We were honored to create a custom wood memorial bookmark for a beloved man who had recently passed. Made with our .025″ thick White Pine Real Wood Paper, this bookmark served as both a heartfelt tribute and a lasting keepsake. The natural warmth and soft grain of White Pine provided the perfect backdrop to honor someone with a deep love for horses and the western way of life. Simple yet meaningful, this Cricut-made memorial piece captured the rustic spirit of a life well lived.
Below is a materials list and the brief details with how we created this beautifully unique memorial bookmark.
Materials Used:
- White Pine .025″ Thick Wood Veneer Sheet 8.5″ x 11″ Short Grain
- Cricut Maker
- Canon Craft and Photo Printer
- Crop-a-Dile Paper Punch
- Brown Flat Suede Cord
Step-by-Step Tutorial
Create a Rustic Cowboy Memorial Bookmark with Real Wood Paper
Step 1: Design Your Bookmark
We began by designing the memorial bookmark in Photoshop, incorporating a photo of our cowboy friend along with a meaningful quote. Once the layout was complete, we saved the file as a flattened image.
Step 2: Prepare the Bookmark Cut File
Using a bookmark template from Cricut Design Space, we imported our design into Cricut and lined up the image within the bookmark cut borders. We repeated the design several times on the 8.5″ x 11″ canvas to make the most of a single sheet of wood.
Step 3: Print on Real Wood Paper
We used our Canon crafting photo printer to print directly onto an .025″ thick White Pine Wood Backed Sheet. Be sure to print from the rear feed tray if your printer has one, and always test your printer settings with a small design before printing the full sheet.
Step 4: Cut the Bookmarks with Cricut
Once printed, we carefully placed the wood sheet onto a strong grip cutting mat and loaded it into the Cricut Maker. We selected the appropriate cut settings and let the machine cut out the bookmarks.
Step 5: Remove Cut Pieces
After cutting, we gently removed the bookmarks from the wood sheet. Occasionally, pieces may not fully release—if that happens, simply bend the wood slightly back and forth near the cut lines. It may creak or crack a little, but that’s normal with thicker wood veneer sheets.
Step 6: Punch the Tassel Hole
Instead of cutting the tassel hole with the Cricut (which doesn’t always handle small holes well in thicker wood), we used a Crop-A-Dile punch to create a clean center hole in each bookmark.
Step 7: Add the Suede Tassel
To complete the rustic, western-inspired look, we threaded a piece of brown flat suede cord through the hole and tied it with a loop—resembling saddle tacks or reins.
These handcrafted bookmarks are a meaningful addition to any memorial or celebration of life. Made from real wood, each one offers a natural and heartfelt way to honor a loved one’s memory. With their warm texture and personalized design, they become a lasting tribute and something guests can hold onto, reflect on, and cherish. No two are exactly alike, making each bookmark as unique and one-of-a-kind as the life it represents.
To learn more about our 3 Different Wood Veneer Thicknesses as well as the difference between Short Grain and Long Grain, please click the links provided.
We hope you enjoyed this project. We invite you to share your DIY Wood Bookmark photos with us. We’d love to see them!
