If you, like me, are a big reader, you may have between one and five books going at once, on various subject matters, both fiction and non-fiction, both paper and e-book. Even if you don't love reading, you probably have to read paper books or magazines from time to time.

Therefore, you know the value of good bookmarks, and I have even bought leather book weights in the past. These are great for holding books open while your hands are occupied. But they are bulky, and if you close a book with one inside and place any weight on top of the book, the binding can break.

So I was excited to hear about the penny bookmark as described by Amy Sedaris in an interview when she was promoting her book Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People. The concept was simple: sandwich pennies between layers of packing tape, and you have an instant book weight and bookmark!

I immediately made one for myself, and it quickly became my favorite reading tool. However, packing tape, even though it is pretty good quality, is not very durable, and before long, the pennies started wearing through. Plus the tape was slippery enough that if I picked the book up, the bookmark would slide right out. It was time for an upgrade.

Having discovered the wonders of duct tape, I realized I could make a beautiful, functional book weight using the same concept. Not only that, but it serves these other purposes:

What to do with those gazillion pennies you have lying around. You know, the ones where the metal is worth more than the coins themselves.
It's an easy craft to do with the kiddos, either at home or in the classroom.
Your Christmas/birthday/whatever gift needs have answered. These are awesome, and you can make them really pretty and cool looking. A recession-proof gift!
Security. It's a great way to hide your stash of gold bullion from prying eyes if you need to.

So here it is: the 35-cent* bookmark, your recession-proof, upcycled gift needs answered. You’re welcome.

*Cost is approximate and is based on 28 cents in pennies, and about 7 cents in everything else.

Step 1: Materials

You will need:

Pennies (I raided my broken bookmark and my old bank for some)
Duct tape
Scissors
Paint (optional)
Other decorative stuff (optional)

Step 2: Put the Pennies on the Duct Tape

I used 14 rows of pennies. You can decide how long you want yours to be. If you read massive tomes, magazines or coffee table books, make it longer; mostly paperbacks, shorter. Remember, though, the expense will go up with the length!

Lay the pennies side by side in rows of two on sticky-side-up duct tape.

Step 3: Cover and Trim

Carefully cover the duct tape strip with another one. You can use a contrasting color, if you like.

Press the tape down so it seals on both sides.

Trim the ends so they are even, and take off any part of the sides where sticky tape is showing.

If you're just looking for a basic bookmark, you're finished!

Step 4: Optional: Decorate

Now you can customize it any way you like. This is especially good if you are making yours as a gift, or if you just like to look at pretty things.

I added silver tape to the ends of mine. Then I used paint markers to add a message to one side. Finally, I added a stick-on rhinestone for a little sparkle.

Yes, I have the same kind of rhinestone on my fingernails. Why not?

They do make clear duct tape if you want to see your pennies.

Please to post photos of your awesome bookmark creations based on this idea. And for more crazy midnight projects, be sure to follow me!