Building a journal is fun, but no journal is complete for me without a pocket in the back to hold ephemera I want to use, but haven’t developed a page for yet.
I’ve fallen in love with library pockets–original ones preferred–to add storage capacity to my journals. They can be glued in where needed. I also like to join them in a variety of ways, and use them as accordion books on their own.
Here’s a good short video I found on adding a gusseted pocket to the back of a handmade or purchased journal. I have just one warning–never glue on your cutting mat. The tiniest smear of glue on the mat will create a bump that will wreck your next project. Glue on a magazine, flipping the page with each new glue step.
Video courtesy: “makezine.com: Maker’s Notebook“, posted with vodpod
—Quinn McDonal is an art journaler and creativity coach who is working on a book on confronting the inner critic.
Just a thought about the pocket, it might be easier if you glue both fronts before the backs. And an inverted pleat in the bottom of the pocket would give a fatter pocket at the base . . . ah . . . but then you couldn’t close the book!
Thinking about doing is a great first step.
I’m a phone book fan too. But a pocket? My ephemera will never fit! When I was travelling I’d save just about everything much to my friends amusement, and one day, I’ll find the perfect project for all of my boarding passes. And that’s why they’re in the box, that word perfect keeps them there!!!
It’s no wonder I’m making a Late Start! It looks like I have a mission this weekend . . . to use one of those precious momentoes
I know—it feels better to keep it till the perfect project comes up. Not going to happen, so use it!
A bone folder, add it in your tool box, is the go-to tool used by bookbinders for making crisp folds.
Yep, I use a Volcano Art bone folder. Worth every penny.
Thanks for the video! and i agree with the glue on the cutting mat advice. big mistake…
I’ve made it often enough to know it’s STILL a mistake!
I don’t get magazines, but I do collect old phone books for the gluing and they work well too.
Phone books work better, actually. I use catalogs, and the slick pages sometimes smear. And a phone book is a lot thicker!