Good morning/afternoon/evening! How are you all?
I've been in a bit of a crafty mood today and, as a result, have a really fun and easy tutorial to share with you that I am SO excited about!
A while back, (almost a year now!) I posted about my hoarding tendencies and how I had a small stash of wallpaper samples that I hadn't the heart to throw away. If I see a pattern or design I like, I can't bear to throw it out because I just know I will always find a use for it.
Guess what? I found a use for my samples! It's such a sweet and unique project and I am really and truly buzzing to show you!
I best get on with it then :-)
Aren't they lovely? The ironic thing is, after making these sweet little envelopes this afternoon, I don't think I could bring myself to use them!
Is there such a thing as decorative envelopes?
Here's how to whip up your own set of unique envelopes, using wallpaper or any other type of paper you might have stashed away :-)
I really am in love with them and can't wait to make more! I think I'll be jumping online after posting this to order some more wallpaper samples...it's just as well most of them are free!
Actually, that's a good point. This is essentially a no-cost project, unless you want to buy specific papers to use. I think they would make a lovely gift so choosing particular papers would be lovely, especially if they were personal to the receiver :-) Think maps, book pages etc. The sky's the limit with this project!
So that's my crafty contribution to the day. Hopefully I have inspired you in some way-if I have, I'd love to hear about it :-) I never tire of hearing from you lovely readers, so get typing!
Have amazing weekends!
Emily
xxx
Those are so beautiful and so easy! I will be using these for some baby shower invitations! I am a new follower. Hope to see you at True Aim. Thanks so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you like them :-) Would love to see your invitations when they're finished!
DeletePinning this one so I don't forget!
DeleteFeaturing you this Wed at the link up party and you will be on my Mom's Library Page! Go there to grab your Featured Button. Thanks again!
DeleteWow thank you! I'm very flattered and can't wait to see the link party :-)
DeleteTry making template of the address side out of tag board or plastic from a take home container. Now you just fold the outside triangles over this. Add matching colored stationery paper for a nice gift.
DeleteI use old calendars. They make great envies!
DeleteI use quality wrapping paper, cheap and lots to choose from!
DeleteI'm featuring this post on Mom's Library best of 2012!
DeleteWow! there great for my wedding, very clear and easy instructions. Thank you!!!
DeleteThese are super fun! I have lots of random scraps throughout my crafting supplies. Now I just need an occasion to mail out pretty envelopes.
ReplyDeleteThroughbetsyslookingglass.blogspot.com
That's what I thought after I made them-when would I use them?! I don't think I need an excuse to use pretty stationery ;-)
DeleteReplying back to let you know I made the envelopes. They aren't as cute as yours. . .I need to find cuter patterns. But anyways check out my blog to see your inspiration. Thanks.
Deletehttp://throughbetsyslookingglass.blogspot.com/2012/06/wallpapered-envelopes.html
Thank you so much for letting me know! I honestly love to hear from people who have been inspired by my tutorials :-)
DeleteGreat tutorial, love the photos! Found you from the moms library. Now following you via google friend and fb! Would love follows back www.cumminslife.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to have you Kathryn! Thank you for leaving a comment :-)
DeleteI love these... this is very inspiring!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Glad I've inspired you :-)
DeleteOoh I love this idea so much! I always seem to run out of envelopes first and yours are adorable! I found you via the Mom's Library link-up and am happy to be your newest follower! I'd love for you to visit me back at http://www.two-in-diapers.blogspot.com! :)
ReplyDeleteThey are so easy to make as well Cassie :-) Thank you for following!
DeleteThey are adorable! I don't think that I could bring myself to use them either.
ReplyDeleteLaura
www.whitewintersblog.com
They are currently making my bookshelves look very pretty :-P
DeleteHi Emily,
ReplyDeleteI have nominated your blog for the Liebster Award, come on over to my blog to check it our:).
Jen
Thank you Jen! :-)
DeleteI'd love to receive any of these in the mail :-) So pretty!
ReplyDeleteEveryday mail would be so much more exciting if the envelopes looked pretty!
DeleteThese are beautiful. Thanks for the great idea, definately something I will try and make with my kids. I hope this will encourage them to write more letters using their envelopes!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! I think the art of letter-writing is sadly dying out so we need to give it a revival!
DeleteWow this so creative.Where do you get the wall paper samples from? I think wraping paper would be good for this project as well. New follower.
ReplyDeletehttp://newyearsresolutionexercise.blogspot.com/
Wrapping paper would be great-I think almost any paper would! I'm actually dying to make some out of recycled book pages :-) I ordered my samples online-a lot of DIY sites offer a number of free samples. Try Farrow and Ball or Little Greene.
DeleteDo you remember specifically where you got the yellow one with white flowers? I have been looking for that wallpaper even since I saw it in a magazine as a kid. Thanks!
DeleteHi Katie, I've had it for a while so had to do a little detective work. I'm almost 100% sure that this is the same wallpaper...http://www.farrow-ball.com/melrose-bp-1428/melrose//fcp-product/201428
DeleteThey offer free samples :-)
Hope that helps!
Adorable! So cute I am so not creative lol.
