Pocket Card Tutorial with free cut file

Today I'm excited to share with you a pocket card tutorial.  On a previous post, I shared a couple of pocket cards I made for Christmas.  I realized those were pretty small for normal card envelopes, but they fit perfectly in some extra smaller envelopes I had around from a previous Christmas.  So I decided to make a new template that fits better in a normal card envelope.  Due to my lack of math skills, it took a few tries, but here is what I came up with.  This is also my first picture tutorial so be patient with me. :)

[UPDATE: I created a free silhouette cut-file, click here]

Here is the finished card...

To start with, you'll need a piece of paper (double sided patterned works well) 8 5/8" x 6".

Turn the paper horizontally and using a scoring board, score down at 3/8" .

 Next, you'll score at 4 1/2"

 Then turn the paper vertically and score at 5/8".

Then you'll cut off the tiny bottom corner where the two flaps meet, and the portion on the right bottom side where the 4 1/2" score line and 5/8" score line meet.  This will create your flaps to close the pocket.

 Next you'll fold on the 4 1/2" score line (using a bone folder if you'd like).  You can also fold in the side and bottom flaps.

Now to create the curve in the front, I used a CD. You could use a circle die if you have one large enough (I didn't).  Or anything round (plate, lid, etc).  You can make the curve close to the top or further down depending on your preference.  I wanted some of the tag to show, so I put it down a couple of inches and then traced the bottom edge of the CD.

Next I cut off the part I just traced, with a straight line across the left flap and up the right side.  Keep this piece of paper for the tag that goes inside the pocket.

 Next we'll round the corners.  Start with the top of the left flap, then the bottom of that flap (you'll need to fold the bottom flap up to get the corner rounder in there).

Then you can do the bottom flap...

...and the top(back of envelope). Here's how the top will look once that is done.

Next we'll put some sticky strip or (scor-tape like I used) on the flaps.

Go ahead and remove the backing, and fold down the flaps.  This is the back of the pocket.  You could either have them showing like I do (hard to tell in the photo, sorry) or hidden like in other example below.

  

The pocket on the right has the flaps tucked inside, where the one on the left has them outside (visible).

Ok, so now you have your pocket, and you can decorate it however you choose.  

I decided on this one to put a snowflake in the corner.  It's actually two snowflake punches stacked on top of each other, with a pearl sticker on top.  I put a dimension dot on the bottom and in between the snowflakes for some height.  I also ran both snowflakes through the Big Shot with my Stampin Up! Chevron embossing folder.

Next comes the tag that will go inside the pocket. For this, you'll need a piece of cardstock 5 1/4" x 4".  I rounded the corners, then put a 1 1/2" circle of one patterned paper covered with a 1" circle of contrasting paper and folded in half over the top edge.  I used the scrap of paper left over after the CD tracing step for the circles.

Then I hole-punched through the center of the half-circles and added a ribbon. 

  

Another idea I tried is only rounding the top corners and then using an edger punch on the bottom.  This is a scroll punch from EK Success.

You can add a sentiment like I did on this one (oh, and I did a Christmas tree in the corner of this one)...

 ...or this one... (with a poinsettia sticker on the front).

Here are 3 finished pocket cards.  You can see the possibilities are endless, and can be used for any theme.  I think I'll try some for fall next...

 Thanks for stopping by, and please leave a comment if you enjoyed this.  I'd love to see your creations as well.