Top 10 Very Berry Bookmarks

Updated: 01 May 2012

Our Top 10 this month features beautiful bookmarks in very berry shades of raspberry and strawberry. Now you have no excuse to lose your page!
As featured in the May issue of Beads & Beyond magazine.

Tasselled Treasure Bookmark

Designed by Gill Teasdale, JillyBeads

This eastern inspired tassel has a lovely swishy tail made from cotton thread and is topped with glamorous, bang on trend Shamballa beads and an oversized satin round. Don’t be fazed at making a tassel, it’s easier than you think!


Gather these supplies

• 1 10mm garnet shamballa bead
• 1 10mm amethyst shamballa bead
• 1 20mm shocking pink large acrylic round
• 2 9mm gun metal cheerios
• 2 4mm gun metal filigree rounds
• 30cm length 26g amethyst Artistic Wire
• 1 gun metal squiggly bookmark
• 1 3x 3mm gun metal end fastener
• Reel purple cotton thread (at least 7m)
• Piece of card, 20 x 6cm
• Tools – Chain nosed, flat nosed pliers and side cutters, sharp scissors, medium beading needle

Here’s how

1. Fold the card in half to make a folded piece measuring 10 x 6cm. Line the end of the cotton up with the unfolded 6cm edge of the card, allowing it hang over the edge a couple of millimetres. Wrap the cotton around the card 30 times. Cut the thread a little longer than the edge of the card. (It will spring back when cut due to the stretch effect).
2. Cut a 45cm length of cotton. Fold it in half then pass one end under the wrapped cotton at the folded end. Make sure the ends are the same length then tie them in a knot tightly around the fold, gathering up the cotton tightly.
3. Slip the scissors inside the folded card and cut the threads along the unfolded edge to make the fringe.
4. Wrap the wire around the tassel, 5mm away from the folded and  knotted edge to make a neatly bound area 5mm wide. Trim excess wire away using sidecutter pliers and tuck the sharp ends in neatly using chain nosed pliers.
5. Thread all four strands onto the needle, then thread on a filigree bead, a shamballa, a cheerio, the 20mm round, a cheerio, a shamballa and a filigree. These beads will be a tight fit so pull hard to get all the strands through.
6. Lay all four strands in the u-shape of the end fastener, having the loop of the end fastener pointing away from the beads. Butt the end fastener up to the filigree bead and fold the sides inwards, one at a time, using flat nosed pliers to grip the strands. Trim the excess cotton as close as possible to the fold in the end fastener, exposing the loop.
7. Slightly open the jump ring, which is hanging on the end of the bookmark, by gripping it with two pairs of pliers and sliding the edges away from each other so as not to distort the shape. Slip on the end fastener loop and reclose the jump ring.

TOP TIP!
To make a fatter tassel, wrap the cotton more times around the card.

Shopping Guide
All beads and supplies available from JillyBeads, Tel: 01524 412728
To visit their website click on the link below
www.jillybeads.co.uk 

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Button Bookmark

Designed by Lisa Scholey, The Bead Shop (Nottingham) Ltd

Weave buttons together with berry coloured waxed cords to create a fun bookmark!   


Gather these supplies

• 50cm of 1mm Waxed Cord Purple
• 50cm of 1mm Waxed Cord Fuchsia
• 50cm of 1mm Waxed Cord Red
• 1 Mini Squiggle Bookmark
• 3 Buttons from Lilac mix (different sizes)

Here’s how

1. Holding all three cords together, tie a knot around the jump ring (attached to the bookmark) so that all six lengths of cord are equal.
2. Thread three strands of cord (one Red, one Fuchsia and one Purple) through the top three holes of the largest of the 3 buttons and then thread the remaining three strands through the same holes but from the opposite side so that the treads cross over through the holes.
3. Hold all 6 threads together again and tie a knot close to the button.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 using the medium sized button first, followed by the smallest button.
5. Cut the excess cord at varying lengths to create a tassel.

