Introduction: Recycled Plastic Wallet [Its FREE]

Ever imagine what you can do with a used milk bottle, this Instructable will teach you how to make a wallet out of ordinary plastic bottles. In a few simple steps, you will be able to create a translucent, light weighted and durable plastic wallet. I came up with this idea when I was working on another design project. What makes this wallet special is that it is translucent, you can SEE whats inside ($$$). The wallet can be personalised by adding different features and functions. Here are some fastfacts about this project.

Materials
- 2x HDPE/PETE bottles inc. bottle caps(milk bottles preferably)
- fishing line (5m)
- fridge magnet (optional)
Apparatus
- scissors
- snap-off cutter
- hobby knife
Duration:
3-4 hours
Difficulty:
3/10
Cost:
$0

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Step 1: Collecting Plastic Bottles

Before getting your hands on making a wallet, you'll need to collect a few plastic bottles. For most of the wallet, you'll be needing one or two HDPE bottles. These are translucent bottles use to contain milk. In my Instructable, I have used Woolworths Low Fat 3L milk bottles. They can be easily purchased at most supermarkets but be sure they are made of HDPE. HDPE is a polymer with a resin code of 2. It is flexible, water resistant and durable. You'll also need a PETE bottle for making SD/SIM cards slot.

All the bottles you've collected should be washed thoroughly, so your wallet won't end up having a milk or orange odor.

Step 2: Cutting the Bottles

Use a texter and a ruler to mark down the size of your wallet on the washed milk bottle, then carefully cut out your desired area.

My wallet's dimension:
Back cover (1): 85mm x 198mm
Cash sleeve (2): 75mm x 198mm
Credit card slot (3): 64mm x 94mm
Credit card slot (4):54mm x 94mm
Pocket (8): 65mm x 92mm
SD card slot (6): 38mm x 55mm
First-aid slot (7): 42mm x 55mm

Step 3: Assembling the Parts

Now you should have cut your milk bottle into seven components. The next step (hardest bit) is to assemble these parts. What you will need here is heaps of fishing line, scissors and push pins + a considerable amount of time. These sections will be put together in a top-to-bottom approach, where you begin with the upper-most parts. Start by poking holes on the edges of the plastic parts, remember to leave a side for the opening and make sure they are in the right alignment. After that sew the components together with fishing lines and make a knot at the ends.

Steps:
1.Part (2), (3) and (4) should go together
2.Part (7), (6) should stick to (8)
3.String [6+7+8] with [2+3+4]
4. All parts attached to (1)

Step 4: Final Product + Add-on

Congratulation! You've successfully made a plastic wallet of your own. Now you have to test it by putting I.D cards, driver license, credit cards and cash into the wallet.

So far I have made two of these wallets, the one created for this Instructable can hold up to 4x credit cards, 2x SD cards, bandages and heaps of currency notes. Another one which was created for my school design project can hold 1x ID card, 2x SD cards, 5x matchsticks with a match-striking surface next to it, notes and COINS (magnetic pocket included).

To have these additional features, the alignment of holes in the components must be exact such that it can be sewed together again without having distortions or misfits. Besides a magnetic coin pocket or a matchbox, you can add a pocket with dippers, mirror, tic-tac-toe, solar panel for recharging, basically anything that can be fitted in a wallet. Be creative!!


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