These bookmarks came about for 3 reasons:
1)My daughter has turned into an avid reader, and 2) she's always asking me to make/buy bookmarks for her, and 3) I can't stand to let beautiful scraps languish in storage. Sooo, here is a quick and easy way to make good use out of your tiny scraps and give a little bit of handmade love at the same time.
Start by cutting 2 complimentary pieces of fabric into whatever size you want your bookmark to be. This black and white one is 7 inches long by 2 1/2 inches wide.
Cut 2 pieces of interfacing the same size as the fabric (I used Pellon Decorbond #809).
Following manufacturer's directions, fuse interfacing to the BACK side of both fabric pieces.
Place pieces together, right sides facing out, and stitch 1/4 away from edge all the way around fabric, EXCEPT leave an opening at the top of the bookmark to insert your ribbon "tail" into.
Using pinking shears, pink the raw edges all the way around.
Cut whatever colors and combination of ribbon you wish, and insert it into opening at top of bookmark. Stitch top of bookmark, making sure that the stitches secure the ribbon that is tucked inside.
Cut the ends of the ribbon in a V, then seal with Stop-Fray or heat seal with an open flame, making sure not to let the flame actually touch the ribbon.
Here is the coordinating flip-side of one of the bookmarks.
And there you have it! I'm thinking of making Halloween-themed ones for all the students in my kids' classes to pass out at Halloween in lieu of the over-abundance of candy everyone always gets. We'll see how much time/energy I have when it gets a little closer...I always have the best of intentions about stuff like that, and then life happens and I end up doing whatever is the quickest and easiest thing. I'm sure some of you can relate to that, right? Please say yes.
these are DARLING! Thanks so much for sharing the tutorial. I'll definitely be trying this!
Posted by: Hilary | September 05, 2008 at 09:49 PM
hmmm...that sounds EXACTLY like my procrastinating self. Thanks for the tutorial! It sure looks like fun!
Posted by: CoconutKate | September 06, 2008 at 12:23 AM
I actually got my fabric ready already. Now, I need to get me the interfacing and making me bookmarks. I am always using old receipt or something or another and it would be cool to have something nice for a change. Thanks!!! And believe me you are not a procrastinator. I know much worse.
Posted by: Chimge | September 06, 2008 at 12:57 AM
Yes. Oh, yes. Once upon I time, I made cut-out and decorated cookies for my kids' class parties. Now if anybody asks me for cookies I just buy oreos. And you know what? Nobody cares. Thanks for the fabric bookmark tutorial. They look easy enough even for me! Very cute idea!
Posted by: Jane | September 06, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Great idea on the Halloween idea...can I copy you?
Posted by: Joy Turner | September 06, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Of course you can, Joy - may the world be full of Halloween bookmarks this year instead of the 10 pounds of candy that usually ends up in our possession by the end of the night. :-)
Posted by: Shelley Detton | September 06, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Thank you so much! I am a teacher of third graders, and I am planning on making these for the kids in my classroom next year! They will love them! :)
Di Satterlee
Posted by: Dianna Satterlee | May 16, 2009 at 03:44 PM
What a great idea to put thoes scrap fabric into good use. I am going to make this for my SIL as a gift for her b'day and give it to her with a book :)
Thanks for the tutorial
Posted by: Mayya | May 28, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Love these! Thanks for the tutorial!
Posted by: Joanne | June 30, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Thanks for the great tutorial. These are so cute. I put a link to your tutorial on my blog today. Thanks again!
Posted by: Kim | July 18, 2009 at 05:42 PM
SO CUTE! You could even place something more firm inside like a peice of cardboard from a shoe box. Cut ans PLACE!
Posted by: Lindsay P | August 06, 2009 at 01:26 PM
Totally cute! Will make great stocking stuffers. Thank you!
Posted by: Christine | August 18, 2009 at 09:14 AM
Hi Shelly, Love your blog..you are very talented. I was asked to help make 200 of your bookmarks for a Stake RS function. I wanted to get your permisson to do that before I leaked the source!