Shopping Guide
All beads and supplies are from The Bead Shop (Nottingham) Ltd, Tel: 0115 9588 899
To visit their website click on the link below
www.mailorder-beads.co.uk

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Simple bookmark

Designed by Gemma Reilly, Beads Unlimited

Make this quick and easy bookmark, a perfect little gift for a friend or a treat for yourself!


Gather these supplies

• 2 6mm faceted beads ruby (GLPA0611)
• 2 8mm faceted beads lilac AB (GLPE0813)
• 4 4mm faceted beads ruby (GLPA0411)
• 6 4mm faceted beads lilac AB (GLPE0413)
• 50cm 12mm organza ribbon black (RNOG1201)
• 10 headpins silver plated (HPSP)
• 4 eyepins silver plated (EPSP)
• 2 ribbon crimps silver plated (RCR)
• 2 5mm jump rings silver plated (JR5SP)

You will also need

• A pair of multi pliers (CRMT)

Here’s how

1. Cut two 25cm lengths of ribbon. Lay the ribbons on top of the other and attach a ribbon crimp to each end.
2. Attach a 5mm jump ring to one of the ribbon crimps.
3. Thread the large ruby bead onto an eyepin, trim 1cm above the bead, bend into a loop, attach to the jump ring and close the loop.
4. Thread the large lilac bead onto an eyepin, trim 1cm above the bead, bend into a loop, attach the previous eyepin and close the loop.
5. Thread a 4mm bead onto a headpin, trim 1cm above the bead, bend into a loop, attach to the previous eyepin and close the loop. Repeat for four more of the 4mm beads as pictured.
6. Repeat steps three to five to make the second beaded section.

Shopping Guide
All Beads and supplies are from Beads Unlimited, Tel: 01273 740777
To visit their website click on the links below
www.beadsunlimited.co.uk

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Sparkly strands

Design by Rebecca Hughes

Multiple dainty strands of Beadalon hang from this whimsical bookmark, each embellished with a pretty crystal. A very quick and simple bookmark with a touch of sparkle.


Gather these supplies

• 14mm SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Ruby round bead
• Selection of pink toned SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS crystal beads
• Pink and bright Beadalon
• 2mm crimp beads
• 1 large crimp bead
• 10cm 0.6mm Silver plated wire
• 8mm Silver plated jump ring
• Beadable bookmark

Here’s how

1. Cut six lengths of Beadalon measuring 20cm each (4 strands of bright Beadalon and 2 strands of pink).
2. Thread all ends of Beadalon through a large crimp bead and push the crimp to the end so a small loop of Beadalon strands remains. Press the crimp shut with your chain nose pliers.
3. Thread a large ruby crystal onto a 10cm piece of silver plated wire. Turn a wrapped loop at one end. Do the same to the other end, but before completing the wrap thread on the loop of Beadalon strands.
4. Use a large jumpring to connect the wrapped beaded link and Beadalon tassle to the bookmark.
5. Embellish the Beadalon with the selection of crystals, using only one crystal per strand. Use a crimp bead to ensure your bead doesn’t fall off.

Shopping Guide
14mm Ruby crystal and findings from Jillybeads –  www.jillybeads.co.uk
Assorted crystals from Mail order beads –  www.mail-rder-beads.co.uk
Beadalon from CJBeaders –  www.cjbeaders.co.uk
Bookmark from GJ Beads –  www.gjbead.co.uk

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Beaded Tassel Bookmark

Design by Emma Ruth Jones, The Bead Shop (Nottingham) Ltd

Use size ten seed beads to weave around a wooden bead to create this stunning tassel bookmark!


