If you’ve followed me (Emma) for any length of time, then you already know I’m a pretty huge book nerd and a big lover of my local library. And this was the inspiration behind these fun little downloadable bookmarks I’m sharing today. I thought it would be really fun to have a bookmark that I could add book titles to as I read my way through books throughout the year. Something that looked like a library catalog card. I also thought this would be a really fun (yet simple) thing to print at home and give alongside a book or bookstore gift card. This could be for upcoming birthdays, Father’s Day, or holidays later this year. I love having a little handmade element along with a non-handmade gift—just feels extra special.
I worked with Canon USA to create this post, and the download you can grab and use if you’re a book lover or book giver like me. I use my PIXMA TS9521C printer multiple times a week. It’s been my go-to home printer for years now and I love that it can print and scan work documents as well as high quality color prints like photos or craft projects I’m working on. It’s awesome!
This printable download has two pages. One has all black and white bookmarks, in case you want to keep it simple. And the second has colorful options! You can mix and match and if you are using this alongside a book gift hopefully there is an option that speaks to the recipient.
I used Canon Photo Paper Pro Luster to print my bookmarks on. It’s a sturdy paper with some gloss, but not quite high gloss. I used bookmark covers, but this paper is sturdy enough you really don’t have to as they could hold up on their own. And yes, it’s a good paper to write on; I would recommend a marker or felt tip, but I tried ink pens and they worked well too.
Supplies:
-bookmark download
-home printer
-sturdy printer paper
–bookmark covers, optional (inside capacity should be 2 3/8″ x 8″)
-yarn
-fabric scissors
Step One: Print the bookmarks and cut them out. If you are using bookmark covers (like I did), add them to the cover. If not, simply punch or cut a hole in the top to add a tassel.
Here’s how to make a quick tassel. You could also add pom poms, braided yarn strands, or loose yarn strands—lots of different options for finishing your bookmark!
Step Two: Make the tassel or other embellishment for the top of the bookmark.
-Wrap yarn around a small book or photo album.
-Loosely tie the middle, leaving extra yarn (this is what will tie the tassel to the bookmark).
-Remove the looped yarn from the book and cut the ends.
-Tie yarn around the top, to help the tassel hold its shape.
Step Three: Add the tassel to the bookmark cover. That’s it!
Now you’re ready to gift or add the titles of books to your own bookmark. Thanks for letting me share and happy reading! xo. Emma
Credits // Author and Photography: Emma Chapman. Photos edited with A Color Story Desktop. Bookmark design: Mara Dockery.
I love these! Printed them for my daughters bookclub and they were a huge hit. I got the sleeves and tassels on Amazon. Thank you!
Thank you so much for your sharing. Books, libraries, library cards, have such wonderful memories for me. We worked so hard to fill up our library cards over the summer. They will come in so handy for many projects AND bookmarks.
I love these!! Thanks for sharing them 🙂
Thank you so much for the idea and the download. I have a Little Free Library and I think these will be adorable additions to my library.
I grew up using this type of card. I found it was a very easy way to see if I had checked the book out before and maybe forgot about it or liked it enough to take it out again. So last year when I was at a local book store around Christmas and discovered some of the old-time Library Cards as ornaments on the trees around the shop I was thrilled. When asked if they had the cards for sale I was told, “No, they were only for decoration.” I was very disappointed. Now, finding these, I plan on having Library Cards hanging from my tree this coming Christmas. Thank you for your gift .
Thank you so much for making these bookmarks available! They are so cool! From one book nerd to another, thanks again!
I’m a librarian and think these are just too perfect. I’m printing a bunch out and buying sleeves for our Take & Make adult craft bags. Thank you so much for the template and idea!
My name will link right to my libraries website, were I work. Just wanted to let you know that right away.
Anyway, I think this is just too adorable. I am going to slightly redesign them, basically just going to plop my libraries logo on them, and use them for our National Library Card Month craft day (story will be added if we still can’t meet face-to-face) in September 2021.
September is National Library Card Month (our communities are encouraged to get library cards during this month, or, if they have one already, to renew it, if it needs it.
Thank you for coming up with this craft.
By the way, I work in a library, but I am a para-professional (sadly, about the only things that differentiates me from a librarian, is a librarians degree from college), even after working in said library for 15 years.
These are too cute!
I love these!! So so cute.
So cute ????
So cute and fun! You could also use it as a way to keep track of the due date for your library books as you are reading them. For those of us that are always getting fines. 🙂
These are SO cute, Emma! I’m gonna print them our for our girls. xx
Oh I love them! Nice way to keep a list of all the best books you’ve read, too! ??
So cute! I think it’ll be fun to make these for my kids at the beginning of the school year and use them as a way to track the books that we read. Thank you!
These are precious, Emma! Thank you for sharing!
These are so cute!! My sons birthday is coming up in a few weeks and we were thinking about having some of his friends come by for doughnuts in our front yard. I think I’m going to make some of these cuties up and stick them in books for him to give to his friends as a thank you!
This is so fun! I love the old school look of them, too.
This is such a cute idea! I can’t help but see the 4 Hogwarts houses with those colors ? It’d be fun to add a house sticker or charm at the top to match! My favorite part is that you can fill in the books you’ve read or even a TBR list you can check off! Thanks Emma!
I hadn’t even thought of the Hogwarts houses when I picked out the colors but now that you said it I can’t unsee that. Ha!
A sticker or a charm would be adorable on these. 🙂