A Little Library Project: Custom Bookplates and Memory Cards for Children’s Books

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Written By Faye

When my daughter was born, I did what any book lover might do when handed a tiny human: I started building her a library. Not just a “pop some board books on a shelf” situation, but an extra personal one—full of story books that had their own stories.

I wanted a library that told a bigger tale—of where each book came from, who gave it to her or what we were doing on the day we picked it up.

I decided to make custom bookplates for each book to record when, how and why they entered her collection as well as a special keepsake file to memorialise those books that were loved but inevitably retired or passed on.

I wanted to make bookplates that were pretty, removable, and meaningful enough to bottle up all the tiny memories even once their books were no longer physically in her possession.

I needed:

 

Step 1: Designing the Bookplates

I headed straight to Canva and designed simple bookplate cards, using standard business card dimensions (85 x 55mm).

Why business card size? Mainly because they’re easy to print pretty much anywhere, and fit neatly into the front of a book.

Each card says:
From the library of [my daughter’s name]
Then underneath, three little prompts:

  • Title (in case the card ever migrates)

  • Date (because time is a blur)

  • From (whether it’s a gift, a charity shop treasure, or one of those “just because” impulse buys)

I chose to have the cards printed on textured 300gsm Tintoretto Gesso card stock with Printed.com to give them a timeless luxurious feel.

 

Step 2: Making Them Stick, Without Actually Sticking

I didn’t want to glue anything into the books permanently so I found these little clear business card pouches. They’re mini sticky sleeves that can be applied and later peeled off. I popped one on the inside cover or back of each book, ready to slide a bookplate card in.

 

Step 3: Keeping the Keepsakes (Because Even Retired Board Books Deserve a Moment)

Some books won’t stay with us forever. Board books will be outgrown and some might get passed on to other little ones. But I love the idea of still keeping the memories attached to them.

So I picked up a simple business card holder book to create a mini archive of my daughter’s reading journey. Every time we retire a book, we’ll take the bookplate out and slip it into the holder instead.

Some books will come from special friends, others will be spontaneous “just because” buys, and a few will mark big milestones like first family trips or birthdays. I hope we’ll create a patchwork of lovely little stories—not just the ones in the pages, but the ones wrapped around how they came to be hers.

To make your own…

Faye