Vintage Accordion Folder
© J.Rusnak +Papier Valise 2009
{for personal use only}
These folders are a great way to organize receipts, ticket stubs or use as a reference folder
You will need:
6 - 9 x 12” catalogue style envelopes ( we used Envirotech recycled envelopes)
Glue Stick
Bone Folder
Paper Cutter
Optional: Tabs for labeling pockets
Cut envelopes in half, so that they measure 5” high, while still maintaining their original 9” width.
This will involve trimming each half a bit.
Trim from the open “cut” sides (not the flap side or the already sealed bottom of each envelope)
You will have 12 pockets.
Set aside one “flap” pocket.
With the remaining 5 “flap” pockets—glue + seal the flaps, to create your pockets.
You will also have the 6 pockets created naturally when you cut off the envelope bottoms.
Stack loose pockets on top of one another--all open sides together. Begin gluing.
Using the width of your glue stick as a guide, run a length of glue down the center backside of 1 pocket (shortest side to shortest side)
Take the next pocket and stack it on top, burnish with a bone folder or brayer.
Repeat, until all of your pockets have been glued on top of one another.
This creates your accordion “pocket”.
{4th photo below shows how accordion "forms" by only gluing the center portion of the envelopes to one another}
Take the last “flap” pocket that you set aside and using a bone folder, score a line approximately ¼” above the natural flap fold line ( see above photo).
Fold over.
This creates a flap that will easily tuck into the next pocket to create a secure keeping pocket.
You can also use the flap to cover several pockets at once and tuck it wherever you wish on your accordion folder (see below). You will also need to glue the bottom to create a secure pocket.
Once you have glued the bottom, you can then glue and stack this last pocket.
Glue your accordion pocket within your metal tab folder.
Cover the entire front pocket with glue and place on the inside cover. Cover the last pocket with glue and adhere to the back of your metal tab folder.
If desired you may wish to add tabs to your pockets--
we used vintage fold-over tabs, adhesive label tabs and vintage paper tabs.
More Variations + Uses:
- use rubber stamps to personalize your tabs
- adhere photos or vintage labels to the cover to personalize
- use a large bulldog clip to keep your folder closed when not in use
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add large grommets to the center edge of the front cover + the center edge of the back cover and run a ribbon through from front to back to add a decorative closure
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add a fabric embellishment to the cover such as a flat style millinery flower, or a length of ribbon for contrast
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perfect for keeping track of birthdays, label your pockets by month or by person--tuck in cards and gift suggestions
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social event tracker--i'm keeping my ticket stubs, video rental slips + library card slips for a special project later in the year and this will help me stay organized by month
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holiday reference--a perfect idea folder for smaller magazine clippings
