How to make a Bifold Wallet

 

What You'll Need

 

• Duct Tape in color(s) of your choosing (2" wide is HIGHLY reccomended, all measurements are based on that.)
• A pair of scissors (optional, I prefer to use them)
• A wallet to get an idea of size
• Time

 

Assemble those things and let's move on..

 

 

Step 1: Billfold Strips

 

• 1) Lay out a layer of tape the width of one strip:

 

 

• 2) Continue to make it wider, until it's about as wide as the height of your wallet:

 

 

• 3) Cut your strip to the length of your wallet when opened flat. Use something with a right angle to make sure your edges are square.

 

• 4) Make another sheet, exactly as wide as the one you just made, only this time your strip will be 3/4 of an inch LONGER than the last one. As shown:

 

 

• 5) Again, make sure your strip is nice and square.

 

• 6) Tape your two pieces together with removable tape, aligning the bottom edge. Cut your strips so they are exactly the same __width__. This is very important.

 

 

Step 2: Assemble the Billfold

 

• 1) You will start by taping the edges together. As with ALL taping of things together, it is very important that you tape from both sides, otherwise you will have one edge that is sticky when done, and it will start to pull apart. So..tape one side together:

 

 

• 2) Trim off your excess, and fold your halves together, so the tape that you just layed is on the inside of the fold, then tape the other side of the joint to complete it:

 

 

• 3) Do the same thing with the other side. It is always a good idea to tape the INSIDE face first, then move to the outside.

 

We will now tape the bottom edge together. Here is where the back being longer than the front comes in. If they were the same length, your wallet would not be able to close properly once filled. Therefore, part of the back will not be joined to the front. We must mark the area that will not be joined.

 

• 4) Using your real wallet as a guide, you will notice the unbonded strip of the back, you will need to make marks to see where this will be on your new wallet.

 

 

MAKE SURE THESE MARKS ARE CENTERED OR YOUR WALLET WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY

 

• 5) Continue by joining one side of the bottom together, being careful to go only up to the mark you made. It can be tricky to do the inside, so work carefully.

 

 

• 6) Follow with the other side.

 

 

 

Your billfold is done. It is a good time to put the crease where your wallet will fold into your wallet now, so fold it in half carefully and crease the edges. Unfold and move on.

 

 

Step 3: Non-Visible Credit Card Holders (optional)

 

This part is optional. You will see what a non-visible credit card holder is if you read on. If you do not wish to make these, you can skip ahead to step 4, as they are not necessary. I find them useful though.

 

• 1) Make a single sheet of tape, as wide as your wallet's billfold is, make sure their edges are squared. You will need two of these, one for each side.

 

 

• 2) Join the edge of your new strip to the edge of one side of your wallet. You will need to join this the same way as all of your other joints. Inside first, outside last. Sometimes, it is helpful to cut out your joining strip, laying it down underneath where your piece will be, and fold it with your hands so the sticky side is up, then pressing down your strip onto it.

 

• 3) Join the top and bottom of your strip. You will now have a pocket. Finish it up by wrapping the edge that's not taped down with a small piece of tape so the edge isn't rough.

 

 

• 4) Now add your pocket to the other side, following the same steps as before.

 

 

 

Step 4: Credit Card Holders

 

You will now add credit card holders to your wallet.

 

Note - You do NOT have to put these on the left side of the wallet, I simply chose to.

 

• 1) Create a sheet the width of one strip of tape. It should be slightly shorter (in length) than your invisible credit card holder. If you didn't add those, then use the length of the bonded edge of your billfold (bottom edge) for measurement. As always, these pieces should be squared on the edges.

 

• 2) Using a credit card for measurement, posistion your strip about where it should be. Your credit card should not stick out over the top of your billfold when it's in the pocket. Make lines and join your strip. Start with the edge, then move in a counter-clockwise direction to finish the other two sides, leaving the top open. Fix your rough edge with a piece of tape.

 

 

• 3) Following the same procedure, create another pocket below your first, again using a credit card to get an idea of posistioning.

 

 

• 4) If you wish, you may add a third, though these pockets are large and are designed to hold multiple cards. You may change the size of these pockets if you wish to accomodate your needs.

 

 

Step 5: Change Pocket (optional)

 

You will now add a change pocket to your wallet. Personally I've never had a need for one, so I apologize if the pocket doesn't look great, but it is functional. You can choose to replace this with more credit card holders or you can get creative.

 

• 1) Following the same method you used to create your credit card pockets (your piece should be about as long, though you can change the side if you wish), lay out a sheet, square the edges, and join it to your wallet. Fix your rough, unjoined edge with a piece of tape.

 

• 2) Now to make the "lid". Tear off a piece of tape and fold it in half lengthwise. Cut it to length (using your pocket as a guide) and square the edges. Using a similar method to how you've been joining everything else, join only the top of the piece above the pocket. It should overlap about 3/8ths of an inch.

 

 

• 3) Using a small piece of tape joined only at the sides and a longish piece of tape joined at the top, create and posistion your fastener. The sizes on these are optional, so use your best judgement. As always make sure your pieces are square and rough edges are fixed.

 

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You're Done!

 

 

 

You can now get creative with other shaped pockets, different colors, and you can decorate the faces of your wallet. Get creative, as that is what this is all about!

 

As always, use this tutorial as a GUIDE! You are free to do what you want to make your project personalized. Good luck and happy taping.

 

 

• Contributed by Richard Portune