If you've been looking for a quick, satisfying paper project — something you can actually finish in an afternoon and give as a gift — this tutorial is exactly that. I'm making two versions of a simple favor pocket: one in burlap, finished with twine and a sewn-on button, and one in double-sided paper that folds up into a little house shape and holds a tiny pamphlet-stitch booklet inside. Both are the kind of thing that looks considered but comes together fast, and either one slips beautifully into a gift basket or works as a small standalone gift on its own.
What we cover
This tutorial walks through both a burlap favor pocket and a paper version — the paper one being the main event, with a house-shaped folded pocket built from double-sided scrapbook paper, decorated with layered circles, a brad, twine, and stickers, and sized to hold a small three-hole pamphlet-stitch booklet made from A4 pages.
What you'll learn
How to cut and sew a burlap favor pocket, including how to stitch three sides shut with needle and thread, and why that's worth choosing over stapling (staples can scratch — especially when the pocket ends up in someone's hands as a gift).
How to choose and prepare fabric or paper for the pocket base — the key is that your material needs some weight to it. Burlap works beautifully, but so does upholstery fabric or anything with a bit of body. For the paper version, double-sided paper is non-negotiable: you'll see the inside of the fold, and plain white kills the effect.
How to fold the diagonal point on the paper pocket, including:
- Eyeballing the fold if you're comfortable with approximate placement
- Using a cutting mat grid to land the point precisely on center, then folding at a measured distance from the point on both sides — the method I use when I want the two sides to match exactly
How to finish and close the pocket, including folding the bottom flap up and gluing it inside so the pocket holds its shape without visible closures.
How to layer strips and circles for embellishment, including:
- Using a wider patterned strip as a base band around the pocket
- Layering a second, narrower strip on top for depth
- Adding inked-edge circles (book page circles are particularly good here) for a focal point
How to make and attach a DIY brad as a focal embellishment — I have a whole separate video on making these, and this project is a perfect use for them. No sewing required; the brad goes straight through the layers without poking through the back.
How to tie a twine bow that wraps the pocket and sits comfortably without interfering with what's inside.
How to make a three-hole pamphlet-stitch booklet sized to fit the pocket, including:
- Folding A4 sheets in half to create signature pages
- Waiting to bind until after you've cut the pages to final size — so you can see exactly how tall the spine is before placing your holes
- Marking and trimming the booklet to fit with a little breathing room on all sides so it slides in and out cleanly
- Sewing the three-hole pamphlet stitch with a fine thread (not chunky thread — these are small pages and heavy thread looks out of place)
Why the house shape is worth exploring further — once you've made one of these pockets and seen that pointed roofline, it's hard not to start thinking about windows, doors, and a full house-shaped journal series. That's an idea I'm planning to take much further.
Tips & gotchas
Use double-sided paper for the paper version. You'll see the inside of the fold from the outside of the finished pocket — so if that interior face is plain white, it shows. Choose paper that looks good on both sides, or cut your own double-sided square from a 12×12 sheet.
Cut the booklet pages to size before you bind. I know it's tempting to sew first and trim after, but if you bind first you can't see the actual spine height — and that's what tells you where to place your holes. Cut everything to the right dimensions first, then pierce and sew.
Trim the booklet cover slightly smaller than the pocket opening. A booklet that's exactly the same width as the pocket will fight you every time someone tries to remove it. A little space on each side — maybe a few millimeters — means it slides in and out the way it should.
The diagonal fold goes easier with a cutting mat. You can absolutely eyeball where the center point lands, and if you're relaxed about it, eyeballing is fine. But if you want both sides to mirror each other, putting the paper on a grid line and folding at a measured distance from the point takes the guesswork out completely.
Stapling the burlap pocket shut is possible, but skip it if this is going to someone's hands. Those staple ends can scratch. A simple running stitch along the sides takes only a minute or two more and leaves nothing sharp behind. Gluing works too if you'd rather not sew.
I'm already thinking about making a whole series of house-shaped journals: adding windows cut from patterned paper, a little door, maybe a chimney detail. The booklet inside can hold prompts, notes, a letter, reasons-why-I-love-you pages — it's a genuinely flexible little object. And the burlap version has its own charm: tucked into a rustic gift basket alongside something edible, it has exactly the right texture and warmth. Once you've made one of each, you'll find yourself reaching for this format every time you need a small, handmade gift that feels like more than it took to make.
