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Kalyn Brooke

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DIY Paper Envelopes

October 9 // 16 Comments // 3 Minute Read

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This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

The day I ran out of envelopes, this article came to my rescue and I discovered this quick and easy way to make my own! These ones are so much prettier than plain white, and I love customizing them for any occasion! I get so many compliments on them and they are fun to make! #diyenvelopes #diypaperenvelopes #homemadeenvelopes #craftsy #diy

It all started when I decided to undergo a small organizing project – the card stash.

I grabbed my recently purchased card organizer box, and sorted the bits and pieces of notecards that had become disorganized from years of flipping through to find just the right one. But soon before I finished, I found myself in a bit of a conundrum.

I had one purple Thank You card left over, and one blue envelope to match it. It was a set I’d purchased long ago, with an assortment of colors that matched card to envelope. I must have ruined or misplaced one extra purple envelope and one extra blue card for that something like that to happen!

Being the perfectionist that I am, I would not….could not pair a purple card with a blue envelope, and so I decided to forage through my massive stash of scrapbook paper to find just the perfect tone to match, and make my very own.

Supplies Needed:

  • Scrapbook Paper
  • Envelope to trace
  • Thin cardboard
  • Pencil
  • Glue stick
  • Scissors

The Project:

Step 1: Grab a piece of small cardboard {from the top of a shoebox or card paper pack}, and trace the outline of the size envelope you want to make. Then, cut out the cardboard piece and set aside.

DIY Paper Envelopes | Creative Savings

Step 2: Open up the envelope you want to copy as carefully as possible, and lay flat on your choice of scrapbook paper. {As you can see, I didn’t do very well at this part!} Trace the outline of the envelope onto the paper, then cut out.

DIY Paper Envelopes | Creative Savings

Step 3: Place cardboard into the middle of the paper, and start folding up all sides, pressing firmly at the crease.

DIY Paper Envelopes | Creative Savings

Step 4: Place glue on the very edges of the bottom flap, fold in sides, and then fold up the bottom last, making sure to “pop” the envelope open so any glue residue doesn’t stick to the inside.

DIY Paper Envelopes | Creative Savings
DIY Paper Envelopes | Creative Savings

Step 5: Once you have your letter or notecard inside, glue or tape the top flap to seal. Add a plain address label to the front of the envelope to write the address, then stamp and send!

DIY Paper Envelopes | Creative Savings

Now you have a pretty envelope to match your card, and both are guaranteed to brighten someone’s day!

DIY Paper Envelopes | Creative Savings

Total Cost: Free {since I already had all the supplies}

Of course, now I’m seriously addicted to these pretty DIY paper envelopes, and wondered how I ever survived on plain white. And since I have such a huge scrapbook paper stash, I can make a whole bunch!

I’d say we just made the inside of our mailboxes a little bit cuter.

Have you ever tried making your own envelopes?

 

 

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

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Comments

  1. Elizabeth @ DogFurandDandelions says

    February 26 at 11:24 am

    This is a fabulous idea! I make my own cards, and it would so fun to have coordinating envelopes! Can’t believe I’ve never tried it before…

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      February 27 at 8:15 pm

      It makes them so much prettier!

      Reply
  2. Glenna says

    February 26 at 12:59 pm

    You should try the Stampin’ Up! Envelope Punch board! 🙂 It’s sooo easy & quick, and has the dimensions for many sizes of envelopes already on the board.

    Reply
  3. Arlene Saldivar says

    February 26 at 2:51 pm

    Love the envelopes. It sort of makes you want to send cards, right? I used to always make homemade envelopes for my Christmas cards. I felt like homemade Christmas cards deserved homemade envelopes. I ironed freezer paper onto pretty wrapping paper and cut. So pretty!

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      February 27 at 8:17 pm

      I love the ironed freezer paper idea!

      Reply
  4. Jill says

    February 27 at 1:38 am

    I also use the Stampin Up template for making my own envelopes, but your way is certainly FREE if you don’t already have the template. I also like using a letter opener or the back of a butter knife to make each fold really sharp and crisp!

    Reply
  5. Kim Anderson says

    March 14 at 4:11 pm

    There are sooo many times that I get all crafty happy and make cards only to remember that I don’t have envelopes to fit them. This is a great topic and I appreciate the how-to pictures!

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      March 17 at 1:41 pm

      It’s really easy too!

      Reply
  6. Shelah @ Everyday Alaska says

    March 29 at 2:45 pm

    Love it! Simple and it has a personal touch.. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Jam says

    April 6 at 11:51 pm

    OMG! This is great! I did some Monster High Invites for my daughter and needed envelopes. I will finally use the some scrapbook paper I have, which will make my Husband very HAPPY!

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      April 8 at 4:39 pm

      Oohh, they would definitely look amazing with custom envelopes!

      Reply
  8. esty says

    May 16 at 12:20 am

    woooow ,,, i like it ,,, nice tutorial 🙂

    Reply
  9. Natasha says

    August 19 at 7:03 am

    I’m actually going to be making the envelopes to go with the cards in my new Etsy shop because I just couldn’t find the right envelopes. Finding an envelope that isn’t completely flimsy seems to be nearly impossible in South Africa.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      August 23 at 4:47 pm

      Offering an envelope with a handmade touch is a great idea for your shop!

