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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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Minimalism ≠ Deprivation.⁣
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Sadly, I find m

Minimalism ≠ Deprivation.⁣
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Sadly, I find most people resist minimalism because they can't wrap their head around "having less." People tend to equate this movement with blank walls, white IKEA furniture, and decluttering everything in your home down to practically nothing so you can live full-time in an RV. Like me. 😉⁣
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But, while minimalism could be all that, this mindset misses the point. Minimalism is not only about “having less.” 🚫⁣
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It’s so much more than that.⁣
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This week on the blog, I'm sharing the REAL definition of minimalism (that people who love their stuff can totally get behind!) as well as practical ways to incorporate minimalism into your life. 🎉⁣
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Drop a heart emoji in the comments below and I'll send the link to your DM's! 💖

I love lazy Saturday mornings…as long as I have
I love lazy Saturday mornings...as long as I have a book and a cozy blanket! 😍

I wrote this in my journal the other day: 📓⁣

I wrote this in my journal the other day: 📓⁣
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“I’ve been thinking about what tech boundaries I want to instill, including boundaries related to work and productivity. I’ve become less careful about my media consumption, and it’s having a negative affect on my mental health.” 💞⁣
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Have you ever felt a similar tug? ⁣
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I can’t begin to tell you how many times I pick up my phone because I’m bored or lonely or jealous or unhappy. It almost always makes me feel worse. And yet...I struggle to stop. 😝⁣
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Here are the ideas I’ve been trying this month and I’m already seeing a positive effect:⁣
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➕ No logging into social media after 8pm. I need to wind down for the night, not get lost in my phone! 📲⁣
➕ Open Instagram with a purpose—either to post or to interact. Stop endlessly scrolling.⁣
➕ My only screen time before 9am should be for Bible Study apps or News. 🗞⁣
➕ Turn my phone on Do Not Disturb during Tiger Time (when I need the most focus for work) 💪⁣
➕ Work no more than 4 hours on my business per day. If a task isn’t complete, push it to the next day. This time frame has really helped me prioritize! 💻⁣
➕ Watch one show per day (or two if they are short!) and leave movies for the weekend. 📺⁣
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What tech boundaries have you set up? Are any new as of this year? I’d love to hear your ideas! 😃

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You might have a mortgage. I budget for campgrounds. You might want a separate clothing budget, while I’m fine combining it under “Beauty and Style.” Recently, we also added a new line item for our motorcycle—something I NEVER thought would appear in our budget. ⁣
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See, we’re all different! ⁣
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Recently, I rearranged my budget categories and created this “cheat sheet.” Sometimes I forget where things go, like picking up new wall art for the living room. Does this item belong in the categories of Household Items or Home Maintenance? 🤔⁣
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Now I know! And I save time processing receipts each Friday. 🧾⁣
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What budgeting categories do you use? Share one of your random budget line items with me in the comments below! 😃

I call 2020 the Year of Abandoned Books. ⁣
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I

I call 2020 the Year of Abandoned Books. ⁣
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I’m never afraid to stop reading a book if it doesn’t live up to the hype. Why invest more time in a book I’m not all that excited about when I could be exploring new authors and storylines where I can’t wait to turn the page? 🤷⁣
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But in 2020, I let more books go than I normally do. I suppose my patience dwindled when I thought the world was ending. Not that I thought the world was actually ending…but you know what I mean. 😉⁣
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As an Enneagram 1, I hate giving up on a book. I’m prone to the all-or-nothing mentality, even in my reading habits. My eyes could glaze over boring prose and I’d still repeat to myself: “You MUST finish this book!” 😫⁣
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Why? ⁣
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No one is adding a plastic star to your Book-It pin, (Remember those?) This isn’t assigned reading from your high school English class. This is YOUR reading life. ⁣
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And YOU should choose what books deserve your attention. 📚⁣
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There are too many good ones out there anyway.  Like one of my favorite reads from 2020. 😍⁣
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This week’s newest blog post rounds up everything I read last year (43 books total!) including 5-star psychological thrillers, a delightful royal series, a couple self-help books, and of course, historical fiction.⁣
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Click the link in my bio to read it! ☝⁣
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What were your favorite books in 2020? Our literary styles might be a match made in heaven! ✨

My planner/journal lineup for 2021. 👆 ⁣
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T

My planner/journal lineup for 2021. 👆 ⁣
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These small but mighty sidekicks will be my saving grace this year. 📚⁣
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1️⃣ Bullet Journal (Blue) - for everyday planning and goal setting⁣
2️⃣ Regular Journal (Yellow) - to track gratitude (5 things a day!) and to process ALL the feelings⁣
3️⃣ Growth Journal (Sand) - a space for me to brain dump everything I learn from books, podcasts, sermons, etc ⁣
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That last one is new to me as of this year and I can't wait to flip back through all my notes come December! 📆⁣
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What planners/journals are you using for 2021?


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