Posted by: Ellie | August 21, 2009 at 08:10 AM
These are darling and a great use of scraps! I'm going to post a link on http://www.sewwhattoday.blogspot.com
Posted by: Natalia | November 27, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Love the pinked edges! I linked to this on my roundup of favorite scrap buster links (post is under my name) and if I end up making these for my niece for Christmas, I'll update my handmade Christmas post with a pic and a link here as well. Thanks!!
Posted by: Lenetta @ Nettacow | November 28, 2009 at 06:15 AM
This is one of several posts that inspired me in making bookmarks for one of my nieces. You can see what I did at my handmade Christmas post (link is under my name). Thanks!!
Posted by: Lenetta @ Nettacow | December 27, 2009 at 01:06 PM
Just made these with my kids, my MIL and SIL while the men watched football all day! I will be telling my readers all about it on my site somewhatsimple.com, giving you all the credit, of course!
Thanks for a great tutorial!
-Stephanie
Posted by: Stephanie | February 08, 2010 at 01:11 PM
Just saw this on Somewhat Simple-perfect...I was looking for something to do with my girls today-they'll love this!! Thanks!!
Posted by: Dawn | February 16, 2010 at 05:02 AM
Thank you so much for this tutorial! I have just made some bookmarks and put a link to your tutorial on my blog. Hope that is ok.
Posted by: Timotei | March 09, 2010 at 01:00 PM
Hmmmm - what a good idea, wish I was the one that found it. I love your bookmarks and the reasons for making them. I will start right this afternoon :o)
Posted by: Annelise | March 09, 2010 at 11:32 PM
Thank you! The members of my reading circle will receive a gift this coming Christmas :-)
Posted by: Miranne | March 10, 2010 at 02:46 AM
I am addicted to making these book marks and giving them as gifts! What a great idea! Just thought I'd add a tidbit: I purchased some precut foam bookmarks, the kind you buy when making crafts with young children. Instead on interfacing I used the foam bookmarks as in insert and sewed the fabric around it. These are also great as take-away gifts for young kids' birthday parties or book clubs. The possibilites are endless....Thank you for getting our creative juices flowing!
Posted by: Monika | August 01, 2010 at 09:17 PM
Just found your blog! I love these bookmarks and plan to make some this week! Thanks for the wonderful tutorial.
http://www.oursevendwarfs.com/
Posted by: Jill M | December 10, 2010 at 05:43 PM
I love these SO much, thank you! I'm going to make up a bunch for Christmas gifts 2011. And I would love to ask your permission to use your picture on my blog, with a link to you for the tutorial - let me know, please!
Posted by: Allie | January 15, 2011 at 02:21 PM
Thanks, everyone, for all the comments about these bookmarks! Allie, yes you may use these pictures for your blog, provided that you link back to my blog as you described. Thanks for asking, I appreciate it! Happy bookmark making,
Shelley
Posted by: shelley | January 15, 2011 at 06:23 PM
Love them and LOVE that I can use up my fabric scraps and make them into CUTE little bookmark gifts! :) Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Erin | January 20, 2011 at 02:59 PM
Simple and lovely! thank you so much.
Posted by: simone | January 27, 2011 at 05:25 AM
I just LOVE your site!
Posted by: Anna | May 06, 2011 at 11:56 AM
GREAT idea! Thanks for sharing!
Www.PersonalizedByPaige.blogspot.com
Posted by: Paige | June 19, 2011 at 12:47 PM
I LOVE IT ♥ THANKS FOR SHARING!!! ✓
Posted by: ANNIE CAMPOS | August 01, 2011 at 10:55 PM
Amazing tutorial shared by you here. It's great and creative idea to make tutorials from ribbons.
Posted by: תאורה לבית | September 14, 2011 at 01:07 PM
Great idea. I am going to make some for gifts.
Posted by: Joy Gildersleeve | August 24, 2012 at 02:44 PM
Gorgeous...Great project.
Posted by: Tammy | February 22, 2013 at 06:31 AM
I have made a lot of bookmarks exactly like these to sell at craft shows....one exception, instead of the ribbon at the top, I just sewed on a button for decoration.
I really like the ribbon idea though, it really adds to the bookmark!!
Posted by: Triciasquilts | February 22, 2013 at 09:50 PM
Great idea. I am going to make some for gifts.
Posted by: Sigrún Haraldsdóttir | July 15, 2013 at 02:53 AM