Monday, June 20, 2011

How to Make Custom Envelopes


I ran out of envelopes on the weekend and needed an envelope for a Father's Day card. It was a perfect opportunity to make a custom envelope. I have also wanted to buy kraft envelopes but they are no where to be seen in the city I live in. With my kraft envelope desire in mind, I chose to use kraft wrapping paper - the stuff that is on a roll that you can use for wrapping packages for the mail. I took a used envelope for my pattern.

The paper dimensions for this envelope are 7 1/4 x 9 3/4 inches. This fit an A2 card - which is a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch card (half an 8 1/2 x 11)
1. I scored at 3/4 of an inch on both short sides for the side tabs - and at 2 1/4 " and 6 3/4 in on the long side. Cut the top and bottom rectangles out to make the side tabs.
2. Cut a contrasting piece of paper to decorate the inside of the envelope, a little more narrow than the envelope. I printed out digital paper called
  Old World Crowns and Script from Background Fairy. I rounded the corners of the insert paper, along with the top and bottom flaps on the envelope. I also cut the top of the tabs at an angle. Glue the insert to the top on the envelope.
3. Glue the bottom envelope to the side tabs.
4. Cut a piece of double sided tape and place at the top of the envelope where you want it to be sealed. Don't take off take cover until you are ready to seal the envelope. *Just a note* - I used pretty wide double sided tape. This proved to be difficult to open the envelope - so next time I will either cut the width of the tape in half or I will cut the tape into three one inch pieces and place at both sides and the middle.

With the leftover pieces of paper - I made bag toppers for some bags of peanuts.

I am so excited to have found a way to have kraft envelopes that are a fraction of the cost - and also to customize envelopes to go with the cards I make. Hopefully this gives you some ideas too!
Thanks for stopping by!

Linking up to...

5 comments:

  1. I love making matching envelopes for my cards -- even if all I do is stamp the same image on the front --- makes the card just a little more special, I think! Yours are great --

    ReplyDelete
  2. I REALLY like the kraft paper idea! The image you chose goes perfectly. Although, I suspect a lot of images would go well with this awesome paper. (I do not have any -I would probably try with a paper bag. :) Your tutorial is very detailed -anyone can follow it! Gonna go vote for you..... :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your envelopes are so cute- they look like expensive designer ones! I'll have to try these sometime. The printed paper liner is such a good idea as well :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is superb...I would like to make custom Gift Card envelopes for own gifts..like the idea.

    ReplyDelete