NowIKnowEditorial

Hobbies & crafts

How to make a leaf‑rubbing bookmark to remember a woodland walk

Pick a fallen leaf, make a clean crayon rubbing onto paper, back it with card, trim, and add a tassel. Illustrations show leaf placement, rub direction, and a neat way to finish the edges.

12 clear steps·Illustrated guide
Overhead view of a leaf rubbing in progress beside a finished bookmark with a yarn tassel.
  1. 01

    Gather a leaf and simple supplies

    Pick a clean, fallen leaf from your walk (one with visible veins works best). At home, set out plain white paper, crayons (paper wrappers removed), a glue stick, a piece of thin card for backing, scissors, clear tape (optional), a hole punch, and yarn or string for a tassel.

    Craft supplies arranged neatly with a fallen leaf ready to use.
  2. 02

    Clean and briefly press the leaf

    Gently brush off dirt. If the leaf curls, place it between two sheets of scrap paper and rest a book on top while you set up. You want it flat but still flexible, not brittle.

    Leaf sandwiched between paper under a book to flatten it slightly.
  3. 03

    Prepare the paper and crayon

    Lay a sheet of white paper on your table. Choose a crayon color that contrasts with the leaf. Hold the crayon on its side so a broad surface will touch the paper; this helps the texture appear evenly.

    Crayon held sideways beside a blank sheet of paper.
  4. 04

    Place the leaf vein‑side up

    Set the leaf on the table with its veiny underside facing up. Smooth it flat. Carefully lay the white paper over the leaf so it doesn’t shift; hold a paper corner lightly with one hand to keep everything steady.

    Leaf positioned under a sheet of paper, veins facing up.
  5. 05

    Rub gently in one direction

    Using the crayon on its side, rub lightly across the area where the leaf sits, moving in one smooth direction. Increase pressure a little at a time until the leaf’s outline and veins appear clearly without tearing the paper.

    Crayon shading smoothly over the paper, revealing a leaf shape beneath.
  6. 06

    Fill in and tidy the print

    Continue rubbing to cover the whole leaf area. If you like, switch to a second color and add a few strokes for depth. Lift the paper to check, then replace and add light strokes where any gaps remain.

    A clear leaf rubbing on paper with even texture and color.
  7. 07

    Trim the rubbing to bookmark size

    Cut the paper so the leaf rubbing sits centered with a neat margin. Aim for a long, narrow rectangle that will slip easily into a book.

    Paper with a leaf rubbing being cut into a rectangular bookmark shape.
  8. 08

    Glue to card for strength

    Spread a thin, even layer of glue stick on the back of the trimmed rubbing. Press it onto your card backing and smooth from the center outward to remove bubbles. Let it sit under a book briefly to set flat.

    Leaf rubbing being mounted onto a piece of card.
  9. 09

    Cut the final bookmark shape

    Once the glue holds, cut the card to match your paper rectangle. For a polished look, round the corners slightly with scissors.

    Card-backed bookmark being cut to its final shape with rounded corners.
  10. 10

    Seal the edges neatly (optional)

    For durability, run a strip of clear tape along one long edge, folding it over to cover front and back. Repeat on the other long edge, then the short ends. Press firmly and trim any tiny overhangs with scissors.

    Clear tape being folded over a bookmark edge to strengthen it.
  11. 11

    Punch a hole at the top

    Mark the center near the top edge with your eye and punch a single hole, leaving a small border so the hole stays strong. If you taped the edges, the punch will go through cleanly.

    A hole punch aligned at the top of the bookmark.
  12. 12

    Add a quick tassel

    Cut several equal lengths of yarn. Bundle them and fold in half. Push the folded loop through the hole from the front, then pass the yarn ends through the loop and pull snug. Trim the ends evenly to finish.

    A simple yarn tassel being attached to the bookmark with a lark’s head knot.

If this was useful

Try one of these next

A standing penguin drawing with pale blue teardrop guides visible under a clean dark outline.

Hobbies & crafts

How to draw a standing penguin using teardrop shapes

Start with a tall teardrop for the body and small ovals for the head and feet. Add a simple beak and flippers with more teardrops, map the tuxedo belly, then refine the outline. Erase the guides and finish with light shading for roundness. Each step’s image overlays pale guide shapes and the darker final lines so you can see what to keep.

Read the guide