Today, we’re sharing a simple way to use embroidery with these adorable paper bookmarks! A perfect addition to your embroidery skillset.

I’m in the process of planning out the necessities for an upcoming fall craft event. It is my first time having a booth at an event like this, and I’m so excited! The first ten people to walk through the door will receive a “swag bag” with all sorts of freebies from the variety of booths.

I want to contribute to the bag with something that would showcase my embroidery style, work for a variety of people, and be cheap and easy to make. The idea to make these adorable embroidered paper bookmarks came to mind, and now I plan to sell sets of them at my booth too!

I am always looking for more gift options to send via snail mail. If you have been around Home Sweet Harps for a bit, you know that we are a former military family. Because of this, I have friends all over the U.S.! As someone who shows love through gifting, it’s been a challenge for me to discover what I can give to my long-distance friends that also doesn’t break the bank. These bookmarks are now on my list!

The photos throughout this post are fall-themed, but these bookmarks have so much versatility. Seasons, flowers, animals, you name it! I share a variety of free patterns I have created at the end of this tutorial.

So let’s create!

Supplies:

Blank white cardstock bookmarks – these ones come with tassels!
Embroidery floss*
Sewing needles*
Pattern (optional- but I do have a free one for you here!)
Scissors

How to do Embroidery on Paper Bookmarks

1. Using pencil, sketch your design where you want on the bookmark. (Or use my free pattern!) See notes below on how to trace this pattern.

2. Thread your needle using three strands.

3. To fill your pattern, use the satin stitch. For the candy corn and pumpkin pattern, each section uses satin stitch with a separate color. The ghost uses a large satin stitch.

4. To add eyes to your design, thread your needle with black embroidery floss. I continued to use three strands for this. Insert your needle where you want an eye to be, and sew a french knot.

5. To make a smile, continue with the three-strand black embroidery floss, and use a stem stitch to complete.

sewing border on fall embroidered bookmark

6. Once you are happy with your design, you will attach a second bookmark using a running stitch. Attaching a second bookmark will hide the ugly backside of your design, and create a border for your bookmark.

That’s it!

I also made some basic bookmarks using just one bookmark, with the same running stitch border, and decorated them with fall stamps. These are even easier, and cheaper-perfect for a freebie at my booth!

Other Free Patterns for You!

Notes:

-For this specific project, I used fall colors, but I included this link because it has a great variety of colors!

-You will want to use a small sewing needle for this project. You’re working with paper, so making large holes can cause tears, and won’t allow you to keep your stitches close together.

-Tracing onto these cardstock bookmarks is different than tracing onto fabric. Fabric is easier in that you simply tape your pattern to the back of your fabric, hold it up to a window, and trace. For tracing this pattern, cut out the pattern, place it on the bookmark, and trace around it. You will have to sketch out the eyes, and smile, but I know you can do it 😉

Yield: 2-3 bookmarks