So I was on Facebook the other day and fell in love with these corner bookmarks one of my friends had posted. Already that day I’d had a discussion with Chachic via Twitter on why I hadn’t received any of Book Depository‘s bookmarks with my orders. Since then I’ve had bookmarks on my mind. I realize it’s not the most profound discussion topic but it’s definitely interesting. It got me thinking about what kind of bookmark person I am and challenged me to branch out.
As you can guess I am of the makeshift bookmark variety. The more convenient, disposable, thin, and lightweight the bookmark, the better. Basically, I use unwanted crap. 
Receipts are my favorite. Random pieces of paper are great too, but they must be smaller than the width and height of a mass market paperback since I prefer my makeshift bookmarks to be concealed. You wouldn’t want an old wrinkly receipt sticking out of the top of your treasured book now, would you? Here’s a sampling of my current bookmarks:
There are some exceptions to the random crap rule.
The other key for me is the makeshift bookmark’s discard-ability. My current read goes with me everywhere so I don’t want to worry about losing something I actually need or that is valuable. This is the main reason why I am not a bookmark girl. The last time I tried using an actual bookmark I lost my bookmark from theWayne Thiebaud exhibition I helped curate when I returned the book it was marking to the library. The only image I could find of said bookmark:
Penny Machines, 1961.
After seeing the monster bookmarks above and doing a bit of research into the other types of DIY bookmarks out there, I’ve been inspired to change my ways. If anything I can see myself becoming a bookmark collector/hoarder. My collection wouldn’t be used – just stored and admired. I’m sure there are a bunch of you out there that fall into this category, whose collections may include the valuable type with an author’s signature. I haven’t had a bookmark mean much to me since 5th grade when I bought a much sought-after Holly Hobbie bookmark (complete with pink tassel!) at the elementary school book fair.
Theoretically speaking, if I did become a bookmark person, this time I would be staying away from all tassels, beads, ribbon, and other dangly attachments. The minimalist, adult me doesn’t want things sticking out and/or falling across the book. These would either be marring a pretty cover or failing to make an awful cover look better. I also don’t like bookmarks that are thick enough to leave a dent in the paper or damage the binding because the book can’t close properly. I would never sacrifice the book’s condition for the style of the bookmark. Did you think someone who doesn’t even dogear, mark, or modify her books in anyway (besides author signatures of course) is going to let a fancy bookmark do the job? I don’t think so. 
Oh, the horrors of bookmarking.
Here are some of my favorite DIY bookmarks I found around the web with the help of Tipnut:
Harry Potter Bookscarf bookmark
And a slew of printables:
From top left: Lemon Squeezy birds, Popups, Chick Chic, Photo bookmarks, and We Wilsons caricatures (2).
I also came across an interesting interview with vintage and antique bookmark collector Lauren Roberts. There are several photo examples of the bookmarks in her collection so if you are the least bit interested go check it out. My favorite:
Antique Steel Engraving Bookmark
Jen at Makeshift Bookmark also has a cool new feature called Your Makeshift Bookmarks showcasing “the awesome, random crap” that other bloggers use to mark their pages.
Chrystal from Snowdrop Dreams
In So Many Words has a recent post up called Bookmarks Are My Passion. Not only does she collect bookmarks, but she says that certain books on her shelf require certain bookmarks. For example, her Amelia Peabody books get an Egyptian themed bookmark, her non-fiction books a “serious” bookmark, and so on. She would NEVER use a mystery bookmark for literature. (The horror.) I adore this idea and have started following her blog because of this post alone. If this won’t get me to become a bookmark person I don’t know what will. I would have too much fun finding the right bookmark to complement each type of book I read and for every style of cover I own. Now if I could only change that tendency of mine of called Losing Important Things. If any of you have ideas for solving that problem, let me know. I think DH would be even more grateful than I.
Her collection
Lastly, I have to say I’m definitely a fan of blog bookmarks cum business cards. Here’s a photo of the few I’ve received of late:
One of my short-term blog goals is to print business cards. Now I think I’ll change that to bookmarks.
And before this becomes the longest post on bookmarks ever written, I’ll leave you with my favorite Etsy shop for bookmarks. These small, magnetic clip-style bookmarks are perfect accessories for book giving.
Astoria Lane Shop
What kind of bookmark person are you? Do you use actual bookmarks and/or do you have a collection that is only for looking at?
I love this post! It’s always interesting to know what other readers use as bookmarks. LOL it’s funny that you’re using my business card as a bookmark but I do that too. I keep all of my bookmarks in my bedside table but I easily lose them, I don’t know why. So when I don’t have anything else, I use receipts or pieces of paper or even business cards. This is why I don’t like buying expensive bookmarks, I usually end up losing them. Although when there’s something really cute, I usually can’t help myself. I want to order something from that Etsy shop that you linked!
Thank you. I thought you’d like knowing that I used it. A bedside table is a great place to keep them, but I seems like if I’m not losing them then it’s my son.
I think he’s finally moving out of the stage where he liked to open up the book I was currently reading and take out the bookmark. That was a fun stage. 
I’m a mixture between bookmarks and paper scraps, whatever is handy really haha. And I think those monster ones are so cute
Handy is the key for me too.
I hope to make those monster ones sometime and post a picture of the results.
Wonderful selection of bookmarks! I love collecting them and have a zillion, but then somehow, half the time I end up using whatever piece of paper is next to me on the couch when I start reading!
It’s true! It’s really usually about convenience (and laziness) for me so I don’t lose my spot.
Haha, yes, a post close to my heart. I too have a bookmark collection. Most of it sits in a pencil holder on my bedside table. When I start a new book I will try to find an appropriate bookmark to match it. Like when I was reading YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME, I was using a bookmark from the Book Depository with size charts – US vs UK on it. And when I was reading UNSTICKY, I was using a pink glossy bookmark I got from a fashion illustration magazine. There are times however when I can’t be bothered to go find the right bookmark and use the closest one – but I have a bunch of generic ones that seem to fit any book.
Oh, I’m glad it’s close to your heart. A pencil holder is a great idea! Except that my son would always be dumping them out and stealing the handy case for himself.
I LOVE that you find a bookmark to suit the book. The size chart one is perfect for YDHTSYLM and the one for UNSTICKY sounds like it suited it well too. You should snap some photos of the books with the bookmarks. 
Ooh, having generic ones is smart. I would like to see pictures of those too. I think I’m ready to start collecting now – it sounds like a lot of fun. Like dressing your books, and I’m into fashion so it would be right up my alley.
I love this post, too. I have a collection of bookmarks that I got as gifts and giveaways and freebies. I do use random things, too, like what you mentioned in your post. They’re just easier to grab and stick into the book.
I have a bunch of magnetic bookmarks that I’m so fond of using right now — they’re cute and they don’t fall off when it’s in my bag. It’s just kind of hard to move them sometimes, but it’s very useful. Right now I make sure the bookmark I use kind of matches the color of the cover of the book.
Thanks, I’m glad you liked it. I love the idea of magnetic bookmarks so I will have to try them sometime. It’s a definite plus that they don’t fall off. I’m always losing my random scraps when they fall down the cracks of the couch cushions or between the bed and the nightstand. And matching by color – doesn’t sound too hard and color coding always makes me happy.