Gather these supplies

• 1 10mm purple wooden bead
• 1 bobbin red Nymo
• 15g size 10 Indian purple seed beads
• 15g size 10 transparent red AB seed beads
• 1 size 10 Soft touch beading needle
• 1 mini plain bookmark
• 1 silver plated eyepin
• 1 8mm silver plated jump ring

Here’s how

1. Start by beading around the 10mm wooden bead: take a manageable length of nymo, thread on a needle and mark the end using a bead stopper about 15cm from the end. Pass through the bead, around and back up through the bead to secure.
2. Start threading a mix of the two seed bead colours onto the nymo, threading around the outside of the bead and back through the hole in the middle. Repeat to cover the bead. You will need approximately 10 seed beads on the first few, decreasing in number as you work around the bead.
3. Once the bead is covered, finish off by removing the bead stopper and tying off with the working end, before weaving the threads through a few beads to hide them.
4. Take the eyepin and push through the hole in the bead. Create a wrapped loop on the other side. Don’t worry about keeping the wrap neat as we will be covering this with beads later.
5. The tassels will hang from the wrapped loop end. Cut a length of nymo approx 1.5m in length and secure the end with a bead stopper again. Thread on about 5cm of seed beads and then thread back up the beads, skipping the first bead. When you get back to the top thread through the loop and knot to create your first tassel.
6. Repeat step 5 nine times, so that you have ten tassels.
7. After completing the final tassel carry on through the loop as before but instead of creating another tassel, add approx ten beads to cover around the wrapped loop. Tie off the loose ends and thread the tail through several bead to hide, trim off any excess.
8. Twist open the jump ring to attach the tassel to the bookmark.  

Shopping Guide
All beads and supplies are from The Bead Shop (Nottingham) Ltd, Tel: 0115 9588 899
To visit their website click on the link below
www.mailorder-beads.co.uk

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Berry Bookmark

Design by Kate Eldridge, The Bead Cellar

This eye-catching bookmark is made from colour rich Czech glass pearls, pretty leaf shaped bead caps and wire mesh ribbon makes extravagant leaves – it’s stunning appearance masks how easy it is to make.


Gather these supplies

• 7 8mm glass pearls in dark amethyst
• 3 8mm glass pearls in dusky pink
• 2 8mm glass pearls in dark purple
• 3 6mm glass pearls in dusky pink
• 2 6mm glass pearls in forest green
• 2 6mm glass pearls in lime green
• 12 6mm leaf bead cap in antique brass
• 19 head pins in antique copper
• 7 5cm lengths of tubular wire mesh ribbon in lime green
• 1 bookmark base
• Round-nose pliers and wire cutters

Here’s how

1. Pick up 1x bead cap, 1 x 8mm amethyst pearl and another 1 x bead cap on a head pin and turn a wrapped loop to secure it.  This can then be attached to the bookmark base.
2. Pick 1x bead cap, 1 x 8mm purple pearl and another 1 x bead cap on a new head pin and leaving a small gap (approx. 5mm) turn a simple loop.  Attach this to the previous head pin between the top bead cap the base of the loop.
3. Continue adding beads in a similar manner, mixing the colours, until you have used all the 8mm pearls.  Lay them out so that you have made a zig zag chain.
4. Next add each of the 7 x 6mm pearls (without bead caps) in a similar way, spread out amongst your 8mm pearls, picking where you have spaces for them to sit nicely.
5. Finally add the lengths of mesh ribbon by tying it around a head pin, again spaced out evenly along your chain.  Pinch the ends of the ribbon and pull out the middle to create a leaf shape.

Shopping Guide
All Beads and supplies are from The Bead Cellar, Tel: 01409 231 442
To visit their website click on the link below
www.thebeadcellar.co.uk

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Vineyard Vision Bookmark

Design by Gill Teasdale, JillyBeads

This pretty tassel is made completely from beads and findings – no traditional threads or cord in sight. Everything is held in place with crimp beads and an end fastener.


