I recently came across a leather artisan who was selling leather scraps and scooped up a bunch for crafting. I couldn’t wait to use some in a project, and what better medium to use for gifts for dads? With Father’s Day in a couple weeks, now is the time to get crafting some handmade gifts. These leather bookmarks are perfect for all the dads you know who love to read. I don’t know about you, but around here the bookmark of choice for Dad is an envelope or cash register receipt. These can style things up a bit.

Supplies for Leather Bookmarks:

• A piece of leather at least 10″ x10″. You should be able to find leather at major craft stores, or you can upcycle an old jacket or purse.
• A rotary cutter and self-healing mat
• Metal ruler
• Scissors
• Large metal eyelets
• Hole punch and Eyelet setter – I used my Crop-a-Dile
• Sewing machine with heavy duty needle meant for denim or leather
• Coordinating thread for stitching.

Step 1: Cut out your pieces

1. Measure and cut out four pieces of leather measuring 2″ by 8″. I drew cutting lines on the back of the leather to help guide my cuts.

Use your metal ruler and rotary cutter to cut the pieces out, making sure to use your self healing mat to protect your table.

Then cut two 1/4″ strips, each about 10″ long

Step 2: Shaping the bookmarks

For the notched bookmark, draw a line 1.5″ from the bottom. Mark a dot in the center of the line, and draw diagonal lines from the corners as shown.

Repeat on another bookmark piece and cut out the triangular bit as shown.

For the fringed bookmark, first clip two pieces of leather right sides together. Draw a line two inches from the bottom, and use as the guide for cutting the fringes, about 1/4″ wide.

Step 3: Sewing the bookmarks.

With wrong sides together, use your sewing machine to carefully stitch the pieces of leather together as shown.

I had a hard time keeping them from slipping, so I used my rotary cutter to cut off extras, and even up the sides once stitched.

Step 4: Finishing

Punch holes at the top of bookmarks, and use the Crop-a-Dile to set the eyelets

String through leather strips and tie

All done!

I’m sure all the book loving dads (and grandads) would appreciate these. Older children can definitely help to make these with you, and you can turn out quite a few in a single afternoon.

And now, I’m off to make myself a bright yellow one for my own books!