How to Make an Accordion File
Office tools can be lifesavers to the "organizationally challenged," but they may not be exactly the size needed, they may be unattractive, or they may be expensive. A homemade accordion folder gives you the opportunity to tailor the file to fit your needs and to add a little pizzazz or whimsy to your supplies. It also saves you money, especially when you repurpose old file folders for the project.
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Things You'll Need
- 5 envelopes, any size
- Craft glue or glue stick
- File folders
- Fabric, scrapbook paper or wallpaper
- Ribbon, cording or shoelace
- Bone folder
- Double-sided fusible webbing
- Iron
- Hook-and-loop tape tab
Instructions
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"In a Minute" File
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1
Open the flaps of the envelopes.
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2
Apply glue to the flap of one of the envelopes.
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3
Affix the flap to the front of another envelope, aligning the fold with the bottom edge of the second one.
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4
Measure a piece of ribbon or cording long enough to wrap around the file and tie in a bow.
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5
Center the tie on the back of the bottom envelope and glue it.
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6
Cut a piece from a file folder to fit the flap on the top envelope. Cut a rectangle from the same folder that matches the bottom envelope.
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7
Cover the folder pieces with fabric or paper. Add stickers, beads, buttons or other embellishments, as you like.
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8
Glue the covers to the envelope accordion, covering the section of the tie glued to the envelope.
"Going Green" File
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9
Cut the top, open edges of the file folders to make them straight
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10
Fold the bottom of each folder to make a 1/4-inch or 1/2-inch base, using the score lines already present.
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11
Cut strips from an extra folder to make the gussets on the sides. If you folded the score lines for a 1/4-inch base, cut the strips 1 inch wide. For a 1/2-inch base, make them 2 inches wide. The length of the strips should match the height of the folders. You need two strips for each folder.
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12
Fold a strip in half lengthwise. Crease it firmly with a bone folder.
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13
Fold each edge of the strip to the first fold, in the opposite direction, to form an "M" shape. Crease the folds sharply.
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14
Glue the gussets to the folders, with the two matching folds -- the tops of the "M" -- aligned with the edges of the folder. Repeat for the other side.
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15
Add gussets to the remaining folders.
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16
Glue the back of the first folder to the front of the next with craft glue or a glue stick. Repeat with the remaining folders to create a stack of connected files.
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17
Cut away the back of another folder, leaving 2 inches from the fold. Glue it to the back folder, aligning the fold with the top of the accordion.
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18
Hold the remainder of the flap over the top of the accordion and mark the front of the stack on the flap. Fold the folder at that point, using the bone folder to crease it sharply. Trim the flap to the shape and size you like.
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19
Cut a piece of fabric 2 inches longer than the measurement from the edge of the flap, around the accordion to the top of the front folder. Make the fabric 1/2-inch wider than the accordion file.
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20
Fold 1/4 inch of fabric to the wrong side on all the edges. Place 1/4-inch-wide strips of fusible webbing between the layers and iron them to adhere.
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21
Center the file on the wrong side of the fabric. Attach it to the file with craft glue, spray adhesive or fusible webbing, turning the extra length to the underside of the flap and the inside of the top folder.
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22
Add a hook-and-loop tape tab to the flap and front folder to hold the file closed.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Recycle an old cereal box by cutting the flap and back cover pieces from it, rather than from a file folder.
Embellish your folders to reflect your personal style or to color-code project files with a quick switch of fabric or paper covers.
Make your file desk-sized or purse-friendly by changing the size of the envelopes. Use regular letter envelopes for sorting coupons or use larger manila or brown paper envelopes for project files. You can also cut the file folders to the size you prefer before proceeding with the rest of the process.
References
- Photo Credit Dynamic Graphics Group/Dynamic Graphics Group/Getty Images
