Matchbook-style Money Wallet {+ tutorial}

Is it just me, or are teenage boys so so hard to buy gifts for? Maybe it’s just that a) I’ve never been a teenaged boy (obviously) and b) I have no boys that have yet reached teenagehood. I contemplated a gift card if some variety, but was assured that cash is perfectly adequate (and, in all likelyhood, preferable). I do like to try and make cash gifts a bit fancier than a note in a card (like this cute message-in-bottle we made Mr Dove for Fathers Day last year), and I recalled seeing some little matchbook wallets on Pinterest. Which, it turned out, were actually notebooks. So I took the inspiration and ran with it, and created this cute little matchbook money wallet. Needing less than an A$ sheet of paper, and taking make 10 minutes to make, it is perfect for a last minute gift!

To make your own, cut a piece of paper or card stock (this was just 120gsm invitation paper I had in stash) measuring 9.25″ x 3″. Using an embossing tool (or really anything that can score paper/card), score the wrong side of your paper at 1.5″, 5.5″ and 5.75″, measuring from the bottom. Then it’s just a matter of folding up the bottom section and using some matching or contrasting washi to tape it in place, then folding the two top score lines down. I used a little letterpressed badge I had on hand and handlettered a monogram using a felt tip pen. A button would look cute too. I attached it to the top flap with regular double sided tape, and then used vellum tape to get it to close against the bottom, as that is less sticky, and it had to be opened at the other end for the actual cash to be inserted, without it being damaged (I didn’t want to post cash, especially at this time of year). If you have your cash on hand, normal double sided tape will be fine to hold it closed as there is no worry about damage.

And with this post, my 2013 blogging is complete. I will schedule this weekend’s bloggers boogie, before taking a break until after new year, and then I’ll be back to wrap up my 2013 projects like Twenty Treats, 13/13 and SYST, as well as sharing the rest of the teachers gifts I made. I’d like to take a moment to say a massive thank you to each and every one of you who read this crazy-varied, eclectic blog, and take the time to like and comment. Your presence and thoughts mean so much to me, even if between the tribe of children and my limited crafting time I don’t always manage to return the favour. Thank you for brightening my little corner of the internet. May you have a very merry Christmas, and a wonderful new year, with the holidays full of love, laughter and memories. See you next year!

This is project number seven (of seven required to date)  in my “totally pinspired” challenge to turn my pins into projects. We are aiming to complete a minimum of two pins a month. For all my Totally Pinspired projects, click here. You can find my Pinterest boards here, and my completed pins board here. If you’ve been totally pinspired as well, I’d love to see what you’ve been making!