How to Make a Origami Unicorn Bookmark Step by Step

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Bookmarks are a great way to mark your place in a book. They can get expensive, however, and the standard, rectangular-shaped ones can get pretty boring. Why not make your own bookmark? With a square sheet of paper, and a few minutes of your time, you can make a neat, triangular bookmark that fits right over the corner of your page. If you aren't comfortable with origami, then there are still other ways to make a bookmark!

1

Get some 6 by 6-inch origami paper. Origami paper is the best but if you don't have any origami paper, cut a 6 by 6-inch (15.24 by 15.24 centimeters) square out of thin paper, such as gift wrap, printer paper, or construction paper. Avoid using cardstock or similar material, it is too thick for this project. You can use smaller sizes as long as it is still a perfect square, but it will be smaller.
2

Fold the paper in half diagonally to make a triangle. Take one of the corners, and fold it towards the opposite corner. Run your fingernail along the crease to make it nice and sharp.

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3

Turn the triangle so that it is upright. The straight, folded edge should be facing you. The point tip should be facing away from you.
4

Fold one of the pointy tips down towards the bottom fold. You'll notice that your triangle has two layers of paper. You are only folding one of those layers. When you are done folding, your paper should still be shaped like a triangle, but with a smaller, upside-down triangle inside it. This will create a "pocket" for your bookmark.
5

Fold the bottom corners of the triangle up towards the top point. Take the left bottom corner, and fold it towards the top of the triangle. Make sure that the edges align, then run your fingernail along the crease to sharpen it. Repeat this step for the other side. You will end up with a diamond shape.
6

Fold both corners back down towards the inside of the triangle. Take the first corner you just folded, and fold it half-way inside the triangle. Be sure to tuck it under the "pocket." Repeat this step for the other corner.^[1]
7

Decorate the bookmark, if desired. You can decorate it with stickers, or even draw a face on it to make it look lime a monster chomping down on the corner of your page. You colour use different colours to resemble different animals.
8

Let the bookmark dry, if needed, before using it. If you just used stickers to decorate your bookmark, then you are good to go. If you used pens or markers to decorate it, however, you might want to let it dry a little so that the wet ink doesn't transfer onto your book.

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1

Get some 6 by 6-inch (15.24 by 15.24 centimeters) origami paper. You can also use just about any other type of paper for this, including cardstock, construction paper, or even plain old printer paper. You can also make the square smaller, but it must be a perfect square.
2

Fold paper in half diagonally to make a triangle, then unfold it. Take the bottom left corner, and fold it towards the top right corner. Run your fingernail along the crease to make it nice and sharp. Unfold the paper when you are done.
3

Fold the paper in half diagonally the other way, and unfold it again. Take the bottom right corner, and fold it towards the upper left corner. Run your fingernail along the crease, then unfold the paper. You should now have an X in the middle of your paper.
4

Cut out one of the triangles on your paper formed by the X. If you take a look at your paper, you'll see four triangles, all pointing towards the middle. Cut one of those triangles out, using the creases as a guide. You will now have a center triangle, and two side flaps.
5

Fold down one of the side flaps. Take the left side flap, and fold it down onto the triangle, following the crease you made earlier.
6
Put some glue or double-sided tape on top of the side flap you just folded down. A glue stick will be the least messy, but you can also use liquid glue if you are careful. If you are using double-sided tape, make sure that you put the tape all along the edges.
- If you are using liquid glue, consider brushing it on in a thin layer using a paintbrush.
7

Fold other flap down on top of the glue or tape. You should now have a triangle shape. Run your finger over the triangle to seal the glue or tape. Then, run your fingernail all around the edges to sharpen them.
8

Decorate your bookmark, if desired. You can leave your bookmark as is, or you can decorate it further with stickers. You can also write a meaningful message or quote on it, or even draw a picture.
9

Let the bookmark dry, if needed, before using it. If you just used tape, then your bookmark is ready to go. If you used glue, paint, or markers to decorate it, however, you might want to give the bookmark a little time to dry. This way, you won't ruin the pages of your book.

