19 Hidden Journaling Ideas To Keep Your Writing Private

Do you ever wish your journal felt a little more private – without locking it away or tearing out pages?

Whether you’re scribbling your rawest thoughts, a new poem or song lyrics you’re not quite ready to share with anyone yet, hidden journaling elements like flip-ups, fold-outs and secret pockets might be just what you need.

I’ll never forget the day my sister told me she’d read through my notebook full of story ideas. I was so embarrassed because even though she said she liked them, I wasn’t ready to share them with anyone yet. (And let’s be honest, there’s probably a very good reason why none of those stories ever became published books!)

Even if you don’t mind someone reading your pages, you might just prefer a beautiful page over seeing your handwriting in full view. (I know I do!)

So if you want your journal to feel more private, interactive and beautiful, here are some of my favourite hidden journaling ideas to try – complete with examples from my own projects and my fabulous Design Team.

1. Envelope Hidden Writing Spots

This is such a fun one – and so easy to do!

I first saw this idea from Cara Renee over at B.Reborn Art & Healing (who’s now on my Design Team!) and it’s been a firm favourite in my journals ever since.

The concept is super simple: you take an envelope, slice a bit off the bottom and then tuck a journaling card or scrap of paper inside the part you’ve cut. Now your hidden writing spot will slide in and out of your envelope!

You can make these as decorative or as plain as you like. I recently made a whole bunch using my Antique Floral Ephemera digital, where I covered the envelopes with the printed invoices and then decorated them with all sorts of ruffles, gems, beads and whatever else was within arm’s reach of my desk that day. They look really pretty and were quick and easy to make.

This particular idea also reminds me of something Heather from Craftyheatherd on Instagram (another of my lovely Design Team members) tried in her Woodland Wonders journal. Notice how the rabbit on her journaling spot peeks out through a window? Fun and clever.

2. Hidden Mushroom Writing Spots

If you liked the previous idea and you love nature or fairy-themed journals, then you’ll love this one.

This time, instead of sliding your writing spot in and out of a decorated envelope, the journal spot is the top of the mushroom, which slides secretly into the base of the mushroom.

I’ve made this as easy as possible for you by designing a kit you can cut out and use, but of course, it doesn’t have to be a mushroom.

You could create something similar such as a basket of flowers or a bunny that pops out of an easter egg – whatever suits your journal’s theme.

I just happen to really love using mushrooms in my projects, so that’s where my imagination went!

3. Faux Picture Frames

If you’ve got some photo corners lying around (the kind you’d usually use in scrapbooking), you can turn any image into a secret writing spot. Just tuck your picture or decorative card into the corners and hide your journaling spot behind it.

I first saw this idea on Tatty Treasure’s YouTube channel and I’ve used the idea a few times since. Here’s an example from my shabby Tim Holtz journal:

Don’t have photo corners? You can do something similar by hiding your writing spot behind something else, such as the ephemera I had in this pocket, which hides a writing spot on the wall of the potting shed inside my In The Garden folio journal.

4. Swing Brad Decorations

This one’s such a simple idea, but it’s one I come back to time and time again – especially when I also want to add an extra dose of interactivity to my projects.

Take any decorative element – like a picture, tag, or vintage ticket – and attach it to your page using a brad. Now the piece can swing out of the way, revealing a hidden writing spot underneath. You could even add a teeny pocket behind it like I did in my Enchanted Woodland journal.

I’ve used this technique in a few of my journals actually. In my In the Garden project, the bird on the front cover swings out to reveal a hedgehog hiding underneath – but you could just as easily pop a little journaling note or secret message there instead.

And here’s an example from one of my Design Team members (Heather from Craftyheatherd) where she used my Woodland Wonders kits to reveal a hidden writing spot underneath a tabbed swing flip piece:

5. Peggy’s Secret Birdhouse Tag

This next idea comes from Peggy from Craft Room Stories (another fabulous crafter on my Design Team). While working with my In the Garden kit, she came up with such a clever hidden tag idea.

