How to Make a Simple Journal Pocket from One Sheet of A4 Paper

Turn a sheet of plain printer paper into a neat journal pocket for notes, tickets and little keepsakes. The finished pocket measures 10 × 15 cm, with a shorter front so you can easily reach what’s inside.

Use plain paper or print our free autumn design on one side. Choose a pattern that looks lovely in any direction, as folding turns part of the design upside down. Our free autumn printable is perfect for this pocket.

What you’ll need

• One sheet of A4 printer paper
• Ruler and pencil
• Scissors
• Paper glue

Make your pocket

1. Cut and mark the paper

Cut a rectangle 12 cm wide by 28 cm tall. Place it upright with the printed side facing down.

Measure 13 cm up from the bottom and draw a horizontal line across the paper. Then draw a vertical line 1 cm in from each long edge, from bottom to top.

2. Cut the side tabs

Above the horizontal line, cut away both narrow side strips. Each strip should measure 1 × 15 cm. Leave the lower section untouched.

Your upper section should now measure 10 × 15 cm, while the lower section remains 12 × 13 cm. The extra width on the lower section forms your side tabs.

3. Fold the front up

Fold the lower section upward along the horizontal line, so the printed side faces you.

The back should extend 2 cm above the front, with a 1 cm tab sticking out on either side.

4. Fold the tabs around the back

Wrap each side tab around the corresponding edge of the back panel and crease firmly. The tabs should rest against the outside of the back.

Before gluing, check that the pocket opens at the top and the bottom is closed by the fold.

5. Glue the tabs

Lift each tab, apply a thin layer of glue underneath, then press it onto the back of the pocket. Keep glue away from the opening and the inside.

Allow the glue to dry. A scrap of paper measuring 9 × 14 cm should slide inside comfortably and peek above the front.

Want a different size?

Keep the side tabs 1 cm wide and the front 2 cm shorter than the back. Your starting rectangle should be 2 cm wider than the finished pocket, and twice its finished height, minus 2 cm. Fold upward from the bottom at the finished height minus 2 cm.

For example, an 8 × 12 cm pocket needs a 10 × 22 cm rectangle, folded 10 cm up from the bottom. Larger pockets may need a larger sheet of paper.

Add it to your journal

Apply a thin layer of glue to the outside of the back, position the pocket on your journal page and press gently into place. Let it dry before slipping in a few favourite paper keepsakes.

Haven’t picked up your free autumn printable yet? Click here to download it and make your own journal pocket.