Picture this: you close your book for the night and a tiny white bunny with rosy cheeks and soft pink ears is peeking out from the top corner of the page. It is so charming you almost do not want to put the book down. That is exactly what you are going to make today: a sweet paper bunny corner bookmark that turns any book into something you cannot wait to pick back up.
You do not need any experience with paper crafts to make this. You do not need special tools, expensive supplies, or a steady hand. By the end of this post, you will have a step-by-step written tutorial, a full video to follow along with, and your very own bunny bookmark ready to use.
You only need one square sheet of white paper, a small scrap of pink paper, scissors, a black marker, and a red marker or crayon. Most people can finish this in about 10–15 minutes.
Why You Will Love This Project
This bunny corner bookmark is made from a single square of paper folded into a simple pocket shape, the kind of fold you can master on your very first try. It looks like something you might find in a boutique stationery shop, but it costs almost nothing to make. Give it as a gift to a book-loving friend, a teacher, or a child who has just started reading on their own and watch their face light up. A full video tutorial is included in this post so you can see every fold before you try it yourself.
What You Will Need
- White copy paper or cardstock (cut into a square, approx. 15 cm × 15 cm / 6 in × 6 in) [or use any plain white paper you have at home printer paper cut into a square works perfectly]
- Pink paper or cardstock (a small scrap, roughly 5 cm × 10 cm / 2 in × 4 in) [or use a pink sticky note, the inside of a cereal box painted pink, or coloured paper from an old magazine]
- Scissors [any household scissors will do]
- Black marker or pen [a ballpoint pen works fine]
- Red marker, crayon, or red pen [for the rosy cheek dots; a red lip liner pencil also works]
- Glue stick or a small piece of tape [to attach the ears]
Total estimated cost: $0–$3 (most people already have everything at home)
All materials can be found at your local craft store or ordered online.
Video Tutorial
Watch the full tutorial above before reading the written steps. The written steps below match the video exactly so you can follow along at your own pace.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Cut Your Paper Into a Square
Start by cutting your white paper into a square; this is the foundation of the whole bookmark. If you are using standard A4 or letter-size printer paper, fold one corner diagonally down to meet the opposite long edge, crease it firmly, then cut off the rectangular strip at the bottom. When you unfold it, you will have a perfect square. Take your time with this step. A tidy square makes all the folding easier later.
Pro Tip: If you have a ruler nearby, measure and mark 15 cm (6 inches) on each side for the cleanest result. No ruler? The diagonal fold trick above works every time.
Step 2: Fold the Square in Half Diagonally
Place your white square flat on the table, then fold it in half diagonally to make a triangle. Bring one corner up to meet the opposite corner so the two points line up as neatly as you can manage. Press the fold down firmly all the way along the crease using your finger or the flat side of a pen. Your paper should now look like a right-angled triangle with the long flat edge at the bottom. It is okay if it is not perfect, a tiny overlap will not affect the final result.
Pro Tip: Run your fingernail along the crease to make it as sharp and flat as possible. A sharp crease will keep all your later folds looking tidy.
Step 3: Fold the Top Corner Down to the Centre
Take the top point of your triangle and fold it straight down to meet the centre point of the long flat bottom edge. The centre of the bottom edge is the point that was originally in the middle when you made your diagonal fold; it is easy to find. Press this fold firmly. You will now have a smaller triangle shape with a horizontal flap sitting across the middle, creating a pocket at the bottom. This pocket is what will slide onto the corner of your book page.
Pro Tip: After this fold, the shape should look a bit like an envelope flap. Hold it up and peek underneath you should be able to see a little open pocket forming. That is exactly what you want.
Step 4: Fold the Two Side Corners Into the Centre
Now fold the left corner and the right corner of your shape in toward the centre line, one at a time. Each side corner should fold up so its point meets the top centre point of the shape. Press each fold firmly before moving on to the next. When both sides are folded in, your bookmark will have a neat diamond or kite shape, with a triangular point at the top and a flat pocket at the bottom. No rush, do one side at a time and check that each corner meets the centre tip before you crease it down.
Pro Tip: Both side folds should be perfectly symmetrical at the same angle and the same distance from the centre. If one side looks a little off, unfold it gently and try again. The paper will not tear.
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Step 5: Tuck the Side Flaps Into the Pocket
Unfold the two side triangles back out, then carefully tuck each one into the open pocket at the back of the bookmark. Slide the pointed flap under the horizontal fold you will feel it slot in neatly. Do the same on the other side. Once both flaps are tucked in, the bookmark shape is complete and secure. Give it a gentle squeeze to make sure everything is sitting flat and the pocket opening is at the bottom, ready to slip onto a book corner.
Pro Tip: If a flap feels stiff going in, open the pocket slightly with your finger first, then guide the flap in gently. Forcing it can cause a small tear, patience is your best tool here.
Step 6: Cut Out the Bunny Ears From Pink Paper
Take your small piece of pink paper and cut out two long, rounded ear shapes like two tall ovals or elongated teardrops. Each ear should be roughly 4–5 cm (about 2 inches) tall. You can fold the pink paper in half first and cut both ears at the same time so they match. No need for a template freehand cutting is completely fine and gives the bunny a handmade charm. Place the ears behind the top point of your white bookmark and check that they look balanced before gluing.
Pro Tip: Make the ears slightly taller than you think you need them. Once they are tucked behind the white bookmark, a little height gets hidden; taller ears look more dramatic and recognisable once the bookmark is on a book.
