When was the last time you received a handwritten envelope in the mail? If it’s been awhile, consider reviving the letter-writing tradition with your friends and relatives. A fun (and cost-effective) way to enliven your postal correspondence is to make envelopes from materials you have around the house.
A beautiful handmade envelope is easy to make. First, decide what size and style of envelope you’d like to send. Everyone is familiar with standard commercial envelopes— the kind that sometimes bear bad news like bills and bank statements. Make a statement of your own by trying a different envelope style. Invitations and stationery often use Baronial-style envelopes (typically square in shape, with a long, pointed flap) or Announcement-style envelopes, which are often lined with foil or decorative paper. Look through old cards, stationery sets, and invitations for ideas.
Once you find an envelope that interests you, gently take it apart at the seams, where the flaps are attached with adhesive. (There should be no reason to cut or tear the envelope.) When it is dissembled, lay it flat with the flaps extended outward. This will now serve as a template for your custom-made envelopes.
Now for the fun part: finding interesting scrap paper for your envelopes. Here are some ideas:
Reused gift wrap
Children’s drawings
Old book jackets
Butcher paper
Leftover stationery or notebook paper
Pages or covers from old coloring books
Colorful junk mail advertisements
Candy or product packaging
Make sure that the paper you choose is strong enough to serve as an envelope. Once you have chosen your paper, pin your envelope template to the paper and cut carefully around the edges. Fold the flaps of your new envelope inward, and secure them with a glue stick. You’re done!
Note: If the paper you have chosen has a dark or distracting pattern, use a blank label on the front to write the address.
Bailey really likes to make and collect stationary. Se thinks it's funny that some people think they need 5 x 7 envelopes when she know what they really need is A7 Envelopes. She also has a love of lined envelopes that have a pattern on the liner.
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