Don't you just love sending a special cross stitch gift to a friend? A card you've stitched is a great way to mark special occasions and holidays. Your friends are probably thrilled when they receive your cards and admire them for quite some time. Sadly, though, eventually the cards end up tucked away inside cabinets and drawers. Instead of a card, you may want to create a personalised bookmark the next time a special person in your life celebrates an occasion.

Bookmarks just make sense. Your friend will sit down to relax with a book, and your bookmark will help make that time even more enjoyable. Each time this person reads a book, he or she will once again get to admire the special gift you made. A cross stitch bookmark is a gift that's both practical and pretty.

Like any other stitching project, you'll want to consider a few suggestions before you begin creating your gifts.

Firstly, your chosen design should have a great appeal for the recipient. What is the favorite color of this person? A favorite flower? A hobby? You can make the bookmark with these things in mind. Do remember that this will be a quick project, however. A cross stitch bookmark is small, and therefore, you will not be able to incorporate every aspect of the person's likes and dislikes into this design. If your friend has lots of interests, you may consider what he or she most enjoys reading about.

Children may be encouraged to read by being given their very own bookmark, with a favourite cute character stitched onto it to make it personal for them.

The easiest way to make a cross stitch bookmark is to buy a branded kit, choosing the most appropriate design for your friend. In any case, buying a kit for the first bookmark you make is probably a good idea, as it will contain all the necessary threads, fabric and instructions you need. You will be able to get some information from this as a sort of template for your future projects.

Traditionally, bookmarks are long and slim in shape. It is important that they are not too bulky or scratchy, as this could damage fine paper pages. You will need to consider what sorts of books your friend reads. Paperback books are usually smaller than their hardback counterparts, and therefore you need to take this into account when considering the size. As a general rule, it's advisable to make your bookmark between six to nine inches long (15 to 22cm) and two and a half inches (6.5cm) wide.

You will need to cut your cross stitch fabric (aida or evenweave) to the right size. In order to prevent the edges from fraying, you should stitch a piece of binding or ribbon to the edges. If you prefer, you can use a larger piece of fabric and deliberately fray the edges yourself, keeping the edges symmetrical and neat in appearance. You can then stop further fraying by spraying with a fray-stopping product.

Many bookmark designs exists, so finding one should be easy. Look in cross stitch books and magazines for a small pattern that will look nice on a bookmark. Of course, you can draw your own pattern. Keep it small enough that it doesn't run right up to the edges. Use graph paper to draw your pattern. Each square on the paper should indicate a single stitch on your bookmark.

To make the back as attractive as the front, carefully glue ribbon or fabric to hide the stitching. As you stitch, you want to avoid thick knots or other bumps.

To give your bookmark added interest, do consider folding the bottom of it into a triangle shape instead of a straight line. You can add a tassel, some beads or a shell to the end, to make it look unusual.

Do not forget to iron the finished bookmark carefully, between two towels, so that it does not become overheated.

Stitching bookmarks is fun and easy. After you've done a few, you may decide you really enjoy making bookmarks for gifts. These projects take very little time. Let your creativity run wild and see what you can make.

More importantly, think how delighted your friends will be when they receive a beautiful cross stitch bookmark. Unlike a stitched card, which may end up forgotten in a drawer, a personalized bookmark is sure to be treasured for years.