I love reading. I really do. But between the chaos of everyday life and the siren call of streaming services, my bookshelf has started to look more like a decorative accent than a source of adventure. Still, when fall rolls around, something magical happens: the air gets crisp, the blankets get fluffier, and suddenly, curling up with a good book using one of my DIY bookmarks feels like the only reasonable way to spend an evening.
To celebrate this seasonal shift into coziness, I’ve whipped up a simple and charming craft: DIY seasonal bookmarks with tassels using cardstock, my printable templates, packaging tape (or Scotch laminating sheets if you’re feeling fancy), and a embroidery floss. They’re easy, adorable, and just might inspire you to crack open that novel you’ve been “meaning to get to.” I created fall-themed, Halloween-inspired, and now Christmas-ready designs. Regardless if you’re into pumpkins and plaid, ghosts and ghouls, or twinkling lights and holiday cheer, there’s a bookmark to match your seasonal mood.
What You’ll Need:
- Cardstock
- My printable bookmark templates (Download below)
- Packaging tape or Scotch laminating sheets (for that glossy, durable finish)
- Embroidery Floss (any color to match your theme)
- Beads (small to medium size with large enough holes for floss)
- Scissors & hole punch
How to Make Them:
Step 1: Print & Cut Download and print my seasonal bookmark templates onto cardstock. Cut them out carefully—unless you’re going for the “abstract jagged edge” aesthetic, in which case, go wild.
Step 2: Laminate or Tape If you have laminating sheets, great! If not, packaging tape works surprisingly well. Just lay a strip over the front and back of each bookmark, smoothing out any bubbles. Trim the edges neatly.
Step 3: Punch & Ribbon Use a hole punch at the top center of each bookmark.
Cut one piece of string or embroidery floss—about 8–10 inches long. Thread a piece of embroidery floss through the hole by folding it in half, push the folded end through the hole from front to back.
Then pull the loose ends through the loop and tighten.
Step 4: Make a Beaded Embroidery Floss Tassel
Add the Beads Slide 1–3 beads onto the string or embroidery floss you attached to the bookmark. These will sit at the bottom of your tassel for a decorative touch. Tie a knot below the beads using both ends of the string to keep them in place.
Create the Tassel Base Take a full skein of embroidery floss (keep the paper wrapper on to hold it together). Wrap the beaded string tightly around the center of the folded floss and knot it securely. Trim off any extra string ends.
Form the Tassel Head Flip the folded ends of the skein of embroidery floss upward so the knot sits at the bottom.
About ½ inch down from the knot, wrap another piece of floss around the bunch to form the “head” of the tassel. Wrap several times, then tie tightly and tuck in the ends or glue in place.
Trim the Ends Cut through the folded loops at the bottom to create the tassel fringe. Remove the paper wrapper if it’s still on and trim the ends to your desired length for a neat, finished look.
Step 5: Read Like You Mean It Slide your new bookmark into a book—preferably one with a plot twist or a brooding protagonist—and bask in your crafty brilliance.
Why You’ll Love This
These bookmarks aren’t just functional; they’re little pieces of seasonal joy. Whether you’re gifting them to friends, tucking them into care packages, or hoarding them like literary treasure, they’re a perfect way to celebrate fall and your love of reading (even if your TBR pile is taller than your houseplant).
Final Thoughts
So go ahead—print, snip, and let the crafting commence. These bookmarks are your cozy little rebellion against the mess, the noise, and the never-ending snack requests. They’re proof that even in the whirlwind of mom life, you can still find joy in the small things—like a quiet chapter, a warm drink, and a bookmark that didn’t get chewed by the dog
Happy crafting, happy reading, and may your fall be full of stories that are almost as dramatic as my tween’s reaction to chores.
With coffee in one hand and a book in the other,
💛Bethany