4 Easy Origami Christmas Bookmarks for Kids (Free Template + Video)

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to fold origami Christmas bookmarks in four festive designs using one master base fold. These bookmarks work great as stocking stuffers, book exchange gifts, or rainy afternoon crafts when kids are bouncing off the walls. Plus, we’ve included a free template with all the character pieces so you can skip the freehand drawing and get straight to the fun part.

Project Specifications:

• Difficulty Level: Beginner-friendly (perfect first origami project, uses one simple base fold for all four designs)
• Cost: Under $2 per bookmark (uses paper scraps and basic craft supplies)
• Time: 10-15 minutes per bookmark once you’ve mastered the base fold
• Ages: 6+ years independently, 4-5 years with adult help for cutting and gluing

This origami bookmark tutorial is part of our Christmas Crafts for Kids and Beginners Series. We created this series so as a parent you can spend the holidays making beautiful things with your kids and strengthen the bonding while making the holiday memorable.

Other crafts you may try:

Origami Christmas Gloves and Stockings – More beginner-friendly origami ornaments that look adorable hanging on the tree or attached to packages.

3D Paper Christmas Tree – These dimensional trees make beautiful table decorations and use the same easy paper-folding techniques.

Yarn-Wrapped Christmas Tree Ornament – A different texture approach to Christmas crafts that kids love wrapping.

Origami Christmas Tree – Another folded tree version with different styling options for various skill levels.

How to Make Origami Christmas Bookmarks

Step by Step Instructions: Origami Christmas Bookmarks

All four bookmark designs start with the same triangle pocket base. Master this once, and you can whip out all four characters easily. I’ll walk you through the complete tree version first, then show you how to customize for each character.

Origami Christmas Bookmark 1: Tree

Step 1: Cut Out All Template Pieces

Print the template and cut out all the tree pieces. You’ll need the green square for folding, the brown trunk, and the small circles for ornaments. Set the trunk and ornaments aside for now.

Step 2: Make the First Triangle Fold

Fold your green square in half diagonally, corner to corner. Press down hard to make a sharp crease. You’ve got a triangle with two closed corners (the folded edges) and one open corner (where the paper layers separate). Bring the right closed corner up to meet the top open corner.

Pro tip: That first diagonal fold sets up everything else. If your corners don’t line up perfectly, unfold and try again. It’s worth getting this right.

Step 3: Fold the Left Corner Up

Fold the left closed corner up the same way so both bottom corners meet at the top point. Your shape should look like a diamond now. Take each flap you just folded and fold it in half lengthwise. This creates the crease lines you’ll need next.

Note: Press these folds firmly. Weak creases here mean the pocket won’t hold its shape later.

Step 4: Open the Flaps and Create the Pocket

Gently unfold those two flaps. You’ll see triangle-shaped crease lines on each side now. Take the top layer of the open corner (just one layer, not both) and fold it down toward you, following those triangle crease lines.

This fold creates the pocket that makes your bookmark actually work. The folded portion should lie flat inside those triangle guidelines.

Step 5: Tuck the Right Corner Inside

Bring that right closed corner back up toward the top point, but this time tuck it inside the pocket you just created. Slide it all the way in until it won’t go any further.

Parent tip: Show kids how to hold the pocket open with one hand while sliding the corner in with the other. It takes a little wiggling sometimes.

Step 6: Tuck the Left Corner Inside

Press down on the right corner to secure it. Now repeat with the left closed corner. Slide it into the pocket and press firmly. You should now have a triangle-shaped pocket with both corners tucked neatly inside. This is your complete bookmark base, just like the corner bookmarks we made earlier this year.

Step 7: Shape the Tree Bottom

Flip your bookmark over to the plain back side. Draw a gentle curved line along the bottom edge. Cut along this line to round off the bottom and make it look more like a Christmas tree instead of a sharp triangle.

Note: Cut slowly and keep the curve gentle. You’re just softening the point, not cutting off a lot of paper.

Step 8: Add the Tree Trunk and Decorations

Glue the brown tree trunk at the bottom of your tree. Use your pen to draw texture lines, branches, or any details you want. Finish by gluing the small colored circles as ornaments wherever you like.

Done! The pocket at the back slides over your book page to hold your place.

