie a bead on the end. A decorative hole punch adds a nice extra touch. Really simple, but surprisingly cute.
#12. Paperclip Bookmarks
Image: Altered to Perfection
These paperclip bookmarks from Altered to Perfection are such a neat idea, and perfect for younger kids to try. Just gather some pretty ribbon strands and a few large paperclips, and let the kids get threading. It’s great for fine motor skills too, and there’s no glue or mess involved!
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age are homemade bookmarks suitable for?
Most of the ideas here suit a wide age range. Simpler projects like the paperclip and colour-card bookmarks are great for younger children, while sewing or knife-cutting steps (like the felt and ribbon bookmarks) are best done with an adult helping or handling the trickier steps.
What materials do I need to get started?
Nothing fancy — most of these bookmarks use things you likely already have at home, such as card, paper, ribbon, felt scraps, glue, scissors and googly eyes. A few need a small extra like embroidery thread or a decorative hole punch.
Can these bookmarks be given as gifts?
Yes! Bookmarks like the heart origami design, the ribbon bookmark or the felt corner bookmarks all make lovely handmade gifts for grandparents, teachers or friends who love to read.
How long does each bookmark take to make?
Most can be made in 15–30 minutes. The stained glass bookmark takes a little longer, since it needs time to dry between steps.
More Craft Ideas You’ll Love
- Funky Crafts for Kids Aged 8-12 yrs
- 4 Fun Book Crafts for Kids
- 10 Super Easy Sewing Projects For Kids To Do
- 50 Brilliant Art & Craft Ideas for Kids Worth the Mess
- 10 No-Glue Crafts for Preschoolers
Save This for Your Next Craft Day
Bookmarking (pun intended!) this page is a great way to come back to these ideas whenever you need a quick, screen-free activity. Browse our other craft ideas for more inspiration any time the kids need something creative to do.
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