If you've been looking for a small journal project that comes together quickly and ends up looking genuinely interesting, this tutorial is for you. Starting from a single 12×12 sheet of scrapbook paper, I'll show you how to fold and cut an angled Z-fold structure — borrowed from the card-making world — and combine it with a dos-a-dos binding idea from bookmaking to create a tri-fold angled junk journal with two bound signatures, pockets, and tags. No complicated tools, no measuring obsession, just a satisfying little project you'll want to make again.
What we cover
This tutorial walks through building a tri-fold angled junk journal from one sheet of scrapbook paper: scoring and folding the Z-fold base, cutting it at a slant to create the signature pockets, binding two small signatures with a three-hole pamphlet stitch, making and fitting angled tags and tag toppers, and adding pockets and a closure to finish. I also show how multiple units can be interlocked accordion-style if you want to keep going.
What you'll learn
How to create the Z-fold base from a single 12×12 sheet — scored and folded at four-inch intervals to produce three equal panels with two spines, the structural heart of the whole project.
How to cut the angled slant that defines the tri-fold shape, including:
- Starting from the top-left corner and deciding how tall you want the pocket
- Eyeballing the angle rather than measuring — the organic result is part of the charm
- Using the leftover triangle offcut as a ready-made corner pocket
How to make and size signatures to fit each spine, including:
- Folding six sheets of copy paper to the height of each pocket
- Marking and trimming to size before binding so nothing sticks out
- Using standard copy paper or mixing in maps, book pages, or other junk journal materials
How to bind each signature with a three-hole pamphlet stitch — in through the middle, out through the top, back through the bottom, in through the middle again, pulled tight and finished with a double knot. Simple, sturdy, and done in a couple of minutes per signature.
How to trim the bound signatures flush — following the scrapbook paper edge with a metal ruler so the finished book sits clean, and keeping all the trimmed strips for corner pockets or other elements.
How to cut angled tags that match the slant of the journal — aligning the ruler to the same angle as the cut edge so the tag shoulders echo the shape of the pocket. When the angles match, the tag looks intentional; when they don't, it looks off.
How to make and attach tag toppers, including:
- Cutting a small topper from coordinating scrapbook paper
- Inking the edges so it reads as a separate element
- Gluing only the bottom edge — not the top — so the topper sits freely over the underlying layer
How to add pockets throughout the structure, including:
- Gluing a pocket panel on three sides and inking the edges before attaching
- Creating a flip-down element that doubles as a decorative feature and pocket
- Sewing two small pieces together on the machine to make a double pocket for the front
How to add a simple closure — a length of thread or twine tied in a bow at the front, which also helps unify the finished piece when it's closed.
How to interlock multiple units into an accordion structure — making two or three journals to the same measurements and interlocking the panels so the back of one becomes the front face of the next, creating an expanding dos-a-dos accordion that can keep going as long as you want.
Tips & gotchas
Score before you fold. Even if you're working with light scrapbook paper, a scored line gives you a crisp, clean fold — folding cold without scoring tends to leave a fuzzy or slightly crooked edge, and on a project this small the difference shows.
The slanted cut is one of the most satisfying parts of this project, and you really don't need to measure it. Eyeballing gives you a more organic, handmade feel. If you want a deeper pocket, take the cut lower; if you want a shallower one, take it higher. Just keep both panels roughly matching each other.
Save every offcut. The triangle left over from the angled cut is already shaped for a corner pocket — three sides of glue and it's done. The strips trimmed from the bound signatures are the right width for corner pockets too. There's almost no waste in this project if you pay attention to what lands on your desk.
When you're fitting tags into pockets, occasionally the pocket ends up a little snug. Rather than forcing the tag in and creasing it, use a thin tool — a bone folder, a pen cap, anything with a bit of reach — to gently open the pocket from the inside. The tag will slide in cleanly after that.
On the tag topper: glue only the bottom edge down. It sounds obvious, but it's easy to accidentally press the topper flat against the layer underneath while the glue is still wet, which seals it shut and loses the layered effect.
If you're planning to make two or three units to interlock into an accordion, cut them all from the same measurements before you start decorating. It's much easier to align them at the structural stage than to try to match panels after they're already embellished.
I barely scratched the surface in the tutorial, and I suspect you'll find your own variations once you've made the first one.
