diy bookmarks 093012

DIY wedding bookmarks are easy to make and have SO many uses!

At a Glance

Bookmarks are a small canvas for expressing yourself. Typically only a few square inches, there’s still plenty of room for information and illustration. Whether you’re saving the page or saving the date, a bookmark is a simple but effective DIY project you can tackle. Here’s how to make your own custom bookmarks, complete with tassel.

Finished bookmarks - TADA!

diy bookmarks 0930122Bookmarks are a small canvas for expressing yourself. Typically only a few square inches, there’s still plenty of room for information and illustration.

And they can be super handy for Save the Date that’ll remind every time someone opens their book; using as a program marker in a hymnal at just the right song for your ceremony; using as favors and/or place setting markers.

Also, they make the PERFECT addition to literary/book-themed weddings. Where are my book nerds!?

Whether you’re saving the page or saving the date, a bookmark is a simple but effective DIY project you can tackle, and here’s how to make your own… complete with tassel.

Materials and Tools


Materials for bookmarks

Bookmark Procedure

Step 1: Measure and cut out your bookmark’s rectangle (or other zanier shape).

Cut into rectangles

Step 2: Use corner punch to round corners.

Round the corners

Step 3: Decorate with markers, stamps, stickers, etc.

Step 4: Use hole punch to add hole for tassel.

Hole punch for tassels

Tassel Procedure

Step 1: Take the wrappers off embroidery floss. Unwind four full rounds and cut into eight pieces (each piece will be one length of the skein of floss.

Unwrap embroidery
floss

Step 2: Thread a piece through one end of the embroidery floss. Tie off a loop. Trim down to the knot.

Tie a loop

Step 3: Wrap a second piece of floss tightly around the head of the tassel and tie off tightly. Trim close to knot.

Wrap the head

Step 4: Repeat on other end of floss, then pinch in centers and repeat again.

Making tassels

Step 5: Cut floss midway between each head loop. You may have to trim ends and fluff tassels.

Finished tassels

Step 6: Attach tassels to bookmarks with loops.

Adding tassel to bookmark

Tips:

You can use any kind of cardstock or stiffer paper for this project. Paint chips, cereal boxes, photo paper, old calendars, or your favorite scrapbook paper.

You can run paper through a printer, make a stamp to help you keep everything uniform, or freehand your designs giving everyone something a bit different and quirky.

If you’re having trouble visualizing the steps for the tassel, try this all-in-one explanation in blue:

Detailed 5 steps for making tassel

Your Turn!

Okay bookish brides: How would you use your own custom bookmarks in your wedding?

15 responses to “DIY wedding bookmarks are easy to make and have SO many uses!”

  1. Angelica Avatar

    YEAH Hy-Vee brand soda!

  2. Jess Avatar
    Jess

    YAY bookmarks! I’ll be creating bookmarks to use as escort cards, which will tie into my centerpieces (a small stack of hardcover books with lanterns on top)

    1. Liznitch Avatar

      AWESOME. I demand porn of all of it. 🙂

      1. Jess Avatar
        Jess

        Will do!

  3. Norma Avatar
    Norma

    I sent my bookmarks with the invites set between the front of the “book” and the invitation wording. I did not do the full tassel but instead did ribbons in red and purple, pulled through the heart shaped hole then draped behind the back of the “book”.

    1. Liznitch Avatar

      That sounds beautiful! Any pictures? 🙂

      1. Norma Avatar
        Norma

        Not yet. I still have all the pieces and the extras that I made just in case and hadn’t taken the time yet. But I plan too once the wedding and honeymoon and moving are done.

        1. Norma Avatar
          Norma

          I finally got it uploaded to the Offbeat bride photo pool.

          http://www.flickr.com/photos/easttxrose/8133505832/in/pool-offbeatbride

          1. Pennilane Avatar
            Pennilane

            Love it.

  4. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    OMG PRINTING ON PAINT CHIPS FOR SAVE THE DATES.

    OMG.

  5. Laura (dusty_rose) Avatar

    This is the coolest idea ever! I have so many paint chips floating around (I collect them for collaging), so I should totally do this.

  6. Sehrai Avatar
    Sehrai

    How about combining this with a photo booth and having guests make their own wedding favors? Cheap? Check. Easy?check. Memorable? Hell yeah!

    1. Liznitch Avatar

      I am in love with this idea! Just make up a bajillion little tassels for them to add to their photos & have a hole punch nearby. BAM.

  7. Amelia Avatar

    So cute and creative! I’ve been looking for a way to let our guests know about our charity donation favor and these might be just perfect!~

  8. Amber Avatar
    Amber

    I honestly got the biggest kick outta seeing the Hyvee soda…lol moved from the midwest to AZ when I was young, and we don’t have those here.

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