The other day I started reading a book and got interrupted, not being able to find a marker to save my page, I decided to make my own. The markers shown here are a result of frustration at the fact that most regular bookmarks don't actually save your spot, they move, slip, slide, and fall out, causing you to have to hunt for your spot again.

Before I even started or brainstormed how to make my marker, I did some research. This usually just consists of an image search, you can learn a lot just by looking at things, get different ideas, views, see how things look, work, etc. Searching the term bookmarks, just brought up a lot of normal paper/card markers, and while these may be cute, have poems, or whatever. I found They Don't Work!

Another thing I'd like to mention is a few months ago I tried making some corner markers that are made from envelopes, because everyone was raving about them and they were kinda cool looking.(monsters, hearts, etc.) I had the worst experience with this type, as I could not get it to stay put for the life of me.

Any ways as I was working I remembered that I'd bought a magnetic marker many moons ago, and it was actually pretty good at keeping a page, though these also tend to move some. I then searched for magnet bookmarks, found lots of tutorials, versions, and ways to do them, but I didn't really like anything I saw too much.

The idea came to me that I could do a braided marker somehow, so that's what I searched next. Again there was lots of braided ones, most made with ribbon, some had charms, others beads, and some even had loops to wrap them around the whole book cover. For the most part I couldn't tell how this type of marker stayed put, it seamed to me that the weight of the charms and such would cause the markers to slip out the bottom.

In the end I saw lots of bookmarkers and creative ways to make them, But I didn't want to do something that's been done a bunch of times before unless it had my own spin/touch. I settled on the braided type, and figured out how to prevent them from being pulled or slipping out. 'A Button' (works great if you have kids)

Step 1: Supplies

To make these markers you will need some

- Buttons
- Yarn or String (thin and thick)
- Beads or Stones
- Threaded needle for adding button and beads
- And a desk or kitchen drawer to help you braid

Step 2: Pick Your Items

Raid your craft collection for yarn scraps, beads, and a button. Get creative and choose different color combinations, types of yarn, and funky or not buttons.

Get the book you would like to make a marker for, or just find a nice medium sized one for this project. I chose a nice regular sized book and cut my yarn larger so the marker could also be used for a bigger book, I also made some smaller sized bookmarkers too.

My longer markers finished up about 16 inches and my shorter ones about 12 inches.

* Note the yarn will be folded in half, so you'll use double the length you think you're going to need.

Step 3: Lets Get Started

Thread your yarn onto the button you've chosen and center the strands, then tie down the thicker strands to keep the yarn from moving. You should have four strands, two thicker and two thinner ones, (see image 2) why you ask simply because the yarn would be to thick to thread on other wise, as most button holes aren't that big.

On to the braiding, I used a sturdy four strand braid to make these. The braid is worked using the inside strands of the piece, all you do is cross left over right and carry both inside strands under the outside ones, which then brings the outer strands inside. Keep working in this manner using a drawer to pull taught, till you near the bottom.

Step 4: Add Beads or Stones

When you have gotten towards the bottom of the piece, start deciding what order you want your embellishments and string them on, braiding them into it as you go. All you have to do now is tie off the end and trim fringe to size, and you have yourself a really cute and useful marker that stays put. =]

Step 5: Finished Results

Here are the bookmarkers in action, you can see how the button prevents the braid from slipping down and the beads add a nice little touch and weight to the ends.

Get creative with this by adding other things to the end, like charms, pins, flowers, or even cute little bows.