Simple Cardboard Folder

I've just bought a new case for my violin, with a big pouch on top to hold music books and sheets. But I don't want to let them wander randomly, so I was thinking to buy a folder, at least for the sheets. Before buying, I tried using some folder I already own, but all of them are too large to fit or ugly to my taste.

So, here is my personal cardboard folder. Let's go!

PS: sorry, but no notes on the pictures, for now. I don't know if it depends my ISP's or Istructables' issue, but everything else works fine, notes simply don't save.

We don't need to much things, just:

- a large piece of cardboard (medium-to-high weight)
- pencil
- ruler
- scissors
- tape
- glue
- brush (to spreading the glue)
- 2 paper fasteners
- 20 cm of string
- candle or lighter

The colors aren't important, follow your taste.

Since each country use his very own preferred paper size, this Instructable contains some suggestion to properly dimension your folder, based on the size you want to use.

First of all, start measuring from a corner this sequence: short side + 1 cm, 1 cm, 1 cm, short side + 1 cm, 1 cm, 1 cm, 2-3 cm. This allow some room for the sheets. From the same corner, but along the other side, measure: 2-3 cm, 1 cm, 1 cm, long side + 1 cm, 8-10 cm.

Fold the cardboard along the last mark on both sides and cut the creases. If you have a thick cardboard, the ruler may help.

Once you obtain the smaller sheet, fold in both directions from every mark. This will make easy the construction.

Now you should have an irregular checkerboard. Trace some lines like the first picture, then cut along them. You should obtain something like the second image. The third one contains two particulars you need to pay attention to.

Then fold the extending parts like the fourth picture.

Now we will glue together the flaps. We need to do this following a logical order, so start with the sides, then glue the front. See pictures for reference. It's possible that the flaps that should keep together the sides extend beyond the border, once the folder is glued. If so, trim the excess like in the last image.

Take the leftover cardboard. Draw two circles, about 2-3 cm of diameter, equal or slightly different, as you wish. Cut them and punch a hole in the middle. The hole should be big enough to receive the fasteners, but small enough to avoid an "escape".

Find a suitable place for bot disk, one of the body of the folder (near the center) and the other on the upper flap. Mark both center through the holes and punch another pair of holes like you've done before.

Use the fasteners to keep together the folder and the disks, then take the string and tie a sliding knot (see pics if you don't know how to do this). Tightens the knot around the upper flap's disk.

To lock the folder, simply wind the free end of the string around the main body's disk with 2 or 3 turns.