Paper Strip Bookmark

Jacki Joy
Apr 22
3 min read

These adorable paper strip bookmarks are incredibly easy to make and are perfect for gifting. They're quick, beginner-friendly, and a great way to turn leftover paper scraps into something both beautiful and useful.

They're also a proven hit at craft fairs. I like to display them on my checkout table and they always get a lot of attention. I also include them as freebies with online orders, which customers love.

Whether you’re an avid reader, a crafty parent, or just looking for a fun afternoon project, this easy tutorial will show you how to create colorful, personalized bookmarks in minutes—no fancy supplies required!

You will need:

Paper strips: Mix it up and get a good assortment of patterns and colors. Scraps are perfect for this! You can cut them into any width you like. For this tutorial I'm using 1/2" strips.
Heavyweight Cardstock: To use as your bookmark base.
Adhesive: A good quality glue, double-sided tape or permanent adhesive sheets
Single Hole Puncher: I'm using a 1/8" hole punch
Mini Tassels: Mine are 5" like these

Cut the Strips:

I keep a dedicated “scrap box” and save leftover pieces from all of my projects. It’s overflowing right now, so I’m using those scraps for this tutorial.

Anything goes! Play around with different widths, textures and colors of paper and cardstock to create a fun, unique look.

Make the Bookmark Bases:

Use heavyweight cardstock for the bases.

Mine measure 1.5" x 6".

I am using double-sided adhesive sheets to attach my strips. These make the process quick and easy with none of the mess you might get from glue.

To create the bookmark bases, I started with a 6" x 6" piece of heavyweight cardstock and applied a double-sided adhesive sheet to both sides. I then cut that into four 1.5" x 6" pieces to form the bookmarks.

If you are making a bunch of these bases at once, I highly recommend using the adhesive sheets. It will save you time from having to put glue or tape onto each individual bookmark as you work. When you are ready to craft, simply peel off the backing and start attaching your paper strips.

If you are going to use glue, that is okay too! Make sure to use a high quality glue designed for papercrafting and only use a very small amount of it. I recommend Tombow Mono. A glue eraser is a nice tool to have on hand to clean up any glue that oozes outside of your project.

A permanent tape runner will also work for this project.

Attach the Strips

Decide on the pattern you'd like to create, then begin laying your paper strips onto the bookmark base. Place the strips as close together as possible so the adhesive underneath doesn't show through.