How To Make Free Business Card Holders (PICS!)

[chrispalko]

***READ THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE*** (with pics on page)

(I'm not sure exactly where this goes, so moderators, feel free to move accordingly.)

This is a step by step tutorial on how to make free business card holders. I’ve searched the internet for business card holders and saw a holder (with no tutorial) like this one, but it was pretty much just a cube with one open side. It was also completely filled with cards and not very visually pleasing (in my opinion). I apologize for the poor picture quality. They were taken from the webcam on my laptop and reduced in size for the web.

So, after playing with my own business cards for a while, I have developed my own business card holder that I would like to share with the YBO readers as well as with the entrepreneur community. Let’s get started:

Materials:

• 6 Business cards (your own, obviously)
• Super glue
• Paper plate (so you don’t get glue everywhere)
• A few minutes of your time

Step 1: Get 6 of your business cards ready for the project. They do not have to be double sided. Even though I have double sided cards, I only wanted one side to be viewable, so I created my holder that way. If you have a double sided card, and want both sides to display, just flip a few over and continue making the business card holder.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/2...0941vf6.th.jpg

Step 2: Take 2 of your cards and get them ready for folding. As you can see, I have double sided cards, but I’m only using one side for my business card holder. The other side is just to show you the back.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9...0942bf8.th.jpg

Step 3: Place both business cards face down in a “plus” shape. The bottom one should be vertical to you (I’m sitting off to the left), and the top one should sit horizontal to you. Again, both face down (though, you can switch between front or back sides up on the BOTTOM card). Try to make everything as even as possible, that’s very important for our business card holder to line up right.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5...0943cy0.th.jpg

Step 4: Take the bottom edge of the bottom card and fold it up and over the top business card.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/4...0944xr3.th.jpg

Step 5: Now, fold the top edge of the bottom business card up over the top business card.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/4...0945gh3.th.jpg

Step 6: Repeat steps 3-5 for 5 of your 6 business cards. Leave 1 of your 6 business cards unfolded.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/2...0947jk1.th.jpg

Step 7: Here, you must arrange your folded business cards in a particular fashion. This will make assembly much easier. Place your cards like those shown in the picture. This formation should FACE YOU. In the picture, I am sitting off to the left, HOWEVER, I have made the formation look like it should when it’s facing you. Again, when you look at your formation, it should look exactly like what you see in the picture.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9...0948we6.th.jpg

Step 8: Take your top business card and super glue it to your center business card (using about 3 tiny drops of glue, that’s all it takes). You should not be rotating any cards, simply, lifting them up and gluing them together. In the picture, I have glued the bottom flap of the top business card to the bottom of the center business card. This is my preference. You may glue the flap to the inside of the center business card if you would like a cleaner look (I just wanted a more creative/complex look since I’m in design, however, not all industries take to creativity/complexity the same).

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8...0949pp3.th.jpg

Step 9: Take your bottom business card and glue it to your center business card in the same fashion that you glued your top business card to your center business card. I’m sure you’ve noticed my paper plate. I’m not eating. I use that to put the glue down fast so I can align the cards properly. Please don’t eat super glue.

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/8...0950pm2.th.jpg

Step 10: Here is where you will start putting the sides of your business card holder together. Take your right business card and place it INSIDE the flap of the center business card, but wrap its flaps around the OUTSIDE of the top and bottom business cards. Obviously, super glue them together.

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/9...0951hp3.th.jpg

Step 11: Super glue the left business card to the rest of the cards in the same fashion that you attached your right business card. This is what your card holder should look like at this point.

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/4...0952dx6.th.jpg

Step 12: Now, just take your unfolded business card and glue it to the front of your holder. Make sure your card is front side forward. Also, this is very important: Make sure the opening of your business card holder is parallel to your front business card (you don’t want your cards sitting sideways).

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/9...0953nu1.th.jpg

Step 13: Well, this really isn’t a step. You’re done! This is what your business card holder should look like with business cards in it. I find that 20 cards is a good amount to keep the back flap from folding in. You could fit as much as 30, though. If you are going to need to fit more cards, you can glue the two top flaps in and just fill the box. I’m not sure exactly how much it will hold, but I’m assuming well over 100 cards.

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/3...0954fz1.th.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/9...0955yv5.th.jpg

So, here you have a simple, cheap tutorial to making effective, free business card holders. Though, I am owner and author of YBO and my content is directed the community of young entrepreneurs, I feel this simple tutorial and business card holder can be of use to any size business.

You can place this free business card holder on your desk and on the counters of businesses where potential clients visit. Your business cards’ creative holder will make them stand out from other business card holders as well as just simply making them stand out.

So, save money on your marketing and advertising by creating your own free business card holders.

***READ THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE*** (with pics on page)

[chrispalko]

I forgot to mention: feel free to send me a pic of your holder. I am going to follow up on this article with pics from readers that have made their own.

Also, I have no problem linking back to your site if you choose to do this. I look forward to hearing from many. You may PM me, but I would prefer to be contacted at the email on my "Contact" page.