12 Bookmark Ideas for Every Kind of Reader
Every reader has a drawer of receipts and train tickets doing a bookmark's job badly. The best bookmark ideas start from how a person reads, so a commuter, a child and a book club host each want something different. Most of the twelve here take minutes or an evening, and the pressed flower takes about four weeks.
1. Pressed Flower Bookmark for Garden Lovers
A pressed flower sealed onto a strip of card turns one good summer bloom into a bookmark that lasts. Thin petals press best. Pansies, Johnny-jump-ups and carnation petals are thin-tissued and press well, according to Mississippi State University Extension. The same publication says "it takes about 4 weeks to completely dry plant materials before they can be used."
Fresh flowers press best between sheets of blotting paper or newsprint, with boards and heavy weight on top. The New York Botanical Garden describes a homemade press of cardboard, blotting paper, flat boards and bricks. Its easiest flowers for beginners are pansies, geraniums and daisies. Once dry, arrange the flowers on card and seal the strip in a laminating pouch.
| Plant material | Presses well? | Who says so |
|---|---|---|
| Pansies, Johnny-jump-ups, carnation petals | Yes, thin-tissued | Mississippi State University Extension |
| Pansies, geraniums, daisies | Yes, easiest for beginners | New York Botanical Garden |
| Grasses, ferns and other foliage | Yes, good fillers | New York Botanical Garden |
| Fleshy, spongy or succulent flowers and leaves | No, avoid | Mississippi State University Extension |
Gardeners love this one, and so does anyone keeping a flower from a wedding or a walk.
Key Takeaway: Start a pressed flower bookmark a month ahead. Mississippi State University Extension gives about four weeks for plant material to dry completely.
2. Corner Bookmark for Readers Who Lose Bookmarks
A corner bookmark is a small folded pocket that slips over the corner of a page, so it cannot fall out. Fold a square of paper into a triangle, then fold the top layer of the point down to the long edge. Fold the two side points up to meet at the top. Tuck them into the pocket you just made, and the bookmark is done. Draw a face on it for fun.
Children pick this up in minutes, and it rescues anyone whose bookmarks slide out in a bag.
3. Ribbon and Elastic Bookmark for Hardcovers
A loop of flat elastic around the back cover with a ribbon tied to it gives a hardcover its own built-in marker. The elastic holds it in place and the ribbon drops into the page. Make the loop a little shorter than the cover is tall so it grips. Stitch the ends of the elastic together with needle and thread.
Commuters like it most. Nothing falls out, even when the book travels upside down in a bag.
4. Magnetic Bookmark for Textbooks and Planners
A magnetic bookmark is a folded strip of card that clamps over a page with two small magnets. Cut a strip twice the length you want and fold it in half. Inside the fold, stick one piece of adhesive magnet sheet on each half, at the same distance from the fold. The two pieces then meet when the strip closes. Check that they attract before you peel off the backing.
Students get the most from it. It holds a place in a planner or a heavy textbook without slipping.
5. Tassel Bookmark for a Gift
A tassel turns a plain strip of card into something that feels finished, and it hangs out of the book as a handle. Punch a hole about 3/8 inch from the top and knot a floss or yarn tassel through it. Match the floss to the design. If you laminate, the guide to laminating bookmarks shows how to keep the hole sealed. The guide to a bookmark with a tassel shows how to wrap and tie one.
6. Photo Bookmark for Family and Friends
A photo bookmark carries a picture of a person, a pet or a place on a 2.5 by 8 inch strip, the wider size that suits artwork. Crop a tall photo to the strip shape, or use a row of small photos like a film strip. Print it on glossy or silk card for sharp color, since nobody writes on a photo. Laminate it afterward.
Grandparents, faraway friends and new parents are the natural recipients.
7. Reading Tracker Bookmark for Readers Who Like Records
A tracker bookmark has a ruled back that you fill in as you read, such as page numbers, dates or a rating. It keeps the record inside the book, so nothing needs opening or charging. Pencil works best. Rule lines half an inch apart on a 2 by 7 inch strip of matte card. One strip can track a single book, a pile of books ahead or a whole year of reading.
Ruling six even strips by hand is the slow part of a tracker. Our sets come ready ruled, six trackers to a set, for the books ahead, the book in hand and the whole year. Each set downloads as a zip with a US Letter PDF, an A4 PDF and a README. Any home inkjet or laser prints it at actual size on matte card of about 176 gsm. The link arrives in your receipt email right after payment. You can see all eighteen on the page for our three bookmark sets together.
8. Quote Bookmark for Book Lovers With a Favorite Line
A quote bookmark carries one line from a book, written or printed down the length of the strip. Short lines fit best. A 2.5 inch strip gives a longer quote more room. Letter the words in pencil first, then ink them, and add the author and title at the foot.
9. TBR List Bookmark for a Growing Pile
A TBR bookmark holds your to-be-read list, the books you plan to read next, inside the book you are reading now. Write five or six titles down one side and cross each one off as you start it. A short list stays useful. The guide to a TBR list covers how to keep one from getting out of hand.
10. Book Club Bookmark for a Reading Group
A book club bookmark holds the group's dates, the book for each meeting and where you meet. Make one for every member and hand them out at the first meeting. Add a line for who brings snacks. Everybody then carries the schedule inside the book itself.
