If you’ve already made your card, continuing the process to make an envelope is easy. You already know what size card has to fit into it. Determine if you are going to mail or hand delivery it as well as how you want to make it with the badge program below.
Steps
1. Post Office.
Supposedly, the post office will send just about anything . . . you just have to pay for it. Standard envelope sizes go through without much problem. Standard letter envelopes start at 55-cents. Square, oversized or unusual envelopes start at 70-cents. Through the USPS site, you can even make cards, envelopes and stamps. You can get sizing and more as well. If you plan on mailing your envelopes, check out the USPS site.
2. Look.
Find an envelope and take it apart carefully so you can see how it’s constructed. You’ll see the envelope is slightly bigger than the card or letter that goes into it. It is folded so three sides are glued down and one flap is open. You’ll also see that envelope designs are different. Start a collection of flattened envelopes for your own templates.
3. Templates.
Just like cards, you can find templates online for a variety of envelope sizes. You can use any envelope you take apart and flatten as a template as well, as seen in the step above. The templates might be printables or editable within specific software packages. If you print a template, make sure it is on a heavy cardstock or trace it onto the inside of an old cereal box or something similar to make it more durable. Make a collection of templates so you can make envelopes quickly.
4. Cards.
Most cards are designed to fit within a certain envelope size. For example, you can make a card by printing on one side of one sheet of standard US letter paper (8.5 x 11) and fold it twice to 4.25 x 5.5 . . . which fits into an A-2 envelope. Make or download a list so you can work back and forth while you’re making cards and envelopes.
NOTE: This badge program comes with a supplement to help you out.
5. Flaps.
Changing up your flaps can change the look of your envelope. Find out what each of the following flap designs looks like. You can easily change them up when making envelopes. You might even want to make your own designs.
- Straight
- Commercial
- Bankers
- Wallet
- Reverse
- Remittance
- Announcement
6. Punch.
In addition to the shape of your flaps, you can use a punch to make them fancy. It might be a simple shape or a border punch along an entire edge. To guarantee your punched flap doesn’t get caught in a Post Office machine, take it to the front desk and ask them to stamp it “hand stamp only.”
7. Depth.
If you make a card that is thick, you’ll need to either make your envelope bigger or adjust your design to account for the change in depth. You may also need to adjust for padding to be placed in the envelope. For example, shaker cards can be crushed if padding is not added. Look at the sides of a brown paper bag or lunch bag. See how it folds down to be flat, but can also be opened to hold more. Try adding depth to one of your templates. Be sure to test it!
8. Glue.
While your first three flaps need to be glued down permanently (no Elmer’s here, folks), the flap is normally glued with “envelope glue.” This glue is put on the envelope flap and allowed to dry. When you want to seal it, just wet it. You can buy it, but it’s a lot cheaper to make your own. Find a recipe you like and make it.
NOTE: You can also use “envelope glue” on the back of faux postage.
Make Envelopes
9. Plain.
Most envelopes are a single color . . . usually white. Start making your envelopes in simple one-color designs. When you feel comfortable making simple envelopes, step your game up with one of the below envelope ideas.
10. Printed.
Printed paper such as scrapbook paper or gift wrap can be used for envelopes. If the paper is very thin, gluing it to a sheet of plain paper can make it sturdier. If your printed paper is very detailed, you may need to put a label on it so the post office can read the address you are putting on it. If it’s your first time making envelopes with printed paper and you’re not sure if it will go through the post office, taking a trip to find out is a good idea. Make yourself a reference guide on what they will or will not accept.
11. Recycled.
Just about any flat paper can be used to make envelopes. Here are some recycled ideas for you to try out.
- Calendar images
- Catalogs
- Magazines
- Old maps
Try making an envelope out of one of these or other recycled materials.
12. Mail art.
Mail art might be taking a pre-purchased envelope or making your own to decorate. Calligraphy, sketches, paints and many paper crafting techniques can be used to create your own mail art. You can also make clear envelopes so your card can be seen while the ugly postal requirements can be peeled away by the recipient. Search for mail art online. Make notes of any you want to try and do it!
13. Digital.
This is my favorite. You can do all the design with a template in your software of choice. Then, print as many as you want. Think of incorporating paper crafting techniques such as making your envelope as a coloring or activity sheet. Create a digital envelope and print out a few to use.
14. Continue.
Continue experimenting with different templates, flap designs and more. Be sure to keep images or similar samples of what you create so if you particularly like a look, you have something for reference.
Badge and Supplement Files
Member Level
- 0EP_B_BPG_EpMaker_2in_12up_MS1_larajla — generic badge printable
- 0EP_BADGE_EpMaker_MS1_larajla — PDF of the badge program
- 0EP_BLIST_EpMaker_MS1_larajla — badge items per membership level
- 0EP_SUPP0_EpMaker_Journal_MS1_larajla — badge journal
- 0EP_SUPP0_EpMaker_Planner_MS1_larajla — badge planner
- 0EP_SUPPL_EpMaker_MS1_larajla — supplements currently available per membership level
Supplement Fun
- 0EP_SUPP0_Printable_Card_Envelope Sizes_MS2_larajla — card and envelope sizes
Sites to Explore
- www.usps.com/ship/custom-mail-stamps.htm
- www.auntannie.com/Stationery/Envelope
- tensionenvelope.com/blogs/envelope-basics-flaps
- www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Envelope
- www.thesprucecrafts.com/make-an-easy-origami-envelope-4094705
- www.creativegreenliving.com/2012/12/how-to-make-envelopes-from-magazine.html
- makeandfable.com/2017/08/how-to-make-envelopes-from-wrapping-paper
- www.instructables.com/craft/howto/envelopes
- vampstampnews.com/blog/making-easy-envelopes-with-a-template/#more-1089
- www.wikihow.com/Make-and-Send-Mail-Art
- joybileefarm.com/diy-envelope-glue
- thepostmansknock.com/how-to-make-an-envelope-out-of-almost-anything
- thepostmansknock.com/how-to-make-deliverable-mail-art
- www.flickr.com/groups/mailart
- www.leafcutterdesigns.com/blog/giant-greeting-cards-diy
Get the infographic here > larajla blog post
Get the PDFs of the badge program / supplements here