A few days ago I posted my take on the Traveler’s Notebook. I love it, but I do think it’s a bit pricey for what it is, and some of the inserts are correspondingly expensive for what they are too. One of the inserts that I said I definitely wanted to take a look at was the Kraft paper folder (reference number 020). Currently these retail for about $8.00 CAD online. Which—for what amounts to a folded piece of cardstock—is, I think, a little expensive. Admittedly, the folder looks nice, is machine cut, and accurately folded in a professional design; but it’s still basically a piece of card you could buy in an art supply store for about a dollar.

And with this in mind, I remembered the wise comments of The Economical Penster(December 20, 2017, 20:41), “… go back to Michael’s — hopefully armed with one of their ubiquitous coupons!” Which made me wonder, just how difficult would a simple piece of folded cardstock really be for even my, less than talented, fingers to put together?

I am not going to pretend that my efforts are anywhere near as good as the retail product linked to above, but the end result is perfectly usable, and looks just fine. In addition, I’m certain that any of you more talented individuals out there, could make something a great deal more aesthetically pleasing using this as a starting point.

The first step was to pick up some cardstock, so back to Michael’s I went. There, I picked up a couple of sheets of Bazzill Basics Cardstock (12in x 12in; 305mm x 305mm), for about $1.20 CAD each.

This color is apparently known as “Kraft”, and seemed like the best fit to me. Although there are obviously a large array of colors and patterns that you can choose from to make your notebook more (with a respectful nod to Ms Fountain Pen Manners) “colorful“.

I used the zipper pocket insert (reference number 008) that I talked about in my main review, as a template for size and location of cut-outs for the elastic binder. Once the size had been sketched out, I drew a basic pattern for folding the card into a document folder insert….

To form the folder, all you have to do is fold the flaps labelled A over, and apply some good paper glue to the back of each. Then fold the bottom flaps (B), over so that their outer edges stick to the glue on A. You could, of course, use a second sheet of card for longer pockets, and make the flaps (A) longer, to glue to the larger pockets; but I opted for the simple—more economical—solution. Once done, simply thread the cardstock folder through the Traveler’s Notebook’s elastic binder, and this is what you get…

You get one card folder per sheet of the cardstock, which may not be as fancy as the $8.00 folder, but suits me just fine.

Many thanks to The Economical Penster for the inspiration!

And if anybody else tries this out, or takes the idea any further, please send a picture to writing@pauldgodden.com.