A Simple Pattern Paper Pocket: A Quick and Creative Way to Use Your Scraps
Today, I’m sharing a quick and easy pocket made from pattern paper that can be used in so many different ways. It’s a great little project for using up scraps, adding a special touch to a handmade gift, or creating an interactive element on your scrapbook layouts and in your journals.
The best part? You can make one in just a few minutes, and you probably already have everything you need in your stash!
A Pocket with So Many Possibilities
I love projects that can serve more than one purpose, and this little pattern paper pocket is a perfect example. Depending on how you use it, it can be a practical gift card holder, a decorative scrapbook element, or a functional addition to a handmade journal.
Here are a few ways you could use one:
- Gift card holder: Tuck a gift card inside for a quick, handmade gift presentation.
- Lottery ticket holder: Create a fun way to gift lottery tickets for a birthday, Christmas, or another special occasion.
- Scrapbook pocket: Add a pocket to a scrapbook layout to hold extra photos, journaling cards, or little notes that you want to keep with your memories.
- Journal pocket: Use it in a junk journal, travel journal, or memory-keeping journal to hold tickets, receipts, tags, and other little treasures.
- Happy mail: Fill it with a handwritten note, a few embellishments, or a small collection of paper crafting goodies to send to a crafty friend.
You could even make several in different sizes to use throughout a mini album or journal!
This pocket includes a leftover piece of foiled cardstock, some ephemera pieces from my stash, a tag and a sweet notecard that has been in my collection for YEARS!!
Decorating Your Pocket with Scraps and Embellishments
For my pockets, I kept the decorating process simple and reached for a mix of random embellishments, leftover scraps, and tags from my stash. This is one of my favourite ways to craft. Rather than starting with a coordinated collection and purchasing everything to match, I like to see what I already have and experiment with different combinations. A small piece of pattern paper can become the perfect background for a layered tag, a stamped greeting, a scrap of ribbon, or a few embellishments. You don’t need much to make something simple look special.
Here are a few ideas for decorating your own pocket:
- Layer a couple of tags or labels for added dimension.
- Add a small greeting or stamped sentiment.
- Use leftover ribbon, twine, or trim to add texture.
- Create a little collage using torn paper scraps.
- Add a few die cuts or embellishments to tie the pocket into a particular theme.
- Mix and match colours and patterns for an eclectic, vintage-inspired look.
Don’t worry about everything matching perfectly.
This one was created using double sided pattern paper. I included a stamped tag, ticket, a leftover foiled piece, a folded piece of notepaper and a couple other random things from my ephemera drawer.
Make It Your Own
One of the things I love about this project is how easily you can adapt it to suit your needs. Choose festive paper for a Christmas gift, florals for a spring scrapbook page, or vintage-inspired patterns for a journal. You can also change the size to accommodate whatever you want to tuck inside. If you’re adding the pocket to a scrapbook layout or journal, think about how you’ll use it before attaching it. You may want to leave the top open and secure the sides and bottom so that you can slide items in and out easily. It’s also a wonderful project for using those smaller pieces of pattern paper that are too pretty to throw away but not quite large enough for another project.
Watch the Reel and Make One Along with Me
I’ve shared a reel showing how to make this simple pattern paper pocket. You can see just how quickly it comes together. Watch the process, then gather a piece of pattern paper and a few bits and pieces from your stash to create your own. You don’t need special tools or lots of supplies. Just a little paper, a few embellishments, and a willingness to play!
Whether you use yours as a gift card holder, add it to a scrapbook layout, or tuck it into your favourite journal, I hope this inspires you to look at your pattern paper scraps in a new way.
Happy crafting!
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