11. Gift Tag Bookmark for a Wrapped Book
A gift tag bookmark does two jobs, labeling a wrapped book and then marking the reader's page. Write the message on the back, punch a hole, and tie it to the parcel with ribbon. After the paper comes off, the tag goes inside the cover. Nothing ends up in the bin.
12. Child's Drawing Bookmark for Grandparents
A child's drawing on a strip of card makes a bookmark that a grandparent will actually keep. Give the child a pre-cut 2 by 7 inch strip so the drawing fits the shape. Laminate it. Small hands and coffee cups then do no harm.
Pro Tip: Write the child's name and the year on the back in pencil before you laminate. Pencil will not mark the film afterward.
Which Embellishments Can Damage Books?
Anything that presses, rusts, sheds or sticks can harm the pages around a bookmark. Metal clips are the worst offenders. A Dartmouth College library care guide says paper clips "crimp and tear paper, and may rust." The Canadian Conservation Institute warns that sticky notes "leave a residue on the paper." It also says pressure-sensitive tape discolors and stains paper as it ages, and that flowers pressed in books can stain the paper.
| Embellishment | What can go wrong | Safer option |
|---|---|---|
| Metal clip or paper clip | Crimps and tears pages, may rust | A card strip or a fabric corner |
| Sticky notes as markers | Leave residue on the paper | A plain card bookmark |
| Washi tape or stickers at the edge | Adhesive can touch and stain pages | Keep tape on the face, or seal it under laminate |
| Loose pressed flowers | Can stain the paper | Dry them fully and seal them in a pouch |
| Loose glitter | Sheds into the gutter of the book | Seal it under laminate, or skip it |
| Bulky charms or beads | Press a dent into the pages | Hang them on a tassel outside the book |
How to Choose Among Bookmark Ideas
Pick by the reader first. Then check the time you have and how handy you are. A gift for next week rules out pressed flowers, and a tracker suits someone who likes records more than decoration. Most of these ideas cost little beyond card you already own. Magnet sheet, elastic and laminating pouches are the usual extra purchases.
| Idea | Skill | Time to make | You need | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Pressed flower | Easy | About four weeks | Thin flowers, blotting paper, weight, card, laminating pouch | Gardeners, keepsakes |
| 2. Corner bookmark | Easy | Minutes | One square of paper, a pen | Children |
| 3. Ribbon and elastic | Medium | Minutes | Flat elastic, needle and thread, ribbon | Hardcover commuters |
| 4. Magnetic | Easy | One evening | Card, adhesive magnet sheet, scissors | Students, planners |
| 5. Tassel | Medium | One evening | Card, hole punch, embroidery floss | Gifts |
| 6. Photo | Easy | One evening | A tall photo, coated card, a printer | Family and friends |
| 7. Reading tracker | Medium by hand, easy printed | One evening, or print a set | Matte card, ruler, pencil, or a printed set | Readers who keep records |
| 8. Quote | Medium | One evening | Card, a fine pen | Fans of one book |
| 9. TBR list | Easy | Minutes | Card, a pencil | Readers with a big stack |
| 10. Book club | Easy | One evening | Card for each member, a printer or a steady hand | Group hosts |
| 11. Gift tag | Easy | Minutes | Card, a hole punch, ribbon | Book gifts |
| 12. Child's drawing | Easy | Minutes | Card, crayons or markers, laminating pouch | Grandparents |
Three of the twelve ideas need ruled lines, the tracker, the TBR list and the book club bookmark, and our printable sets cover those. For a pressed flower, a photo or a child's drawing, make your own. Our designs are fixed, so they will not carry your own picture.
FAQ
What are some good ideas for bookmarks?
Good bookmark ideas include a pressed flower sealed on card, a folded corner bookmark, a magnetic bookmark, a photo strip and a reading tracker. Pick by the reader. Children like corner bookmarks, and list keepers like trackers.
How do you make a unique bookmark?
Build it around one person or one book. A child's drawing, a family photo, a pressed flower or a line from a favorite novel all make a bookmark nobody else has. Add the name and year on the back.
What are some creative themes for bookmarks?
Popular themes include the setting of a favorite book, seasons and flowers, animals, maps, and a reading goal for the year. A theme that matches the book it goes in makes a good gift.
What are some creative things I can put on my bookmark?
Put something useful on the back, such as a to-read list, page numbers, book club dates or words to look up. On the front, use a quote, a drawing, a photo or a pressed leaf.
Can I give printed bookmarks as gifts?
Yes. Our licence lets you print our bookmarks as often as you like for you and your household and give printed bookmarks as gifts. The file itself stays with you and is not shared or resold.
Conclusion
The right bookmark depends on the reader. Quick ideas like a corner bookmark, a gift tag or a TBR list take minutes, and a magnetic, photo or tassel bookmark fills an evening. A pressed flower needs about four weeks of drying first. Keep metal clips, loose glitter and sticky edges away from the pages. For anyone who likes to keep records, a ruled tracker earns its place, whether you rule it yourself or print a ready set. To build one from scratch, the guide on how to make a bookmark covers card, cutting and finishing.
Sources
- Mississippi State University Extension, Creating a Pressed Floral Design, P3513 (2020) (last checked 2026-10-02)
- New York Botanical Garden, Tip of the Week: Techniques for Pressing Flowers (2010) (last checked 2026-10-02)
- Canadian Conservation Institute, Basic Care: Books (2018) (last checked 2026-10-02)
- Dartmouth College, Paddock Student Assistant Manual: Care and Handling of Library Materials (n.d.) (last checked 2026-10-02)
