Today is the first day of Literary Love 14! And today I have one of the easiest bookish projects here for you today, a Magnetic Bookmark DIY.
Now if you know me at all, you know I carry a book with me EVERYWHERE I go. And a pet peeve of mine is my bookmark falling out of my book. The solution to this problem? A magnetic bookmark. I made one maybe 7 years ago and I still use it.
So today I am going to show you how you can make your own magnetic bookmark easily and quickly, with just a few materials.
MATERIALS
- File folder – new or old, it doesn’t matter.
- Scrapbook paper – here I chose a cute owl print and some leftover “air mail” paper from another craft project
- White chalk – for tracing, it’s so much easier to remove than pencil or pen, but you can use pencil for tracing, too
- Scissors or a paper cutter
- Glue – I used Elmer’s Glue-All, but I’ve also used the regular Elmer’s glue and it works just fine
- Magnets – I like the magnetic tape on a roll because you get a good amount for a small price and can cut the magnet strips the exact size you want. Also, my magnetic tape has a sticky back, so I don’t even need to use glue for that part of the project.
- Ruler – Not pictured because I can’t find one (the perils of being in temporary housing), but if you don’t have a ruler, you can use the straight edge of anything, like a book
PROCEDURE
1. Gather your materials and find a good working space.
2. Take a look at your scrapbook paper. If you fold it over the crease in the file folder will half of it be upside down?
Below, I provide an example of what I mean. My owls would be upside down if I folded them over, so for the owls, I needed to cut one piece to fit each side of the bookmark. For my air mail paper, it doesn’t matter if it’s upside down, so I can just fold the paper over the crease.
3. If your paper needs to be upright on both sides, trace and cut your scrapbook paper so that you have 2 pieces that are the same size for both the front and the back of the bookmark. Then, trace and cut the file folder, with the crease at the top (so you can use it as the “bend” in the bookmark), so that if you open up your file folder piece, you will have a piece that is double the length of what you cut.
If your paper does not have the upside-down problem, you can fold it over the creased edge and glue it first. Then, you can trace and cut the file folder to the size of a bookmark once it dries.
4. Take your scrapbook bookmark pieces and glue them to the outside of your file folder bookmark.
4. Cut your magnetic tape. You need 2 pieces of tape that are the same size for 1 bookmark.
Stick or glue one of the magnets where you would like it on the inside of the bookmark, near the bottom. Then, unstick the second magnet, turn it to the wrong side (the magnetic side, with the sticky side up), and place it on top of the glued-down magnet. Then, close the bookmark. This will attach the second magnet to the exact place where it goes, and the bookmark will close perfectly, magnetically together.
5. Once they dry, try them out in a book!
They won’t fall out, no matter how hard you shake the book upside down!
Did you write a book love-ish post for this week?
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I love this! I will definitely be making some of these in the future. Thanks for sharing!
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Oh good! It’s super duper easy and doesn’t take a lot of time! And I just love that they last forever!
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They’re really pretty, easy to make and could also serve as a gift to some other book lover.
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Very easy! It took me longer to put the post together than to do the DIY! 😀
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I’ve recently started buying magnetic bookmarks, because I hardly see normal paper bookmarks in store anymore. I think they are great and I would definitely try this – to make my own. Thanks for sharing your DIY, Rebecca!
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Oh good! I think this is a way to just make them meet your needs. Buying them works, too, but this is cheaper and so easy that even if you’re not creative, you can’t really go wrong. I mean, I did this with 8 year olds when I was teaching. If they can do it, anyone can!
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Brilliant and easy. I think this will be an after school project with my daughter sometime this week.
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Yes! I made them with both 8 year olds and with 10 year olds when I was teaching!
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They’re really lovely and easy to make. Thanks for sharing!
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I’m glad you like them! They’re also super useful!
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I’ll definitely have to try this!
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Yes! I just love how you can make them your own, and they’re super duper easy.
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This looks like a great craft to do with middle aged kids too.
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Yes! I did it with 8 year olds and 10 year olds, so you can do it with almost any aged kid!
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So adorable!! Love this idea!! Thank you for sharing!
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Yay! Glad you like it! 😀
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So cute and creative — I love it! And since I’m not the craftiest person around, I like discovering projects I feel I could actually accomplish. 🙂
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This is one of those for sure! When I taught 2nd & 5th grades, I did it with the kids. If an 8 year old can do it, so can you!
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I have never heard of doing this before. I use a Kindle now to read but have a friend who only reads books. I will have to make one for her. I love this. Pinning.
