An origami corner bookmark is a small folded pocket that slips over a page corner. Start with square paper, fold it into a triangle, make two guide creases, and tuck the side points into a folded flap. The plain version holds its shape without glue, making it easy to open and correct a misplaced fold.
Start with a true square
A 6 × 6-inch paper square is a comfortable practice size. The finished bookmark will be smaller; try it on an ordinary book before choosing a smaller square for later versions.
Use thin origami paper or ordinary paper that creases cleanly. Thick cardstock creates a bulky pocket and can push against delicate pages. Check that your square has equal sides and square corners. If you cut it from a rectangular sheet, trim carefully rather than relying on a roughly torn edge.
Choose plain paper for your first attempt, or use a sheet with different colors on its two sides to help distinguish the layers. You need no scissors after the square is prepared. Keep the work surface dry and clean so dust or pencil debris does not get pressed into the folds.
Fold the square into a triangle
Bring one corner of the square to its opposite corner and crease the diagonal. Lay the resulting triangle with its long edge at the bottom and its two layered tips pointing upward. Match the corners before pressing the crease firmly. If they do not line up, open the fold and check your starting square.
Make the two guide creases
Bring the lower-right point up to the top point and crease. Repeat with the lower-left point, producing a smaller diamond shape. Open both of those folds again so you return to the large triangle. The diagonal guide creases should remain visible.
These folds are guides for the final tucked corners, so keep them neat. If one point stops short of the top while the other overshoots, correct that fold now. Several inconsistent creases can make it harder to tell which line to follow later.
Fold only the front top layer down
At the triangle’s upper point, separate the two layers. Fold the front layer downward until its tip meets the middle of the long bottom edge. Leave the back layer pointing up. Press the new crease across the paper. This folded front layer creates the flap used to hold the side points.
If you fold both layers down, you lose the structure needed for the pocket. Open that fold, separate the layers and repeat with only the front one. Work slowly at the tip; the layers can look like a single piece when pressed tightly together.
Bring the side points up and tuck them in
Refold the right and left points upward along the earlier guide creases. Take one raised point, curl it over and tuck it behind the front flap you just folded down. Flatten it inside. Repeat with the other point, keeping the two tucked sections neat and avoiding a crumpled wad in the center.
Crayola’s corner-bookmark activity illustrates this folding sequence before adding animal decorations. Make the plain pocket first so you can check that it opens correctly and holds its folded shape.
Find the opening and test it on a page
Turn the folded piece as needed to locate its open pocket. Gently slide it over the upper corner of a single page, aligning the closed edges with the page’s top and side. The paper should enter the pocket without being bent or forced. Remove it by sliding outward rather than pulling the page.
Try the first bookmark on a sturdy ordinary page. For a fragile, valuable or already damaged book, a simple thin flat bookmark may be a better choice. Do not press a tight paper pocket onto a torn corner or use the bookmark as a handle for lifting the page.
Fix a pocket that will not open
If the bookmark is flat with no opening, check whether you folded both top layers down or tucked a side point into the wrong layer. Carefully reverse the last step and look for the front flap. If one side pops out, tuck that point farther behind the flap and press its existing crease.
If the pocket is lumpy, remove the side points and flatten them before trying again. Thick paper can also cause bulk even when the sequence is correct. If the bookmark slips easily, check that you have placed the page inside the pocket rather than beneath the whole folded piece.
Decorate without making it bulky
Use small drawings or flat paper details after the folds are working. Keep the pocket opening clear, and allow any ink or adhesive to dry before the bookmark touches a book. Raised embellishments can leave impressions between closed pages. For a different style, see our flat cardstock bookmark guide, or tuck the finished gift into a handmade envelope.
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