Origami Christmas Bookmark 2 – Reindeer

Step 1: Cut Out All Reindeer Pieces

Cut out all the reindeer parts from the template. You’ll need the colored square for the base fold, antlers, outer ears, inner ear pieces, and the nose.

Step 2: Create the Base and Add Antlers and Ears

Make the triangle pocket base by following steps 2 through 6 from the tree version above. Once your base is complete, glue the antlers at the top point. Layer the smaller inner ear pieces onto the larger outer ear pieces, then glue the complete ears onto each side of the reindeer’s head.

Step 3: Add the Face Details

Glue the nose in the center. Use your black pen to draw two eyes above the nose, a small mouth below it, and any other cute details you want like rosy cheeks or eyelashes.

Pro tip: Draw the face lightly in pencil first if you’re worried about making mistakes. Once it looks right, trace over it with your black pen.

Origami Christmas Bookmark 3 – Christmas Gnome

Step 1: Prepare All the Pieces

Cut out all the gnome parts from the template. You’ll need the colored square for folding, the white hat border strip, the white pompom circle, the face piece, the mustache, and the small nose.

Step 2: Create the Base and Build the Hat

Fold your triangle pocket base using steps 2 through 6 from the tree instructions. The colored triangle becomes the gnome’s hat. Glue the white hat border strip along the curved bottom edge. This creates the fuzzy trim on the gnome’s hat.

Step 3: Add the Gnome’s Face

Glue the small white pompom circle at the top point of the hat. Take the gnome’s face piece and slide the top edge slightly under the white hat border before gluing it down. This makes it look like the hat is sitting on top of his head. Add the mustache below where the nose will go, then glue the small nose in the center. Use your pen to outline the mustache and add small details to the face.

Note: The face piece should overlap the hat border just a tiny bit. If you glue it too low, the gnome will have a weird gap between his hat and face.

Origami Christmas Bookmark 4 – Snowman

Step 1: Cut Out All Snowman Pieces

Cut out all the snowman parts from the template. You’ll need the colored square for folding, the hat piece, the carrot nose, and any other details like buttons if you want to add them.

Step 2: Assemble the Base and Add Features

Create the triangle pocket base following steps 2 through 6 from the tree version. Glue the hat piece on top of the triangle. Add the orange carrot nose in the center. Use your black pen to draw the snowman’s eyes, smile, and any other details like coal buttons down the front.

That’s it! Four completely different Christmas characters, all using the same base fold. Once kids master the pocket fold on their first bookmark, they can make the rest super quickly.

Watch Video Tutorial: Origami Christmas Bookmarks

Having trouble visualizing the pocket fold or want to see exactly how to tuck those corners inside? I’ve got a complete video tutorial that walks through every single fold and shows you all four character variations.

he video makes it especially easy to understand that tricky step 4 where you create the pocket. Subscribe to the channel so you don’t miss any more holiday craft tutorials!

Tips for Beginners: Christmas Bookmark Making

Use Lightweight Paper for Easy Folds – Thin craft paper or origami paper works best because it folds cleanly without fighting back. Cardstock is too thick for the pocket fold and will crack. Printer paper is too flimsy and won’t hold the bookmark shape when you slide it onto pages. Stick with paper that’s somewhere in between.

Sharpen Each Fold as You Go – Every fold needs to be pressed down firmly to create a crisp edge. Run your fingernail along each crease or use the edge of a ruler. Weak creases mean your bookmark won’t hold its triangle shape and the pocket won’t work properly. This is the single most important technique for origami success.

Start with Larger Squares – If you’re new to origami or working with younger kids, try making your first bookmark with a 7-inch or 8-inch square instead of 6 inches. The bigger size makes it easier to see what you’re doing. Once you’ve got the technique down, you can make smaller bookmarks.

Keep All the Tiny Pieces Organized – Each character has small add-on pieces like noses, ornaments, antlers, and mustaches. Put each character’s pieces in a small pile or use a muffin tin with sections. Nothing’s more frustrating than finishing the base fold and then spending ten minutes hunting for that tiny pompom.

Try One Design at a Time – Start with the tree version first because it’s the simplest. Once you’ve mastered that base fold, the reindeer, gnome, and snowman will feel like a breeze. The only difference is what you glue on top.

