DIY: make your own envelopes from scrap paper

A homemade card for the holidays or with a birthday is a super sweet idea. It doesn't get more original or personal than this. It really shows that you care. Especially now that sending cards has become increasingly scarce. Ideas for handmade cards we have shared with you before. But where does that card go in? Exactly, in a homemade envelope! Making your own envelopes is a piece of cake and it's a surprise on the doormat.

How to make your own envelopes from scrap paper

Have no idea what to do with those piles of old newspapers and magazines? Use them to make your own cards and envelopes! Not only are these DIY envelopes perfect for sending a card, they are also ideal for storing presents, such as money or a gift voucher. In such a cheerful, recycled envelope, sending mail and giving presents becomes even more fun!

You can easily make a template from an old envelope so that you can then make your own envelopes from old magazines.

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Making your own envelopes

Think carefully about what you do with your last Flow! You can throw old magazines and newspapers in the waste paper, but it is even more fun and useful if you still do something good with them. Magazines, newspapers, weekend supplements and even advertising leaflets are great for making envelopes and cards. This is how to make envelopes from waste paper!

Making10 minutes mins

Total Time10 minutes mins

Keyword: diy, birthday, envelope, upcycling, gift

Tools

• old envelope as template
• magazines(Flow or another magazine with solid pages is top)
• glue stick
• scissors
• pen or pencil
• ruler
• optional: stickers, labels or coloured tape(if you choose print paper)

Instructions

• Make a template from an old envelope. Carefully pull apart an existing envelope so that you can use it as a stencil. Tip: briefly hold the envelope over a kettle to steam off the glue.
• Draw the outline. Place your stencil on a magazine page and trace the outline with pencil or pen. Make sure the paper is firm, but not too thick. Pages from Flow magazine are ideal for this.
• Cut the drawn envelope shape neatly from the paper.
• Fold the lines. Use a ruler to fold the edges neatly to give the envelope the right shape.
• Glue the edges of the envelope so that it stays tightly closed.
• Is the magazine paper too busy to write the address on? Then stick a label or piece of paper on the front as a writing space.

Notes

Tip: Want to make more envelopes and in other formats? There are card and envelope makers that make it easy to fold envelopes. It also comes with a punch to punch out the corners, handy.

P.S. Did you know that via the PostNL app can buy stamp codes that you can simply write on the envelope? That way your mail is completely zero waste!

How fun are these homemade envelopes for a birthday card, for example, or as a gift envelope for money or a voucher?

More sustainable DIY tips from thegreenlist.nl

• Also fun with old magazines: a DIY valentine heart or a DIY flag garland.
• You can also use old magazines to wrap gifts. You can find even more zero waste packing tips here.
• We also have tips for a sustainable Christmas table. See how to make a sustainable Christmas table here.
• Or how about this cosy craft for the holidays? DIY Dutch houses from old cardboard.
  
  

Source: RTLnews.nl. Photo credits: Melanie de Oliveira.