Good Morning chickies!
Yesterday was my daughter's 16th birthday! 

She wanted a new, blue, digital pocket camera for her birthday and LOVES looking through photos. (all the boxes I swore I would scrap this summer!)  She also decided this year she did not want a party (haven't figured that one out yet) so I decided to bring the party anyway!

I wanted to make her a special little album to go with her new camera instead of a regular greeting card.  She also gets her DL soon, and loves gift cards.  She's not a foo-foo kind of girl, so ribbons, ruffles, flowers--not happening....

I have always wanted to make an "ID Badge" album, and try real stitching on paper...so here's what I came up with.  It's pretty elaborate for a workshop...but you can make it ANY WAY you want!

 Alternate Ideas: 
Wallet only--use for gift cards, Mock DL, etc.
Album only--just make the album without the wallet, tie with ribbons.
Blank Wallet--leave the pages empty for someone to fill as they choose
Any Age--this wallet can be adapted for men, women, young and old.



OUtside:  Wallet closed.  I still need to "decorate" the outside.   I want to put a big "E" on it.  My daughter likes things plain.  I got the little shoe key chain at Dollar General.

I would like to ink the edges, but she thinks the distressed stuff is ugly...so plain it is!



Inside:  pockets for gift cards. ID Badge album in center.  She loves colored converse (has 4 pair from neon green to lemon yellow!)



Inside pages:  My theme was "16 sweet things i love about you" and I put one page for each of her birthday parties so far so she could see how she "grew up", etc.
I made the pages digitally but you can just slip in photos.



Inside: behind album pages.  I used the last page for a personal greeting.  More room for gift cards.


It's a busy morning for me....Senior Pictures and soccer drug testing at the High School...but I will be in and out posting the directions, etc.

I'll be back in just a minute with the supply list.....I got carried away while making this and forgot to take step by step photo, so I have to get those ready for you, too.

Supply List

Wallet Template (Free during workshop) HERE

Decorative paper for wallet and optional album pages
     --pre printed or print your own digitally*
       *I used papers from my kit: Turtle Tales Paper
         and for the album pages, Splish Splash paper
        but you can use any paper you wish

Plastic ID Badges, "spine" on the left.  (approx. 2 3/4" x 4") 
     You can find these 12 to a pack, cheap at Walmart or any office supply place.
     Options:  take apart an old wallet and use the inserts from it or
            &nb sp;        make "pocket sleeves" from acetate or page protectors or
            &nb sp;       take apart a mini album from the dollar bins at craft stores like Michaels
            &nb sp;       or just make the pages and laminate them.
Ribbon:  to tie the pages together and fasten them to the wallet
      Options:  brads, rivets, string

Button and Velcro dot:  I used a "Button" sticker for the flap and a velcro dot to close

Embellishments:  to decorate your pages if desired...i used 3D stickers
   Tennis shoe key ring from Dollar General..they have TONS of cute, cheap key chains
You might also want some initial rub ons or other stickers to decorate the outside.

Sewing Machine: I sewed the wallet parts together to make it look real,
  Optional:   use glue or tape (use the permanent adhesive strips for scrapbooking to make it last) and just "draw on" your stitching lines!

Be back soon with the template and directions!!!! I hope around 10:30 CST!

Directions:

Let's make the wallet first.  You can add the album later if you choose.

Step 1 WALLET

1. Download the template HERE   it's free today during the workshop.
OR see "Make your own template" HERE (not yet posted)

Print one copy, landscape, printed set to borderless or 1/4" margins max.
Cut out template pieces to use for your pattern.

2.  Fill Template or Prepare Wallet

You decide how you want to do this part:  digitally in your software program, print your own papers and then cut, or you can trace and cut the template from already printed scrapbook papers.

