Custom Envelopes

 

If you are old enough, then you remember a time when the only way to communicate in writing, was through what we call snail mail these days.  You wrote out a physical letter, put it in an envelope, and sent it off.  Then you wondered how long it would take to get there.  I can even remember writing “Hi Elmer” on the outside of my envelopes for our mailman.  With envelope in hand…and a REALLY cheap stamp, off to the mailbox it would go, and a clothes pin would hold it to the box till Elmer would make his rounds (ON FOOT).  The envelopes were generally plain white…and still are today.  But, have you ever considered dressing one up?  Or do you correspond at all via snail mail?  These beautiful custom envelopes would be perfect if you do.

Have you ever looked at a hand written letter?  How beautiful and different everyone’s hand writing is.  Back when people wrote on a regular basis, they also taught handwriting in school.  Back then, people had some of the most beautiful penmanship ever.  My Mother is one of them.  Penmanship, I’m pretty sure, was even what they called it.  Then when I got in school, they called it writing.  I believe I was in the 4th grade when we were taught writing….or cursive.  Now, I don’t think they teach it at all.  At least I don’t recall my kids learning it.  How sad is that?  It’s actually becoming a lost art.

In attics all over the country…there are old love letters that have gathered dust.  Any old correspondence are treated like a treasures by many these days.  Such a simple little act of sitting down and personally putting down thoughts and ideas on paper, rarely happens anymore.  I can honestly say that I don’t know what most of my friends and family’s handwriting looks like.  We don’t even write checks out much any more.  They’re being replaced with debit cards.

I am challenging everyone to sit down and write one handwritten letter to someone this week.  Place it in a beautiful custom-made envelope.  Let’s see what the reaction of the recipient is.  If you send it to someone from a generation of penmanship and writing classes, the response may pleasantly surprise the giver, and the receiver. 

These are really easy to make…and I am even providing two different sized envelopes templates to download.  Have fun with these…and send a beautifully packaged letter to someone.

 

Materials:

• Pretty pages from a catalog or magazine.  Even with writing…they are pretty.

• Scissors

• Envelope template

• Glue

 

Instructions:

• Place template onto the page desired.  With the larger envelope, there isn’t a lot of choice about placement.  I just try to make sure that the photograph is sitting in the right direction.  With the smaller template, there is room to move it around for a more desireable look.

• Trace around it and cute it out.

• Score and fold the pages where the dotted lines are, and glue.  A printed label may be needed if the pages are very dark.  The smaller, the better, so that more of the beautiful art will show.

• Stuff it with something wonderful, and seal it up.

 

See…even with a little writing on it…it looks good.

 

 

Here’s one I made from scrapbook paper.  I would recomnend this if you want a little more weight to your envelope.

 

 

These envelopes are really small.  If you want larger ones, you can print the template larger, or take apart one you have laying around.

 

Click here for my template.

 

 

What a LOVELY way to say “I love you, and I took the time to do something personal, Just for you!” 

 

 

Do you know someone who would appreciate this effort?  I know I do!