You know the feeling. You’re deep in a thriller, the killer is about to be revealed, and your phone buzzes. You close the book, handle the crisis, and come back to… absolutely nothing. That perfect spot? Gone forever.
I’ve been there more times than I can count. So instead of folding down pages like a monster, I started making my own bookmarks. These 33 DIY ideas are cheap, fast, and actually stay put. No more losing your place mid‑chapter ever again.
I’ve lost more pages than I care to admit. So I started making these little guys. None of them require a crafting degree.
1. The Paperclip + Ribbon Combo
Grab a paperclip and any scrap ribbon you have lying around. Thread the ribbon through the clip’s two loops and tie a tight knot.
Now clip it onto your current page. The ribbon hangs out the bottom like a little flag. You’ll spot your spot from across the room.
2. Washi Tape Index Card
Take an old index card or thick paper. Cover one end with a strip of washi tape so it looks fancy.
Fold the taped end over the page you’re on. That folded tab grips the paper like a tiny hug.
Write the page number on the card with a pen. Slide the card between pages and let the tape tab stick out. I use this for library books because it leaves zero damage.
Pro tip: Keep a roll of washi tape in your nightstand. You’ll make these in ten seconds.
3. Painted Popsicle Stick
Find a clean popsicle stick. Paint it with nail polish or acrylic paint in your favorite color.
Let it dry for two minutes. Then write a single word like “Pause” or “You Are Here” with a Sharpie.
Slide the stick between pages so the top sticks out. The wood is thick enough that it won’t slip down into the abyss.
I made a batch of these while watching TV. Now every book I own has a custom stick. Cost: zero dollars.
4. Sticky Note Corner Fold
Take a square sticky note. Fold it diagonally to make a triangle.
Stick the triangle onto the corner of your current page. The folded part acts as a little arrow pointing right at the sentence you left.
Peel it off later with no residue. This saved me during a three‑hour flight when I forgot my real bookmark.
5. Magnetic Fridge Clip
Steal a small magnetic clip from your fridge. You know the ones that hold takeout menus.
Clip it onto your page. The magnet doesn’t do anything here, but the clip part works perfectly. It’s basically a free bookmark.
6. Fabric Scrap with Button
Cut a 4‑inch strip of fabric from an old shirt. Sew or glue a large button to one end.
Fold the fabric over your page so the button rests on top. The button stops the fabric from sliding through.
I used a retired button from a coat I never wear. Now it lives in my current read. Plus, it feels nice to touch.
7. Coffee Sleeve Bookmark
Next time you get takeout coffee, grab an extra cardboard sleeve. Cut it into a 2‑inch wide strip.
Write the chapter number on one end with a marker. Slide it between pages so the writing sticks out.
The corrugated cardboard grips the paper like a dream. And it smells faintly of coffee. What’s not to love?
8. Leather Lace Tassel
Find an old leather shoelace or a strip of fake leather. Cut a 6‑inch piece.
Tie a knot at one end. Then unravel the other end into tiny threads to make a tassel.
Lay the lace flat on your page and close the book. The tassel hangs out the bottom. This looks way more expensive than it actually is.
9. Origami Heart Corner
Fold a 3‑inch square of paper into a heart corner bookmark. There are a million YouTube tutorials for this.
The heart slips over the corner of your page. It holds on tight without glue.
I learned this in ten minutes. Now every romance novel gets a little heart peeking out. Cheesy? Yes. Effective? Also yes.
10. Button and Elastic Band
Take a large button and a thin elastic hair tie. Loop the elastic through the button holes.
Wrap the elastic around the front cover of your book. The button sits right at your current page like a built‑in marker.
This works best for paperback novels. You never have to open the book to find your spot. Just look at the button.
11. Photobooth Strip
Dig out an old photobooth strip from a drawer. Trim it to bookmark width.
Slide it between pages with the faces facing out. Every time you open the book, you get a little memory.
I use one from a trip ten years ago. It makes me smile even during boring chapters.
12. Pencil with Eraser Top
Grab a short pencil that’s too stubby to write with. Stick it vertically inside the spine so the eraser end pokes out.
The pencil rests against the pages like a little flagpole. You can also write notes directly on your bookmark because, well, it’s a pencil.
This one is stupidly simple. And it works every single time.
13. Old Gift Card with Duct Tape
Take an expired gift card or hotel key card. Wrap one end in a strip of bright duct tape.
The tape makes the card easier to spot. Slide it between pages with the taped end sticking out.
You can also write the page number on the tape with a pen. I have a stack of these in my junk drawer.
14. String and Bead
Cut a 5‑inch piece of thick string or twine. Thread a large wooden bead onto it.
Tie a knot below the bead so it can’t fall off. Lay the string flat on your page and close the book.
The bead sits at the top edge. Grab the bead to pull the string out. This feels like a bookmark from a fancy stationery store.
15. Paper Crane on a Clip
Fold a tiny origami paper crane. Attach it to a small binder clip using a dab of glue.
Clip the binder clip onto your page. The crane dangles off the side like a little guardian.
I made five of these while waiting for a dentist appointment. Now they guard all my library books.
16. Cereal Box Corner
Cut a 2‑inch square from a cereal box. Fold it diagonally to make a corner pocket.
Slip the pocket over the corner of your current page. The cardboard is sturdy enough to last through the whole book.
