Saturday, September 14, 2019

ATC Wallet Tutorial by Tracey Fairgrieve


Hello Everyone, it's Tracey here today to show you how I created my ATC wallet and share those *How to do's* accompanied with lots of photographs to help explain my process and hopefully keep you entertained along the way...

Onto an embossed sheet of A4 Kraft Card I blended a mix of rusty hinge and vintage photo distress ink all over the card bringing out that pattern.


Coating with DecoArt Satin Varnish gives the kraft card a rich soft sheen. Edging with an alcohol marker darkens around the outskirts, likened to well worn leather handled over time.


Trimming the sheet down to size 8" x 11½" I cut the card in half length ways. One length will be used to create the wallet and the other piece used to help create and embellish the wallet.


Many know how rubbish I am with measurements, I much prefer creating by eye and letting the paper and card find it's own shape by simple manipulation, so I do hope the score measurements I have provided below help make sense to you all. 
Score and fold at 1½" ~ 6¼" and 7" 


When folded the wallet measures 4" x 4 ¾" when closed. 
A 4" x 3" piece of embossed Kraft card will later be attached to the overlapping flap to extend the front of the wallet. 


Moving onto the inside of the wallet the ATC display album is simply made by using A4 black card around 270gsm, cutting lengths 3¾" wide and scoring 4" apart. Each 4" section will house an ATC with the left over strip glued to the next strip enabling the concertina ATC display insert to grow. 


A plain piece of Kraft card is adhered to reinforce the inside of the wallet and colour matched by blending in the same distress inks used on the embossed card. Coated with a layer of DecoArt satin varnish I let this stage dry before continuing with the next. 
Two pieces of embossed Kraft card are cut to size 4" x 3" these will create the pockets either side where the ATC concertina display album can be slotted in. 


Unsure at first just how many ATC's this wallet could hold I prepared more than enough.. any extra will always come in handy.


This wallet will hold 12 ATC's comfortably, die cut photo corners cut from the same black card are glued into each corner that's 48 photo corners in total.


With the extended front flap added the wallet now measures around 14" in length. 
A vintage screw back button and twisted elastic create the wallets closure.
Left over embossed card adds interest to the spine along with a couple of brass brads but the "piece de resistance" for me is the machine stitching around the edge which seems to have transformed something I described as quite boring..


Here's what the inside of the wallets components look like before they become one.


See how the inner ATC album slides with ease into those wallet pockets.


Now my ATC display wallet is complete and ready to fill..


Can you see how making the ATC holder slightly larger than an ATC creates a visual border to display without obscuring any of the detail.


I can see me having many happy hours displaying and flicking through this wallet.


Mini Album Makers ATC Wallet


Thank you all so much for sticking with me. I hope you may have found and can take away a little inspiration from my tutorial today. It has been a pleasure to present it to you all. 

Please remember Mini Album Makers is celebrating it's second Blogaversary this month with two prizes up for grabs. Follow the details HERE and come and share your Album creations with us all.

Sending Creative Hugs & Wishes your way
Tracey xx