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Making Envelopes

by Debi Wind

Stamping Deck Crewmember

Designing cards for fellow stampers, family and friends is very rewarding to someone who stamps. A first impression counts even more when you turn an ordinary envelope into a work of art to match the card you're sending. You send decorative envelopes and stamped cards because you know that it delights you and will delight the person on the receiving end!

The goal of this article is to show you how easy it is to turn a piece of paper into a wonderful, decorated envelope. These simple envelopes only require a few basic tools, some measuring, some cutting and some folding. The most difficult part will be choosing what paper and stamps to use for your envelopes. The easy part is changing the dimensions so that the envelopes will be the correct size for your cards.

Tools: The basic tools to make envelopes are:

Paper
Pencil
Ruler
Scissors
Bone folder
Glue
Templates
Eraser
Fun tools like a brayer, decorative scissors, punches, acrylic paints, brushes, markers, crayons, colored pencils, rubber stamps, ink pads, and double stick tape or envelope glue.

Reasonably priced, all of these items can be found at craft stores, rubber stamp stores, scrapbook stores, and at online websites.

Paper:

Where do you start? First, choose the right paper for your envelope. There are so many affordable and decorative papers that are sold by individual sheets that you can try individual sheets out before buying many sheets of paper. The various papers to consider for envelopes are:

Bond and text-weight papers: Any papers used for stationery, photocopies, or printer paper.
Cardstock: You can buy 12X12 cardstock and cut it down to size or you can buy 8½ X11, which will fit a template perfectly.
Decorative papers: Any decorative paper is great for envelopes. You can use wrapping paper, marbled paper, scrapbook paper, or colored, designer tissue paper. Use your imagination when adding decorative paper to envelopes.
Used papers: Used paper is a wonderful source for making envelopes. Used maps, calendar pages, wrapping paper, junk mail, shopping bags, wallpaper, posters, brochures, envelopes, and colorful newsprint are all great materials for envelopes.

Templates:

There are many templates available on the market for making envelopes. You can find them at stamp stores, scrapbooking stores, craft stores, and online websites. A template usually costs less than five dollars. If you do not have a template available, you can use an envelope and carefully take it apart. Once it is taken apart, you can use the envelope as a template.

To make an envelope, place the template onto your paper and trace the pattern of the envelope. Cut out the envelope following the traced line. Score and fold the envelope on the lines indicated. Then glue the envelope together. If you are using a template from a website, print it directly onto your 8½"X11 paper, cut out, score and fold, and glue the envelope together.

Decorating Envelopes:

Before starting to decorate your envelope, think about the card design that will go with the envelope, as well as where and to whom it is going. If it is going through the mail, the most practical thing to do is to use techniques without dimension. Flat envelopes are less likely to get ruined in the mail. For envelopes going through the mail, it is important to remember what areas are needed for addressing the envelope and postage. Remember to keep the middle of the envelope blank for the recipient's address and use a decorative label for the return address.

Designs: Techniques that work the best for turning a plain envelope into a decorative envelope are:

Shadow stamps
Direct to Paper technique
Inks
Watercolors
Masking
Coloring (pencils, crayons, markers, etc.)
Versa mark and chalk
Gold webbing
Collage with used papers

First, the ideal place to add designs to your envelope is the left side of where the address will go. Stamp small designs down the side of the envelope and then use the various techniques across the rest of the envelope. Second, postage stamp impressions are wonderful designs for envelopes. You can stamp a few down the side and across the bottom to give your envelope an elegant look.

Third, shadow stamps are wonderful for envelopes because of the shape of the stamp. Try stamping a patterned background stamp over the entire envelope and then add a design in the lower left corner. Finally, take an element from your card and use it on your envelope. For example, if you are using a key on your card, add a key to your envelope in complimentary colors and highlights.

One of the recommendations for envelopes is used paper, and I chose to make three different envelopes from various used papers. For the first envelope, I used wallpaper. Wallpaper is fairly heavy and works nicely for envelopes. There are many designs to choose from to make envelopes. Visit your local paint and home improvement stores to ask for their old sample books of wallpaper.

The next envelope is from a calendar page. Each year most of us receive an abundance of calendars, so why not use them as part of your stamping? They are a wonderful source for envelopes and add so much character and beauty to your envelope.

This envelope is made from tissue paper. There are wonderful, decorative tissue papers in arts and craft stores, Wal-Mart, Target, and even grocery stores. Most tissue paper costs under $2.00. Tissue paper along with freezer paper (found at your local grocery store) makes wonderfully unique envelopes.

Addressing:

When addressing an envelope use alphabet stamps to stamp the name of the person. For those of us who have trouble lining up the letters, stamp the name a bit off-kilter. This stamping is easier to do and will look artsy. Calligraphy always adds a nice touch, but not all of us know how to do calligraphy. Names can be done in fancy writing, but the addresses should be done in clear and precise writing so that they can be easily read.

Another idea is to use your computer to either print the address on the envelope or print labels to add later.

The next three envelopes are made from white cardstock and white glossy cardstock. With chalks, inks, and stamps, you can make some amazing envelopes. Take a portion of your card and stamp it onto your envelope. It will create a finished look to have a matching card and envelope.

For this envelope, I used chalk and stamped it with a flower stamp. Chalk creates unique, blended backgrounds and adds a very soft and subtle look to your envelope.

I created an Oriental scene for this envelope. It is a perfect match for an Oriental card that I plan on sending to a friend. With a combination of inks, stamps and a small tag, I created a unique envelope that even the postman will look at twice!

Since the Vintage Look is popular I created an envelope using different vintage colors and stipple brushes. I used masking technique on the envelope, too. Just imagine the beautiful vintage card that would go with the envelope.

For my last envelope, I chose to do the resist technique, by using Versa Mark ink, a rainbow inkpad, and a brayer. I chose dark colors and then added touches of white and gold to complete an envelope with a unique look.

If you design your own envelopes, I highly recommend that you ask your post office for a list of standard rates and dimensions. Here are a few guidelines for mailing cards in the United States.

Minimum size is 3½" X 5" and .007" thick.
Maximum size is 6 1/8" X 11 ½"and no more than 1/4" thick
Be sure to check the height to length ratio of your cards. Some mail within this range may be too tall, too long, or too thick to qualify for standard rates and will need additional postage so you may need to check at the post office for the rate.

Envelopes as art along with your card are a gift to the person receiving your card. For that very reason, never leave an envelope blank. Envelopes aren't just dressing; they are a part of your art. Go ahead and start making and decorating envelopes. You will wonder why you didn't design your own envelopes sooner.

I hope that you have enjoyed learning about handmade envelopes. I hope that this article has given you some inspiration to try stamping or other techniques on your envelopes! You can show your artwork to the readers and staff of S.S. Reflections ezine by joining us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ssreflectionsezine I look forward to seeing your wonderful artwork.

Debi Wind
debiwind@ssreflections.com
Stamping Deck Crewmember
S.S. Reflections, Inc.

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