Free Printable Bookmarks for Kids to Design and Color

These free printable bookmarks for kids leave the artwork to the child. The one-page template has four tall, blank bookmarks with simple inner borders, ready for colors, patterns, tiny scenes or a made-up creature. There are no pre-drawn characters to match and no words a child must include.

Use the page for a short craft session, a library-themed activity or a handmade gift for someone who enjoys reading. Children can decorate one bookmark and save the others for later. Allow around 15 to 25 minutes, depending on the detail of the drawings and whether an adult needs to help with cutting.

Download the blank bookmark template

The free PDF contains four framed bookmarks on one US Letter page. Print at actual size on Letter paper, or choose fit to page for A4. The template is black and white, so any color comes from the child’s drawing materials. No email signup is needed to download it.

The generated image above offers decoration ideas. The PDF itself contains blank framed templates, not the colored designs in the illustration. Print one page for four bookmarks, or open the PDF on a screen and use its proportions as a guide when drawing rectangles on spare paper.

Choose paper and drawing materials

Ordinary printer paper works for a quick version. If your printer supports it, light card makes a sturdier bookmark; follow the printer’s paper-weight guidance. You can also glue a paper bookmark to thin card after coloring. Let the glue dry flat before trimming the layers together.

Crayons, pencils and washable markers are easy options. Put scrap paper underneath when using markers, and check for wet ink before placing the finished bookmark in a book. Avoid bulky decorations, loose glitter or materials that might stain pages. No hole punch, tassel or string is needed.

Decorate before cutting

Keep the four templates together on the sheet while children draw. The larger page is easier to hold steady than a narrow strip. The inner border marks a decorative area, but children can draw over it if they wish. Use the outer rectangles as the cutting lines.

When the artwork is finished and dry, an adult can cut out the bookmarks or support the child with appropriate scissors. Trim any rough edges. If a bookmark has been backed with card, check that the glue has set before putting it between pages so it does not stick to the book.

Six ideas for a blank bookmark

Favorite-color patterns: Repeat dots, stripes or waves in two or three colors. Start with a small pattern at the top and continue downward. There is no need to fill every space, and a simple row of large circles can look just as striking as tiny detailed marks.

A tiny garden: Draw stems growing from the bottom edge, then add flowers, leaves or imaginary plants. A space scene: Scatter stars and planets along the strip, leaving some white space around them. These themes work without any lettering, which makes them accessible to children who prefer drawing.

A story creature: Invent a tall animal whose body fits the shape of the bookmark. A place from a book: Draw a landscape or object a story made you imagine. Encourage an original interpretation rather than expecting an accurate copy of a book’s illustrations.

A gift message: Add a short message or the recipient’s first name if the child wants to. An adult can write lightly in pencil for a child to decorate around, or simply write the words on the back. Leave personal contact details off bookmarks that may travel outside the home.

Use the finished bookmark

Place the bookmark between pages with only a small part showing at the top. A very tall design can be trimmed shorter if it sticks out too far from a small book. If you used ordinary paper, keep it flat rather than folding it over the page edge.

Let children choose which book will hold their creation. The craft does not need to become a reading target or reward system. For more open-ended artwork, try our printable drawing prompts, or explore paper weaving for another paper project.

Printing and sharing questions

Can I print these for a class? Yes, the template is for personal and classroom use. Do I need a color printer? No; the PDF uses black outlines only. Can I laminate them? That is optional, with an adult handling the equipment and trimming. If sharing the resource online, link to this article rather than selling or redistributing the PDF file. Keep unused templates with your drawing paper so the next bookmark can begin whenever someone has an idea.