Craft of the Week: UP-cycled Paper Envelopes

Get out your old magazines and damaged children’s books!

Today we are making ultra-cool recycled envelopes, also affectionately called Upcycled Envelopes!

Don’t worry, this requires near 0 skill!

What you need:

• old magazines, children’s books, etc...
• Pen or pencil
• scissors
• glue stick
• saved envelopes from your mail or from your office
• OR -
• save my template to your computer and print out on standard paper to use as a pattern.

These envelopes are super fun to make. They are so EASY! Anyone can do it!

Step 1:

if you are using your own envelopes

Carefully deconstruct your envelopes by opening all their seams. Steam helps if the glue holding them together is particularly strong.

if you are using my template

Print out the template on standard size paper or card-stock. Cut it out along the solid lines.

You can download and print my personal envelope pattern by clicking here.

Step 2:

Choose your image from the magazine and place the envelope pattern over the magazine page and trace the pattern with a pen or pencil.

Step 3:

Cut out your envelope along the trace lines.

Fold the 4 flaps to the center of the *wrong* side of your magazine image. *Remember, you want your image to show on the outside of the envelope.*

Step 4:

Using your glue stick, apply glue to the bottom edge of the side flaps.

Fold the side flaps in and then fold the bottom flap up.

Finger press along the bottom flap where it connects with the glued side flaps.

You are done!

Be sure to use address labels when mailing your letters and you will need to either tape or glue stick your envelope closed.

Here’s a great gift idea:

Gather a bunch of envelopes around 1 theme, tie them together with a bow and viola! Unique and beautiful gift for anyone!

Theme ideas:

• puppies
• a celebrity
• music group
• colours

You also don’t have to be limited to magazines. Almost anything paper based is game: old books, calendars, sheet music... the list goes on and on!

JUMP IN & HAVE FUN!