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Paper Wallet

intro
step 1
step 2
step 3
step 4
step 5
step 6
step 7
step 8
 

introPaper Wallet

One sheet of 8.5 by 11 paper folded, with minimal cutting, and one piece of tape = durable, seamless, useable, write-onable, minimalist wallet.

Updated: June 20, 2008

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Paper Wallet
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step 1Hamburger fold squared

neatly fold the 8.5"x11" sheet of paper in half hamburger fold ways (ahhhh, those were they days). open it, and fold the two flaps into the middle, so it is split in 4 (sec…


step 2fold in 1/2 and then crease

now fold the paper in 1/2 perpendicular to the other folds and crease from the folds you just made. notice how it has a natural tendency to stay closed, this is the basic w…


step 3Cut

Cut along the black lines (viewed from the "inside") please note picture comments.


step 4Fold flaps

fold the 2nd and 4th flaps from the top "inside" on either side.


step 5Tape

tape the lower cut (not the diamond) so both sides are flush, your paper will not be flat anymore. NOTE: this step can be done after zipper folding, it will be harder, b…


step 6Crease again

neatly crease the wallet starting from the back to the edges. 2 "flaps" should be sticking out of each end of the wallet.


step 7Zipper Folding

I finally figured out an easy way to explain this you will lock both ends separately. starting from the inside, and going to the outside, there will be a flap, then a…


step 8Wow, your done already!

this wallet should easily hold tons of cash, 4 easily accessible credit cards, and 2-4 more "locked" credit cardsthe outside (edge) credit card slot has a flap you tucked i…


390 comments
1-50 of 390
Nov 2, 2009. 3:51 PMwenpherd says:
good
Aug 6, 2009. 2:51 PMslowlymelting says:
I made mine out of canvas, used some stronger tape and a little super glue, turned out very well. Much more durable than the paper. Thanks for the instructions!
Aug 6, 2009. 11:05 PMtheRIAA (author) says:
NICE idea!
Oct 12, 2009. 9:51 PMslowlymelting says:
THANKS!

Oct 12, 2009. 6:33 AMMr.Stache says:
WOW                                please reply
Sep 30, 2009. 5:27 PMcooperkevin95 says:
I took mine to school today to show it off, and I had everybody wanting one!

Very great Instructable, thanks for sharing!
Sep 30, 2009. 2:22 PMd22 says:
i cant make it
Sep 10, 2009. 12:42 PMsammychow4 says:
I made paper wallets for my buisness day project and i sold out!
Sep 4, 2009. 11:16 PMTape-structable says:
Whoo! I just made a new one out of Tyvek. That really tough stuff for packages. I cut out a side of the package to the size of a normal sized paper. Thanks for this 'ible!
Sep 4, 2009. 7:51 PMrunrun265 says:
I needed a clear pocket on the inside for my bus pass so i took syran wrap and taped it in. working quite nicely
Sep 4, 2009. 1:12 PMflyingmidget says:
very nice! i like it better than my twenty dollar wallet!!!!! my old wallet was big and bulky and now i have a slip and nice looking one thanks alot

i just have to make sure i dont mistake it for trash and throw all my money away!
Aug 18, 2009. 7:05 PMrrich76 says:
Great wallet, I made one from tyvek (free priority mail envelope) and it works really well. Only thing I did differently was in step 4 I just cut out the flaps instead of folding them. It helped to keep that end of the wallet from being thicker. Thanks for the design!
Aug 18, 2009. 10:10 AMblackwellj says:
I have made a Photoshop Action that makes the cutout shapes and does all the designing for you http://jamesblackwell.comze.com/wallet.atn

