My kids lose bookmarks like I lose my car keys—constantly and at the worst possible moment. You know the drill: you’re halfway through a chapter, the cookies are about to burn in the oven, and you need a placeholder right now. Cue the dog-eared page. Every single time.
But here’s the thing. When I finally got tired of replacing store-bought bookmarks (or finding them chewed up by the family labradoodle), I decided we needed a new strategy. Why keep buying them when we could just make our own? And honestly? Making them turned out to be way more fun than I expected.
So grab your glue sticks and raid your craft drawer. I’m about to walk you through 10 DIY bookmarks for kids for reading fun that actually work, look adorable, and might just keep your kiddos reading for five more minutes. That’s a parenting win right there.
1. The Classic Popsicle Stick Heroes
Why Popsicle Sticks Rock
I don’t know a single household with kids that doesn’t have a bag of these things lurking somewhere. They’re cheap, sturdy, and basically beg to be decorated.
How We Made Them
We grabbed a handful of sticks and let the kids go to town with acrylic paint. My youngest painted his bright red and called it a “fire truck saver.” I’m not arguing with that logic. 🙂
Pro-tip: Seal them with a layer of Mod Podge afterward. Trust me on this. If you skip the seal, the paint will flake off onto the book pages, and nobody wants rainbow-colored fingerprints all over The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Adding Some Personality
Glue a googly eye on top and draw a smiley face. Boom. Instant buddy for your book.
2. Corner Bookmarks That Look Like Monsters
The “Fold and Snip” Magic
Ever seen those little bookmarks that grip the corner of the page? They’re genius. And they require exactly zero fancy supplies.
The DIY Breakdown
You just need a square piece of paper. Origami paper works best because it’s thin and folds crisply, but construction paper does the trick, too.
- Fold the square diagonally to make a triangle.
- Fold the points down to meet the center. (Okay, that sounds confusing, but there are a million YouTube videos for this—show the kids, and they’ll nail it in two minutes.)
- Once you have the basic pocket shape, it’s go time.
We turned ours into little monsters. Add teeth, multiple eyes, maybe some yarn for hair. I made one that looks suspiciously like my husband when he hasn’t had coffee. The kids thought that was hilarious.
3. Tassel Bookmarks with Beads
Getting a Little Fancy
If your kids are slightly older (or just really patient), tassel bookmarks are a great way to introduce some fine motor skills. Plus, they make you feel like you’re in a Victorian novel or something.
What You Need
Embroidery floss or yarn, some beads with large holes, and a sturdy piece of cardstock for the top.
Here’s the trick: Cut a rectangle of cardstock, punch a hole at the top, and tie your tassel through the hole. Then string beads onto the floss below the tassel. The beads add weight, so the bookmark stays put. IMO, that’s the sign of a functional craft. We don’t just want pretty things that fall out, right?
4. Washi Tape Wonders
The “No-Mess” Option
Some days, you just don’t want to deal with glue and paint. On those days, I whip out the washi tape collection. (Don’t pretend you don’t have one.)
How to Execute
Grab a piece of thick cardstock or even an old greeting card. Cut it into a rectangle. Then let the kids layer washi tape stripes across the front. Overlap them, cut them at angles, do whatever.
Why this works: It’s impossible to mess up. And if they don’t like it? Just peel the tape off and start again. No tears. No tantrums.
5. Felt Animal Bookmarks
The “Sew-Simple” Approach
Felt is a magical material. It doesn’t fray, it’s cheap, and it feels nice. For this one, we made simple animal shapes.
Making a Fox (or Bear)
Cut out two identical shapes of an animal face (like a fox or a bear) from felt. Cut a long strip of felt that will serve as the bookmark base (the part that sticks out of the book). Sandwich the top of the strip between the two face pieces and glue or sew it all together.
Heads up: If your kids are young, use fabric glue. If they’re older and patient, let them do a simple whip stitch. My daughter sewed hers, and she walked around for a week acting like she just tailored a suit. The pride was real. :/
6. Ribbon and Button Bookmarks
The “Repurpose Your Stash” Special
You know that jar of mismatched buttons you keep meaning to sort? Yeah, this is their moment to shine.
Assembly Required
Take a length of ribbon—about 8 to 10 inches works well. Sew or glue a button to one end. On the other end, cut a small slit in the ribbon (carefully!) so the button can slip through.
How it works: You loop the ribbon around the page you’re on and button it closed. It’s like a little belt for your book. I think this is one of the cutest ideas on the list, and it keeps the page securely marked. No sliding out.
7. Painted Rocks on a String (Yes, Really)
The “Heavy Lifter”
Some books just don’t want to stay open, do they? Flimsy paperbacks, cookbooks that snap shut the second you look away. This bookmark is for those books.
The Concept
Find a smooth, flat stone. Paint it with acrylic paint—maybe a ladybug, a galaxy swirl, or just a solid color. Let it dry completely. Then, tie a strong piece of twine or jute around the rock (you might need to glue it in place for security) and attach a charm or bead to the end of the string.
The magic: The rock sits outside the book, holding your place, while the string marks the line. It’s functional and decorative. FYI, this also makes a great gift for the bookworm who has everything.
8. The “Recycled Card” Quickie
Using What You’ve Got
Birthday cards, holiday cards, even cool food packaging—don’t throw it away until you check if it’s bookmark-worthy.
The Process
Cut the front panel off a card. If it’s a birthday card with a cool design, that’s your bookmark. Laminate it with clear contact paper or packing tape to make it last.
Why we love this: It takes about three minutes, teaches kids about reusing materials, and suddenly that card from Grandma becomes a permanent fixture in their reading routine.
9. Leather Cord Wrap Bookmarks
For the “Older Kid” Vibe
If you have a tween who thinks glitter is “for babies” (eye roll), this one’s for them. It looks sophisticated but is ridiculously simple.
Making the Wrap
You need a piece of leather cord or suede lace, about 12-15 inches long. At one end, tie a large bead or a wooden ring to act as a stopper. On the other end, you can tie a smaller bead or just leave it frayed.
How you use it: You wrap the cord around the pages of the book. The bead stopper keeps it from slipping through. It’s minimalist, durable, and looks pretty cool hanging out of a book.
10. The “Glitter in a Bottle” (Inside a Bookmark)
The Slightly Messy But Worth It Option
Okay, this one requires a trip to the craft store, but the result is mesmerizing. You need heat-sealable plastic sheets (like the kind for laminating) and fine glitter.
How to Do It
Cut the plastic into two long rectangles. On one piece, sprinkle a small amount of fine glitter. (Seriously, a tiny amount. It doesn’t take much.) Place the other rectangle on top, and carefully seal the edges with an iron or a laminator, leaving a small gap. Make sure all four edges are sealed tight, or you’ll have a glitter explosion in your library bag.
The payoff: When you shake it, the glitter moves. It’s like a snow globe, but for your page. My kids think this is magic. I think it’s a glitter-containment strategy that mostly works.
Wrapping This Up (Pun Intended)
Look, there are a million reasons to make bookmarks with your kids. It kills an afternoon, it keeps them away from screens, and it results in something useful. But honestly? The best part is seeing them pick up that slightly crooked, glue-stained monster bookmark and actually wanting to read just so they can use it.
So give a few of these a shot. They don’t have to be perfect. They just have to hold the page. And if they make your kid smile? That’s a bonus.
Now go dig out that popsicle stick stash. I know it’s there. 🙂
