I would glue it to a matte board or cardstock.

Fold the excess material to the back so it meets in the center and slip stitch it together. I'm not one for gluing, etc. It usually changes color. I did a project once that required glue - what a mess. I threw it all in the trash despite the time and money I had invested.
I've made bookmarks for one of my granddaughter's (pre-Kindle) and did extra clean stitching. I made a border of cross stitches around the entire thing and fringed it. They looked really cute. I used this technique mostly for monochromatic designs to be able to keep the back clean.
Why are you putting all this work into something that's basically obsolete? :)

Simply I am retired now and was looking for something to do while watching TV. I can't knit anymore due to arthritic hands, but I recently knitted did a small knitting project to make a snood for my self and daughter by making a snood. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed doing doing some type of needlework. So I thought I would renew doing some cross stitch projects. I am finishing a Halloween pumpkin wall hanging, but you can only do so many of those. We have a store in town called Perpetual Bazzar that sells 2nd hand goods and craft items. There is also a pet rescue organization up here that secures some of their financing by doing "pet-a-thons" by selling items for sale. By doing bookmarks of cats, dogs, or towels, or small pillows and donating them, I have doing something enjoyable and helping out organizations as well. Bookmarks aren't entirely dead yet, there are some people who still enjoy a paper copy of a book (myself included). If I find they aren't selling I'll find something else.....😀

Simply I am retired now and was looking for something to do while watching TV. I can't knit anymore due to arthritic hands, but I recently knitted did a small knitting project to make a snood for my self and daughter by making a snood. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed doing doing some type of needlework. So I thought I would renew doing some cross stitch projects. I am finishing a Halloween pumpkin wall hanging, but you can only do so many of those. We have a store in town called Perpetual Bazzar that sells 2nd hand goods and craft items. There is also a pet rescue organization up here that secures some of their financing by doing "pet-a-thons" by selling items for sale. By doing bookmarks of cats, dogs, or towels, or small pillows and donating them, I have doing something enjoyable and helping out organizations as well. Bookmarks aren't entirely dead yet, there are some people who still enjoy a paper copy of a book (myself included). If I find they aren't selling I'll find something else.....😀

Hi there

I never had done any of the bookmark for myself or friends or family but if U want to double it with the same material and sew it all around it. That is Ok or double it with another kind of material that is Ok too. U can make it with plastic canvas or Aida plus. that is my ideas. Enjoy.

I have fringed my bookmarks--pull out edge threads far enough so it won't ravel. Aida is the best. And then I glue a pretty color of felt on the back to hide the back stitching. I pick a felt color that will accent the front. I buy my felt squares from Hobby Lobby and cut to size, just short of the fringe.

I have used the fringed edge method and glued felt on the back. Have never had any problems with the glue 'cause I don't used gobs and gobs -- just enough to do the job. Also, there are a number of fusable fabrics out there -- just check the sewing counter at JoAnns or Hancocks or Hobby Lobby. You can single fuse a layer of pellon to the back or use a double sided fusable and fuse a pretty cotton fabric to the back.

I've used fusable interfacing for other cross stitch projects, but never thought about bookmarks. What a great idea, especially using the double-sided to add a material layer!

Almost all of my cross stitch books have instructions in them --- and they aren't always the same. One of the suggested Stitch Wichery between the stitching and a coordinating ribbbon.

I have bookmarks tag in evernote to collect the different ideas I find. Pinterest is usually a treasuretrove for this kind of information.

I hope the stitchers here don't mind me hijacking their great suggestions for my collection.

Oh no, no, no Texas Stitcher. Please say it ain't so: I'll be using bookmarks forever, even if they are to keep my place in my collection of cross stitch magazines.