
I love to organize. Organize things. Organize my schedule. Organize my planner. I also love to craft. When I can craft and organize at the same time, it’s a very happy day for me. I’ve begun creating my own decorative pocket folders and DIY Happy Planner Pocket Folders. It’s easy to make your own pocket folder for just about $1.
Making your own Happy Planner Pockets means you can choose the exact colors and designs you want. You can make one pocket folder in about 15 – 20 minutes. Look at how pretty they are! And the really are easy to make. Really.

If you’re interested in making a DIY planner pocket folder for planners of any size, check out my Disc Bound Notebook DIY Pocket Folder that shows you how to make a pocket folder for a planner with any dimensions.
I just discovered the Happy Planner. It’s similar to another popular planner, but I prefer the Happy Planner for these reasons:
- It’s much less expensive
- Much of it can be used year after year. With the other similar planner, you have to throw the entire planner away at the end of the year. With the Happy Planner, you simply replace the calendar portion of the planner. You can continue using the cover, the binding discs, the dividers, pockets and other accessories. Earth-friendly makes me happy.
- You can change out the accessories mid-year and anytime you’d like.
- You can craft your own planner accessories and add them to the Happy Planner
You can look at the Happy Planner options here.
I’ve also created my own DIY Dividers for Happy Planners and they only cost pennies to make.
DIY Happy Planner Pocket Folders
Supplies and Tools to Make a DIY Pocket Folder
- Decorative Card Stock – for the main part of the pocket folder. You want to make sure that you use card stock so that it is sturdy.
- Decorative Paper – for the pocket portion of the folder, You could use card stock, but it will be more difficult to manipulate.
- Glue Stick – I use an extra strength glue stick.
- Double-Stick Tape – I run through double-stick tape like water.
- Paper Cutter or Scissors – I always use my paper cutter, but you could use scissors if you take your time.
- Hole Punch – I already own a a Crop-A-Dile and it makes the perfectly sized hole. A regular hole punch would work almost as well.
- Happy Planner Punch – Or you can invest in a paper punch specifically designed for the Happy Planner.
- Pencil
- Ruler
You can pick up single sheets of decorative card stock and decorative paper for $.50 or less. Look for the paper that’s on sale. I’ve found it for $.39 or you can use a coupon at a major craft store. (For my military family friends – Did you know that most of the major craft stores offer a military discount?)
Extra (Nice-to-Have) Tools
- Happy Planner Punch – There is a Happy Planner paper punch made specifically to work with the Happy Planner system.
- Score-Pal – I used my Scor-Pal for perfectly scored folds, but you can also use a ruler and bone folder.

Choose complimentary colors of paper, with one piece of decorative card stock and one piece of decorative paper. I chose to use solid color card stock, because I couldn’t find patterns that complimented each other. I did make one pocket folder (the orange floral one) with complimentary papers that I already had and I love how it turned out.
Step One
- Measure the card stock.
- I simply lay one of the planner pages on the card stock and mark where to cut.
- If your card stock has a pattern, make sure you have the pattern going the right direction before you cut the paper.
- I cut my card stock 7 inches by 9 1/4 inches.

Step Two
- Cut the decorative paper for the pocket.
- You want the pocket to wrap around the card stock as one continuous piece of paper, so you’ll need to glue two pieces of paper together to make one strip long enough. The dotted line in the photo shows where I attached the two pieces of paper. Then I cut it to the correct size.
- Be sure to consider the direction of the pattern on your paper.
- My paper’s dimensions were 14 1/8 inches by 4 1/2 inches.
- If you want a taller pocket, you can adjust your measurements.

Step Three
- Crease and fold a 1/4 inch flap on the bottom of the pocket (be sure to check the pattern direction to identify the bottom).
- Use the glue stick to adhere the flap down.
- Crease and fold a 1/4 inch flap in the middle of the top of the pocket.
- Don’t glue the top flap down yet.
- I chose to make the middle section before the slope of the pocket 3/4 of an inch (so the middle section before it was folded is 1 1/2 inches).
Click the button below to see steps four through six of the tutorial.
Cynthia says
I love these pocket folders. I can see uses for them all around my home. I often find recipes in magazines and then cut them out – these would be a great way to store them.
susan says
That would be the perfect use for one (or two or three) of these folders, Cynthia. š
Amy Anderson says
These are darling! I love them! Pinned.
susan says
Thanks, Amy. I’m happy with the way they turned out (and may now have an addiction to making them).
Andrea says
I ADORE these! They look like they come from a professional printing shop. I also love organizing and planning, although, I am not a great crafter… but maybe I just need more practice. Can’t wait to try these!
Hil says
I have to make these!! I have been thinking of getting a punch, I want to make these!!
susan says
Warning! They’re very addictive. On the positive side, all my friends and family are enjoying getting planner pockets for their planners. š
Crystal says
That pocket would make me happy, too! It looks easy enough to make that the kids could also make them for their books. Thanks for the directions.
susan says
They are easy enough for kids to make with a bit of supervision, Crystal. š
Ali Gilbert says
Oh my goodness, I love this!! Such a great tutorial. I can’t wait to try it!
susan says
Have fun with it, Ali. Warning- making these cute little pocket folders is very addictive. š
Michelle Marine says
I’m actually terrible at using my planner. In fact, I got one a few weeks ago that I have written absolutely nothing in yet! š I really need to change that. Your pocket folders look really nice.
susan says
Thanks, Michelle. I’m finding that when I make my planner pretty I’m much more apt to use it. š
Susan says
Super cute and nicely finished! I don’t use a Happy Planner but I can see making these for some of my other bound books.
susan says
Check out this tutorial to make pockets for any size disc bound books, Susan. https://organized31.com/disc-bound-notebook-diy-pocket-folder/
Diane taber says
Hi Iām wanting to start doing my first planner and bullet journal.so I can start journaling.
susan says
Have fun with your bullet journal, Diane, and don’t be afraid to try different ideas to find what works best for you.