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I read both physical and Kindle books, but they would also be perfect for gifting! And so inexpensive to make!
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So cute! That owl paper is to die for 🙂 Off to share this on my FB page.
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The owl paper is from a scrapbook “kit” from Target’s Dollar Spot! I got something like 7 Valentine’s Day related pages, and some of them are more V-day lovey dovey than others. To me, the owl looks cute and fun and year-round-ish.
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Oh and thank you!
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Great idea. And I love the paper you chose to use. I don’t tend to have a problem with the bookmark falling out, more my kids and husband finding it funny to move it ahead a few pages!
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Oh my gosh that is hilarious!!!! Well, this bookmark won’t prevent mischief but it’s still fun 😀
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You KNOW I love this! We talked about this method, and I have yet to try it, but I can tell you that a similarly-made magnetic bookmark that Allison sent me has become my very fave. It never falls out of the book, and that’s a FEAT with a 3yo in the house. Will definitely be making some of my own.
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YES! It won’t fall out if you shake your book! I mean, I could have done a video where I shake a book to prove it but that would be dull. . . And you can make some for your 3yo without covering the file folder and let him color his own! Or color some for him to give people as gifts. Just another thought on how to do it!
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Such a fun project! Now where are those old file folders…
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Well you can use new ones, too. But most of us have old ones lying around 😀
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That’s a really good idea 🙂 I actually stopped using bookmarks for that reason. They fell out and I lost most of them.
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And it’s so annoying to lose your spot! So this way – you don’t!
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Great!
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Owwwww….I love making bookmarks but have never made one like this. THank you for the How To!!!
So happy we are on the same SITS comment love tribe list!!!
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It’s so easy, so you should try it if you are interested in it! 😀
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What a great idea! I love reading too, and usually I use an old envelope or something to find my place again. But this is way prettier than a torn envelope!
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Yes, and you could make one from a used envelope. . . but it’s also pretty easy to find a file folder 😀
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It’s great, Rebecca!!
I already have a magnetic bookmark (thanks to Mel, who was my Secret Santa!!) but I’m planning to do some more now that it’s Valentine’s Day.
I love the idea of the air mail paper for the bookmark 🙂
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Isn’t it cute? It was from a store here called Paper Source that sells the best paper ever. So many gorgeous pieces of paper!
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This is so cute! OHH I love your owl one. Um, can you make an etsy shop and sell me one? Haha. I like how easy this process is actually. The hardest part would be getting that magnet stuff since I don’t usually shop for that. Thanks for sharing.
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Actually I totally could do that! I’ll have to think about it but it would be so easy to do.
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This is beyond clever!
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Thanks! They are just so incredibly useful that I had to share.
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Thank you! 😀
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I am going to make one of these!
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Oh good!!!! Have fun! 😀
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Have fun with it! 😀
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These are awesome! I’m totally going to try it!
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Good luck! I’d love to see pics when you finish. And for your little one, you can always cut them out and let her color them and decorate them without paper on top.
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What a great tutorial! All I need is some magnetic tape. This will be a great craft. 🙂
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And that’s not too expensive and can be purchased at Walmart or a craft store. Use a 40% off coupon!!! 😛
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Awesome! Thanks so much for linking up on #BookmarkMonday! These DIY bookmarks are going to keep me busy 😉
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Yes, it was so perfect to post, too! I’m a big fan of magnetic bookmarks, and never felt like spending money on them was really smart since they are so easy to make. Plus, mine are pretty cute! 😀
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I love to read and I always lose the pretty bookmarks that I buy because they fall out of the book. Lately I’ve taken to folding a post it note in half and using that. I am going to find some pretty paper and make me a nice bookmark. Great DIY
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The folded post-it note is a great solution. Although, I have to say, my solution would be cuter in your books! 😉
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I love this!!! What a clever way to recycle a file folder and make something useful! I love magnetic bookmarks, nothing is more annoying than losing your place because the bookmark goes AWOL!
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And you can make penguin ones!!!
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Great idea! Now if someone could come up with something that would keep kids from pulling out your bookmarks, that would be awesome, too! That is the first thing both my kids do when they see our books lying around the house…Thanks for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Board.
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Yeah, unfortunately I can’t stop that. BUT there are bookmarks that go around the book, kind of like a big cuter rubber band. That may not solve your problem though. . .
