How to Make Book Markers

• 1). Open Adobe Illustrator or other drawing program and set the workspace to landscape. The workspace should 11 inches wide by 8 1/2 inches in length. Create grid using vertical and horizontal guidelines
  
  
• 2). Set the first horizontal guideline at 1/2 inch. Set the second one at 8 inches. These create your top and bottom print margins. Set the first vertical guide at 1/2 inch. Set the second at 2 1/2 inches. Continue setting guides at 2 1/2 inch intervals. Your last guide should be at 10 1/2 inches. The first and last vertical guides create your left and right print margins.
  
  
• 3). You now have five sections on your workspace. Each will be a bookmark. Save this document as your template. Perform a "Save As" command to create a new file.
  
  
• 4). Apply your design to each bookmark. The design should include a background color, an abstract or figural object, and/or text.
  
  
• 5). You can apply the design one of three ways. Draw the design within the bookmark spaces, using copy and paste to apply to subsequent spaces. You can also "place" images you have stored on your computer. These should be in a .JPEG format for optimal printing.
  
  
• 6). You can also print out a copy of your template and hand draw your design onto the bookmarks. If using this method, first cut out your bookmarks.
  
  
• 7). Use card stock to print out your bookmarks. The card stock should be 110-pound weight paper.
  
  
• 8). If you applied computer designs to your bookmarks, print out the document and then cut out the bookmarks.
  
  
• 9). Cut the bookmarks using a craft knife, a straight edge and artist or painter tape. Place your printout on a hard surface and tape down the corners. In the top and bottom margins (created by the horizontal grid lines), mark the edges of each bookmark. Set the straight edge (this can be a ruler) along the left edge of the first bookmark and follow with the knife. This cuts off the left-hand margin.
  
  
• 10
  
  Set the straight edge along right-hand edge of the first bookmark, following the marks in the top and bottom margins. Cut the edge with the craft knife. Repeat the process until all the bookmarks are separated.
  
  
• 11
  
  Use the craft knife and straight edge to cut off the top and bottom margins of each bookmark. Leave them as they are, or use a hole punch to make a hole at the top and loop a length of ribbon or yarn through it for added flair.