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Bookmarks for Book Lovers

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Don't Dog-Ear Those Pages

Bookmarks make great gifts for family and friends and co-workers. Give everyone in your book club a bookmark at Christmas. Slip bookmarks into letters and Christmas cards.

If you're here reading about bookmarks, then I'm guessing that you're a book lover like I am. I worked in libraries for thirty years and never got tired of being around books day in and day out. One thing we would tell children when they got their first library card was "always use a bookmark."

Turning down a corner of a page to keep your place is a no-no and leaving the book spread open, face-down isn't good for it either. There are lots of lovely bookmarks available to buy or have fun making some. I keep a selection of bookmarks on hand so I can match the theme of the bookmark with the contents of the book.

Here are some lovely bookmarks for your own use or to give as gifts. In addition, I've included instructions for making your own classy looking bookmarks. It's easy.

I come from a family of readers. Here's a picture of my dad re-reading a favorite book. (hint: it's the photo above)

Reading Sheltie Mug mug
Reading Sheltie Mug by SimplyShelties
This picture is available on products at Zazzle.

Step-by-Step Directions for Making Bookmarks from Christmas Cards

Make Bookmarks from Christmas Cards

This easy craft makes use of last year's Christmas cards that you just couldn't throw away. Turning them into bookmarks creates something special to tuck in with your Christmas messages. Hand them out at your book club or donate a stack to the public library to give to their readers.

Sort through the Christmas cards looking for good designs. Don't use ones that have handwriting on the back of the picture. Once you have the best cards selected, cut off the back of the card. Now the front part is ready to make into bookmarks.

Example of Dividing a Christmas Card to Make Two Bookmarks

Christmas bookmarks made from cardsBookmarks are usually 1 1/2 inches by 6 or 9 inches. A little more or a little less is fine. Often you can get two bookmarks from one card. Use care to divide the card so the picture on the bookmark makes sense. You don't want to cut right down the middle of figure just to get two bookmarks.

Don't just cut out the bookmarks willy-nilly. If it's a Christmas card, don't cut it so Santa is half on one bookmark and half on another. The object isn't to get the most bookmarks, but to get the most attractive ones. First visualize the design on the card cut into 2 or 3 strips.

More Examples of Homemade Christmas Bookmarks

homemade christmas bookmarksCards with a general design convert easily into bookmarks. Use the paper cutter to cut bookmark-sized strips from the card design. This can be done also by marking the lines for cutting using the ruler, pencil and scissors.

A Paper Cutter Makes Book Mark Making and Other Crafts Easier

19 x 15 1/2 inch Paper Trimmer, Wood Base Paper Cutter

19 x 15 1/2 inch Paper Trimmer, Wood Base Paper Cutter

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Use Care When Including Words on the Bookmark

examples of christmas bookmarksIt's tricky to use cards with words in the design. Here are examples of successful bookmarks that include words.

Vertical or Horizontal Bookmarks?

horizontal bookmarksMost cards lend themselves to vertical bookmarks.

A few have good horizontal designs that transfer into a nice bookmark.

Tassel Master Tool to Make Your Own Tassels

Tassel Master Tassel & Fringe Maker Tool

Tassel Master Tassel & Fringe Maker Tool "As Seen on Tv"

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Fancy up the Christmas Bookmark

Cutting around the graphic adds a special touch to a bookmark.

You can laminate the bookmarks if you have a laminating machine. This is equipment that a scrapbooker might have.

You can use embroidery silks or thin yarn to tie a tassel on the bookmark. Make a hole with a hole punch to attach the tassel.

Of course, these same instructions would work for other greeting cards, so take a look at your stash of birthday, Easter and other cards that are gathering dust in the closet or wherever you have them hidden away.

Laminator for Crafts Like Making Bookmarks

and for scrapbooking

GBC HeatSeal Creative Pouch Laminator, 9 Inch, Gold-tone Finish (1701870A)

GBC HeatSeal Creative Pouch Laminator, 9 Inch, Gold-tone Finish (1701870A)

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Instructions for Other Kinds of Bookmarks

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Cats Don't Make Good Bookmarks

Continue on down to find better things to use as bookmarks.

Cat Book Buddy Magnet magnet
Cat Book Buddy Magnet by lovescolor
More Cat magnets

There Are Leather Bookmarks

available from Amazon

There Are Brass Bookmarks

available from Amazon

open book stamp
open book by laurabeth84
See other Book Postage

Where's my bookmark?
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Amazon Has an Amazing Range of Bookmarks

Click on any of these to see more choices

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You Can Even Buy Bookmarks on eBay

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You Can Make Your Own BookMarks

Pocket of Art/Crafting Supplies Embroidery Pattern embroideredshirt
Pocket of Art/Crafting Supplies Embroidery Pattern by mrssocolov
More Crafts Embroidered Shirts
How to Make Bookmarks from Greeting Cards | eHow.com
Here's a good way to recycle all the holiday and birthday cards that build up over the years. Turn them into colorful bookmarks to use or give to friends. Just slip one into the envelope when sending your own cards at Christmas or on other occasions.

Create an Origami Bookmark

Swallow and Scroll with Origami print
Swallow and Scroll with Origami by busybees
how to make a origami bookmark
by origamilover99 | video info

5 ratings | 1,492 views
curated content from YouTube

Wonderful Bookmarks for Sunday School or Church Use

Learn about the Origins of Bookmarks

History is Fun! shirt
History is Fun! by SchoolAids
A Brief History of Bookmarks
The illustrated brief history of bookmarks describes the development of bookmarks from ancient ages
over Victorian times up to now: a unique piece of ephemera history.

More about Bookmarks

on Squidoo

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Add Your Signature Below

and any comments that you can think of....

Signers poster print
Signers poster by Patriot_Resistance

  • WaynesWorld Nov 7, 2011 @ 10:26 pm | delete
    Nice lens.
  • Sylvestermouse Mar 3, 2011 @ 12:36 pm | delete
    These suggestions are awesome! I love my bookmarks! Of course, my dog, Merlin, got my favorite one just last week and ripped it into pieces. My sweet husband took clear packing tape and painstakingly pieced it back together again for me. Only one small piece is missing now. Merlin probably ate it! Your Sheltie photo is beautiful and of course, I giggled when you told me which pic was your Dad :)
  • SquidooKimberly Dec 27, 2010 @ 9:24 am | delete
    I'm naughty...when I own and love a book I tend to dog-ear it, write in it, highlight it, and pass it around. These bookmarks are beautiful!

    Congrats on being one of our Crafty Christmas lensmasters!
    http://www.squidoo.com/monsterboards/great_ideas_for_christmas_crafts
  • nancycarol Dec 20, 2010 @ 11:09 pm | delete
    Virginia, I love this lens...had never thought of doing this, but I'm setting to work on my current crop of Christmas cards, and other cards I haven't thrown out through the years, because I just couldn't bear to do so. Yay! Finally, something useful I can do with them.
  • mbgphoto Dec 18, 2010 @ 8:11 pm | delete
    I always use old cards for bookmarks. I usually use special cards and leave them in tact to remember the person who sent it to me.
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Help a Child Get Their First Book

Reading Cartoon Lion magnet magnet
Reading Cartoon Lion magnet by Lioness_Graphics

First Book provides new books to children in need, addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy—access to books. Since 1992, First Book has distributed over 60 million free and low-cost books in thousands of communities.

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vallain

I'm Virginia Allain, a retired librarian. Now I devote myself to writing, photography and designing books to self-publish. Having fun!
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