Test the Pocket Before Decorating – After step 6, slide your finished base onto a book page to make sure the pocket works. If it’s too loose or tight, you’ll know before you’ve glued all the decorations on. Better to remake the base

Display Ideas for Your Christmas Bookmarks

These bookmarks aren’t just functional, they’re actually cute enough to display or gift:

Bookmark Advent Calendar – Make 24 mini versions and attach them to small wrapped candies or notes for a bookmark countdown to Christmas.

Gift Tag Alternative – Write someone’s name on the back and clip the bookmark onto their wrapped present instead of using a traditional gift tag.

Christmas Card Holders – Clip them onto a string or ribbon and use them to hang Christmas cards on the wall.

Reading Chain – Make one of each design and connect them with ribbon to create a festive bookmark collection kids can choose from.

Stocking Stuffers – Tuck a few into stockings along with a new book. Way more thoughtful than another candy cane.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use regular printer paper instead of craft paper?

You can, but I don’t recommend it. Regular printer paper is too thin and floppy, so your bookmark won’t hold its shape when you slide it onto book pages. It also tears more easily when kids are tucking those corners into the pocket. Craft paper or origami paper is cheap and makes a huge difference in how the final bookmark looks and works.

Q: What if my corners won’t tuck into the pocket?

This usually means the pocket fold in step 4 wasn’t pressed down firmly enough or wasn’t folded exactly along those triangle crease lines. Unfold back to step 4 and remake the pocket, making sure to follow the crease lines precisely. The corners should slide in with a little wiggling. If they still won’t fit, your triangle might be too small. Try starting over with a slightly larger square.

Q: Can younger kids make these independently?

Kids around 6 or 7 can usually handle the folding with some adult guidance on the first one. The tricky part is step 5 and 6 where they tuck the corners into the pocket. Show them slowly on your own bookmark first, then help guide their hands through it. Kids 4-5 years old can definitely participate if you do the folding and let them handle the cutting (with safety scissors) and gluing the decorations.

Q: How do I make the bookmark smaller or larger?

Just change the size of your starting square. A 4-inch square makes a tiny bookmark perfect for small books, while an 8-inch square makes a jumbo bookmark for textbooks or notebooks. The folding steps stay exactly the same no matter what size you start with.

Q: Why does my bookmark pocket keep opening back up?

Your folds probably aren’t sharp enough. Go back through and press down hard on every single crease, especially where the corners tuck into the pocket. You can also add a tiny dot of glue inside the pocket after tucking the corners to make sure they stay put. Just use very little glue so the pocket doesn’t stick shut.

Q: Can I laminate these bookmarks to make them last longer?

You can laminate the decorative pieces before gluing them on (like the tree trunk or reindeer nose), but don’t laminate the folded base. Laminating makes paper too stiff to fold properly and the pocket won’t work. If you want bookmarks that last forever, make the base fold from slightly heavier craft paper instead.

Q: What’s the best glue for attaching the small pieces?

Glue sticks work great for larger pieces and create less mess with kids. For tiny pieces like the ornaments or pompom, liquid school glue gives a stronger hold. Put a small dot on a scrap paper first, then use a toothpick to apply tiny amounts to the small pieces. Too much glue makes them slide around.

Q: Can I make these without the template?

Absolutely! The template just makes it faster. You can freehand cut all the character pieces or trace objects to create the shapes. A bottle cap makes perfect ornament circles, and you can draw your own antlers or mustaches. The only piece you really need is a square for the base fold, and you can make that from any rectangular paper by folding and cutting.

Final Thoughts

Making these origami Christmas bookmarks taught my son something cool. One simple skill (the triangle pocket base) can turn into four completely different characters with just a few decoration changes. That’s problem-solving and creativity rolled into one craft.

I love projects like this because kids stay engaged from the first fold to the final glued ornament. They see immediate results, and the bookmarks actually work when they use them in real books. That combination of useful and handmade? That’s what gets kids excited about crafting.

So grab some colorful paper, print that template, and watch your kids master a real origami skill while making gifts they’re genuinely proud to give.

Keep crafting, keep learning, and keep creating those precious memories!

Happy Crafting!

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