She used one of the wood-style pages from my kit to create a birdhouse. And the roof of the birdhouse? It lifts off to reveal a hidden journaling spot inside. Such a brilliant idea!

Check out Peggy’s video to see how she made it >>

6. Fabric Flip Pages

Here’s another easy-peasy idea for hidden journaling – fabric flip pages.

All you need to do is glue a piece of fabric to the top of your journal page, so it flips up like a curtain. And hiding underneath? Your secret writing spot or a pocket for a tag!

This is also a great opportunity to add something soft and textural to your journal and you can even decorate the fabric piece to make it more unique.

7. Policy Pocket Pages

This one’s a bit more involved, but if you’re looking for a clever way to really hide your journaling, then it’s a good one!

I first tried this idea in one of my Christmas journals and more recently in my Winter Woods Folio Journal.

Using envelopes, you glue the flaps onto your page so the top envelope flips up and the bottom one flips down. You then add a policy pocket-style closure to make the page more interactive – and harder for someone to pry at what’s hiding underneath.

Because you’re working with envelopes, you can also turn the envelopes into pockets if you want to tuck things inside them.

Of course, you don’t have to use envelopes. You can get the same effect with flip-outs made from cardstock or patterned paper.

8. Flip Down File Folder Pockets

If you love working on botanical, nature, or Tim Holtz style journals, this one’s definitely worth a try!

I call them Flip Down File Folder Pockets. The name says it all, really. You cut little file folder shapes out of cardstock and use them on your pages as stacked pockets. But the one in the front? Leave that one open so you can flip it down to reveal a writing spot.

9. Cori’s Flip Down File Cabinet “Drawers”

Speaking of flip downs and files, Cori from CraftiCori (also on my Design Team) shared a fun idea recently when she was playing with my Sweet Magnolia and Antique Invoices kits.

Instead of using cardstock or file folder shapes, Cori used paper bags to create little flip-down pockets where she could “hide” ephemera.

When I chatted with her about the project, I mentioned that it reminded me of old-fashioned file cabinet drawers and she said that’s exactly what she was going for. So clever!

10. Fold Out Belly Bands

Normally, a belly band is just something you glue top and bottom (or on each side), so you can tuck something behind it – like a tag or journal card. But let’s make it work a little harder, shall we?

There are a few fun ways to turn a regular belly band into a hidden journaling spot:

• You can make the belly band itself open up, like a book, to reveal writing space inside.
  
• You can glue a pocket on top of the band and hide a tag or journal card inside that.
  
• Or why not try something even more interesting and have an accordion-style writing spot that folds out from the front of the belly band?

11. Anything That Folds Out

Since we’re on the topic of fold-outs, pretty much anything that folds out from your page can become a hidden writing spot – such as these trifolds I made recently that open up to reveal writing space and even pockets.

12. Flip-Up Corner Pockets

This is such a simple idea, but it’s one of those “Why didn’t I think of it sooner?” ideas.

Start with a square of cardstock such as 6×6 scrapbook paper, fold it in half diagonally to make a triangle and glue it into the corner of your journal page. And voilà – a corner pocket.

But here’s the twist: lift the front triangle up and there’s your hidden writing spot!

Technically, you can do this with any shape, but the square-into-triangle method is quick and easy.

13. Disguised Triangle Journal Cards

Speaking of triangular pockets, here’s a sneaky little variation I love – triangle journal cards that look just like the pocket itself.

All you need to do is take a sheet of 6×6 scrapbook paper and cut it into triangles. One of these becomes a gusseted pocket, and another a triangular journal card that fits perfectly inside the pocket. Add some lace to the top of the journal card to make it even more hidden!

Check out this tutorial from Tatty Treasure to see how easy they are to make.

14. Fairy Door Flip-Up Pockets

This idea was originally inspired by something I saw Mandy from SunflowersAndDors do a few years ago and I put my own spin on it for my Enchanted Woodland journal.

