How to Make a #Girlboss-Approved Gold-Leaf Business Card Holder
Listen up — we hereby declare that stuffing a stack of business cards in that too-small wallet pocket is no longer acceptable. It’s time to banish the sloppy scramble for your card when prompted to share it (come on, guys, first impressions count!). You need an upgrade, and you need one now. And we have a solution — a DIY leather and gold leaf business card holder. This elegant pouch will bring you one step closer to #girlboss goals, we promise.
Materials
– sturdy leather (ours is 8 inches x 8 inches)
– gold leaf
– varnish
– paint brush
– clothespins
– E6000
– X-Acto knife
– cutting mat
– pen
Instructions
1. Using a straightedge, draw a line in your leather, about one inch wider than your business cards. Cut along this line with an Xacto knife.
2. Draw a T-shaped notch at the top of the leather piece, then cut out with an X-Acto knife.
3. Use a paper towel to wet both sides of the leather (this makes it easier to bend). Fold the bottom of your leather up to make a pocket for your cards. Mark the edge of this fold, glue along the edges, then seal. Pinch the ends with clothespins to help it seal as it dries.
4. Once the E6000 has completely dried, fold over the top lip to find where you’ll cut the notch opening. Mark this spot, then carefully cut a notch with your X-Acto knife. (The notch should be wide enough to receive the longest part of the “T.”)
5. Paint a thick layer of varnish on your leather. Carefully place the card holder, varnish-side down, on a sheet of gold leaf. Press firmly, then flip over. Gently tear off the excess gold leaf. Repeat for the back of your card holder if you’d like.
6. If needed, paint on pieces of gold leaf to fill patches. Then paint another coat of varnish over the gold leaf to seal it. Let dry.
People, never underestimate the power of gold leaf to elevate the look of *anything.* It’s a trade secret of ours ;)
Using a straightedge, draw a line in your leather; about one inch wider than your business cards.
Cut along this line with an X-Acto knife.
Draw a T-shaped notch at the top of the leather piece, then cut out with an X-Acto knife.
Use a paper towel to wet both sides of the leather (this makes it easier to bend). Fold the bottom of your leather up to make a pocket for your cards. Mark the edge of this fold, glue along the edges, then seal. Pinch the ends with clothespins to help it seal as it dries.
Hey, good lookin’.
Once the E6000 has completely dried, fold over the top lip to find where you’ll cut the notch opening. Mark this spot, then carefully cut a notch with your X-Acto knife. The notch should be wide enough to receive the longest part of the “T”.
Paint a thick layer of varnish on to your leather where you’ll be placing gold leaf.
Carefully place the card holder, varnish-side down, on a sheet of gold leaf. Press firmly.
Gently tear off the excess gold leaf.
Pro Tip: If you find that the gold leaf is sticking to your fingers, try using the end of your paint brush or fingernails to tear it off.
If needed, paint on pieces of gold leaf to fill patches. Then paint another coat of varnish over the gold leaf to seal it. Let dry.
Repeat for the back of your card holder if you like.
Ta-daaa!
Believe it or not, the gold leaf won’t chip off once the varnish is dry. AKA this baby is pocket-proof!
Are you making this DIY yourself? If so, we want to see the results! Share photos on social media with the hashtags #iamcreative and #briststagram so we can take a look.
