Homemade Envelopes

~Pretty Paper~

Since Valentine's Day is less that two weeks away, I figured that I should get my Valentines out and in the mail. To do this though, I need envelopes, envelope liners and Valentines!!!  We'll work on this over the next few days.  Today, I got started by making envelopes out of this paper that I found in the $1 bin at Target.

Supplies:

• Envelope Template Kit (I used size A7) or you can make your own template using a regular envelope that you've carefully taken apart.
• Bone folder
• Scotch Advanced Tape Glider
• Self-healing cutting mat
• Pencil
• Lick & Stick glue
• Exacto knife or scissors

Making envelopes is super fun.  It's one of my favorite things to do while sitting in front of the television.  Tomorrow, I'll line these which will make them look super fancy. 

A Pictorial Tutorial-Envelope Making

Turn the paper over so that the wrong side faces up. Take the envelope template and place it on the paper and trace it. I call this step, "Kindergarten for Adults." Standard 12x12 scrapbook paper will fit the envelope templates up to size A7. Since I don't like to waste paper, I made the biggest size possible. 

Use your bone folder to score the folds on your envelope. Your template has holes in it just
for this purpose (so handy).

Cut out the template using your Exacto or a pair of scissors.  If you choose to use the Exacto, don't forget to cut on a self healing mat. These are relatively cheap and will save your craft desk from nicks and dings.  I like using an Exacto to cut out envelopes, but scissors work quite well too.  

Fold on your score lines and make nice and neat creases by using your bone folder. 

Tape the sides and bottom together using the almighty Scotch Advanced Tape Glider.  A note on this fabulous tool...I have many other different tape runners and this one is the best. It is a bit bigger and bulkier, but it's so much the tape is much stronger and it's pink (the ATG, not the tape)!

Obviously you're going to need to be able to seal your envelopes and for this we have the very cool,
"Lick & Stick" glue. It dries pretty fast and you can lick it like you do a regular envelope.
 SO COOL (and cheap too)!!!

Tomorrow we're going to line these babies with some very cool paper that I have yet to purchase...