10 ways to make Junk journal pockets

Pockets are a must-have for any junk journal. They allow you to store important items, such as photos, tickets, and notes, as well as fun tags and journal cards. They add an extra element of interest to your pages. These are some of the pockets I love to make.

Paper Bags

Paper bags are an easy and inexpensive way to add pockets to your journal. You can use standard lunch bags or decorative paper bags. Simply cut the bag in half and use each half as a separate pocket. You can also insert a folded paper bag into your signatures, as I have done in the picture below.

Fabric Pockets

Fabric pockets add a soft and textured element to your journal. You can use any type of fabric you like and sew or glue the edges to create a pocket. Doilies are another great option. This is also a great way to use up scraps of fabric you may have.

Doilies

Doilies can add a delicate and feminine touch to your journal pages. Simply sew or glue the edges of a doily onto your journal page, leaving the centre open to create a pocket.

Playing Cards

Old playing cards make great pockets, glue two cards together, as shown below, glue the bottom onto your page and hey presto, a cute pocket.

Scraps of Paper

Making Junk Journals leads to a ton of scrap paper, don’t throw them out. Bigger pieces make great pockets, glue or sew three sides to the paper leaving the top open. For smaller strips of paper, use them as belly bands, glue or sew the top and bottom to the centre of the page.

Book or Magazine Pictures

There are so many wonderful pictures you can use from books or magazines and are a simple way to make a pocket. Try to use thicker pages so they don’t tear easily or you can back them with cardstock.

Book Pages

If you have gutted an old book for your journal, chances are you have lots of book pages and you can make some creative pockets with these. One of my favourites is to take three sheets, stacked one on top of the other, tear the first two and ink with distress ink. Glue the sides and bottom of the pages. See the picture below.

Wallpaper Pieces

Wallpaper pieces give a nice texture as a pocket. Ask your local paint store, hardware store (Bunnings is a good one if you are in Australia) or there are scrapbooking stores online that you can buy packs from.

Envelopes

One of my favourite ways to use envelopes is in the signature. In the journal below I have placed it in the centre of the signature to make it easier to insert items, but it can be placed anywhere. You can also attach the envelope to a page with a paperclip so it can be taken out and moved around.

Stick two pages together

Once your signatures are sewn in, you could take two pieces and stick them together, leaving the side or the top open. This is a great way to put in larger journal cards. If you stick together the two centre pieces then you hide the binding.

With these pocket-making techniques, you can add even more functionality and creative flair to your junk journals. Enjoy experimenting with these ideas to customize your journal and make it truly unique!

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