Pockets are fun.  They’re easy to make, and create an interactive way to include additional items on a page.

For this spread, I cut off approximately 4″ off the page on the right and adhered the cut-off piece back into the book between the short page and the full-sized page that followed.  In other words, I cut off a piece and stuck it back into the book!  The trick is to adhere the pocket pieces only on the top and bottom, leaving the side open.  (I use Sookwang tape to hold the top and bottom together because it is SUPER strong and won’t pull loose later).

The art on this page consists of several different patterns created with Distress Ink rubbed through stencils with blending tools (love those blending tools!)  I used washi tape to reinforce the exposed pocket edges, and to create the decorative green dots down the left side of the page and pocket.  I rubberstamped a medallion onto the left side of the page.  For the cards that slide in and out of the pockets, I rubberstamped images onto manila carstock using Archival ink, and used a blending tool to darken parts of the image while leaving others the original manila colour.  I printed the words on my computer and cut them out by hand.  I shaded under and on the right side of the words with a very pale gray coloured Pitt pen to give them “shadows”.

Pockets are a great way to spice up a page while providing a great space for hidden treasures!