DIY Invitations Part II: Pocketfolds

...aka how to make a pocketfold using legal sized (8.5 x 14) cardstock for less than $0.50 each!! You hear me $0.50 each?? Ok, well... was forced to be creative due to a little math error (I should have ordered custom paper that was 8.5 x 18, but I was having "bride brain" that day).

Here is what we are working towards:

I staggered the insert panel to show you that it is a double layer but after construction it should lay directly over the pocketfold backing.
I will provide the exact measurements I used but obviously they can, and should, be customized to fit your invitation suite.

My invitations: 8.5" x 5.5"
RSVP inserts: 3.25 x 4.75"
Reception and Guest Info insert: 4.25" x 5.5"

POCKET FOLD

1) Determine where you want your folds to be. My folds ended up being at 3" (fold between flap and invitation panel) and 8.6" (fold between invitation panel and insert panel).

2) Score! Score your predetermined fold lines using a scoring blade.

(Scoring the 8.6" fold)

(Scoring the 3" fold)

POCKET MAKING

3) Create pocket panel. Because of my math error I did not have enough paper to to fold a pocket into the "pocket-fold" so I ended up cutting another panel of paper to be glued over top of insert panel. I then cut slits into top panel to create pockets. These panels were cut to 8.5" x 5.5".

4) Adding the pockets. I liked the pockets at 3" and 5" from the top so I marked horizontal guidelines. To create the actual pockets I measured my inserts to see how wide the pockets would need to be to hold the paper snug* but still allow for easy removal and reinsertion. The top pocket was cut to 4.25" wide and the bottom was cut to 3.25" wide. I found the best way to cut the pockets was using a paper cutter vice an Xacto-knife.

5) Attach it. Finally, I glued the pocket panel on to the backing using glue dots.**

THE FINALE

6) Bone fold. Be sure to use a bone folder to really crease all those folds tight. This will be very helpful when it comes time to stuff envelopes.

The final product....

We will be adding belly bands to keep the pocketfolds closed and add a splash of color but more on those to come later.

Time: This took WAY longer than I expected. Working alone I got about a quarter of them done in 8-10 hours. I finally enlisted my fiance and we knocked the rest out in about 6-8 hours.(Note this is for 120 pocketfolds)

Difficulty level: Medium-Hard. Pocketfolds (my way) involve A LOT of measuring and cutting. If you are not skilled with a paper cutter or rush making your measurement they can start looking sloppy.

Cost:

250 sheets of paper= $44.00 (we only used 180 sheets)

Glue= $25 (we went through a TON of glue... literally)

Bone folder (already had)

Paper cutter (already had)

Total per pocketfold: $0.47

Total per invitation-to-date: $0.77 (envelope liners and pocketfolds)

Notes
*I found that if the pockets were too large that the insert would slide down in between the insert panel and pocket panel and you can't get it out!!

** Easier said than done. The placement of the glued panel was one of the hardest parts of this project just because nothing was cut perfect so it took a little fudging to get it all to look good.