Gather these supplies
        Czech firepolished beads:-

• 1 10mm amethyst
• 12 8mm vineyard beads from strand
• 16 6mm vineyard beads from strand
• 69 4mm vineyard beads from strand

• 1 silvery plain bookmark
• 1 5mm silver plated end fastener
• 6 silver plated crimp beads
• 6 4mm silver plated crimp beads
• 1 silvery dotty daisy cone
• 15mm silver plated split rings
• 1m length 7 strand bright Beadalon

Tools – Chain nosed and flat nosed pliers and side cutters

Here’s how

1. Cut the Beadalon into five 20cm lengths. Place a crimp bead at the very end of each one and squash each one using chain nosed pliers. Slip a crimp cover around each crimp bead and close it around the crimp using chain nosed pliers.
2. Thread one strand with 12 x 8mm beads, one with 16 x 6mm beads and the remaining three with 23 x 4mm beads(on each strand).
3. Pass all five strands through the cone starting at the widest end and exiting at the narrow hole. Next pass all the strands through the 10mm bead and then a crimp bead. Arrange the beads so that none are stuck in the inside of the cone and they all measure roughly the same length.
4. Squash the crimp bead close to the 10mm bead. Slip a crimp cover around the crimp bead and close it around the crimp using chain nosed pliers. Lay the strand in the u-shape of the end fastener with the loop pointing away from the beads.
5. Butt the end fastener up to the crimp cover and fold the sides inwards, one at a time, using flat nosed pliers to grip the strands. Trim the excess Beadalon as close as possible to the fold in the end fastener, exposing the loop.
6. Wind the split ring onto the loop on the end fastener. Next wind the split ring through the loop on the bookmark

Shopping Guide
All beads and supplies available from JillyBeads, Tel: 01524 412728
To visit their website click on the link below
www.jillybeads.co.uk

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Bead and chain tassel bookmark

Design by Helen Sadler, The Bead Shop (Nottingham) Ltd

Make this stylish and original bookmark with crystal and pearl dangles in fruity berry shades, with a sparkling woven tube bead and trendy pink Pandora style bead to complete.


Gather these supplies

• 5g size 11 lined magenta AB DB056 Miyuki delica beads
• 1m red nymo
• 35cm burgundy synthetic suede thread
• 2 silver plated fold over ends
• 6 silver plated headpins
• 2 silver plated eyepins
• 2 4mm silver plated jump rings
• 2 4.5cm silver plated small Figaro chain
• 2 2cm silver plated small Figaro chain
• 2 1.5cm silver plated small Figaro chain
• 1 pink metal lined fossil charm bead

        SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS 5810 pearl beads:

• 1 8mm bordeaux
• 2 5mm bordeaux
• 1 4mm bordeaux
• 1 6mm burgundy
• 1 5mm burgundy
• 2 4mm burgundy

        SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS 5328 XILION beads:

• 1 8mm ruby
• 2 5mm ruby
• 1 4mm ruby
• 1 6mm amethyst
• 1 5mm amethyst
• 2 4mm amethyst

Here’s how

1. Use 1m of red nymo thread to weave a peyote rectangle from the size 11 delica beads; the rectangle is 22 beads wide and woven in even-count peyote for 11 rows.
2. Weave the threads through the first and last row to bring the two sides together to create the tubular shape required. Thread each end of the threads back through several beads and tie a discreet knot, thread the ends through a further few beads and trim any excess thread.
3. Attach a silver plated fold over end to the length of burgundy synthetic suede by using chainnose pliers to close together the two sides of the fold over end.
4. Put a 4mm and 8mm XILION bead or a pearl of your choice on to a silver plated eyepin and use roundnose pliers to make a loop, attach this to the fold over end and finish the wrapped loop.
5. Put a couple of XILION or pearl beads of your choice on to a silver plated headpin and make a loop, attach to a 1.5cm length of small Figaro chain and finish the wrapped loop. Repeat this step 2 times using the 2cm and 4.5cm lengths of chain.
6. Twist open a 4mm jump ring and add the 3 chain dangles, making sure the longest one is in the middle, add the jump ring to the bottom of the eyepin and twist it closed.
7. Thread the beaded tube onto the length of suede thread and then add the pink metal lined fossil charm bead.
8. Attach another fold over end to the other end of the suede thread and repeat steps 4 to 6 to add dangles to the second fold over end to complete the bookmark.

