Looking for a bookmark that blends creativity, originality, and a dash of coziness? This DIY paper bookcase bookmark is the perfect project for you then! Inspired by my bookshelf bookmark crochet design, this papercraft version captures the same cozy look in a fresh new medium. With paper as your tool, you’ll build a miniature bookcase complete with tiny books and a plant, bringing the charm of the original design to life in a whole new way. Ready to make your own? Let’s get to it, shall we!

What You’ll Need For This DIY Paper Bookcase Bookmark

Video Tutorial

Step 1: Print and Prepare Your Templates

Start by printing the templates from the PDF file. Only the last two pages contain the necessary templates, so there’s no need to print the rest. Make sure your printer settings are accurate to maintain the design’s scale. Choose and select the high-gloss paper setting on both your printer and your device’s printer settings.

Step 2: Cut Out the Pieces – DIY Paper Bookcase Bookmark

There’s no need to cut out the leaf templates; instead, we’ll use the templates as guides to shape the leaves by placing the paper template underneath an acrylic or glass surface, preventing the foam from sticking.

Step 3: Fold Your Pieces To Prepare Them For Assembly

Step 4: Assemble the Bookshelf – DIY Paper Bookcase Bookmark

Take the front panel and fold it along the scored lines to create a top shelf structure. Apply glue where indicated and hold it in place for a few seconds to secure it.

Next, take the back panel and glue it to the back of the front one:

The main component of the bookmark, the bookshelf, is now fully assembled.

Step 5: Built the Flower Pot and the Plant – DIY Paper Bookcase Bookmark

For the flower pot, pick the bottom part of it and start by folding the small tabs at the bottom and the one tab on the side of the paper piece. Gently curve the main section of the paper to form a rounded pot shape. The rounded base should sit inside the pot, with the folded tabs secured by gluing them to the outer side of the rounded base (see pictures below).

After forming the bottom of the pot; fold the top, bottom, and side tabs of the upper pot section (see pictures 1 and 2 below). Glue the bottom tabs to the underside of the pot’s top. Then, curve the top section (see picture 3 below) to align with the bottom we previously made (see picture 4), inserting and gluing the top tabs inside the pot for stability (see last picture below). Finally, glue the side tab to secure the top into a rounded shape above the base.

To finish the flower pot, glue the small round piece underneath the pot’s base.

Making the Plant – DIY Paper Bookcase Bookmark

Grab your leaf templates and some foam clay. If possible, using pre-colored green foam clay works best. However, if you only have white foam clay like I did, you can either mix it with green acrylic paint before shaping the leaves or paint it afterward once the clay has dried and hardened. Before making the leaves, fill the inside of the flower pot with foam clay to create the soil. You can leave it as-is or paint it brown, though it won’t be visible once the leaves are added. Next, take a small piece of foam and roll it between your fingers to create a branch, which will act as the base for attaching the leaves.

Foam clay can be quite sticky, so I recommend using a clear acrylic sheet or glass surface to shape your leaves without them sticking. Start by rolling a small piece of foam clay into a ball and placing it on top of the leaf template. Gently press down with your finger to shape the clay according to the template. Repeat this process to create six leaves. To add a touch of realism, lightly press down in the center of each leaf using a flat (like a ruler for example) surface to create a subtle crease. Slighty curve the leaves.

Arrange and stick the leaves on the branch – DIY Paper Bookcase Bookmark

Position and stick (or use glue if the foam has already hardened) the leaves on the branch as follows: place three leaves at the bottom near the soil, two at the top to conceal the branch, and one at the back to cover the branch behind. The leaf at the back will also be glued to the back of the bookshelf to further secure the plant and pot, and conceal the branch at the same time.

With the plant complete, we can now move on to the next step!

Step 7: Create the Books

Fold each book cover template along the spine on both sides, then fold the pages (there is a total of 11 pages per book) in an accordion style. Glue the pages inside the book covers to give them a realistic appearance. Next, glue the pages together to give the appearance of closed books. Finally, glue the five books together in the arrangement of your choice.

Final Step: Assemble Everything Together!

The final step is to glue the plant and books onto the shelf. As mentioned earlier, for the plant’s pot, make sure the back leaf is glued to the back of the bookcase (see pictures 2 and 3 below). And now, your unique and original DIY paper bookcase bookmark is ready to use! Slip it between the pages of your current read and let your creation bring a special touch to your reading sessions!

Thank you so much for crafting along with me! I hope you enjoyed making your own unique bookcase bookmark, it’s sure to add a special spark to your reading moments. If you loved this project, I’d love to hear from you in the comments. Your thoughts, crafty ideas and even your book recommendations are more than welcomed and what make this little corner of the internet feel like home!

Don’t forget to share this article with fellow DIY and papercraft lovers, it might just inspire someone else to add a bit of coziness to their bookmarks, too! And if you want to make sure you don’t miss out on more fun projects, be sure to bookmark my website -wink-.

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