Aug 15, 2009. 5:24 AMendawmyke says:
Hamburger & hotdog fold
Aug 3, 2009. 6:39 PMHIVLTGE1 says:
Ummmmm...what can i say AWESOME!!!! 5*****
Jul 31, 2009. 8:59 PManchovymilkshake says:
I've just made a second one after my first just died after a year. I made it out of what we Australians call Contact - adhesive backed plastic paper you use to cover text books in. It comes in loads of colours and designs, is stronger than paper, is waterproof, and you don't need tape to construct it as it's already sticky. I'll never be buying a leather one again.
Jul 30, 2009. 6:05 PMiluvrunescape says:
best ever! very easy to understand!!!
Oct 7, 2008. 6:09 AMMagnaen says:
Throwing in my 2cents.
It's rly neat to tape some bent staples or a thin piece of magnetic metal to one side of the inner wall, then a super thin fridge magnet to the other, to keep the wallet closed :) I ttly feel FBI when i flip it down :D
Dec 8, 2008. 7:53 PMhomba says:
Use little neodymium magnets and then you could stick your wallet to the fridge so you don't lose it!
Jul 29, 2009. 3:04 PMheadphoned says:
Wouldn't this have a negative effect on magnetic strips on cards?
Jul 29, 2009. 9:23 PMhomba says:
They're usually pretty hardy - Mythbusters couldn't erase them. I dunno??
Jul 29, 2009. 6:11 AMlaura5 says:
I don't understand this bit at all. little help
Jul 25, 2009. 6:58 AMavadhut10001 says:
cool wallet
Jul 18, 2009. 8:40 AMtom1454 says:
i used fablon to wrap it up before making the cuts and it has held together well. i put in a screen and made it like and fbi badge :D
Jul 8, 2009. 5:20 PMmybutt3 says:
this was a little hard not clear
Jul 17, 2009. 6:45 PMmaxib123 says:
he couldn't of been clearer lol
Jul 17, 2009. 11:14 AMmaxib123 says:
just finished :D did a little bit of halo and assassins creed on it
DSCN0508.JPGDSCN0509.JPG
Jul 17, 2009. 11:17 AMtheRIAA (author) says:
looks sweet, good one.
Jul 17, 2009. 9:04 AMGraycee says:
Nice! I got a little confused, but I figured it all out. Now I get to decorate it! :D
Jul 4, 2009. 5:30 PMjackcday says:
Really nice instructable.
My wallet is now paper. :D
Jul 6, 2009. 11:35 PMtheRIAA (author) says:
hum... I don't remember an alchemy step.
Jul 16, 2009. 3:36 PMmaxib123 says:
haha
Nov 1, 2008. 9:49 AMaa985 says:
hi u noe i have trouble with this mostly step 7 it was hard i actually threw the paper because it was a ll confusing can u make it easier???
Jul 12, 2009. 12:18 PMtheRIAA (author) says:
if I made it easier all the technically-minded people would be confused.
Jul 7, 2009. 8:42 PMterrydean says:
this is a good wallet.
Jul 3, 2009. 4:43 PMkanamin says:
I'm about to make my third one, and my first one was made last summer, so I'd say they last half a year for me, but they always tear at the outside folds so I use tape temporarily.

I love its small size and functionality though, so I thought I'd comment finally to thank the author. Now that I don't have a huge wallet I can keep it in my front pocket and not worry about having it stolen! Also I get lots of comments on it whenever I whip it out.

This one I'm going to try inserting alum-foil in- because I just realized I have my most important two cards RFID scannable (or something similar, idk)! Also I've been using colorful cardstock instead of copy paper (~100 weight I think).
Jul 3, 2009. 6:15 PMtheRIAA (author) says:
nice job, thanks.
Jul 2, 2009. 12:01 PMeasyuser says:
I love this wallet: it's nice and thin.

I cut in a curve instead of the diamond and taped all the edges and stress points. It has lasted me at least a year, even though the outside layers have worn away, leaving frames of tape.

It's pretty worn out so I just made a new one today with thicker paper and more reinforcing. Hopefully I'll get another year out of it.
Jul 2, 2009. 1:26 PMtheRIAA (author) says:
nice job, I shoulda made the cuts rounded, but I was lazy.

Jun 19, 2009. 1:35 AMhumansare says:
mine fell apart in a few days :-/ then again i probably over use my wallet. i'm going to try with heavier paper or tape on the bottom section... it seems that the edges of credit cards sliced open the bottom fold
Jun 17, 2009. 1:04 PMveggiefiend says:
Awesome, i just made one.
Jun 12, 2009. 10:37 PMGENIUS!! says:
its awesome i desined many types with pictures and doodles!!
Jun 10, 2009. 7:11 PMFrozenStar says:
This is awesome, i found it quite a long time ago but was too lazy to do it. I just found it again and made it.
It's awesome, great job!
Jun 9, 2009. 7:33 AMjessyratfink says:
I finally got around to doing this! Worked out really well. I scribbled on the outside with a pen and now it's snazzy. Hooray!

I was sick of carrying a gigantic wallet with a ton of stuff in it. :)
May 31, 2009. 12:33 AMimiiy_baybee says:
Cool instructable,i live where it rains alot and i made this wallet for one of myy best mates and he said it fell apart in the rain! but i suppose cause it is paper...

Jul 19, 2007. 3:15 PMthe gizmoman says:
the locked pockets can also be used for hiding things like razer blades
May 30, 2009. 10:30 PMsevenlayercookie says:
HA!
May 30, 2009. 4:32 PMJupitane says:
Pretty cool.
May 23, 2009. 6:45 AMflipdriver says:
very nice. just tried it and it works just fine. thanks.
May 15, 2009. 3:32 PMcccdub says:
this makes no sence to me at all...
1-50 of 390

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