How To Make A Calendar Envelope

Re-Purposing Calendars into Mail!

I was in Dollar Tree today and I happened to see the boxes of calendars for sale.  I like making envelopes from calendars so I took a closer look.  try to find pictures that have a small to repeating design, so that it will be able to be used on an envelope. Florals usually work well, and I have made some with landscapes.  The problem with land scape calendars is that they are hard to get the center of the picture where you want it. I I liked what I saw so I picked up two.

My smaller template for envelope making has been missing for some time, so I decided to make an envelope template out of this thin sheet of cardboard.  I took an envelope size that I thought would work with the size of my calendar sheets, then opened it up to trace around the envelope.

Here is the finished template.

Don't forget to make the folding guide piece for your envelope. This is the template that is the size of the finished envelope.   It will help you to make the folds where they need to be.

You can use a creasing tool to make sharper folds.

Then a little glue to glue the flaps in place.

First batch of envelopes are just about finished!

Since the envelopes are so flimsy, I decided to add a liner to the envelopes.  Just use any paper that compliments the envelope's primary color.   A.C. Moore carries the sturdier , thicker paper calendars for a dollar , but I haven't seen them out yet...check that store after the New Year.

Here is the second batch of calendar envelopes.  I really like how this one turned out, a very nicely centered yellow rose!

All done!  24 envelopes made in just one sitting!

I thought I was done, until I noticed the back of the calendar pack.  I thought maybe I could do something with the mini pictures of the calendar pages...

I'm rather undecided as what to do with them...book marks?  Tags?  What would you do with them?

Hope this gets you interested in making your own calendar envelopes.

Happy Snail Mailing,

Pam

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Sunshine Mini Kit

Making Envelopes!!

You Can Make Your Own Beautiful Envelopes--It's Easy!

Hello everyone!  It has been quite some time since I have posted about making your own envelopes.  Here is a link to a previous post on home made envelopes:  HERE  I made a batch recently and thought that I would share how I make mine.  I do have a Make a Memory envelope maker but I am still not getting quite the results I would like, so  i'll need to study the youtube videos again.  Until then, I have found that using my trusty Kreate-a-Lope  envelope templates is just so easy!  I can't find any like mine on line, but you can do a search for envelope templates and several show up.

I received my set second hand from my niece, several years ago.  It is constructed of a rather sturdy plastic, not flimsy at all.  It offers several sizes and shapes of envelopes.

Here is a close up shot of the company that makes them.  You can find what they have on Amazon.

The templates come with two pieces.  The large one, is the actual envelope.  the small piece, is the guide to help you fold accurately and to get nice crisp folds.

I used  a roll ofKraft paper which I purchased at Walmart.  I like to line my envelopes .  I used a pad of scrapbooking paper that was 8X8, but the 6X6 would work as well.

Here is the envelope that is cut and folded.  I selected my liner piece, used some glue, and ....

positioned it as you see.  It doesn't not have to cover the whole inside of the envelope.  It will not be seen.

Do you have a favorite purchased envelope?  I find those that I enjoy , then take them apart, trace them on a piece of cardboard, then....voila!!  I have an envelope!

This is a great book that has such fabulous ideas for creative envelope making. It can still be purchased on Amazon.   It is published in a large format, and comes with plastic 3 envelope templates.  I purchased mine used, and it only had 2 of the templates.  The author encourages the use of recycled materials to be your paper source for your envelopes.  

I think these food themed envelopes look absolutely "delicious"!

I had to run out today and purchase some supplies for a paper crafting workshop that I will be doing this week.  When I stopped by A C Moore, I noticed (after I had already checked out) that their super nice (thick like wall paper!) 16 month calendars were on sale for $1--normally $15.99.  They make GREAT envelopes!  So, of course, I got back in line and made my purchase!  What a great frugal find.

I hope that this has been helpful to you.  Go ahead, carefully tear apart your favorite envelope and make your own template--then get busy!  And most of all...have fun.

Happy Snail Mailing,

Pam

Clear Snail Mail!

I Can See Clearly Now...

What is it about clear envelopes?  I just love them. In this letter that I sent to my friend Amelia, I also added a bit of shimmer confetti.  I went easy here, as I didn't want it to hamper the USPS from being able to read the address.  Here is a great way to send a wax seal, twine, and other embellishments through the postal system in a "kinder and gentler " way that won't have the postal employees fretful and charging you lots of money for the external cuties you put on your envelopes.   I have a secret I want to share with you about how you can get clear envelopes for FREE! ( Well...sort of!)

I use quite a few of these sticker packs as I decorate my mailers for my Etsy store for outgoing orders.  What I noticed is, this clear packaging for the stickers are the same dimensions as a legal envelope!  All you need to do is to slip out the card stock backing of the stickers, and you now have a nice clear envelope for your snail mail!  So don't throw away your sticker packaging, up cycle them in your next cool snail mail project.

Here is some "sweet" bag mail that went out to Beth!

This has embellishments that would NEVER make it through the postal system....so again, if it is something you want to share with the world...then go ahead and put it into a clear cello self seal bag. , then attach your postage and away it goes.

