Weddingbee PRO

I gave you guys a peek at my press kit in yesterday’s post about the importance of putting together a media kit.

I’m always tweaking and changing the design (for now…eventually I will finish developing the brand and be happy with what I have!), so this isn’t quite finished yet. It’s nice to have things starting to match and become more cohesive. Anyway, there is one element–the folder–that I know I want to keep for sure, and I want to show you all how I made it.

Your press kit could be made of recycled materials, printed on a big rectangle of heavy cardstock, made into a beautiful accordion-fold pamphlet, it could have a hand-bound cover…there are endless possibilities, and they are a great way to show off your good taste in design. The only thing I would recommend is to keep the kit flat so it doesn’t roll off an editor’s desk right into the trash.

The folder of my press kit is actually made out of some file dividers that had remained unused. Looking around your office for unwanted items that you can repurpose, or even for colors and patterns that inspire you is a great place to start. I’ve also noticed that office supply stores like Office Max and Office Depot also have lots of very feminine, bold, and beautiful papers that would work well.

I cut each folder in half, which was 9.5’’x6.5’’. I don’t have a really fancy, expensive paper cutter, but I love it and it does the job well.

So after cutting your material in half, you should have two equal pieces. Take one half and cut it again diagonally to make the front of the folder, the pocket where your press kit materials will be. I just eyeball the cut and then fit the two pieces together to see if I like how deep the pocket is. If not, I can always trim it a little more.

Next, I cut slits with a craft knife in the front pocket to fit my business card. I measure this by placing a business card square on the front and marking where I will need to cut two diagonal slits to fit the corners in.

The next part is easy, but I recommend using a sewing machine. Position the two parts of the folder together and sew around the edges. Since you can’t pin this heavy paper like you would fabric, I use binder clips to hold the edges together as I sew around the edge. I try to keep the stitches pretty close to the edge of the folder, because if you come in too far the paper won’t fit inside.

And there you have it! What makes this folder size so ideal is that you can use regular letter-sized paper to print your promotional materials and just cut it in half. I print my press kit materials on 8.5×11 textured cardstock in two columns and cut it down the middle and then it’s the perfect size to slide right in the folder.

Eventually, someday you may want to have your press kit professionally designed and produced, and I recommend asking your friends in the business world or searching online for recommendations. But creating your own press kit is a great opportunity to flex your creative muscles and express your business aesthetics. I hope this tutorial gave you some inspiration to put your own kit together.