Handmade envelopes make any note, card, or letter personal and heartfelt. Just open a nicely crafted envelope with someone who spent time crafting it for himself or herself; right there and then, it is more than just a piece of paper!
It may be the love note, birthday card, or simply a small message to a friend – it makes something ordinary memorable. And the good news? Anyone can do it! Here’s a step-by-step guide to making unique, one-of-a-kind envelopes that are simple, quick, and fun to make.
DIY Envelope – What You’ll Need
All it demands is some few basic materials that, many of which you are likely to have them within the house. To make this homemade envelope in this tutorial, we use a standard 8.5 by 11 paper. Feel free to experiment with other sizes or color of paper needed.
Materials Used:
- A sheet of paper, 8.5″ x 11″ is convenient
- Scissors
- Tape (use washi tape for some fun patterns and easy use)
- Optional materials for an added zing:
- Markers or pens for decoration
- Stickers, stamps, or ornamentations
How to Design Your Customized Envelope in Super Easy Steps
Here’s a step-by-step process that even a little youngster could follow with a bit of direction. So if a four-year-old can make envelopes, there’s no doubt anybody else can either!
Step 1: Form The Basic Envelope
Begin with a regular sheet of 8.5″ x 11″ paper. These steps will transform this into a square shape that takes the form of the classic envelope.
Fold the Bottom Right Corner Up: Fold the bottom right corner of the paper upwards so that the whole of the bottom side of the paper aligns with the left-hand side. This fold will make a neat triangle.
Cut off the Excess Paper: You now have a piece of paper above the triangle that forms a rectangle cut away that excess paper by scissors then unfold the triangle you will get a square shape of paper which is just a base for an envelope.
Step 2: Fold Into Your Envelope.
Take your square paper and go through the steps below to give the envelope life.
Crease Rule: Fold the square along such that the bottom left hand corner meets at the top right hand corner so to create another triangle. Make the full crease. Just press in little crease at very bottom of the triangle as centre and guides folds that could be done without deepening along middle part.
Place Paper: Position your paper, now turning it so the fold you just made points to the ground and the unfolded top will point up when it time to fold edges towards middle of envelope.
Fold the Corners In: Fold the left corner, the right corner, and the bottom corner over toward the center point, folding on your small guideline crease. The folded edges of the paper should now resemble the beginnings of an envelope.
Folding in the Bottom Flap: Bring the bottom triangle up so that it covers the folded edges-this now forms the body of your envelope.
Make the top flap by folding the top down to close your envelope. In this way, this flap will overlap your folded bottom section, keeping everything contained inside when you apply your tape.
Step 3: Seal and Decorate Your Envelope using Washi Tape
A hand written envelope is never complete without some personal touch and Washi tape is great for adding character and sticking the envelope together.
Cut Washi Tape to Size: Measure strips of Washi tape to fit along the side edges of the envelope. Attach each strip, folding half of the tape around to the back of the envelope for a clean border.
Secure Flaps with Tape: Across the bottom and top flaps, add extra strips of Washi tape so that everything is securely attached. Lucky for us, Washi tape truly does come in all colors, patterns, and textures. Feel free to get creative and choose designs that really complement what will be inside.
Optional Decoration: Use markers, stickers, or stamps on the front side of the envelope through a special message or any design. There are others who would place tiny hearts, stars, and flowers hand-drawn inside in order to make their envelope special.
Alternative DIY Envelope: An Envelope Punch Board
An envelope punch board is great for making envelopes in various sizes. This tool can be ordered from Amazon and found at most craft stores. Using an envelope punch board eliminates the folding and scoring problems that come with envelope production, saving time and eliminating mistakes.
- Paper Size: From the size chart that was posted on the board, use the appropriate paper size that you would use for your envelope.
- Punch and Score: Place the paper to the board size sheet and punch through the marked spots and make lines to be used as folding guides.
- Fold and Finish: Fold along the scored lines, and your envelope comes to shape in seconds. No cutting is required, which makes it very easy for beginners or for those who need to make multiple envelopes at once.
Why Make A DIY Envelope?
There are so many good reasons to make a DIY envelope rather than buying one:
Personalization: A homemade envelope can also be personalized to resemble the card inside, making it much more personal.
Cost-effective: It saves money since you use materials you already have. Eco-friendly: These can be made out of scrap or leftover construction paper.
Each envelope is a small canvas for creativity and a fun way to add your personal touch to any gift or message.
Fun Envelope Ideas For All Occasions
Once the fundamentals are mastered, the sky is the limit when it comes to embellishing your homemade envelopes: Birthday envelopes, coloured and preferably funny patterns in bright, jolly colours.
- Love Notes: Heart-shaped stickers, Washi tape in pink or red color, cute drawings.
- Thank You Cards Envelopes: Earthy tones or floral designs to give it a sophisticated look.
- Holiday Envelopes: Let your envelope reflect the holiday theme, be it Christmas with red and green or Halloween with orange.
Instant Secrets to be a DIY
Envelope Wizard: Use good paper. Lightweight cardstock or construction paper will strengthen and enhance your envelope.
Keep your Folds Sharp: Using the edge of a ruler or a bone folder can help make crisp, clean folds. Try using other various sizes to match different types of cards or notes.
Layer Washi Tape: For an interesting design, layer strips of Washi tape all along the edges of an envelope.
Get the Kids Interested in DIY Envelopes Making envelopes is a great, easy craft for kids to do. It’s fun and builds fine motor skills and creativity for the child. Show them how to fold and decorate the envelopes; then encourage them to draw or write notes to friends and family. It can be very bonding when crafting envelopes together and making memories last.
Conclusion
Making a DIY envelope is not just folding paper; it is adding that personal touch to your messages, notes, and cards. A handmade envelope is simple and versatile, allowing you to create endless possibilities for the kind of design you would like to make, from a simple minimalist to intricate masterpieces with lots of color.
Get those materials, unleash your creativity, and create an envelope to smile at any heart. Why send a plain card when you could make the envelope special, right?
