A USEFUL HANDMADE PROJECT
Fold an Expanding Paper Receipt Pocket
Accordion side gussets give a receipt pocket room to expand around a modest stack of slips.
Start with your materials ↓
WHAT TO GATHER
Your starting kit.
- Plain paper or cardstock suited to the folds described below
- A ruler, pencil, and scissors
- Paper glue and scrap paper for protecting the work surface
- A blunt folding tool for scored creases
STEP 01
Measure and prepare
Cut a 160 by 240 mm rectangle for the front and back and two 35 by 110 mm side strips.
STEP 02
Lay out the construction
Fold the large piece into two 110 mm panels with a 20 mm bottom between them. Score each side strip lengthwise into a shallow W with narrow outer glue tabs.
STEP 03
Join and shape
Glue the tabs inside the front and back edges. Keep the bottom ends inside the folded base and leave the top open.
STEP 04
Check the result
Test with a few blank slips first; this is a light paper organizer rather than an overfilled document wallet. Let glued joints dry according to the adhesive instructions. Compare the finished shape with its intended use: moving parts should move freely, open pockets should remain open, and supporting folds should sit level. Trim only a little at a time if a paper edge catches.
STEP 05
Finish and keep
Remove temporary pencil guides with a clean eraser where the paper allows it. Store the finished piece somewhere dry and avoid putting pressure on raised or rolled details. Keep your first scrap-paper version nearby if you want to change the dimensions next time.
Before you begin.
Can I change the paper size?
Yes. Make a scrap version first and keep the same fold sequence. Where a piece wraps another object, measure the actual object and add space for its thickness instead of enlarging only one dimension.
What should I check before beginning?
Test with a few blank slips first; this is a light paper organizer rather than an overfilled document wallet.
Original editorial project guidance. Images are AI-generated concepts, not photographs of tested finished projects. Practice on inexpensive materials and follow tool and material instructions. Sources & approach.
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