If you've ever wanted a back-pocket for your journal that looks like it actually belongs there — rather than the plain folded flap that comes standard — this tutorial is for you. I walk through making expandable pockets from scratch, sized to fit any journal or planner, using whatever paper you have on hand: book pages, scrapbook paper, cardstock, even off-cuts from the scraps box. You end up with something that holds all your little goodies and looks intentional.
What we cover
We make two expandable pockets from start to finish — one from scrapbook paper to show the plain construction clearly, and one from book pages that I embellish with lace, a butterfly, and inked edges. Along the way I cover how to size the pocket to your journal, how the three-piece fold structure works, and the tricky closing step that trips people up the first time.
What you'll learn
How to size an expandable pocket to any journal or planner — by measuring directly against your cover rather than working from fixed dimensions, so the pocket fits whatever you're working on.
How to cut and score the main pocket piece, including:
- Marking and trimming to height against your journal
- Folding in half and scoring the opening edge
- Tapering the ends slightly so the corners sit flush
How to make the two side accordion pieces — the folded strips that give the pocket its depth. Each one is cut slightly shorter than the main piece, folded in half, then the open ends folded back in. This is the step that makes the pocket expandable rather than flat.
Which direction to fold the side pieces — this depends entirely on how your paper is oriented after trimming. The rule is simple: fold whichever way the paper fits. If you try to fold lengthwise and it doesn't sit right, turn it the other way. It matters more that the fold works cleanly than that it follows a fixed instruction.
How to glue the side pieces into the main body, with the pointed fold facing inward so the clean side shows when the pocket opens.
The closing sequence — gluing both side ends simultaneously, holding the accordion folds down while you shut the pocket, and sealing the top flap last. Doing it one side at a time is possible, but I find gluing both sides at once and then maneuvering the pocket closed gives a cleaner result.
How to attach the finished pocket to a journal or planner cover — glue or double-sided tape along the back face, positioned so the pocket opens upward from the bottom of the cover.
How to embellish a book-page pocket, including:
- Combining two shades of book page for the main body and side pieces
- Inking edges for a cohesive vintage look
- Adding lace off-cuts, stickers, and layered paper scraps
- Using a butterfly embellishment as a focal point
Why three-dimensional embellishments need some thought — a heavily embellished pocket at the back of a journal can make writing on nearby pages awkward. A dashboard (a few pieces of cardstock sewn together and slipped under the working page) solves this without sacrificing the look.
Tips & gotchas
When you're cutting the side accordion pieces, don't leave too much paper beyond the fold — if the strip is too wide for the space, you'll end up with a visible gap or hole at the edge of the pocket. I did this on my very first one and it's annoying every time you look at it. Trim closer than you think you need to.
The wider you cut those side pieces, the more the pocket will expand — but also the more the accordion will push the pocket open rather than lying flat. There's a tradeoff, and it depends on how much you want the pocket to hold versus how tidy you want it to sit against the cover.
When you close the pocket, hold the accordion ends down before pressing it shut. They have a tendency to spring up, which means glue ends up in the wrong place. If glue does squeeze out anywhere, remove it immediately before it sets.
For the closing sequence specifically — gluing the top flap last is easiest if you open one side, tuck the flap in, then come back for the other side. Rushing this step is where most of the messiness happens.
If you're making a book-page pocket and want the text to read the right way up, pay attention to orientation before you glue. Once the side pieces are in, it's hard to fix.
And on embellishing: for a pocket you'll actually use to write against, keep it relatively flat. For a decorative pocket, go as three-dimensional as you like — just pair it with a cardstock dashboard that you can slip under the page when you need a firm writing surface.
I like making a small batch with whatever paper scraps are on the desk — different sizes, different papers — and keeping them ready to glue into journals as I'm finishing covers. Book pages especially look wonderful, and if you have signatures with the pages still attached you can pull a full sheet and have a pocket that looks like it was always meant to be there.