Step 7: Attach the Ears to the Bookmark
Apply a small amount of glue to the base of each pink ear and press them firmly behind the top point of the white bookmark. Position them so they stick up equally on both sides of the centre crease; this gives the bunny a symmetrical, balanced look. Hold each ear in place for about 10–15 seconds while the glue sets. If you are using tape instead of a glue stick, fold a small piece of tape into a loop (sticky side out) and press it between the ear and the bookmark.
Pro Tip: Slide the bottom of each ear just far enough behind the white paper that you cannot see the raw edge of the pink paper from the front. This gives a clean, professional finish.
Step 8: Draw the Bunny’s Face
Pick up your black marker and draw two small curved eyes, a tiny oval nose, and a little curved mouth on the front face of the bookmark. The face goes on the upper triangular half the part that will show above the book page. Keep the eyes close together near the top of the face area for a cute, friendly expression. Draw the mouth as a small curved line just below the nose. Then take your red marker or crayon and add two small round dots on either side of the nose as rosy cheeks.
Pro Tip: Practise your bunny face on a scrap of paper first if you feel nervous. Two curved lines for eyes, a small oval nose, a tiny curved mouth, and two red dots that is all you need. It is okay if it is not perfect; the charm of handmade is that every bunny looks a little different.
Step 9: Slide the Bookmark Onto Your Book Page
Open your book to the page you want to mark and slip the pocket of the bookmark over the top corner of the page. The open pocket (the bottom of the diamond shape) slides snugly over the corner and holds itself in place with no writing on the page, no dog-earing, no damage to your book. Your bunny’s face and ears will peep out above the top edge of the page. Your bookmark is complete!
Pro Tip: The bookmark fits most standard paperback and hardback book corners. If it feels a little loose on very thin pages, fold the corner of the page very slightly before slipping the bookmark on it will grip much better.
Tips & Tricks
Use cardstock instead of printer paper if you plan to use this bookmark regularly. Printer paper works for a first try, but it can soften and lose its shape after a few uses. Light cardstock (around 160 gsm) folds beautifully, holds a sharp crease, and will last much longer inside a well-loved book.
If your folds are not aligning perfectly, flip the paper over and try again on the reverse. Paper has a slight grain, sometimes one direction folds more cleanly than the other. You will not ruin anything by unfolding and starting over. Most people get a much neater result on their second attempt once they know what the shape should feel like.
Store finished bookmarks flat inside a book or between two pieces of cardboard. Leaving them loose in a drawer can cause the pocket to lose its shape over time. A flat book is the perfect home for a flat bookmark which makes sense when you think about it.
Make the whole animal collection for a gift set. The video opens by showing six different animal bookmarks: a yellow chick, a green frog, a red fox, a pink pig, a purple mouse, and the white bunny. Once you have mastered the bunny, the base fold is identical for all of them. Change the colour of paper and the decorations and you have a completely different animal. A set of six in a little envelope makes a genuinely lovely handmade gift.
Ways to Use This Craft
As home decor: A little cluster of these animal bookmarks tucked into a stack of books on a shelf or coffee table adds a playful, handmade touch to any reading nook. They suit Scandinavian-style minimal decor, cosy cottagecore shelving, and children’s room bookshelves equally well. Display a few different animals together for maximum charm.
As a gift: This bookmark makes a thoughtful gift for any book lover: a child starting a new school year, a teacher at the end of term, a friend going through a long commute, or anyone who simply loves a sweet handmade surprise. Tuck it between the pages of a new book for an extra-special present. It works beautifully as a birthday add-on, a ‘thinking of you’ gesture, or a party bag filler for a bookish celebration.
Seasonal variation: Swap the bunny for a white paper shape decorated with red and green markers at Christmas for a festive elf or reindeer bookmark. At Easter, the bunny version is absolutely perfect as a holiday card that doubles as a gift. For back-to-school season, the yellow chick version (seen in the video) is a cheerful desk accessory.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How long does it take to make a bunny corner bookmark?
A: Most beginners can make one in about 10–15 minutes, including cutting the paper and drawing the face. Once you have made one, the second takes under 5 minutes. The folding itself is only four or five moves, and none of them are complicated.
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What if I make a mistake and the folds do not look right?
A: Unfold the paper and start again. It is completely fine. Paper is very forgiving and the creases from your first attempt will actually help guide you on the second try. Many crafters find that their first attempt is a practice round and their second one looks much neater. Keep the first one anyway imperfect crafts have their own charm.
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Where can I buy the materials if I do not have them at home?
A: White printer paper and a black marker are in most homes already. Pink paper can be found at any stationery shop, supermarket, or dollar store. You can also use pages from a pink paper notepad or a piece of gift wrap. If you want to upgrade to cardstock, any craft store or online retailer will carry it, search for ‘coloured cardstock A4’ and you will find packs for just a few dollars.
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Does the bookmark actually stay on the page or does it fall off?
A: The folded pocket grips the corner of most book pages firmly without any glue or extra fastening. It works best on standard paperback and hardback pages. For very thin pages such as in some notebooks or bibles, fold the corner of the page very slightly before slipping the bookmark on the extra thickness helps it hold.
Closing Paragraph
You made a handmade bunny bookmark from a single piece of paper and it is genuinely adorable. That little face peeking out of your book is something you created with your own hands, and that is something worth being proud of. Share your creation with us. We would love to see it! Tag us or leave a photo in the comments below. Ready for your next project? Try Pop-Up Paper Flower Card Tutorial for Beginners or frog corner bookmark next same base fold, completely different animal, and just as satisfying to make.
Happy crafting! LOUVADECORES
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