I love ETSY!  This is the dimensions for the self seal cello bags that I purchased through this Etsy shop. The above "sweet" bag mail was sent in this size cello bag. This shop has super fast service and these bags can be used for a  multitude of projects. 

Go forth and send pretty snail mail!

Pam

Sew Mail

Sew Cute!!!

Once upon a time, I sewed.  I have 2 sewing machines and am determined that THIS year I will be getting back to that  interest.  But for now, what do you think of these cute note cards from Michaels  that are  based on the art of SEWING and fashion?  

They didn't forget the envelopes.  How clever!  Pattern pieces scattered throughout.

I decided to get a few of my vintage patterns out.  I have boxes and boxes of them.   I went ahead and  photo copied the pattern sleeve.

I selected one and decided to make an envelope and some tags.  Don't you just love the short white gloves?  On such a casual outfit too! :-)

That purple streak is glue that isn't dry.  Oops.  

Here is the envelope and tag set.  I will be sending this set to my sister, who also has a sewing background.    And a little Ingrid Bergman just seemed to be the right fit for this retro letter.   I will be making several of these in the up and coming days, as I love to cut and paste...just like a kid!

What have you been up to?  Have you written your letter to me yet?  The address is in the column to the right.  You could be the next Spotlight On My Mailbox! Let me hear from you.  

The Craftier the Better,

Happy Snailmailing,

Pam

Little Golden Books...and Snail Mail!

The Literary Connection...in Snail Mail

I picked up this charming book at the book store  recently.  I love the vintage Golden Books and have many happy memories of reading them by the hours to my children.  This book is one for us older folks who could learn a few lessons from these little books!

I particularly enjoyed the lesson learned in this book!

I remember reading this one particularly...having a large family...we were always having babies!

Oh the lessons...yes, have a good cry, then get some sleep!

But what do Golden Books have to do with Letter Writing?  Well, I have just launched a new blog called :   The Charlotte Mason Library .  It is a place where I am trying to downsize my enormous library (I actually have a small ware house full of books besides every nook and cranny of my home!) .  So if you are in the market to build up your home library with family friendly books...you might want to stop by.

Well...in the process, I have  come across some books in pretty sad condition.  Loose spines, no covers...etc.  Soooooo....I decided to turn this little book into (turn your head if this is too painful for you!) envelopes!

And yes, this was hard for me to do...but I felt like it was just going to be discarded otherwise.  So the first step was to tear the pages out.

Then I glued the pages together to make one large sheet to work with.

When I had all of my pages glued together, I got out my envelope   making templates and started to make my envelopes.

I decided to line the two envelopes ( yes!  only two large envelopes!) with another "falling apart "book.  LOL...do you like the title of this chapter?  A Literary Wife?  Oh and just a note.  The elmers super sticky glue sticks work great!  Also...don't you like how I have to show off my cute "Eiffel Tower" scissors?   

But I had quite a bit of my paper left over.  I looked high and low and could not find my tiny envelope template.  So what do you do when you can't find one?  You make your own, of course!  So I took apart this envelope and used it as my template.

Here I go...and yes.  I made the same boo boo that I ALWAYS make when making envelopes.  They are UPSIDE DOWN.  ugh.

 But, I managed to get two cute, upside down mini envelopes, and with some paper left over for collage projects.

Here is the finished project.  I didn't garner lots of envelopes, but  what I did get, is cute.  I hope they bring back fond memories  and a smile on the faces of those that receive them.  So why don't you try an envelope making project?  You'll have a great time, like I did.

Write Letters.
Write Often.

Lady Pamela

Snailmail and Water Colored Envelopes

I got inspired by some art on Pinterest...

I love watercolors.  I want to be able to spend more time on this pursuit.   Here is how I am teaching myself with the help of pinterest artists.

Pinterest is my "go-to" place for water color inspiration!  My method is a simple, tried and true process  used through the ages for instructing artists.  Simply put:  Imitate other works (with credit to the artist, of course!).  I have found  wonderful watercolor artists that have pinned their works , so that is my starting place.  I also try to  watch video  tutorials when I can.    I absolutely love  Cindy at Yapping Cat  Studio's ( yappingcatstudio)  style.   I love how she letters her words with a brush, and her folksy feel.    This  envelope was on her website ....I just had to try it.  It encouraged me to think of original designs for future projects.  I like the splash of color  with this basic monochrome scheme.    She is so talented.    I hope you will visit her site, maybe you too will be inspired.

When I  contacted Cindy of yappingcatstudio to get her permission to post this copy of her work  gave me the history of the original envelope.:  

     

     I had wanted to send a thank you to a friend and wanted the envelope to be really pretty.  I had       taken several photos of her home, her yard etc.  Blue is her favorite color, the cat's  name is Jasper (just one of her 3 orange tabbies) and the flowers were in her yard.  

Wow.  How about  THAT for customizing an envelope????

Cindy was really sweet and encouraging of my watercolor endeavor. I plan on sending this to my sister who is also interested in watercolor.  We are trying to keep each other inspired!  How about you?  Have you been trying anything new in the creative realm?  

Write Letters,

Write Often.

Lady Pamela