Hello! Valerie Sjodin here to show you how to make a journal pocket in your notebook with the help of a few rolls of Washi tape. It's fun and easy!

Here is a photo of the pocket I will be making in the video below.

SUPPLIES

When purchasing supplies, receive a 10% discount at Archer & Olive with code Valerie10

• Journal
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Cutting mat
• Craft knife
• Awl, paper punch or large needle
• Washi tape (I usually use 4-5 patterns/rolls)
• Scissors

STEPS

Making a pocket in your journal using Washi tape

Getting ready:
Choose where you want your pocket in the journal and the Washi tape you want to use. I usually use about four rolls of Washi tape for this type of pocket

1. On the front of the pocket page, lightly draw with a pencil and ruler from the top center of the spread, where the binding is, diagonally down to where you want the open portion of the pocket to end on the outside edge of the page.

2. Using a cutting mat and craft knife, line up the ruler on the drawn pencil line and cut the upper portion off of the paper. If you don't have a craft knife and cutting mat, you can use scissors.

3. For the taped edge on the diagonal cut, measure a piece slightly longer than the diagonal line and cut it. Then place the piece of tape on the diagonal cut so about half of the tape will fold over the diagonal edge and so that there is enough tape to trim the tape at the spine and the outside vertical edge of the page. 

4. Trim the tape carefully at the binding edge with the craft knife or scissors where the tape hangs over the top edge 

5. Turn the diagonal page over and fold the tape over the edge. You can trim the tape on the outside edge now or later. 

6. To make one or more slot pockets, choose where you want the slit/s for the pockets and draw them lightly with a ruler and pencil.

7. At the end of the slit lines, use a small hole punch, an awl, tack, or thick needle to poke a hole on each end of the drawn line.

8. Put a cutting mat under the diagonal page, line up the ruler on the lines drawn for the slit pocket/s and cut from hole to hole on the line.

9. Choose and cut tape the length of the slit and place tape on the slit so part of the tape can fold over the slit’s edge on the back of the slit.

Then Turn the page over, folding the tape through the slit and press into place.

Press down the tape on the back side of the pocket page. 

10. To attach the diagonal page to the back page that makes the pocket by putting Washi tape along the length of the side, or the bottom, of the diagonal page, leaving some Washi tape to fold over the back of the pages behind it. 

11. Turn the page over, fold the Washi tape on the back side of the paper. Make sure the diagonal pocket page and the page directly behind it are together, and then fold the remaining tape over to the back of the pocket page

12. Repeat for the bottom of the pocket pages

13. Trim tape around the edges as needed 

Here is the finished pocket ready to hold some goodies. If desired, add decorations, stickers doodles etc.

Above are a few of the same style of pockets in three sizes of journals, along with some items to go in the pockets such as: cards, lists of all kinds, tags, journaling prompts, sticker sheets, paper dolls, tickets to events, info you want to add later to your journal,  etc.

Adding a pocket to your journal adds an element of surprise and beauty, along with a place to store things. I hope you are inspired to make your own pocket in your journal notebook.

If you’d like more inspiration on art journaling, tutorials, planner journal set-up, word of the year journaling, visit my website and blog at: https://valeriesjodin.com

Be blessed!