The cover

1. 1

   Cut out the cover

   Print the template on light green paper, A4 (on US Letter, choose “Fit to page”). Thin card, about 160 g/m² (about 60 lb cardstock), makes the cover stronger. Cut along the straight lines with a craft knife and a ruler. Cut the round corners of the flap with scissors.

   

2. 2

   Draw the stitches

   Inside each panel there is a light dashed line. Go over it with a black pen and a ruler. Now the cover looks stitched, like a real little wallet.

   

The rainbow pockets

1. 3

   Cut a strip of coloured paper

   Fold a sheet of coloured paper, A4 or US Letter, in half the long way. Cut along the fold. Each half is one long strip.

   

2. 4

   Fold the strip to card width

   Lay a Pokémon card on the strip, near the bottom, in the middle.

   

   Fold the left side of the strip over the card and press the fold. Then fold the right side over it.

   

   Press both folds flat along the whole strip. Open the bottom a little and slide the card out. Now the strip is exactly as wide as a card.

   

3. 5

   Fold a zigzag

   Fold the strip in half across, with the folded sides inside. Press the fold.

   

   Now fold each end back to the middle fold, one on each side. From the side the strip looks like the letter M.

   

4. 6

   Glue it flat

   Open the strip and put glue under the folded sides so they stay down. Fold the zigzag again and press it.

   

5. 7

   Cut it in two

   Cut the folded strip in half across with a paper trimmer or scissors. Now you have two pocket pieces, each a little taller than a card.

   

6. 8

   Make more in other colours

   Repeat with pink and blue paper, or any colours you like. Each colour gives you two more pieces, and every piece holds a few more cards.

   

7. 9

   Glue the pockets together

   Put glue on the last side of one piece and press the next piece onto it. Mix the colours as you go. Keep the edges in line, so the stack stays neat.

   

8. 10

   Open the fan

   Open the stack. All the pockets fan out in a rainbow, and each one fits a card.

   

   The rainbow pockets are ready.

Putting it together

1. 11

   Fold the cover

   Fold the cover on each line between the panels. The two narrow bands become the sides of the holder.

   

2. 12

   Glue the pockets inside

   Put glue on the outside of the first pocket and press it onto the back panel of the cover. Then glue the last pocket to the front panel.

   

   Close the cover and fold the rounded flap over the front.

   

3. 13

   Add the tab

   Cut out the rounded tab from the template.

   

   Glue the straight end under the middle of the flap, so the round end hangs down over the front.

   

4. 14

   Add the band

   Cut the thin band from the template, or a strip of pink paper the same size. Fold it on the lines into a flat loop.

   

   Glue the band across the front, below the flap. Leave the middle loose, so the tab slides under it and holds the flap shut.

   

5. 15

   Add Bulbasaur

   Cut out the Bulbasaur face. Stick foam tape squares on the back. You can pick Pikachu, Charmander or Gengar instead.

   

   Press the face onto the flap, right above the tab. The foam makes it stand out a little.

   

6. 16

   Fill it with cards

   Pull the tab out from the band and open the flap. Slide one card into each pocket.

   

   Close the flap and tuck the tab back under the band.

   

   Turn it to the side: all the rainbow pockets peek out between the covers.

   

   Your Bulbasaur card holder is ready.

Make it easier.

• Use a real card as your ruler. Folding the strip around a card makes every pocket the right width, with no measuring.
• Thicker paper for the cover. Thin card keeps the holder in shape. Normal coloured paper is best for the pockets, because it folds easily.
• Press every fold. Sharp folds make the fan open and close neatly.