Review of envelope-making tools

[jbb]

This may be a sacrilege but I decided to use pages of a big old art book of antique fans to make these business sized envelopes. I opened up an existing envelope and simply traced it onto the page since I don't have the template. Now I have a new thing to look for at the thrift store: big art books. Thanks Green Velvet -- this is loads of fun.

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4371029083_50d2645640.jpg

Edited February 20, 2010 by jbb

[GreenVelvet]

This may be a sacrilege but I decided to use pages of a big old art book of antique fans to make these business sized envelopes. I opened up an existing envelope and simply traced it onto the page since I don't have the template. Now I have a new thing to look for at the thrift store: big art books. Thanks Green Velvet -- this is loads of fun.

 

Beautiful envelopes, jbb!

 

I don't think it's sacrilege. I think it is art reincarnated or recycled or repurposed, however you want to look at it... at least that's what I tell myself when I get a twinge of guilt for disassembling a book!

[jbb]

This may be a sacrilege but I decided to use pages of a big old art book of antique fans to make these business sized envelopes. I opened up an existing envelope and simply traced it onto the page since I don't have the template. Now I have a new thing to look for at the thrift store: big art books. Thanks Green Velvet -- this is loads of fun.

 

Beautiful envelopes, jbb!

 

I don't think it's sacrilege. I think it is art reincarnated or recycled or repurposed, however you want to look at it... at least that's what I tell myself when I get a twinge of guilt for disassembling a book!

I've been sitting around making envelopes since yesterday. Big ones... small ones... all out of this one big art book. I can't wait to go book hunting at the thrift store. Since I don't have any "official" templates I've just been opening up envelopes I have and then tracing them onto heavier paper.

[Scylla]

I've been making envelopes out of calendars, glossy catalogs and even the newspaper! I pay the newpaper delivery boy with the newspaper envelopes.

[jbb]

I've been making envelopes out of calendars, glossy catalogs and even the newspaper! I pay the newpaper delivery boy with the newspaper envelopes.

Good ideas.

[pointydog]

Amazing. I have been saving cool calendar pictures for years, feeling to guilty to throw them away.

Now I have a *TON* of cool envelopes with everything from frogs to WWII aeroplanes!

So far I have yet to use any, but my friends have all picked up a few....

 

Why didn't I ever think about this before?

 

An you enablers, I don't know what to say;

After reading GreenVelvet's blog I bought even more of my favorite paper from a new source, bought envelope templates, bone folder, glues of all sorts, liner paper and a cool little ceramic cutter.

 

Now I have all the stuff inspired by jbb- a bunch of new William Schmidt penholders (turn-of-the-century.com), little jars of metallic powders, gum arabic and the nibs she so willingly sent my way...when the heck does all this stuff start to improve my handwriting, that's what I want to know!

 

Oh, and let's not forget my new stamps from Zazzle with a ca. 1880's picture of my house on them. Add that to the mapenvelope picture of my house from the air and the aliens will find me on the first try, no problems!

[jbb]

Amazing. I have been saving cool calendar pictures for years, feeling to guilty to throw them away.

Now I have a *TON* of cool envelopes with everything from frogs to WWII aeroplanes!

So far I have yet to use any, but my friends have all picked up a few....

 

Why didn't I ever think about this before?

 

An you enablers, I don't know what to say;

After reading GreenVelvet's blog I bought even more of my favorite paper from a new source, bought envelope templates, bone folder, glues of all sorts, liner paper and a cool little ceramic cutter.

 

Now I have all the stuff inspired by jbb- a bunch of new William Schmidt penholders (turn-of-the-century.com), little jars of metallic powders, gum arabic and the nibs she so willingly sent my way...when the heck does all this stuff start to improve my handwriting, that's what I want to know!

 

Oh, and let's not forget my new stamps from Zazzle with a ca. 1880's picture of my house on them. Add that to the mapenvelope picture of my house from the air and the aliens will find me on the first try, no problems!

Oh my! All this fun stuff. The stamps sound great. Dip pens and flexy pens improved my handwriting quite a bit. I hope you see some of that kind of transformation. Are you pen-paling? With all your supplies that would be a natural outlet -- if, of course, it appeals to you.

[GreenVelvet]

An you enablers, I don't know what to say;

After reading GreenVelvet's blog I bought even more of my favorite paper from a new source, bought envelope templates, bone folder, glues of all sorts, liner paper and a cool little ceramic cutter.

 

Man, I've sent enough sales from my blog that I should be getting a kickback!

 

So glad you enjoy. I agree with JBB that pen-palling sounds like a natural outlet, if you're interested.

[jbb]

An you enablers, I don't know what to say;

After reading GreenVelvet's blog I bought even more of my favorite paper from a new source, bought envelope templates, bone folder, glues of all sorts, liner paper and a cool little ceramic cutter.

 

Man, I've sent enough sales from my blog that I should be getting a kickback!

 

So glad you enjoy. I agree with JBB that pen-palling sounds like a natural outlet, if you're interested.

I was thinking you should be getting a kickback too.

[pointydog]

I agree, greenVelvet should definitely get some free goodies at least for all the sales she's made for Papersource and the Florentia sellers! I would never have known about half the cool stuff I bought from them if not for her.

 

Yes, I have started writing a few letters. I used to write a lot as a kid, my family are mostly in Europe and phone calls were too expensive then. Now we email and no-one there has time for letters. I have made a few contacts here, I think it would be fun. I know I enjoy getting a nice letter, even if it's just idle chatter.

 

I just have to make sure I can hold up my end of the bargain before I get too involved. I don't want any hate mail.

Hoarding paper seems to make me pretty happy too though.....

