If your books are always brimming with receipts, train tickets, and whatever scrap of paper was closest, these handmade bookmarks are here to charm their way into your reading routine. Each design is quick, creative, and wonderfully calming — the kind of tiny craft that invites you to pause, play, and enjoy a moment away from screens. Three little makes, each with its own personality, ready to slip between the pages of your next great read.
DIY Simple Bookmark Ideas
Made by Bethany Edwards
Design 1 - Decorated Wooden Bookmark
There’s something quietly satisfying about creating something small and beautiful... especially when it’s made to be used and enjoyed in everyday moments.
You’ll need:
- A wooden bookmark
- Acrylic paints (or pens, if you prefer)
- Paint brushes (a mix of sizes works best)
- A jar of water and a cloth for cleaning brushes
- A protected surface (paper, cardboard, or an old cloth)
- Your bookmark tassel (removed and set aside to begin with)
Follow the full tutorial for this wooden bookmark.
Design 2 - Pressed Flower Bookmark
A lovely way to preserve little pieces of nature and turn them into something you’ll use every day.
You’ll need:
- Card (A6 pre-folded cards or any card you have at home)
- Scissors or a paper trimmer
- Fresh flowers, buds, and leaves
- Paper (for pressing)
- A heavy book
- Mod Podge (or similar craft glue)
- A paint brush
Follow the full tutorial for this pressed flower bookmark.
Design 3 - Cross Stitch Bookmark
Cross stitch is one of those quiet, comforting crafts you can return to again and again — just a few stitches here and there, slowly building something beautiful over time.
You’ll need:
- Aida fabric or even-weave fabric
- Embroidery thread
- Needle
- Scissors
- Coloured pencils (optional, for marking your design)
- A simple pattern or your own design
Follow the full tutorial for this cross stitch bookmark.
Time Well Spent
Your three little bookmarks are ready to slip into pages and brighten every reading pause. These easy DIY bookmarks are small, useful keepsakes that turn a quiet craft hour into something you’ll reach for again and again. Try another design from this series, explore more handmade ideas, or browse our Inspiration hub for more playful, screen‑free projects to keep the calm going.
