Altered Book Homework: Chapter 11: Pockets

Did it seem like I fell off the face of the earth? Have you been here and haven't heard from me? I've had a computer meltdown and haven't been able to get on the computer or the internet. Luckily, I had a few things ready to go and this is one of them. In fact, I'm at a friend's right now, making sure this posts on Sunday morning. And hopefully, I'll be back online soon so I can visit you, too. But for now, just accept that I am working on getting things "chilling" again.

If you recall, last week's AB lesson was about pockets. One of the participants is BJ of CCraftCorner, who is concerned about the lack of pages left in her AB. So I'm going to devote this lesson to BJ and anyone who might not have as many pages in an AB as they had hoped.


Remember how I showed some of those yummy backgrounds we made a few weeks back?


We're going to use a few more of those pages. But first, measure your page width.


Cut two pages the approximate width of your pages. I made mine narrower than the page width because I have made these pockets using CS and heavy paper. If your backgrounds were made using anything much heavier than copier/printer paper, you might want to consider this too in order to reduce the excess bulk. However, if your background paper is thin, make your pockets the same width as your page.


Fold the background paper right sides together, then cut at least 4" long. While still together, cut the rectangle into triangles.


One of the nice things about this is, you have equal and symmetrical pockets for both sides of your spread. Adhere to the page, or just lay them on the page in a "dry run."


Repeat, turning the triangles in the opposite direction, then repeat again turning the triangles back in the original direction.


Continue until you have as many triangle pockets as will fit on your page. Depending on the size of your pages, you can get at least six pockets in a two page spread.


Here is one side of a page of pockets from my Time AB. For these pockets, I staggered the size and the color, although it's hard to tell with all the tags I've added.


Of course, you don't have to stagger the pockets. You can always make them slightly longer with each pocket. When I made these, I started at the top as before, and measured the tag length, then cut the pocket to size. Here is an example from my Money AB. Again, it's hard to tell because I have loaded these pockets with so many tags, ATCs, and memorabilia.


For my final example, I tore triangles to make sign-in pockets for my Buffy the Vampire Slayer Round Robin AB. Each person had a place for her individual tag she provided. One gal created a mock CD for her tag. Mine was the green tag on the top right. Yep, I'm a Spike fan.

I hope this has given you an idea what you can do to enhance your altered book real estate. If you want to play along, but have limited pages, I suggest you make either tags or ATCs that represent the homework assignments, such as backgrounds, magazine images, frames, etc. You will have increased your coverage considerably this way.

Please don't forget to look for a zipper, one that will fit the width or not quite the length of one of your AB pages. Although I haven't been lately, when I was visiting the thrift store, I would see them all the time. So, they should be easy to find and not cost much, either.

I am also linking to Creative Every Day, so if you came from a link, please feel free to enter my blogoversary HERE. There are no commitments or obligations, just a comment letting me know you dropped by.

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