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Make four photo bookmarks from one 8.5-by-11-inch sheet of cardstock. Each finished blank measures 2.75 by 8.5 inches, with a smaller decorative-paper layer, a printed photo and a ribbon loop. The method below follows Christine Koh’s 2009 Make: tutorial; alternate sizes and construction styles are covered separately.
Materials and dimensions for the four-bookmark design
- One 8.5-by-11-inch sheet of cardstock
- Coordinating decorative paper, preferably with a small pattern
- Photo paper and a digital photo
- Glue stick and double-sided tape
- 1/4-inch satin ribbon
- Rotary trimmer or X-Acto knife and cutting mat, ruler, scissors, and a 1/8-inch hole punch
- Photo printer and a heavy book
- Optional: cellophane sleeves, 4 5/16 by 9 3/4 inches in the size Koh used
Each cardstock blank is 2.75 by 8.5 inches. Each decorative-paper layer is 2.25 by 8.25 inches, leaving a 0.25-inch cardstock border along the sides and bottom when aligned at the top. The photo is cropped and printed separately.
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How to make the photo bookmarks
- Cut the cardstock blanks. Place the 8.5-by-11-inch sheet in landscape orientation and cut it into four equal strips, each 2.75 by 8.5 inches.
- Cut the decorative layers. Cut four pieces of decorative paper to 2.25 by 8.25 inches.
- Crop and print the photos. In a photo-editing program, crop the digital photo to an approximate square. In a Word document with 0.25-inch margins, set the image width to 1.9 inches. Duplicate it as needed so four photos fit across, print on photo paper, then trim them.
- Layer the paper and photo. Glue each decorative-paper piece to a cardstock blank, aligning the top edges and preserving the cardstock border on the sides and bottom. If the decorative paper is delicate, apply glue to the cardstock rather than the paper. Place the assembled pieces under a heavy book as you work. Attach each photo with double-sided tape about one inch below the top edge.
- Add the ribbon loop. Punch a hole centered in the space between the top edge and photo. Cut a 10-inch length of satin ribbon and fold it in half. Push the folded loop through the hole from front to back, pass both loose ends through the loop, and pull gently to close it. Tie a knot and trim the ribbon ends at an angle.
- Package if desired. Slip finished bookmarks into cellophane sleeves for presentation.
Optional: add a message to the reverse
Koh’s tutorial describes printing custom text on the reverse side. Create a landscape Word document with zero margins and a borderless table with four columns and one row. Position the text at the desired height, keeping it within 0.25 inches of the left and right paper edges. Print the reverse text, then attach the decorative paper with the text right side up.
#1 Best Overall
DSYIL 101 DIY Bookmark Making Kit, 50 Clear Laminating Bookmarks Pouches, 50 Tassels & Puncher, Blank Bookmark Sleeves for Book Club, Bookmarks Projects and Gifts, Fit 5.5x2 Inches
- 【COMPLETE 101 PCS CRAFTING KIT】 An all-in-one diy bookmark kit for versatile creative projects. This set contains 50 clear bookmark laminating pouches, 50 colorful bookmark tassels, and 1 practical hole puncher. It includes all essential blank bookmarks supplies needed to design custom reading accessories immediately
- 【OPTIMIZED 5.5x2 INCHES DIMENSIONS】 Tailored precisely to fit 5.5x2 inches blank bookmarks to eliminate annoying page overhang. These high-clarity bookmark laminating pouches offer a sleek, professional alternative to oversized 6.3-inch competitor sleeves that frequently bend, snag, or fold outside standard novels
- 【TRANSPARENT PLASTIC CONSTRUCTION】 Clear plastic bookmark sleeves allow the contents to remain visible. The material guards against water splashes, and daily wear, keeping paper inserts, drawings, or botanical specimens intact
- 【CUSTOMIZABLE CREATIVE BOOKMARKS】 These sleeves serve as a base for various media. Insert hand-drawn illustrations, cardstock cutouts, decorative stickers, photographs, or inspirational quote cards. Use the sleeves to frame and seal flat paper crafts
- FAMILY ENGAGEMENT & COMMUNITY GIVING】 A wonderful activity for family bonding time, small school projects, or group craft nights. It serves as a meaningful tool for community "giving" projects, allowing you to decorate and laminate personalized bookmarks to donate to local assisted living facilities, libraries, or school events as thoughtful, heartwarming gifts