      Reply
  10. Julie Nolta says

    January 25 at 12:56 am

    I also make envelopes out of magazine pages with fun or pretty pictures. And wrapping paper, maps, grocery bags, and old book pages work great too!

    Reply
  11. Kalyn Brooke says

    January 26 at 11:45 am

    Oh I love the book page idea! It would need to be a book I didn’t enjoy though. 😉

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Kalyn—a recovering perfectionist who nerds out about organizing systems, personal productivity, and helping you prioritize what matters over the pressure to do it all. I have a feeling we’re about to become the best of friends! Learn more >>

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Kalyn Brooke
Every time management book in the world will tell Every time management book in the world will tell you to focus on your priorities. They want you to define what’s important and use your time wisely doing things that matter. ⏰⁣
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I agree!⁣
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But deciding what’s NOT as important is just as essential as what IS. This clarification reminds us to stay laser-focused when the pressure to do it all convinces us that we can in fact, do it all. ⁣
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Remember, we can’t, so please don’t try! 🥴⁣
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Instead, I want you to think through everything you don’t have to worry about. What can you let go? What can you completely remove from your mind so it’s not tugging at you to make time for it? 🤔⁣
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This can be your “Don’t Do” list. 📝⁣
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🚫 For example...I don’t grow live plants. I never keep them alive, and honestly I could care less whether a plant in my house is real or fake! So I don’t bother trying.⁣
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🚫 I’m not active on Twitter and Facebook. As an online business, I’m “supposed” to be on every online platform. But these two social media networks don’t bring me joy (or income or page views). So I let them go. Instead I hang out here, on Instagram! ⁣
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I promise if you take the time to do this exercise—in your journal or in a note on your phone—you’ll feel immense relief at what you don’t have to do anymore. 😅⁣
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And then you can REALLY focus on your priorities.⁣
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I’d love to know what’s on your list! What’s something you give yourself permission not to worry about?
My secret weapon to round up paper clutter: FILE F My secret weapon to round up paper clutter: FILE FOLDERS! 📁

I’m all for choosing specific organization categories (and I do have some) but if a paper doesn’t fit into any of them, I slip it into an Other Action Needed file and tackle that on Friday. I don’t always clear out that folder entirely, but I take action on what’s most important and leave the rest for when I have more time. 

Here’s what actions can look like:

✅ Signing and sending important paperwork
✅ Scanning things to save... like kids artwork or course notes. I upload my documents into @notionhq. You could also use Evernote. 
✅ Adding printed recipes to your recipe binder
✅ Signing up for that loyalty program a cashier gave you information about
✅ Transferring coupons from the folder to your car

...and so much more! 

Could you take action right away instead of throwing them in a folder? 

Sure. But if it would distract you from your current task, it’s best to save them all for a time when you can batch process them all. We’re about efficiency here. 😉

So if you currently struggle with paper that spreads like wildfire across flat surfaces, I guarantee you’ll feel instant relief once they are all rounded up inside a cute folder and equally cute label. 🥰
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Once in high school, someone told me that I needed to expand my world through real stories and information instead of reading all that fluff. 🥴⁣
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1. Fiction helps me practice empathy. I see the world with new eyes because of the way the author invites me to step into the shoes of a beloved character. 🥰⁣
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2. With fiction, you can live thousands of lives. George R.R. Martin said, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” Fiction allows me to enter a world I don’t get to experience in real life. 💗⁣
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3. Fiction helps me write better non-fiction. When we hear a well-told story, our brain reacts as if we are experiencing the story ourselves. So when I read a particularly captivating passage, it gives me ideas on how to weave storytelling into my writing too. 💪⁣
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I’d love to hear why you think fiction matters. Comment below and tell me one of your favorite things about reading fiction!⁣
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And if you love books just as much as I do, I invite you to follow my new bookstagram account @theunclutteredbookshelf where we can talk about books ALL the time. 🤩
STORAGE IDEA… for paint swatches! ☝ Keep and l STORAGE IDEA… for paint swatches! ☝ Keep and label the colors you use, then tuck them away in a small envelope for reference. ⁣
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Whenever I go searching for a new rug or pillows, I grab this envelope so I  have ALL my paint colors on hand.  I can match the colors seamlessly without trying to guess if the blue on my walls trends more blue than green. 🤔⁣
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‘Tis the season for spring-cleaning your home … and your finances! 💸⁣
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While most of us use the spring season to deep clean spaces we might otherwise forget (or ignore—fan blades, I’m talking to you), let’s not forget how necessary it is to do a financial check-in too. 💰⁣
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On the blog this week, I’ve listed 7 essential steps to help you clear out the cobwebs. Don’t be intimidated—I promise it will be fun! And once you have these systems in place, you’ll enjoy less stress during the rest of the year. ⁣
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Drop any cleaning emoji in the comments below and I’ll send you the link to get started. 🧹🧽 🧼
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The authors of the book The One Thing get this. ⁣
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If you’ve not yet read this book, here’s the main premise: 📣⁣
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Not everything can matter equally. If everything is important, then nothing is. And extraordinary results are directly determined by how you narrow your focus. ⁣
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And equal approaches almost never result in equal outcomes. 🙅⁣
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Have you read this book yet?
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