These bookmarks are so simple to make using embroidery and fabric paints. Even the least confident artist can create a really beautiful result using the end of a paintbrush. An ideal home-made gift for book-lovers, and pretty good scrap-buster project as they require only small rectangles of fabric. Make up a few and Christmas, birthdays or other special occasions will be sorted for the whole year!

Before you begin – if you love to sew you might enjoy being part of my Creative Sewing Challenge. You get a new prompt every month, along with ideas and tutorials to help inspire your sewing. Suitable for all types of sewing and abilities – its free, fun and open to everyone. Sign up below or click here to find out more.

And now on to the tutorial. You will need:

• Your choice of plain fabric (enough for 2 rectangles 22cm by 8cm)
• Matching thread
• Fusible interlining
• White and yellow fabric paints
• Paintbrushes
• Scissors and pins
• Sewing machine
• Ironing board, iron and pressing cloth
• Newspaper or similar (to protect your table)
• Helps to have some kitchen roll or wet wipes to hand too!

Cut your fabric; you’ll need 2 rectangles 22cm by 8cm. Cut 1 rectangle of interfacing slightly smaller, and fix to one of your fabric rectangles following the manufacturer’s instructions (this usually involves ironing over a pressing cloth).

Use the end of your paintbrush to create small yellow dots – make sure they are not too close together as you’ll need room for the petals.

Again, using the end of your paintbrush, print white circles around each of the yellow dots – you now have some simple but beautiful daisies!

Continue to cover your bookmark with daisies until you are satisfied you have enough – only you can decide when you are happy with the pattern. I find its best to either be deliberately symmetrical and evenly spaced, or (my preference) very random.

Leave your paints to dry, and then fix according to manufacturer’s instructions (again, this usually involves covering with a pressing cloth and ironing for a few minutes).

Next, its time to embroider some additional details. I used a light blue fabric to embroider stalks with a small back stitch, and leaves with a lazy daisy stitch.

Again, anything goes here so have fun creating patterns you are happy with.

Pin your rectangles right side together.

Sew around the edge using a 0.5cm seam allowance, and make sure to leave a gap at the end to turn through.

Turn your bookmark right side out and press (I found it was still a good idea to iron over a pressing cloth). Top stitch all around the edge of your bookmark, keeping as close to the edge as you are confident to do. This will secure your gap, and also gives a nice neat finish.

Give your work one final press, and there you have it, a cute and simple bookmark to give or keep. Its an ideal home-made gift for the book worm in your life; completely unique, and you can make these in any colour that you fancy.

Don’t forget, you can sign up to the Creative Sewing Challenge here. Happy sewing everyone, thanks for dropping by my blog.

And here’s a lovely pin for later…