Years ago, I tried to make a wallet out of a Fedex Tyvek envelope, based on instructions from the inaugural issue of Readymade magazine. I liked the idea of a super-slim wallet that was (a) really cheap without seeming (b) totally cheapskate. The problem was, as simple as it seemed, making the thing involved a sewing machine, a device that is actually somewhat hard (not to mention scary) to use. So I gave up on the idea of having one until about a year and a half ago when I saw one for sale on Etsy for $5.
As long as we're talking about Fedex, here's the cool 70's Fedex logo, and one of those 80's ads with the fast-talking businessman [YouTube]. Next up: a relatively inexpensive wallet from All-Ett that uses silicone-coated ripstop nylon. Doesn't have the cool DIY look of the Fedex wallet, but seems a lot more durable.UPDATE: Just got email from Terrence Kelleman at Dynomighty Design, who designed a wallet made from a thicker, more durable grade of Tyvek and which is held together by gluing and folding rather than stitching. No sewing machines: bonus. Check out his demonstration [You Tube].