Other photo-bookmark formats
The 2.75-by-8.5-inch blank is specific to the layered cardstock-and-ribbon design above; bookmark dimensions vary by construction. These alternatives use different materials and shapes:
| Format | Construction | Protection and topper |
|---|---|---|
| Full rectangular layered bookmark | The Make: design uses a cardstock blank with a smaller decorative-paper layer and separately printed photo. | It has no covering in the described method; a folded ribbon loop passes through a punched hole. |
| Laminated photo cutout | Hallmark’s method trims around a printed photo subject while leaving a border. It allows regular printer paper because the photo is laminated. | Use a laminator and pouch, then cut with about a 1/8-inch laminate border; packing tape on both sides is suggested as a laminator substitute. Add a yarn or hemp-cord tassel through a hole near the top. |
| Photo-and-cardstock cutout | DIY Joy’s method attaches a cut photo to cardstock for stiffness and places the tassel loop between the layers. | Contact paper covers the front and back, leaving about a 1/8-inch edge; the shape follows the photo cutout. |
| Larger layered-paper bookmark | DIY Inspired’s design uses an 8-by-3.5-inch bookmark with 2-by-3-inch photos. | The cited dimensions are for this separate design, not the Make: pattern. |
Choose a size and finish that suit the design
- Choose the 2.75-by-8.5-inch blank when you want four matching rectangular bookmarks from one sheet of cardstock.
- Choose a close-cut silhouette when the photo subject’s outline is part of the design; use a stiff backing and a protective covering as in the cutout examples.
- Decide whether the top detail should be a ribbon loop, a yarn or cord tassel, or no topper. The attachment method depends on the chosen construction.
- Scale the photo to the bookmark rather than treating one photo size as universal. The Make: layout sets the image width to 1.9 inches; DIY Inspired’s separate design specifies 2-by-3-inch photos.
Ideas for personalization and gifting
Christine Koh says she later used the bookmarks for clients as birthday invitations, baby announcements and memorial tokens by adding typeset text to the reverse. DIY Inspired suggests them for teachers, grandparents, friends, parents and coaches, with paper colors changed to suit holidays. These are examples of possible uses, not claims about how common or popular the gifts are.
Quick Recap
Bestseller No. 2
Best Value
126PCS Bookmark Making Kit, 60 Wood Bookmarks with Tassels & Templates
- 【Unfinished Bookmark Set】You'll get 60 unfinished blank wooden bookmarks in two shapes (square and square arc), 60 colorful tassels in 12 different colors, 5 templates, and a 10-meter roll of twine rope,enough for your DIY craft needs.
- 【Material】The blank wooden bookmarks are made of wood material with a smooth surface, easy to draw and write, The bookmark tassels are colorful, and reusable, and the drawing template is made of PET material,multiple choice for you uses.
- 【Applicable Size】Each blank tassel bookmark measures approximately 13 x 3.2 cm/5.1 x 1.2 inches, the tassel is approximately 14 cm/5.5 inches long, and the template measures 10.2 x 17.8 cm (4 x 7 inches).
- 【DIY Craft】You can draw, doodle on the blank bookmarks using the shapes in our templates. Each unfinished wooden bookmark comes with a convenient hanging hole, allowing you to combine tassels and bookmarks for decoration freely.
- 【Versatile Uses】These wooden blank bookmarks can be used for decoration, bookmarking, scrapbooking, DIY projects, gift tags, price tags, and more. They are suitable for Christmas, Valentine's Day, Halloween, birthday parties, and sharing gifts with friends.
Rank #4
Transparent Dried Flower Bookmarks, 40Pcs DIY Handmade Dried Flower Bookmark kit, Clear Acrylic Photo Frame Page Markers for Reading Lovers, Adults and Kids, 20 Designs, 3.9" x 5.5" (40, PCS)
- 【All-in-One DIY Bookmark Set】 Includes 40 transparent photo frame cards in 5 unique styles (each style comes with 8 cards), plus 20 open stickers to easily peel and seal. Each card measures 3.9" × 5.5". Compatible with dried flowers, pressed leaves, or photos (plants NOT included).