ReplyDeleteFollowing from MBC I am at www.thebeverlyhillbabies.com feel free to stop by I am also following on pinterest on twitter @melissabuonanno
Thanks for following! :-)
DeleteThank U 4 the tutorial.
ReplyDeleteGo to your local wall paper store and just ask for the throw-away sample books. More then likely they will just give them to you. I received my wall paper samble books from Home Depot.
Yes, I'm still one of those people that sends hand written letters.
Wish you had a place to sign up to receive your email newsletter but not able to find a place. :{
ColleenB.
Thank you for commenting Colleen :-) I have heard about the DIY stores giving their old sample books away, and got very excited when I found out! Time to start hoarding me thinks ;-)
DeleteI have been meaning to start a newsletter for my readers but never get around to it-you've given me the kick to get going on it so thank you! Check back soon to sign up :-) Or you can leave your email and I will add you to the list
LOve LOve how these turned out. Such a pretty little gift to give a sweet friend. I'm so going to make me some of these up with some note cards. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much :-) I'd really love to see yours with the notecards when you do them!
DeleteI'm going to save this page. I love these and would like to try to make some. I've been taking part in a letter sending campaign and could use some for notes! Great idea! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOoh exciting! I love hearing that there are still people keepig good old-fashioned letter writing alive! Would love to see your envelopes :-)
DeleteYou have been featured : )
ReplyDeleteNew question: Where to get wallpaper samples. Those are lovely, I just love this idea. So neat, you can make some truly vintage envelopes with a good wallpaper base. Hoping to make some of these soon.
ReplyDeleteI am reading the comments section, wrapping paper sounds like a great idea in theory. It sounds like it may be too thin and fragile to be used as an actual envelope. I could be wrong though...
It depends where you are from-I'm in the UK and I have used sites such as Wallpaper Direct, Farrow and Ball or Little Greene. They offer free samples, from 2 to 10 depending on the site. I'm addicted!!
DeleteI haven't tried wrapping paper but if you used a fairly heavy-duty paper I'm sure it would be fine :-)
You inspired me! I used some of my scrapbooking stash. If you're interested, I blogged about it here:
ReplyDeletehttp://philwife.blogspot.com/2012/07/handmade-envelops-using-scrapbook-paper.html
Have a great day! :-)
Aw Rachel thank you! I did leave a comment for you :)
DeleteLOVE this!!! thanks, I'm going to go make some now:)
ReplyDeleteHi! Love this post and your lovely patterned envelopes. May I have your permission to link to this post and use one of your photos?
ReplyDeleteHere's the link to my post: http://dianeagain.blogspot.com/2012/08/mid-summer-loose-ends-part-1.html
Thanks!
Thank you Diane! Of course you can use a photo :-) i'm very flattered!
DeleteAbsolutely Adorable....oh the possiblilities :) love the idea of doing a theme set for someone...thinking about their favorite colors or hobbies! Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThank you Dee :-) Have fun!
DeleteMay I pin these onto Pinterest?
ReplyDeleteFeel free Larissa! Thank you :-)
DeleteGorgeous envelopes. Love your choice of papers. No wonder you don't want to use them! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I've gone on an envelope-making spree!
DeleteIt's so pretty! and than you for sharing! I made some with my magazine pages that had flowers and some with just book pages. keep up the great ideas! Aloha!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'm glad you liked :-)
DeleteSaw these on Pinterest-so very cute. Thank u for the tutorial.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kelly! I hope I've inspired you :-)
DeleteOmg, i love them. So easy to make and very adorable, job very well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you Amie!
DeleteVery beautiful! I was looking for some pretty envelopes because I am starting the Dave Ramsey system of living. Thank you
ReplyDeletewww.becomingamommy.blogspot.com
Glad to have inspired you Joy :-) I currently have a variety of handmade envelopes for sale on my Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MissMagpieDesigns
DeleteThis is just the tutorial I was looking for , good ol' Pinterest :) They are super cute, I would hoard them too :) Thank you
ReplyDeletebeautiful! I just ordered some samples from farrow & ball and tonight after work I will search over the internet for more free samples! I am going to use this as the "inner" envelopes for my wedding invitations!!!! I have been searching for a new and different way and this is AWESOME!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't see where the template is. Please help. Great idea.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to re-use materials! I'm planning on sending more mail so this is a cute way to make the receiver extra happy haha
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of a hoarder myself and I also did a project on re-using (smaller) wallpaper samples :)
http://tinyblueapartment.blogspot.nl/2012/06/diy-home-pin-board-out-of-foam-and.html
Xx
Can't wait to try this. Thanks for sharing. Found you blog through PINTERST.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I somehow missed this post (I realised I managed to miss quite a few of your posts this month, so will look forward to catching up with them all!) I LOVE those envelope templates... off I got right away to click on the link, since yours turned out so pretty and also I can never throw calendars away!!! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! We are featuring you on our blog tomorrow for this DIY project! If you want to check it out its www.nevernola.com- Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI love these! I used specialty paper with shine and glitter and they look great! I am putting family birthday cards inside and my family will love them. Thanks so much for the beautiful idea!
