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Step-by-step instructions for making bookmarks with paper
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Origami bookmarks are a creative way to mark your spot in a book and a super fun craft to do! Plus, anyone can make them, no matter your paper-folding experience. In this article, we’ll teach you how to make the most popular types of paper bookmarks: an origami book corner and an origami heart bookmark. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a piece of square paper, and let’s get folding!
How to Make an Easy Origami Book Corner
- Put a square piece of paper in front of you so it looks like a diamond.
- Fold up the bottom corner to the top corner.
- Fold up the sides to the top corner, crease, and unfold.
- Fold down the top layer to meet the bottom edge.
- Bring up the side corners and tuck them up into the folded-down flap.
Steps
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Place a square piece of paper in front of you so it looks like a diamond. Set the paper on a flat surface with the color side facing down. Then, rotate the paper so that instead of having a flat edge at the top, you have 1 corner at the top, like a diamond. [1] X Research source- Use any size paper you’d like. A good size for a standard bookmark is 15 by 15 inches (38 by 38 cm).
Tip: Origami expert Robert Homayoon recommends using origami paper if you’re a beginner because it’s thinner and easier to fold.
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Fold the bottom corner up to meet the top corner. Bring the bottom corner closest to you up onto the top corner, folding the paper in half. Crease the fold firmly. [2] X Research source- Make sure the corners are perfectly lined up before you crease the paper.
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Fold the sides up to the top to make a small diamond, then unfold them. Fold the left corner up so that the tip aligns with the top of the triangle. Repeat on the right side so that the edges line up in the center of the triangle. Crease the folds, then unfold both so the triangle lies flat. [3] X Research source
- Try to align the edges to lie flush against each other. Avoid overlapping the edges or leaving a gap between them in the middle.
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Fold the top layer of the top corner down to meet the bottom edge. Take the top layer of the top corner and bring it down so that the tip lines up with the triangle's bottom edge. Run your finger firmly along the fold to crease it in place. [4] X Research source
- If you’re having trouble making a straight fold, place a ruler under the paper as you crease it to guide you and prevent any crooked folds.
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Tuck the left and right corners under the folded-down flap. Pull the left and right corners up along the creases you made before as if you’re going to fold them onto the top corner. Then, fold the top of each corner into the pocket formed by the folded flap to create the final diamond shape. [5] X Research source
- If the corners aren’t folding up easily, go back and refold them to make the creases more flexible.
- To use your bookmark, slide the pocket onto the corner of a book page.
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Decorate your bookmark if you’d like to make it more unique. Add things like glitter, painted designs, stickers, or gems to embellish your bookmark. You can also turn your bookmark into a cute animal or funny monster by gluing on googly eyes and paper ears or teeth. [6] X Research source
- If you use things that could peel off, like glitter or glued-on paper, brush a thin layer of decoupage over it and let it dry completely before using. This helps prevent the decorations from coming off.
- Avoid adding anything too bulky to the middle of the bookmark since it will affect how it sits in your book. If you want to use something like pom poms or chunky rhinestones, for instance, attach them to the outside edges instead.
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Fold the paper in half horizontally, unfold it, then fold it vertically. Use a square piece of paper in any size. Align the bottom edge with the top edge and make a crease. Then, unfold the paper and align the left edge with the right edge. Crease the fold before opening the paper back up. [7] X Research source
- Check that your 2 folds intersect each other at the middle of the paper.
- If this is your first time making origami, Homayoon suggests using origami paper , as it’s easier to fold.
Tip: If you’re using paper with a color or pattern on only 1 side, start with the color side facing down.
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Fold the bottom edge up to the middle crease, then flip the paper over. Pull the bottom edge of the paper up so it aligns with the center crease. Run your finger along the fold to crease it before flipping the paper over onto the other side. [8] X Research source
- Take your time and line up the edge with the middle crease as perfectly as possible. Sloppy folds could cause an uneven heart.
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Bring the bottom corners into the middle vertical crease. Fold up the left and right corners so the bottom edges line up with the crease in the center of the paper. Crease them securely to hold them in place. [9] X Research source
- Avoid overlapping the edges in the middle or leaving a space between them. Try to get them to rest against each other.
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Flip the paper over, fold the bottom corner up to the top edge, then turn back over. Turn the paper over onto the other side. Then, take the corner at the bottom and bring it up to meet the flat edge at the top. Crease the fold, and then flip the paper back over. [10] X Research source
- Don’t let the tip go past the top edge of the paper, or your finished heart will be uneven.