- 【Cute & Nature-Inspired Design】 Each bookmark features a frame-shaped transparent design, allowing you to showcase compatible dried flowers, leaves, or personal photos. Ideal for making personalized gifts, handmade crafts, or nature-themed keepsakes.
- 【High-Quality Material】 Made of premium clear acrylic / PVC material, durable, lightweight, and odorless. The surface is smooth and reusable, easy to clean and maintain, suitable for adults and kids crafting.
- 【Endless Creative Possibilities】 Perfect for DIY lovers, craft beginners, and book lovers. Use with compatible pressed flowers, stickers, glitter, or photos to create unique bookmarks for yourself or as gifts for women, girls, mom, teacher, or friends.
- 【Ideal Gift for All Occasions】Whether it’s Mother’s Day, Christmas, Birthday, or Valentine’s Day, this DIY bookmark kit is a thoughtful and creative gift. Great for scrapbooking, journaling, classroom crafts, or book club party favors.
Rank #3
Bizsyumi 50-Set Bookmark Making Kit with Blank Bookmarks, Sleeves, Tassels
- [Bookmarks Bulk] Includes 50 warm white blank bookmarks, 50 clear PVC sleeves, 50 colorful tassels (10 colors), 10 practice cards. Enjoy the freedom to test your designs, color combinations, and hand-lettering stress-free.
- [Pocket-Friendly Sizes] Paper bookmarks: thick 250GSM, 4.9x1.6 inches. Bookmark sleeves: 5.7x1.77 inches. Bookmark Tassels: 4.7 inches long. The lightweight design fits snugly inside paperback novels, bibles, personal planners, students' reading logs, and pocket diaries without sticking out awkwardly or damaging the pages.
- [Materials] The warm white paper offers a soft background and excellent ink absorption. Takes markers, gel pens, colored pencils, and stamping beautifully while resisting bleed-through. Waterproof, crystal-clear sleeves protect your artwork and lock in true vibrancy. The colorful, silky-smooth tassels add a perfect finishing touch.
- [Creative DIY Crafting] Unleash your creativity to draw your favorite patterns, track daily moods, or script Bible verses. They also work beautifully as customized gift messages, reading name tags, and motivational reading cards for students or book clubs.
- [Versatile Decor & Gifts] Perfect for creating travel-friendly bookmarks, custom small gift tags, book club supplies, Classroom Activities or teacher supplies. A thoughtful handmade gift choice for Teacher Appreciation, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, Christmas, and birthdays. Once crafted, these bookmarks serve as distinctive decorations that enhance the artistic atmosphere of classrooms, libraries, study rooms, and creative workspaces.
Rank #2
60 Sets Blank Kraft Paper Bookmarks Kit with Tassels and PVC Sleeves
- Package Includes: 60pcs of 250gsm paper blank bookmarks, 60pcs PVC card sleeves, 60pcs tassels, 10 colors of tassels, 3pcs of each color, blank bookmarks can be freely designed according to your preferences, give full play to your creativity
- Product Size: Paper bookmark 5.11 x 1.65in, transparent bookmark cover 5.7 x 1.81in, the total length of the colored tassel is approx.5.11in, there is a 0.2in round small hole on the top of the bookmark cover, which is very easy for the tassel to pass through
- Product Material: The bookmark is made of 250g card paper, which is thick and strong and not easy to break. The transparent bookmark cover is made of PVC, highly transparent, you can clearly see the pattern and text on the card inside, waterproof and dustproof
- Creative Experience: Blank bookmarks can be doodled or printed, fully demonstrating your creativity and personality and stimulating your interest in reading, seeing the final bookmark results will give you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction
- Wide Application: Blank bookmark craft set can not only be applied as DIY bookmarks, but also as gift tags, luggage tags, key chains, package decorations, it is a great choice for making manual gifts on Valentine's Day, Teacher's Day, Mother's Day, Women's Day, Children's Day
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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