I used a folded piece of cardstock to create a flip-up and tucked a removable scrappy notepad under the flap.

What made it really special, though, was the paper I used. It just so happened to look like a little gate complete with a keyhole design. So when it flipped open, it felt like opening a tiny fairy door!

15. Anything That Flips Up, Down Or Out

Just like with fold-outs, anything that flips up, down or out can hide writing spots or secret pockets. And just like with everything else I show you here at House of Mahalo, you can make them as creative as you like!

16. Faux Envelope Fold-Out Pockets

I’ve often said that envelopes are like the eggs of junk journaling – there’s just so much you can do with them. So here’s another envelope-based idea for keeping your writing private.

The idea is simple: start with an envelope that’s not yet glued together. Instead of glueing it up, tie it closed using ribbon or twine. Now, when you untie it, all the flaps open out to reveal your hidden writing spot inside.

Now, I will say, this one can be a bit fiddly. I originally made mine using envelopes that were already glued shut, and let’s just say, trying to prise them open without tearing anything was tricky. In hindsight, I’d definitely recommend using unsealed envelopes (like the kind you get in card-making kits) or making your own envelope shapes from scratch.

17. Secret Pocket Pages

Here’s a super simple idea that just might become one of your favourites too: turn a page in your journal into a secret pocket.

Simply glue two of your pages together to form a pocket – and hey presto! – you’ve got a page that not only looks beautiful but that can also hide something inside it. Easy peasy!

18. Secret Writing Collages

Now here’s where aesthetics and practicality all come together!

The idea for this one is to arrange elements on your page that look decorative but also hide pockets and secret writing spots. So when you look at the page, it looks like a beautiful collage, but some of the pieces can be moved or pulled out and written on. Sneaky, eh?

I’ve tried this a few times now, more recently in my Winter Wonderland Ephemera Folio, and I just love how it turns a collage into something both pretty and functional.

19. Tag & Journal Card Pockets

Here’s another really easy way to sneak hidden journaling into your projects and it works with any style or theme.

Simply add a pocket to the back or side of a tag or journal card. The beautiful simplicity of this idea is in the surprise. When you pull a tag out of a pocket, you don’t necessarily expect it to have a pocket attached to it as well.

Here’s an example of this from Cori on my Design Team. She used portraits from my Photographer’s Journey kit and glued pretty vellum pieces on the back as pockets.

And in one of my Christmas journals, I was inspired by Angela Kerr’s JAG (short for Journal Card Tag), where you hide a pocket in the side of the tag where a bonus journal card can go. It was a lot of fun to make.

More Ways To Keep Your Writing Private

Beyond all the fun interactive elements I’ve already mentioned, there are even more ways to keep your journaling personal and private.

Here are a few bonus ideas to consider:

• Make a journal that doesn’t look like a journal. One of the easiest ways to keep your writing private is to disguise it! Try using an old book cover and hidden spine binding so your journal will blend in on your bookshelf. No one will ever suspect it’s a journal!

• Flip-outs can hide more than just writing. While we’ve mostly talked about flip-ups and flip-outs as places for hidden journaling, don’t forget they can also be used to disguise pockets and tuck spots. These are perfect for hiding mementoes, photos, folded notes and anything else you want to keep tucked away.

• Make your writing cryptic. If you’re worried about someone reading what you’ve written, there are lots of creative tricks you can try to make your writing more cryptic, such as:
  
  • Use a messy or scribbly writing style that only makes sense to you.
  • Try erasable pens if you want the option to remove your words later.
  • Invent your own symbols or shorthand, or even a personal code, to keep your messages more private.
  • Use images or symbolic drawings instead of words.

Which Idea Will You Try Next?

I hope you’re feeling inspired because hidden writing spots are genuinely one of my favourite things to add to my journals. They’re fun, they’re interactive, and let’s be honest, it’s so satisfying to sneak a secret message behind a flap or inside a hidden pocket. Anyway, I’d love to know what idea you’ll try next, so please do let me know! 😉