Make-it Mondays : Handmade Envelope

If you have even the slightest flair for crafting and creative endeavors, you (like the rest of the RNESTers) probably have a tendency to hoard cool objects for unknown future projects. In this case, here's an idea for all that sweet paper you have sitting in a drawer.
And it's fast! This took me about 5 minutes.

Handmade Envelope

What you need :
-envelope to use as a template
-decorative / recycled paper
-pen (or pencil)
-scissors
-double sided clear tape (or a glue stick)


1) Open by your store bought envelope by carefully seperating the adhered edges and trace the shape on the envelope onto you decorative paper.


2) Cut out the form of the envelope.


3) Fold the side wing in and use double stick tape to adhere it. Fold to opening flap down as well. And, ta da, a fancy envelope!

Make It! Mondays: "Little Letter" Needle Book

This week's Make-It Monday project is brought to you via our resident plush expert, Kira Sinclair, of KiraArts (who enjoys non-plush projects as well!) You can check out the original version of this post on her blog, here. Enjoy!

From Kira:

"I found a tutorial at KellyRachel.com (via Pinterest) for making a "Little Letter Needle Book" (it's a needle book that looks like a little envelope). I've been wanting to make myself a new needle book for awhile. The one I have is functional, but it's pretty plain and not really cute or pretty. (The outside is a "blah" navy-blue vinyl plastic with a piece of grey felt on the inside...I won't even bore you with a picture.)

But here is what I did with it!

This was the perfect project for me to use the sock monkey fabric I got from the thrift store! I was most excited to use the sock monkey fabric for the "stamp".

The back view of the envelope.

Be sure your pinking shears are nice and sharp! (My pinking shears were pretty old and not the best for cutting fabric...so the edges of the "stamp" are a bit wonky. I went out and bought new pinking shears later).

I also used the sock monkey fabric to line the inside...

I used sew-on snaps for the closure, but you could also use velcro or even a button.

This is a great gift idea for anyone who sews! I'm looking forward to making more! You can see one I made for a friend here. I'm having fun coming up with which fabrics to put together and deciding what part of a printed fabric to use for the "stamp"! I'd like to also try making bigger ones. The template the tutorial provides makes a pretty small "letter" (about 3 inches long), but if you wanted a bigger one, you could always open up a regular envelope and use that as a template. I want to experiment with making a bigger one that I can tuck a small pair of scissors into, or even make one for crochet hooks. If one was so inclined, you could make a BIG envelope for your knitting needles!

I look forward to seeing what other people come up with! Happy sewing!

Make-it Mondays: DIY Envelopes and Advice

From: Buenahelena!

A few days ago the Etsy newsletter featured fun ways for sellers to package and ship their goods. (Check out the Storque article connected to the newsletter.) I loved the idea of reusing old paper, gift wrap, newspaper etc...to create envelopes and mailers and have shown you how I did a couple below. There are many tutorials out there with templates, but I found it was simple enough to deconstruct an existing envelope to create my own pattern. Enjoy!


I collected some illustrated pages from discarded library books, found 2 different sized envelopes for templates, an acid-free, strong bonding glue stick, and pencils and sharpies for tracing.


Next I used a letter opener to take apart both envelopes. Laying them flat over the vintage illustrations, I traced the outline of the envelopes then cut them out.


I used a ruler along the fold lines of the new templates to create sharp creases, folded them and glued them together as the original envelopes had been.


And there you have it, fun handmade envelopes! Consider adding your own mailing labels featuring your Etsy address along with the return address (not shown here for privacy). I also added a stamp featuring the words: "Handmade, because you're worth it." We should always let our customers know that they are indeed. Smaller envelopes can hold your card or street team members for promotions within a larger package. It's always fun to get a package and feel like it's your birthday and customers will remeber that in the future.

Start collecting things around you for packaging, like tray liners from diners, old magazines, or the cute, printed paper wrapped around cuts of vinyl. Be creative with what you've got!


On another note, I want to recommend a book. I recently picked up Creative Time and Space: Making Room for Making Art, by Rice Freeman-Zachery. It never feels like there is enough time to make art, especially when it's not my primary source of income. Rice has compiled rut killers, time makers and the studio profiles of several working artists, to ease that "never-enough-time" anxiety and get you working. Pick it up whether you're a full time artist (lucky ones you are!) or an artist with a day job.