3 Simple Ways to
Share What You Make

With Instructables you can share what you make with the world — and tap into an ever-growing community of creative experts.

PhotosPhotos

Share one or more photos of a project, recipe, or whatever you've made, quickly and easily.

Step by StepStep-By-Step

Share your step-by-step photos with text instructions of what you made so others can do it too!

VideoVideo

Share your how-to video. You'll need your embed code from a video site such as YouTube.

Accordion-Style Card Wallet

Accordion-Style Card Wallet
«
  • inst_wal_fin_b2.jpg
  • inst_wal_fin_ab3.jpg
While surfing instructables.com and seeing the Wallet Challenge mentioned, I thought I would give it a shot keeping in mind my own criteria for any wallet I buy: minimized volume with a priority to minimizing the depth, plus speed of access to the items inside. In two words: thin and fast. The wallet design here provides a home for, if not everything usually found in a wallet, then at least the more problematic---the cards. Credit cards, membership cards, business cards, whatever. Most of the time I do NOT want these things hanging around my wallet, but I want them handy in my book bag or car close by in case I need them.

As I was thinking on this I eventually settled on an accordion envelope with thin material for the accordions and constrained at the bottom to allow it to flex open and display the contents all at once---random access. This is a common design, and if the accordion material is thin enough, it stays pretty thin overall.

The materials used here (paper) were selected for ease of manipulation, but something with more strength or resistance to moisture could easily be used, either for the cover, the inside, or both. Fabric, metal, even panoramic photos could be used for the covers. The interior is best kept thin, and the paper I used could easily gain some moisture resistance from scotchguard. Closing the wallet is also wide open to change. Two closures are shown, but many are possible, especially with more robust cover material.

Final thickness of the empty card wallets are about 0.5 cm and can hold from 10-13 cards.

(To vote for me, please hit the (+) plus button near the top of the page on the right!)

 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up
 

Step 1Gather Materials

Gather Materials
Pictured here are all the materials you technically need to make this wallet:

Scissors
Glue (I chose mucilage for its paper-bonding as well as its applicator)
Foldable material for inner accordions. I chose thin graph paper. .25" or .20" squares
Stiffer material for cover. I chose an old brown mailing envelope and a 20lb bond sheet of paper.
Ruler: To measure and as a fold-starter.

« Previous StepDownload PDFView All StepsNext Step »
27 comments
Mar 25, 2012. 12:56 PMsk8erfreeks says:
this is so awesome
Jan 30, 2012. 7:53 AMtulinablessingabraham says:
Love it! and i'm surely gonna make one! it is so easy...
Jun 15, 2010. 8:21 PMsiedpe13 says:
i dont think its merely friction holding the cards; but mechanical compression created through the design of the wallet in addition to friction
Feb 24, 2010. 6:55 PMgalenorama says:
This would be awesome:
Make it so that you insert the cards "long-edge" first, then glue the top to the lid of an altoids container, and attach the bottom. Voila! Protected, crush proof, cool looking, water resistant wallet/ card carrier.
Jun 26, 2009. 12:11 PMthe.mk95 says:
folding took a bit of time, but thank you very much, i know have a wallet that costs nothing :-) great instructable
May 1, 2009. 3:56 PMrodneybones says:
Thank you so much for this! I made a little flap-close envelope to put keys in, then added it as the stabilizer in the center of the accordion. Now I have a nice small wallet that also holds my spare car keys! I love this!
Mar 3, 2009. 9:23 PMAznPanda says:
Cool ima do a tiny bit difrent though its simple and nice i like it :D
Jan 29, 2009. 9:15 PMB.Pillz46 says:
I just finished it. Really liked the idea. for a cover i used the film from the inside of a keyboard (kinda like transparency film) with duct tape edging, and to keep it closed I bent over the inner loop of a small paper clip for a hook and used a soda tab as a loop
Nov 15, 2008. 8:17 AMcowscankill says:
Love it, but I never carry a lot of cards.
May 1, 2007. 7:22 AMj626no says:
this is awesome! i just got a motorcycle and am looking for a new wallet for that, and this would b great. only im looking for something with a chain. i was thinking maybe a bike chain to complete the theme :D only that might be too thick. anyways, does this hold cash too or just cards? thanks
Oct 10, 2008. 4:56 AMWafflicious says:
only holds cards but if u do the altoids thing to it you can put the bills on top or if u only glue the end of the accordian the very edge you can pick up the accordian and have hidden bills!
Oct 10, 2008. 4:50 AMWafflicious says:
omg i got an idea.... u cut the tabs off so it looks just like a square accordian then you glue the bottom flab onto the bottom of an altoids tin! use the cover as the... well cover!
May 10, 2008. 2:18 PMUltraMagnus says:
nice, may make some up as business cards to give out (a business card holder business card!)
Nov 2, 2007. 3:16 AMComfortableShoes says:
The design could be made a lot stronger by using tyvek for teh sides and body. It's virtually indestructable and behaves like paper but is moisture reistant. You can use an old priority mailer. You could also add individual pockets to the inside to seperate cash from card.
Jul 28, 2007. 7:43 AMNaruto_Uzumaki says:
hey if we mande the card biger we can put a CD in it : )
Jun 3, 2007. 8:19 PMPSPerson says:
(removed by author or community request)
Jun 6, 2007. 8:44 PMTjT says:
idiot. he wants people to press the plus button because if they do then he wins the contest! simple solution to tell people how to vote.
May 1, 2007. 4:35 PMilpleut says:
yes, love this one !!! great idea
May 1, 2007. 8:29 AMwhiteoakart says:
I really like this. Unlike some of the other wallets, which are mere fashion designs, this one actually solves a problem in a simple, elegant way. And is really easy to make. I also like that the idea could be used with almost any materials. Bravo!
Apr 30, 2007. 9:05 PMturnhandle says:
It seems like all I carry these days are cards, though I suppose folded cash would fit in here as well. Will have to try that....
Apr 30, 2007. 9:10 AMdinklock says:
This is a great addition to the keyboard wallet, I made a pocket in the keyboard wallet that is accordion style. It works like a charm. Also, I added packing tape to this to make it more durable.
Apr 26, 2007. 3:15 PMtechnick29 says:
Well done! Very clear pictures to accompany the simple, smart design. +1!
Apr 26, 2007. 9:05 AMJoKatie says:
Great idea! Functional, fast access, fun to make.
Apr 26, 2007. 8:04 AMHamO says:
Excellent, well done, great pix.
Apr 26, 2007. 5:25 AMBrennn10 says:
This is awesome. I think this is a contender.
Apr 25, 2007. 8:42 PMT3h_Muffinator says:
Cool! I like this one, nice, simple, and elegant =)

Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

All Steps Viewing
View all steps of an Instructable on the same page when you're a Pro Member.

Upgrade to Pro today!
13
Followers
2
Author:themostbob