If you love bold colours and mesmerizing swirls, you have to try making these alcohol ink bookmarks! Each one turns out completely unique, bursting with rich, marbled patterns that are almost hypnotic to watch come to life.
This is the perfect project for a creative “crafternoon” — whether you’re gathering with friends, planning a girls night, or just want a relaxing way to play with colour. The vibrant inks glide and blend in the most magical ways, making it easy to create stunning, gift-worthy bookmarks with very little effort (and a whole lot of wow).
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support our website and allows us to keep creating fun, free content.
DIY Alcohol Ink Bookmarks
Materials:
- Transparency film
- Alcohol inks (several matching colours or shades)
- Laminating sheet
- Embroidery floss (to match inks)
Equipment:
- Baking sheet (or other protected surface)
See the craft in action:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Prepare the bookmark
- To make your bookmark you’ll need a clear piece of plastic, like this overhead transparency sheet.
- Use a marker and ruler to draw a 1-3/4 by 5-1/2 inch rectangle. Cut out the bookmark.
- Punch a hole in the top of the bookmark, about 1/4 inch away from the edge, using a standard one hole punch.If you don’t also have a smaller hole punch, cut this hole a bit larger (by 1/8 inch or so). Detail scissors will help with this.
- Spray the surface of your bookmark with rubbing alcohol and wipe it clean with paper towel. This will remove any marker residue and oils from the plastic.
Step 3: Add colour to the bookmark
- Set the bookmark on a parchment lined tray.
- Choose colours of alcohol ink for your bookmark. Here we’re using 3 shades of blue, but you can also use colours that blend well together.
- Add drops of the first colour across the bookmark, leaving gaps between them.
- Then add the second and third shades onto the bookmark, until the plastic is totally covered.
- Once the colours are layered, use a straw to move the alcohol ink around. This helps to blend the colours and cover all areas of the plastic.
- Allow to dry about 5 minutes. Then flip the bookmark over and allow to dry another 5 minutes.
Step 4: Seal the bookmark
- Once your bookmark is dry, place it in a laminating sheet. (You can laminate at least 4 bookmarks in 1 sheet.)There are other ways to seal the bookmark (keep reading below), but we found the laminated bookmarks looked the best.
- Insert the laminating sheet into the top of the laminator and allow it to do its thing.
- Cut around the bookmark, carefully. You’ll be able to see where the laminating line is, so be sure to cut outside of this, leaving a bit of a clear border.
Step 5: Add a tassel
- Use the 1/8 inch hole punch to cut a hole inside the hole from before. Be careful to place it exactly in the center.Since this hole punch is smaller, it creates a hole for the tassel while still keeping the rest of the bookmark laminated/sealed.
- Cut 4 pieces of embroidery floss, about 6 inches long, in a colour that matches your bookmark.
- Fold the pieces in half and insert the fold into the hole in the bookmark, coming in from the front.
- Put the end of the strands around the bookmark and through the loop created. Pull them tight to create the tassel.
- Your alcohol ink bookmark is complete!
- Now have fun making bookmarks in a variety of colours and using them in your favourite books.
Helpful Tips:
- Choose colours that blend beautifully: Try using different shades of the same colour, or go for analogous colours — those that are next to each other on the colour wheel, like blue and green or red and orange. These blend especially well and create gorgeous marbled effects.
- Protect your hands! Alcohol inks can stain skin quickly, so it’s best to wear nitrile gloves while working. (We forgot to for this project and had colourful hands for a while!)
How can I seal my alcohol ink bookmark without a laminator?
If you don’t have a laminator, you can cover your bookmark with clear packing tape. It’s an easy option, but be careful — air bubbles can sneak in if you’re not precise.
Another option is to brush on a layer of Mod Podge to seal it. Just note that it can leave visible brushstrokes or streaks on the surface.
What type of plastic should I use for these alcohol ink bookmarks?
We used overhead transparency sheets for ours — they’re thin, clear, and work beautifully with alcohol ink.
You can also use acetate sheets or even recycle clear plastic packaging, like a bakery clamshell container, by cutting the lid into bookmark shapes.
Can I make marbled or tie-dye style bookmarks without alcohol ink?
Yes! If you don’t have alcohol inks, you can create a similar effect using Sharpie markers and rubbing alcohol. Just colour directly onto the plastic surface with Sharpies, then carefully drip or spray rubbing alcohol over the ink.
The alcohol will cause the marker to spread and blend in beautiful, tie-dye-style patterns. It’s a really easy and kid-friendly alternative!
Whether you’re crafting on your own or with a group, alcohol ink bookmarks are a creative and relaxing way to explore colour. Each one turns out beautifully unique, with dreamy blends and marbled swirls that make them hard to put down.
So gather your supplies, choose your favourite shades, and let the ink work its magic. Enjoy the process — and don’t be surprised when you’re inspired to create a whole colourful collection!
Here’s even more alcohol ink craft ideas:
Now available
Low-Mess Crafts for Kids Book
72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada
Leave a Reply