Shopping Guide
All beads and supplies are from The Bead Shop (Nottingham) Ltd, Tel: 0115 9588 899
To visit their website click on the link below
www.mailorder-beads.co.uk

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Berry Red Bookmark

Design by Sarah Austin, Beadsisters

Make your own chain tassel with small jump rings.


Gather these supplies

• 104 id 2.4mm, 0.81mm non-tarnished silver enamelled copper jump rings
• 1 id 5mm, 1.29mm bright aluminium jump ring
• 3 6mm dark purple Czech glass pearls
• 3 6mm berry red Czech glass pearls
• 7 4mm dark purple Czech glass pearls
• 8 4mm berry red Czech glass pearls
• 6 2x3.5mm silver plated Tierracast stepped bead caps
• 1 10x13mm silver plated flat cone
• 1 5mm silver plated eyepin
• 1 pewter flower bookmark
• 0.6mm silver plated wire

Here’s how

1. Cut a 15cm length of 0.6mm wire. At one end of the wire, make a loop using the very tip of your round nose pliers. Thread one 6mm pearl and one bead cap and make a wrapped loop. Make six 6mm beaded dangles in this way.
2. Using a length of wire, make a loop with the tip of your round nose pliers as in step 1. Thread one 4mm pearl and make a loop. Make fifteen 4mm beaded dangles.
3. Attach one jump ring to each beaded dangle – this jump ring will become a link in the tassel chains you will make in steps 4-6.
4. Link one ring to the ring attached to a 6mm beaded dangle. Make a chain using the jump rings. After five rings, add one ring with a 4mm beaded dangle as the next link.
5. Continue making the chain adding 4mm beaded dangles every four or five rings along. Do not put a beaded dangle on the last ring you attach to each chain.
6. Make six chains of varying lengths – seven, fifteen, sixteen, twenty, twenty two and twenty four jump rings long.
7. Open the id 5mm ring and link the six tassel chains and the eyepin. Thread the eyepin through the top of the cone. Make a wrapped loop making sure you attach the loop to the bookmark before you wrap it.

Shopping Guide
All beads and supplies are from Beadsisters, Tel: 01776 830352 To visit their website click on the link below
www.beadsisters.co.uk

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Hummingbird Charm

Design by Rebecca Hughes

Link a gorgeous selection of whimsical beads and charms together to create this lovely bookmark – an ideal beginner’s project.


Gather these supplies

• Silver hummingbird charm
• 1 12mm Chessboard round crystal
• 3 Pink/purple crystals
• 2 Glass connectors
• 2 Bead caps
• 13 Headpins
• 3 6mm Jump rings
• 1 8mm Jump ring
• 1 Beadable bookmark

Here’s how

1. Thread a bead cap and the chessboard bead followed by another bead cap onto a headpin. Turn a loop at the top and thread onto a 6mm jump ring. Thread the bird charm onto the same jump ring.
2. Onto another 6mm jump ring thread two crystal embellished headpins using simple loops.
3. Thread another 6mm jump ring through the pink flower crystal.
4. Thread an 8mm jump ring through the hole in the bookmark. To this connect and attach all your links and charms. Make sure the hummingbird charm hangs from the bottom of the bookmark.

Shopping Guide
Chessboard bead and other crystal beads from JillyBeads – www.jillybeads.co.uk
Hummingbird charm from The Bead Shop Manchester – www.the-beadshop.co.uk
Glass connectors from Spellbound Bead Company – www.spellboundbead.co.uk