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Open the left and right flaps at the bottom edge and flatten them down. Find the 2 flaps in the center of the paper along the bottom. Place your index finger inside 1 flap to open it, then press down to flatten it into a triangle shape. Repeat with the other flap. [11] X Research source
- Make sure the crease in the center of the flattened triangle lines up with the bottom edge of the paper and the 2 tips of the flattened triangles point towards each other.
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Fold the 2 square corners of the opened flaps up to meet the bottom edge. Find the small squares at the bottom edge of the paper that were created when you flattened the flaps. Take these corners and fold them up to the bottom edge of the paper to create small triangles with the tips pointing down. [12] X Research source
- On the right flattened flap, fold the outer right corner up and in. On the left, fold the outermost left corner up and in.
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Fold the bottom tips of the 2 triangles up about 1 ⁄ 4 in (0.64 cm). To round out what will be the top curves of the heart, take the 2 tips of the small triangles that are pointing down away from the paper. Fold them up slightly and crease them to stay in place. [13] X Research source
- You can fold the tips up more or less than 1 ⁄ 4 inch (0.64 cm), depending on how you want to shape your heart. Folding them up less will make the arches pointier, while folding them up more will make them flatter.
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Bring the left and right edges in to line up with the middle crease. Fold the 2 outer edges of the paper in so that they align perfectly with the crease in the center. Then, press down firmly to crease the 2 folds. [14] X Research source
- Flip the paper over to see your finished bookmark! To use it, simply slip the page you want to mark underneath the bottom point of the heart.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionDo you have any tips or advice for starting out with origami folding?Robert Homayoon is an Origami Expert known for his engaging YouTube videos and accessible instructions. He has been teaching origami on YouTube since 2009. His channel has a following of over 676,000 subscribers, and his videos have garnered over 211 million views. Robert uses his channel to highlight his passion for teaching people origami, crafts, and how to solve puzzles. He graduated from SUNY Albany in 2007 and earned his D.M.D degree from Temple University Dental School in 2013.For those starting with origami, I recommend acquiring a few simple books that teach the fundamental folds, such as valley folds and mountain folds. The emphasis should be on developing hand coordination skills and precision in execution. Taking one's time is crucial, considering the importance of accuracy in following instructions. While some instructional books may lack clarity, I advocate for a multimedia approach, favoring audiovisual learning over strict reliance on written materials. Video tutorials, in my opinion, offer a clearer understanding, but combining them with instructional books can provide a more comprehensive learning experience. Observing someone actually fold the paper in real-time aids in grasping the techniques.
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Tips
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- To make the heart bookmark look neater, try tucking in the flaps at the back. Open up the flaps, and there's a part where you can slide in the parts sticking out.
- Try and be as even as possible with your folds, or you'll end up with an off-kilter bookmark!
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about origami, check out our in-depth interview with Robert Homayoon .
References
- ↑ https://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/raise-a-reader-blog/how-to-fold-an-origami-bookmark.html
- ↑ https://youtu.be/hO4J1GjPQFw?t=4
- ↑ https://youtu.be/hO4J1GjPQFw?t=53
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/F2aRupJAB1o?t=14&feature=share
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/F2aRupJAB1o?t=19&feature=share
- ↑ https://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/raise-a-reader-blog/how-to-fold-an-origami-bookmark.html
- ↑ https://origami.guide/origami-hearts/origami-heart/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/1W8V41Jq_bU?t=105
- ↑ https://youtu.be/1W8V41Jq_bU?t=140
About This Article
Article Summary
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If you’re a beginner at origami, you can make a bookmark with only a few basic folds. Start by placing a square piece of paper in front of you so it looks like a diamond. Next, fold the bottom corner up to meet the top corner, creasing the fold firmly. Then, fold the sides up to the top to make a small diamond. After you crease the folds, unfold them and fold the top layer of the top corner down to meet the bottom edge. Tuck the left and right corners under the folded-down flap to make the final diamond shape. If you want to make your bookmark more unique, decorate it with glitter, gems, or googly eyes and paper ears and teeth. To learn how to fold an origami heart bookmark, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "In primary school, I learnt how to make one of the fabulous bookmarks but unfortunately I totally forgot so now I am back on my level." ..." more
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"In primary school, I learnt how to make one of the fabulous bookmarks but unfortunately I totally forgot so now I am back on my level."
..."
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"I am getting my aunt some books she really wants for Christmas, and these were the perfect thing add."
"I needed a mother's day present for my mom, and the heart bookmark was perfect! Thank you!"
"This was great! Super easy. I put it on a corner of an christmas card."
"This was a simple, yet cute creation. It fits my book perfectly."
