Tuesday is my dear friend, Elise’s birthday! What better day to celebrate than to be a part of my very first blog hop with lots of her friends?! The lovelies from the “Just Us Girls” Challenge, aka: JUGs, organized this fun surprise birthday hop for her! Elise, being the fabulous paper crafter/designer that she is, creates the loveliest of cards and stamped pieces and is a fabulous designer for several scrap & embellishment companies. I learned more about the scrapbook industry from her in one weekend at CHA than I could have ever hoped to on my own. Elise is also one AMAZING fine artist.  AND, she’s my favorite cowgirl! So this project is a special birthday treat for her and a free download and tutorial for you. Please sure to check out all the links at the end of this post and when you find yourself at Elise’s blog, Mamacow Creations, I’d just love if you would leave her a nice birthday sentiment- Thank you.

For this paper wallet project, download the two free PDF files, No.1 HERE and No. 2 HERE. Print images to bright white cardstock using your printers finest settings. You can tell I don’t mind using my printer’s ink for some projects. I wouldn’t recommend printing multiples of this project, but if you are doing one or two, I think it’s worth the ink. If you are doing many, you may want to consider purchasing some brown cardstock or scrapbook paper to use instead of the brown textured leather images.

File No. 2 has a pocket image with HAPPY BIRTHDAY and another blank for other uses.

After printing and before trimming, you may opt to cover all with Contact paper, front and back for a more permanent piece. You can also create another long back pocket for bills. To make templates for creating wallets from beautifully patterned scrapbook paper, print the files in black and white at a reduced screen level.

Once pieces are printed, trim out each piece. Use only one of the angled pockets.

Score pieces to fold along flaps and fold back flaps. Create one or two scores down the center of the wallet front and back.Glue flaps back.

Use a rounder punch (or scissors as the very last step of the project) to round off the corners of all pieces where needed. Not all corners will be rounded, such as around the folds of the pockets.

Assemble all brown pieces stacked, back those up to the marbled hair image and head off to your sewing machine. Stitch around all pieces using a stitch that closely simulates a leather stitch.

To personalize, create a little name “tag” and either stitch to angle pocket under HAPPY BIRTHDAY before assembling pieces or sew an in-place zig-zag stitch onto your tag and glue in place after wallet assembly.
Once the wallet is sewn together, trim edges if necessary to complete. (I’ll be including a cute horse button from an old award rosette, perfect for the woman who raises horses.)

Now, tuck some goodies into the pockets! I included a photo of Elise with Tim Holtz, my favorite Elise Durenberger painting, The Jimtown Truck, and a gift card for a lunch date with me!

Happy Birthday Elise!!