I'm going to do the second option, using digtal papers and then cutting the template. (If you want me to teach you the digital method to fill templates, and you use Photoshop, then send me a private message and I will help you)

a.  Open the papers in your software program; I use Photoshop (PS).  I'm using 4 (OOPS..3) different ones from Turtle Tales (see supply list). 

b. Resize the paper by shrinking it down to 11 x 8.5 (Image>image size) and then print them landscape, BORDERLESS or 1/4" border maximum.  Print 3 designs on regular paper for the insides and 1 design on cardstock for the outside.

OOPS!!  I just realized that I printed the middle pocket from the same design paper as the outside wallet cover!  So you really only need 3 different designs!

NOTE: Using this method uses more ink, and you will have lots of leftover paper.  Use the leftovers to fill your album pages, make tags or other things that will match.

If you don't want to use that much ink, you can print strips of each paper, but make them at least 3 1/2" x 11".

c.  Using the template patterns you cut out in step 1 above, trace as directed onto your papers.  You will have 1 wallet and 2 pockets on regular paper and 1 wallet on cardstock.  Cut out.

 NOTE:  I like to make the outside cover (the one on cardstock) just a little bit bigger than the inside...that way, when you glue them back to back, you can make sure they fit and THEN trim away the extra.

I'm going to publish this now so you can get started.  Be back soon with more directions.


3.  Assemble the Wallet

NOTE:  I used my sewing machine to stitch the wallet together.  You can use double sided, permanent tape strips, glue, staples..whatever you wish if you don't want to use the sewing machine.  I just used white thread and a regular sewing needle. 

a.  Score and fold the wallet inside/lining  (yellow) as directed on template.  This forms the spine and the flap.

b.  Layer the top pocket, middle pocket, and lining so that the left edges and bottom edges are even.



c.  stitch pockets to lining between score/fold lines




d.  Stitch pockets again on the first (left) score/fold line of flap.  Trim edges of pocket if they interfere with flap folding, but not too close to stitching or they will come loose.


sorry for this not so great photo!

e.  Score and fold the lines on the wallet outside/cover as directed on template,  Lay the wallet inside on the WRONG SIDE of the wallet outside...fasten together with a paper clip or binder clip to hold in place.  If you cut your outside slightly bigger than the inside, match up the score lines and trim.

Stitch around the entire wallet about 1/4" from the edge, catching in the pockets on the left side.  I stitched with the outside cover UP because my stitches look better on one side (my machine tension is weird) and I wanted the good side to be on the outside.   

Trim any uneven edges.
Ink edges if you want to.


I'm sorry this pictures are so small...not sure what I did wrong.....

f.  Glue on a button, or use a fancy 3D sticker or brad on the flap.  Use a velcro dot or tape to close.


Decorate the cover any way you wish!!!

YOUR WALLET IS FINISHED!  You can fill with gift cards if you want and send it to me!  HA! HA!

NOW...if you want to add the album.....keep going with the Album directions!  coming up next!

Album

Make the entire wallet first.  Then add the album to the inside.

  This one is just plain for the tutorial. Sorry for the blurry ones.

1.  Gather the badge holders (I used the ones with the spine on the left and you fill them from the side.  You can use other clear pockets as desired.)  I used 8 because I wanted 16 pages total.

They look like this.

2.  Mark the hole area with pencil.  The pages fit just to the right of the score line for the wallet spine. 
Note that my photo is not the "real" wallet..just a folded template to show you placement.



3.  Use a 1/4" hole punch or ice pick to pierce the wallet.  You don't want the holes bigger than that or the pages will be all wiggly. 

I'm using ribbon, but you can use brads, rivets, whatever you wish. Thread the holes with one piece of ribbon (about 10" long).



4.  Add pages;  Tie ribbon TIGHTLY.





5.  Take another ribbon and thread it just through the long slit in the pages to help hold them togeter.  Continue adding ribbons, beads, rick rack, whatever you like to fill the area.







6.  Insert photos, mini pages, whatever you wish into the sleeves.  Or give blank.  Add stickers and charms and buttons to pages as desired!

Ideas for pages:

Each page was a picture from each of her 16 birthdays...



I hope you liked this project!

Let's see what you come up with!

 Post to our Marvelous Monday gallery and you will receive a free gift!