I hope this gives you a bunch of new ideas, too!
#Diy envelope making plus
sometimes I think the measure of a good idea is when it gives you ten other ideas at once!Īt our retreat I made a big map-velope which has two layers to make it sturdy, plus some small ones, to hold business cards, etc. I also think it would look great to glue or sew on a big snap to close the envelope, or a use buttons and loops, or make a reusable envelope out of something hefty and sew it together, or make your own folders. Gluing an extra circle on the back for reinforcement seemed like a good idea as well. I used metal brads and a bit of top stitching thread, tying the thread in a knot around the brad, and slipping the knot under the paper circle before sticking it through the envelope.
I traced a penny on heavier paper, and used two thicknesses glued together for each circle. I wanted to recreate the loop and tie closure from my pattern envelope, so marked the position of the circles from the original when I cut it out. Use a bone folder, or similar hard but not too sharp object, to score along the folding lines.įold in the sides and stick your envelope together using glue stick, paper glue or ATG (borrowed from the matting and framing part of our studio).įor a simple envelope, you are done! Just glue the top when you are ready to mail. Either use a paper cutting blade (hence my very old cutting mat is my backdrop today) or trace around your envelope and cut it out with scissors.
In any case, check out the placement of your envelope on the new paper to make sure any motifs you really like will be where you want them. You can also buy plastic templates in various sizes, or print out paper ones from lots of online sources, search for “envelope template.” I like using an envelope you already have to start, since it’s right here ready to go.
You can use any envelope you like as a pattern, just peel it apart carefully so that you have clean edges to trace. I’ve had this red envelope for quite a while, I love the shape and the old-style closure. I going to use this map and guide from The Art Institute of Chicago, mostly because it has the word “varoom!” on it in big letters. The kind that is too pretty/interesting to just put in the bin. I have made a few handmade cards, and looked for envelopes to fit them, but it never occurred to me to just make one! And, you can use all kind of cool recycled paper. If you have favorite gift tags, make templates from those too!ĭon’t have kid art on hand? Envelopes can be made from all sorts of sturdy, foldable paper including the pages of old books, notebooks, magazines, hand-stamped paper, recycled paper gift bags, wallpapers, homemade papers, marbled papers, et cetera! Let your imagination and your paper stash be your guide.Really, why didn’t I think of this ages ago? But actually, my lovely aunt Barbara introduced me to this idea at our craft retreat, which she in turn got from one of her teachers. Punch a hole in the top, string a few together, and set yourself up for a season of quick and easy envelope making.
#Diy envelope making free
Most envelopes are pretty self explanatory, but feel free to trace lines on the template to help you remember where the folds go.
The slight heft of the cardboard makes for much easier tracing and having the template on hand means always being able to make just the envelope you’d like from whatever papers you have on hand. The next time you come across an envelope in a shape you love, open it up carefully, trace it onto a piece of old cardboard, and cut the traced shape from the cardboard. Now, here’s some encouragement to make the process even simpler by growing a small collection of cardboard envelope templates made from any favorite envelopes you stumble across. Kid art envelopes are sure to be cherished by the grandparents, yes, but honestly chic enough to give just about anyone. A few years ago, Rose and I shared our kid art envelopes project, which gives art that might otherwise land directly in the recycling bin a second life as something new and useful. Making your own envelope is as simple as cutting a piece of paper into the right shape and gluing down the edges.
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