 

Now I have to go do some shopping for nice paper that fits in the new size envelopes I made with the templates. Anyone want to shop vicariously through me? Any recommendations?

 

I will have to send you both a little note with the new stamps. they are so very cool.

[jbb]

I agree, greenVelvet should definitely get some free goodies at least for all the sales she's made for Papersource and the Florentia sellers! I would never have known about half the cool stuff I bought from them if not for her.

 

Yes, I have started writing a few letters. I used to write a lot as a kid, my family are mostly in Europe and phone calls were too expensive then. Now we email and no-one there has time for letters. I have made a few contacts here, I think it would be fun. I know I enjoy getting a nice letter, even if it's just idle chatter.

 

I just have to make sure I can hold up my end of the bargain before I get too involved. I don't want any hate mail.

Hoarding paper seems to make me pretty happy too though.....

 

Now I have to go do some shopping for nice paper that fits in the new size envelopes I made with the templates. Anyone want to shop vicariously through me? Any recommendations?

 

I will have to send you both a little note with the new stamps. they are so very cool.

Mmmm, paper hoarding. There are times I'm just paper-crazy. My go-to paper is Southworth 404IC (available at staples.com) but it's toothy and I use it for dip pens so fountain pen people might not like it as much as I do.

 

As far as nice paper you need in a particular size, consider checking with a local print shop. You may be able to buy and test individual sheets and then have them cut the ones you like to the size you need.

[GreenVelvet]

I agree, greenVelvet should definitely get some free goodies at least for all the sales she's made for Papersource and the Florentia sellers! I would never have known about half the cool stuff I bought from them if not for her.

 

Awww, shucks... but then I might feel kinda tainted.

 

I just have to make sure I can hold up my end of the bargain before I get too involved. I don't want any hate mail.

 

I've gotten some fairly weird letters in my role as The Missive Maven, but none of them have come from FPN-ers. (Oh wait, only one weirdo from FPN - but he's since disappeared.) It's a pretty awesome crowd here, I doubt you would encounter hate mail.

 

Hoarding paper seems to make me pretty happy too though.....

 

Paper hoarders, unite! I'm there with you.

[physicsgirl]

Thanks GreenVelvet for bringing this to my attention! I was using a template I got from the Good Mail Day book, but I wanted a way to make some larger envelopes, so I got the templates.

 

I also ordered the envelope liner templates. They are wonderful! You put the liners in after you make the envelope. The liners aren't that bad its just a cut out the size of the envelope and flap, but slightly smaller. You just tuck the liner into the envelope, put some glue on the liner part that will sit on the envelope flap, and line it up with an even border and your done!

 

I've been using 12"x12" scrapbook paper to make mine, since I can't get all of the envelope templates to fit on 8.5"x11" paper. I'm thinking of going to look for wrapping paper to use for envelopes. I also used a pen catalog to make some liners and smaller envelopes.

 

The Paper source website it addicting! They had the cutest goldfish, and octopus stamps and paper I just had to buy. (physicsgirl: checking over shoulder to make sure fiance doesn't read this last part)

[jbb]

Thanks GreenVelvet for bringing this to my attention! I was using a template I got from the Good Mail Day book, but I wanted a way to make some larger envelopes, so I got the templates.

 

I also ordered the envelope liner templates. They are wonderful! You put the liners in after you make the envelope. The liners aren't that bad its just a cut out the size of the envelope and flap, but slightly smaller. You just tuck the liner into the envelope, put some glue on the liner part that will sit on the envelope flap, and line it up with an even border and your done!

 

I've been using 12"x12" scrapbook paper to make mine, since I can't get all of the envelope templates to fit on 8.5"x11" paper. I'm thinking of going to look for wrapping paper to use for envelopes. I also used a pen catalog to make some liners and smaller envelopes.

 

The Paper source website it addicting! They had the cutest goldfish, and octopus stamps and paper I just had to buy. (physicsgirl: checking over shoulder to make sure fiance doesn't read this last part)

Hmmm, I may have to start lining my envelopes now. Coffee table sized artbooks are a good size for large envelopes. I'm always checking yard sales and thrift stores for things like that.

[physicsgirl]

Thanks GreenVelvet for bringing this to my attention! I was using a template I got from the Good Mail Day book, but I wanted a way to make some larger envelopes, so I got the templates.

 

I also ordered the envelope liner templates. They are wonderful! You put the liners in after you make the envelope. The liners aren't that bad its just a cut out the size of the envelope and flap, but slightly smaller. You just tuck the liner into the envelope, put some glue on the liner part that will sit on the envelope flap, and line it up with an even border and your done!

 

I've been using 12"x12" scrapbook paper to make mine, since I can't get all of the envelope templates to fit on 8.5"x11" paper. I'm thinking of going to look for wrapping paper to use for envelopes. I also used a pen catalog to make some liners and smaller envelopes.

 

The Paper source website it addicting! They had the cutest goldfish, and octopus stamps and paper I just had to buy. (physicsgirl: checking over shoulder to make sure fiance doesn't read this last part)

Hmmm, I may have to start lining my envelopes now. Coffee table sized artbooks are a good size for large envelopes. I'm always checking yard sales and thrift stores for things like that.

 

That's a good idea. I will have to keep a look out for some good deals on coffee table books! Thanks!

[Vulcan1066]

I use old catalogs to make envelopes and have done so for years. My most interesting envelopes are from Victoria's Secret and of course fountain pen catalogs. Occassionally the seed catalogs and woodworking ones can be fun as well.

I used to work in remote locations where humidity was quite high (uaually around 80 percent) and store bought envelopes would glue themselves together so we had to make our own. Lots of glue and scotch tape were expended in this endevor every summer