ReplyDeleteI love these patterns. Where do you normally go online to get free wallpaper samples?
ReplyDeleteThanks Claire :-) I normally use Farrow and Ball, Little Greene, Wallpaper direct. Most of these offer a few free samples-some have limits of between 2 and 6 samples.
Deletehow neat! I will check them out. Thanks for the quick response!
DeleteCan not wait to try these! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI saw your envelopes on Pinterest and clicked over--these are beautiful! I do not have a "hoard" of wallpaper samples, but I did get some on etsy once, and I did the same thing! I made one envelope and several envelope liners. And I had the same thought--buy more wallpaper samples! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm brand new to Pinterest so please bear with me...these envelopes are absolutely wonderful! What a fabulous idea. Believe it or not I have at least 4 huge books of wallpaper samples that I didn't know what to do with. I sure do now thanks to you!
ReplyDeleteThese are so cute! I have a penpal from England and we occasionally write to each other. I'm sure she would love them! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWOW love them .. you are a MASTEr :-) thanks of sharing . Best regards Sara
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet set of envelopes! Love Them!!!
ReplyDeleteMy father has severe Alzheimer's and my sweet Mother has had a week of bad days with him...She always loves to receive one of my handmade cards, so I decided to try and do one of your envelopes. I used the same scrapbook
paper for the envelope that I used as the background for the card...turned out wonderfully! Thanks for sharing!!!
What a beautiful idea, thank you so much for sharing. A few years ago, I was hit hard by the scrapping bug and I have collected so much scrap-booking paper that it would take a lifetime to use it all:). Now,thanks to your great idea, I can use the paper to make these beautiful envelopes. I also love the idea of using wallpaper samples, I will have to give that a try also.
ReplyDeleteMaking my Christmas cards this year and have been looking for an idea for envelopes. These are great. Endless variations running through my head. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMaking my Christmas cards this year and have been looking for an idea for envelopes. These are great. Endless variations running through my head. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this fabulous idea!! I LOVE making things with paper & I'm thinking about making matching stationery to go with the envelopes for Christmas gifts. I am excited to get started!
ReplyDeleteNot being at all creative I couldn't see myself making my own envelopes. Your tutorial makes it look so easy I think even I can make them, I'll give it a try. I always have birthday wrapping paper left over, envelopes will look fantastic with such pretty paper.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for giving me the push to get going.
I like handmade stuff..this is so cute.i wish to try it out someday..thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteI just found this via pinterest and I can't wait to make some! I don't have any wallpaper samples just now, but I will find some.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, I have a dog who likes the glue in the binding of old books and over the past few months she has eaten the cover off of a few old books I've collected. Fortunately I bought the old books because I liked the type and the illustrations inside but couldn't bear to tear them apart. Blue—the dog—has solved that problem for me.
My pages are smaller so I'll patch them together on a larger paper, Kraft paper or butcher paper. Can't wait to see how they turn out.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Jan
Where do I get the template?
ReplyDeletei tryed them out,and they are realy cute.
ReplyDeleteLol! It's so easy! Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteWhat is really neat is if you contact stores (like our local Lowes) that sell wallpaper, they will give you a wallpaper book once it has become discontinued. I have gotten about 10 or so from our Lowes business.
ReplyDeleteI would really like to make these envelopes. How fun and spec kale they are.
ReplyDeleteLoretta
Opps! special
DeleteSnowed in for 3 days, making these to pass the time. Great pictures and easy steps - thanks!
ReplyDeleteLOL...omg...I was making these envelopes way back in the 1980s. Only, I didn't trace the pattern with a pencil. I used the sharp end of a compass point or a thick long needle point. That way, you are scoring the perimeter and instead of cutting the envelope away from the paper, you are tearing it away from the paper which does not leave any lines from the pencil (if you are not a good cutter). Fold up the sides and lightly score the "fold lines" with the needle point for a quick and accurate side fold. I had fun using up scraps of wrapping paper, maps, paper shopping bags (brown and ornate), even old Calligraphy parchment paper. I had (and still have) 3 envelope patterns (I made rigid patterns out of poster board or file folders to reuse over and over) in 3 sizes: regular, business, and a size in between. Stick glue quickly becomes your friend! As for addressing them, that's when mailing labels come in handy, especially on paper such as an old map. The sky is the limit indeed! But with email, who actually sends real mail anymore?!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great thing to try out doing your own envelopes. It would be awesome because it's a surely customized item.
ReplyDeleteOMGoodness! When you said that you have a hard time getting rid of anything that has a pretty pattern...that is me!!! I am defiinitely going to try these with my wallpaper sample books. I have made them in the past with paper, but love the wallpaper idea! Thanks for the great tutorial! Yours look beautimus!!
ReplyDeleteCharlotte from AZ
Oh i'm gonna try this ! So pretty! :D
ReplyDeletei tried making these today....urs r beautiful
ReplyDeletei put flowers n bows on plain envelopes
thnks fr the tutorial
So pretty! I'm definitely going to be making some!
ReplyDeleteSetting my unique envelopes, using wallpaper or any other type of paper is just a piece of cake if you might have stashed away those good envelopes when your brokenhearted. :)
ReplyDelete