If you’ve been following along with this beginner junk journal series, we’ve already covered how to make your first junk journal, what you can put inside it, and some easy ways to decorate your pages.
Click here for Part 1: How to Create a Junk Journal
Now we're going to start actually building things into those pages.
And we're starting with one of my favorite things:
POCKETS AND TUCK SPOTS.
Why?
Because they’re easy.
They’re useful.
They make your journal interactive.
And—maybe best of all—you can make them out of scraps.
You know those little pieces of pretty paper you keep moving around your craft table because they're way too cute to throw away?
Today is their day. 😂
Click here for Part 2: What do You Put in Junk Journal
First...What's the Difference Between a Pocket and a Tuck Spot?
Before we start gluing things everywhere, here's the simplest explanation.
A pocket is attached on several sides, usually three, leaving one side open so you can slide something inside.
A tuck spot is attached only along part of the paper—maybe one side and the bottom, or even just a corner—so you can tuck something behind it.
That's it.
No complicated terminology required.
Click here for my Glossary of Junk Journal Terms A-Z
Both are perfect for holding things like tags, journal cards, photos, little notes, receipts, tickets, quotes, lists and other paper treasures.
And you don't need special templates or fancy tools to make them.
Let's raid that scrap pile.
1. The Simple Scrap Paper Pocket
This is probably the easiest junk journal pocket you can make.
Find a rectangular piece of scrapbook paper, book page, cardstock or other paper scrap.
Trim it so it's a little smaller than the page you're adding it to.
Then glue along:
the left side + bottom + right side.
Leave the top open.
Boom.
You made a pocket.
You can leave the top straight, tear the edge, round the corners or cut a little half-circle notch in the center.
Slip in a tag or journaling card and suddenly that plain journal page has something fun happening.
Teresa's tip: Before gluing the pocket down, ink, paint or decorate it while it's still flat. It's much easier than trying to decorate it after you've glued it into your journal.
Ask me how I know. 😂
2. The Triangle Corner Pocket
Have an awkward little square or rectangle of paper left over?
Turn it into a corner pocket.
Cut the paper diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner.
Now you have two triangles—which means you can actually make two pockets from one scrap.
Place one triangle in the bottom corner of your page and glue along the two outside edges.
Leave the diagonal edge open.
Slide a tag, photo or journaling card underneath.
I especially love these because they add something interesting to a page without covering the whole thing.
And if the paper is pretty?
Even better.
3. The Fold-Up Pocket
This one is ridiculously simple.
Take a journal page that has a little extra length at the bottom.
Instead of trimming that extra paper off...
fold it up.
Glue or stitch the two sides and leave the top open.
Instant pocket.
You can also do this with a separate piece of paper. Fold the bottom portion upward, glue the sides, and then glue the whole piece into your journal.
This is a great way to use scrapbook paper because the reverse side often becomes part of the design when you fold it.
One piece of paper. Two patterns.
Look at us being efficient.
4. The Envelope Pocket
Please tell me I'm not the only person who gets a pretty envelope and immediately thinks:
I should probably save this.
Well, now you have an excuse.
Old greeting-card envelopes, junk-mail envelopes, little stationery envelopes and even handmade envelopes make fantastic junk journal pockets.
You can glue the entire envelope onto your page and use it as-is.
OR...
Cut part of an envelope off and use just the section you need.
OR...
Glue the envelope down with the flap accessible so you have a little secret spot inside your journal.
Decorate it with paper scraps, stamps, washi tape, paint or a label.
Then tuck a note, photo or little memory inside.
And yes, you are now officially looking at your mail differently.
Welcome to junk journaling. 😂
5. The Side Tuck Spot
Here's where we start getting a little fancy.
And by fancy I mean...
we're gluing paper on two sides instead of three.
Find a pretty scrap of paper, book page, tag, journal card or even part of a greeting card.
Place it along the side of your journal page.
Glue along the outside edge and bottom only.
Leave the inside edge open.
Now you can slide something behind it from the side.
This is a tuck spot.
Try tucking a tag or journaling card behind it and letting part of it peek out.
Those little layers sticking out from your pages are one of the things that make junk journals so much fun.
6. The Belly Band
Technically this isn't a traditional pocket, but it does the same job beautifully.
Take a strip of paper and place it vertically or horizontally across your page.
Glue only the two ends.
Leave the middle loose.
Now you can slide a tag, photo, postcard or journaling card underneath the strip.
That's a belly band.
They're especially handy when you want to hold something larger without covering it up.
And this is PERFECT for those long skinny strips of scrapbook paper that somehow multiply in the scrap bin overnight.
You know the ones.
Apparently they breed when we're sleeping.
7. The "What Even Is This Scrap?" Tuck Spot
This may actually be my favorite.
Take one of those weird leftover scraps.
You know...
The torn corner.
The half flower.
The piece of book page that's definitely too small to be useful but apparently too precious to throw away.
Don't straighten it.
Don't make it perfect.
Glue only part of it to your page and leave another edge open.
Then tuck something behind it.
That's it.
Sometimes those imperfect scraps make the best little details in a junk journal because they don't look planned.
And that's kind of the whole point.
Click here for Part 3 of my Beginner Junk Journal Series: How to Decorate a Junk Journal
What Can You Put Inside Your Pockets?
Once you start adding pockets and tuck spots, you'll need things to put inside them.
Try:
tags, journaling cards, photos, ticket stubs, receipts, little notes, favorite quotes, postcards, business cards from trips, lists, tiny paintings or doodles, printable ephemera, scraps with dates or memories written on them.
And remember...
Not every pocket has to contain something important.
Sometimes the pretty little tag is there because the pretty little tag made you happy.
That counts.
Use What You Have
If you've noticed a theme throughout this series, it's this:
You don't need more supplies before you're allowed to create.
Look through your paper scraps.
Look at your junk mail.
Save an envelope.
Cut apart an old greeting card.
Grab that weird little strip of scrapbook paper you've apparently been emotionally attached to for six months. 😂
Then make one pocket.
Not seventeen.
Not an entire Pinterest-worthy journal spread.
One.
Slide something inside.
And you've learned another junk journaling technique.
That's how creative confidence grows—not by knowing everything before you begin, but by trying one little thing at a time.
And those tiny creative moments?
They add up.
You can click here for this FREE Download: 6 Easy Junk Journal Pockets and Tucks
Your Junk Journal Challenge
Before you leave your craft table today, choose one scrap of paper and turn it into either a pocket or a tuck spot.
That's your assignment.
No perfection required.
And absolutely no emergency trip to the craft store required.
Although what you do after we're finished here is between you and your credit card. 😂
Create. Relax. Enjoy.
Head over to my You tube channel for my Junk Journaling and Paper Crafting Play list. I have dozens of step by step videos.
-teresa XO
Teresa's Spot for Creativity
