How to Make a Wallet out of Playing Cards

When you want to give an unusual gift, think about a homemade wallet made from playing cards. There are two ways to make a wallet from playing cards. One way uses packing tape and the other uses yarn and a hole punch. You decide which one you like the best.

Things You'll Need

• Playing cards
• Hole punch
• Scissors or a craft knife
• Packing tape
• Yarn

Instructions

Use Yarn to Make the Wallet out of Playing Cards

1. Stack three cards together face up and lined up and punch a hole in them. Evenly space four holes along each long side of the cards and two holes at the bottom. Leave a space 3/16 inch from the bottom of the punch to the edge of the card. Use one of the cards as a template to punch holes in four more cards.

2. Cut out the center of one of the cards. Make the opening that you cut slightly smaller than a driver's license. Make sure it's small enough that it doesn't interfere with any holes that you punched.

3. Cover the front and the back of the card that you cut out with packing tape. Repunch the holes in the tape. This card is an I.D. holder. If you want to add credit card holders, simply punch holes and snip off other cards at different levels.

4. Lay three cards in front of you with the faces up. Insert yarn into the bottom holes on two side-by-side cards. Put one end of the yarn in each card. Cross the yarn at the back, like you lace a shoe, and bring it through the second hole to the front. Cross it over in the front and go through the third hole and cross and back up through the fourth hole in front. Tie a small knot in the yarn. Don't put yarn on the end of either side of the trio.

5. Do the same for the second group of three cards, except on these, and lay the cutout card on top of one of the end cards with the face up. Lace all four cards together. Don't lace the end on either side.

6. Put the backs together and push the yarn through the top hole. Tie it and knot it. Be careful not to pull too tight or you rip the cards. Insert the yarn into the next hole from the bottom and then loop over the edge and push it up through the next hole. Go all the way around the edge and tie it off at the top corner of the last card.

Make a Wallet from Playing Cards and Packing Tape

1. Select seven cards. Lay three in front of you face up and connect the three with a layer of clear packing tape. Leave enough space between the cards so you can fold it later, about 1/4 inch. Cover the cards with the tape and trim away excess.

2. Clip out a square smaller than a driver's license on one of the last four cards. Put clear packing tape over both the front and the back of the square to make a covered window.

3. Arrange the remaining three cards. Put a strip of packing tape between the first and second card. Now lay the window card face up on the first card and connect them all as you did in step one.

4. Lay the cards face up, one directly above the other with the bottoms in the middle. Leave 1/4 inch space between the two.

5. Flip the cards over and cover the entire back with packing tape. Make sure you cover all seams so no sticky backing shows. Bend the cards together at the middle seam so the face of the card shows on both sides. Tape the sides together. Fold the wallet toward the inside at the two center seams to complete it. You can add any thing extra you want with a little more tape and a few cards.