Bonus points if the box has a funny mascot. My current one has a smiling toucan.
17. Washi Tape Flag
Tear off a 3‑inch piece of washi tape. Fold it over the edge of your page so half is on each side.
Press firmly. The tape sticks to itself and creates a little flag.
Peel it off when you’re done. No residue, no damage, and you can use a different color for every chapter.
18. Twig with Yarn
Find a thin, straight twig from your backyard. Tie a 4‑inch piece of colorful yarn around one end.
Lay the twig flat on your page. Close the book so the yarn hangs out.
The twig keeps your place, and the yarn makes it visible. It’s free, organic, and very on‑trend.
19. Embroidery Hoop Mini
Take a tiny embroidery hoop (the 2‑inch kind). Pop out the inner ring.
Slide a scrap of fabric into the hoop and tighten it. Now you have a round bookmark that looks like art.
Hold it flat and close the book on top. The hoop sticks out like a little medal. I get compliments on this one constantly.
20. Bottle Cap Magnet
Glue a small magnet inside a beer or soda bottle cap. Let it dry.
Clip the cap onto your page using the magnet’s pull? Actually, just place the cap on the page and put a second magnet behind the page. The two magnets clamp the paper.
This works best for thin pages. You now have a metal bookmark that clicks into place.
21. Ruler Bookmark
Grab a 6‑inch plastic ruler. Decorate it with stickers or washi tape.
Slide it between pages so the numbers stick out. Now you can measure things and save your spot.
I keep one in my cookbook. It marks the recipe and helps me scale ingredients at the same time.
22. Old Key with Ribbon
Find an old key that doesn’t open anything anymore. Tie a red ribbon through the hole at the top.
Lay the key flat on your page. Close the book so the ribbon dangles out.
The weight of the key keeps the bookmark from falling out. It also looks mysterious, like you’re hiding a secret.
23. Felt Animal Corner
Cut two small felt circles for ears and one larger circle for a face. Glue them onto a folded felt triangle.
Slip the triangle over your page corner. The animal face peeks out from the edge.
I made a cat version in five minutes. No sewing required—just glue. Now my book has a tiny friend.
24. Map Scrap
Cut a 2‑inch by 5‑inch strip from an old road map. Fold it in half lengthwise.
Slide the folded strip over your page. The map pattern makes it easy to find among other papers.
I used a map of a city I visited once. Every time I open the book, I think about that trip. Nostalgia bookmark.
25. Dental Floss Pick (Clean One)
Take a brand new, unused dental floss pick. The kind with a handle and a piece of floss.
Clip the floss part over your page like a tiny claw. The handle sticks straight up.
This is the dumbest bookmark you’ll ever love. It works perfectly, and you probably have a bag of them in your bathroom.
26. Receipt with Doodle
Save a long store receipt. Draw a giant arrow on it pointing to the right.
Slide the receipt between pages so the arrow points at your sentence. Close the book with the receipt tail hanging out.
I did this with a coffee shop receipt. The barista’s smiley face now marks page 74 of my thriller.
27. Paper Straw Flat
Cut a paper drinking straw lengthwise so it opens into a flat strip. Trim it to bookmark length.
Write “You left off here” on the flat strip. Slide it between pages.
The straw is stiff enough to not crumple. Plus, it’s biodegradable. Save the turtles and your page.
28. Hair Tie and Button
Loop a thin hair tie through a large button. Pull the tie through itself to create a lasso.
Wrap the lasso around the front cover of your book. The button rests on your current page.
This takes three seconds. I use this when I can’t find a single other bookmark in my entire house.
29. Postage Stamp on Clip
Glue a cool vintage postage stamp onto a small binder clip. Let it dry.
Clip the binder clip onto your page. The stamp faces up like a tiny piece of art.
I raided my grandpa’s old stamp collection. Now every book feels a little more distinguished.
30. Pipe Cleaner Animal
Twist a pipe cleaner into a simple snake or worm shape. Bend the tail into a hook.
Hook the tail over your page. The pipe cleaner body rests on top of the book.
Kids love making these. And they’re bendy enough to fit any book thickness. My current one is neon pink.
31. Paint Chip Sample
Grab a free paint chip from a hardware store. The long rectangle kind with multiple colors.
Cut a slit near the top. Slide the slit over your page corner like a little roof.
The paint chip is stiff and colorful. I grabbed five of them last week. Now every book in my TBR pile has a different color.
32. Vinyl Sticker on Magnet
Peel a small vinyl sticker off its backing. Stick it onto a flat refrigerator magnet.
Cut around the sticker so the magnet is the same shape. Place it on your page with another magnet behind the page.
The two magnets clamp down like a vice. This bookmark will not move even if you shake the book. I tested it.
33. Sock Button (No‑Sew)
Take a lonely sock that lost its pair. Cut a small circle from the fabric.
Poke a button through the center of the fabric circle. Push the button shank through so the fabric bunches around it.
Lay the button on your page and close the book. The fabric keeps it from sliding. I can’t explain why this works, but it does.
Conclusion
So there you have 33 ways to never lose your page again. Grab whatever junk you have nearby—paperclips, old keys, even a dental floss pick—and make one right now. Your future self will thank you when you open the book and find the exact spot. And if you still lose your place? Just blame the dog. That’s my move, and it hasn’t failed me yet.