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Looks awesome! I used to be obsessed w collecting bookmarks and currently I’m just dying my boarding pass from our honeymoon. This seems like a cooler idea 🙂
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That’s still cool!!! You could even turn your boarding pass into a magnetic bookmark. There are so many options.
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I love magnetic bookmarks. I often buy them when I’m travel and they make a great memento as well as being very practical but I love these – would be great to make with the kids at school
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Yes! I used to make them when I taught elem school and is an 8 year old can do it, anyone can 😀
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I remember purchasing some magnetic bookmarks at a bookstore years and years ago. I wish I had this tutorial to make my own then! Now that I do, I can see myself making a few of these this year for gifts. What a great idea!
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Oh good! Enjoy making them! They’d also be a great gift addition to purchasing a book for someone.
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Awesome! Gotta pin this for later.
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Thanks! Have fun making them 😀
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Wow I need to try this! I hate bookmarks because they always fall out. I will let you know once I do-because it always takes me a while to actually go to the craft store and get things lol.
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Target and Walmart should also have everything you need, in case those are easier to get to. I know they are for me. 😀
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This is a great idea and it looks simple enough for me to try. I’ve got some magnets hanging around the house somewhere and I’ll probably be snowed in this weekend so I think I’ll give it a try.
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Perfect for a snowed in weekend! Although hopefully you’re not snowed in. 😀 We are supposedly getting snow tonight and tomorrow. . . but the forecast keeps changing.
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This is so cute! I’ll have to make it my next project!
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Thanks! Good luck and I’d love to see a pic once you do it!
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I love this! If only I were crafty….
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I’ll just make and mail you some! Shark ones?
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Genius. My year old is an avid reader but loses his bookmarks all the time. Usually it’s because of his 3 year old brother. Pinning this for later. Thanks!
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Enjoy! And good luck making them! They’re fun, useful, and inexpensive, which helps when they are continuously lost!
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I’ve been seeing links for this post all week, glad you came by and reminded me to look at it. I’m always looking for arts and crafts to do with The Girl. She’s been obsessed with the magnetic bookmark that Julie from JulzReads sent to me as a part of a letter exchange. Now we can make our own!
Thanks for linking up. 🙂
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YES! And even though I’m not sure how old The Girl is, it’s great for any age, just modified if she’s super young. But I did this with 8 yo when I taught and if they can do it, anyone can!
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Rebecca, when I first read the title I was intrigued. I pinned the photo and then I thought “how does this work?”. When I got to the final photos, you should have heard me… “Oh my goodness! That’s how she does it!” I love the idea. I am a Bible reader and I have definitely had times that my bookmarks (sometimes old envelopes) weren’t working for me. This is a great idea and could also be a good craft to do with school age children. Thanks so much!
New fan, follower, etc here. Would love it if you’d stop by my site any time. This week we are full of parties. 🙂
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Definitely great for children! I actually did this first with my students (8yos) so if they can do it, anyone can! And with younger students, you can just not cover it with paper and let them color the bookmarks!
Nice to meet you! 😀
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I love this idea! What’s the point of having a bookmark if it falls out? It’s not marking its place anymore, is it?! Plus, I love the owl paper. Too, too cute.
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Thanks, Natalie! I know, it’s so nice having a bookmark that DOESN’T fall out! But so many of them do when they’re in your purse or you drop your book, or something else that totally happens normally!
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Wow! That’s a great idea. Since I got a Kindle I don’t carry print books as much anymore but I still do carry them and this would be a perfect bookmark. Yes I either lose them to slippage or my darling daughter removes them.
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A lot of parents have been mentioning that their children are little bookmark thieves! Guess that’s why they get a Kindle! 😀 I love my Kindle and physical books equally.
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My mom gave me some magnetic bookmarks & they are great. This is a great project to do with my daughters. Thx for sharing!
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It is a good project for kids and adults. I made some with 8yo students when I was teaching, too!
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Having cub scouts needing projects to do… This looks perfect. Thanks for the idea and how to do it!
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Oh good! Enjoy it! I did this with students when I taught elem and both the boys and girls enjoyed it. Also, I made one for my husband and he uses his all the time. Just need “manly” paper 😀
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I love this idea. I’m not very crafty, but i think I can pull this one off easily. Pinning it to Pinterest right now.
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Yay! This is like a craft project for the non-crafty. It’s super duper easy.
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What an awesome idea! So easy and creative. I have seen a few bookmark ideas but this is the best one, I have seen. I love the use of materials, great pictorial and easy to do! Pinning to my DIY board 🙂
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Aw thanks! Good luck making some!
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