Pockets ...

Hello everyone - Alexa here, thinking about ...

Pockets - I love them! And find them so useful on a scrapbooking layout, or a card, for:

• slipping a photo or two inside - extras which don't suit/fit on the page
• adding a longer piece of journalling I wish to keep just for the real-life reader, or a note for the recipient of the card
• a piece of realia, like a receipt or ticket
• a voucher or some notes on a birthday card

I'm sure you will have your own list, too. Today, I'm enclosing some simple PDFs for you to download of my favourite pocket shape, and some photos on how to make them. The PDFs come in two sizes: A4 and Letter Size (8.5x11 inches) for our readers outside the UK or Europe. There are two PDFs for each: one with two larger pockets and one with three smaller pockets, each containing a mixture of pockets with rectangular edges, and pockets with a rounded edge. Here they are for downloading:

Download 3PocketsA4
 Download 2LargerPocketsA4
Download 3Pockets8.5x11
Download 2LargerPockets8.5x11

How to make? Here are some ideas. You can print the pdf directly onto the back of the card, or print onto white card, cut them out, and use or reuse them as templates around which you can draw. If you'd like to print them directly onto your paper/card, then first trim a piece of patterned paper or card to either A4 or 8.5x11 - whichever your printer uses - and print the pdf onto the back. Two-sided paper/card can be very effective because with this design, part of the inside of the card is visible.Then cut/trim the pocket shape.

Next, ink the edges: either in a similar colour as the paper/card to give a neat edge, or to contrast.

Now for the glue. I have used Herma, but find that a thin strip of adhesive tape usually gives a stronger bond and, being narrower than Herma, leaves more space inside the pocket. Decide whether you want your pocket to fold to the left or the right, and tape accordingly, as well as along the bottom edge. If you want to add a brad or flower near the top of the vertical edge, don't take your adhesive strip to the very top - trying to make holes through it is tough work!

At the top of the vertical edge, I like to add a little something - a brad, or a flower, or both usually. Slide the corner of a craft mat into the pocket to give a flat surface onto which you can punch:

Now slip your brad/flower in:

Sometimes I add another hole and use a tag and ribbon or string (ink white string/thread with an ink pad if you don't have the right colour!):

The pocket can be fastened to the background paper/card of your layout with a strips of adhesive tape, or your usual glue.

Hope you enjoy making these and they are useful to you, and that you enjoy the rest of your day ...

Comments

[Scrapdolly]

I love this - I can me using this A LOT

[Catriona]

Thank you very much-I printed the smaller ones straight to the back of patterned paper-Fantastic!!

[Lynne V]

I like using pockets on cards for gift vouchers, those templates are lovely thanks for sharing.

[Eleanor]

Saves me the effort of trimming (and trimming again) mismatched sides, so thanks for this Alexa.
xx

[Mandy]

Thanks for putting together the templates for us :)