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1

Cut two 2½ by 2½-inch (6.35 by 6.35 centimeters) squares out of a sheet of paper. Try to use a sturdy sheet of paper, such as cardstock or even an index card. If you absolutely can't get any, use regular printer paper.^[2]
2

Draw a diagonal line across one of those squares. The line should go from the bottom left corner to the top right corner. This will be your cutting line. Leave the other square blank.
3

Cut along the line that you drew. You will end up with two triangles. Discard one of those triangles. You will only need one.
4

Cover both sides of the blank square with duct tape, trimming off any excess tape. Place the square on a piece of duct tape, then trim off any excess tape. Flip the paper over, and repeat this step for the other side.
5
Place the triangle on top of a 3½-inch (8.89 centimeters) long strip of duct tape, with the point touching the top edge. Cut a 3½-inch (8.89 centimeters) long strip of duct tape, and set it down in front of you, sticky-side-up. Carefully place the paper triangle on top of it, with the tip of the triangle touching the top edge of the tape. You will have some tape sticking out from under the triangle.^[3]
- Make sure that you are putting the triangle right in the middle of the tape.
6

Fold the excess tape at the bottom over onto the triangle. Make sure that the bottom edge of the triangle is in the crease of the tape. Be careful not to fold the paper.^[4]
7

Place the square on top of the triangle. Make sure that one of the corners of the square is aligned with the top point of the triangle. You should see a diamond shape with two flaps of tape sticking out to either side of it.
8

Fold the flaps of tape down. Take the left flap of tape, and fold it down onto the square. Then, take the right flap, and fold it down onto the square as well.^[5]
9

Use your bookmark. Flip the bookmark over. You'll have a diamond shape with a pocket at top. You can now slide this pocket over the page you want to mark.

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Add New Question

Question

Can origami paper be used for this method?

Yes, origami paper can be used.
Question

Can I use crayons instead of pens and markers?

Yes, you can.
Question

How do I make the monster teeth for the first method?

Stick on little paper triangles in the pocket, make them stick out a little!
Question

Can I use tape instead of paper?

Yes, you could follow the last method if you want of use tape instead of paper.
Question

Can I cut the triangle when I'm finished to make it smaller?

No, you can't cut it unless you want it to fall apart. If you want a smaller bookmark, you can start with a smaller piece of paper.
Question

How long will a corner bookmark last?

Since you're sealing it with tape, it should last quite awhile if you're careful with it, maybe even years.
Question

How can I make the design more effective?

You can add decorative tape, draw designs with markers or crayons, or even add your initials or an inspiring quote!

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Video

Use sharp, firm creases when folding.
Don't make your bookmark too bulky. Rhinestones and glitter can look pretty, but they can also ruin the pages of your book.
Origami paper is perfect for making bookmarks because it already comes in the right shape and size.
Color the paper or add a pattern, as desired.
You could also decorate your bookmark with pretty tape and stickers. Just don't add it first, or else it might be on the inside of the bookmark.
Decorate your bookmark with your favorite quote.
Consider using double-sized origami paper for a more interesting effect.

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Things You'll Need

6 by 6-inch (15.24 by 15.24 centimeters) origami paper

6 by 6-inch (15.24 by 15.24 centimeters) origami paper
Double-sided tape or glue stick

Duct Tape
Cardstock
Scissors
Pen or pencil
Ruler
Crafting Board

About This Article

Article SummaryX

To make a corner bookmark, start by folding a 6 by 6 inch piece of paper in half to make a triangle. Then, unfold the triangle, fold the paper in half diagonally the other way, and unfold it again to divide your paper into 4 triangles. Next, cut out 1 of the triangles so you're left with a center triangle and 2 side flaps. Fold 1 of the side flaps over the center triangle, and glue the other flap on top of the flap you just folded down. Finally, let the glue dry and decorate your bookmark any way you like. To learn how to make a corner bookmark using index cards and duct tape, scroll down!