Monday, April 10, 2017

Homemade envelopes

Making my own envelopes started over twenty years ago. I use a template that I made from a commercial envelope, and number them sequentially. Some of the early ones sent back then are in this blog post. I don't remember why I started making them in 1992, or why I stopped (in 1993), but I found some of them a few years ago, and, uninvited, sent the one numbered 100 to Jean. That's the origin of the title of the blog.

Originally I planned for the blog to be dedicated to these envelopes, however I got sucked in to all the aspects of mail art, so they often take a bit of a back seat.

Currently I'm up to number 890. This is what (part of) my box of homemade envelopes looks like right now, with envelopes waiting for the perfect stamp, or occasion:




And here are some recently sent ones.

Number 352 to Patricia (slightly shiny paper from a magazine)



Number 436 to Honi (matte paper from an arts flier)



Number 792 to Eva (thick paper from an old calendar)



And number 846 to Eric (from butcher's paper)



Have you ever made your own envelopes? 

What materials would you choose, and what do you think would make a good envelope?

27 comments:

  1. Hi Phillip - how on earth do you remember which paper, what illustration you've used etc ... fascinating use of a paper resource and good for kids at early school ...

    I haven't ever made my own envelope - I guess probably at some stage - knowing me .. it'd be cack-handed!

    Fascinating and cheers Hilary

    http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/h-is-for-horse.html

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    1. Well, the butcher paper is self-explanatory, I make a lot of envelopes from the same magazine so they share a certain look, the same goes for the arts flier, and the watercolor calendar envelopes are a bit of a standout from my usual envelopes. It really isn't very hard to make your own envelopes, and craft stores/websites do have letter templates and even template cutters to help the cack-handed :)

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  2. I wish I had numbered my ma since the beginning!

    Do you remember number 1?

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    1. I sadly don't remember number one... or why I started... or why I stopped. At least a few survive from back then.

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  3. Thanks for the update. I was actually wondering about the original stack the other day - when my brother was opening all his birthday mail - and wondering how many were left, if any. As he opened his mail, I'd make comments about the senders - how long I'd known them - things like that. Of course, the story of you stumbling across my blog and then falling down the rabbit hole is one of my favorites.

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  4. I'm very impressed by the stack of envelopes you have waiting to be sent. And I thought mine was big... Nothing compared to yours. The butcher paper envelope was really great. Thanks a lot.

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    1. The paper was perfect for a recycled envelope, and I was amazed at how the colors on those stamps matched so well.

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  5. I have made envelopes before just out of plain printer paper- for secret messages as a child, and then as an adult because I send letters so rarely I don't own envelopes! :P

    My A to Z:
    the Bobsey Twins

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  6. I love your envelope artistry, Phillip! I too have stacks of 'em waiting around...I will sometimes make a batch as a form of therapy, I think, or by accident, because a good magazine or book happens by in a 'use it or lose it' moment...

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    1. Thanks. I also find making them somewhat therapeutic. Plus there's the added bonus of getting rid of a magazine or papers I've been hoarding.

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  7. I won't know where/how to start making envelopes. Apart from birthday and Christmas cards We don't use envelopes at all. How times have changed or perhaps it is an age thing.

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    1. I don't think it's an age thing, most people don't communicate by pen anymore. It is making a little bit of a comeback as people search for a more personal, considered way to communicate that is non-digital.

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  8. I have never made my own envelopes. I think they add a nice touch to personalized mail. So often the only mail sent and received these days are bills. Maybe I should try my hand at some handmade envelopes to send to some friends.

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    1. I bet they'd love getting a handmade envelope from you.

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  9. I've made my own envelopes, but they were made with solid colored paper. I always thought that envelopes with design and patterns were more difficult to read by postal workers and computers, so more apt to get lost in the mail system. Your blog has opened my eyes to a new world!!

    Trudy @ Reel Focus
    Food in Film: Hot Dogs

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    1. Oh, I'm sure the post office would prefer that, but as long as the address is reasonably visible I say give patterns and pictures a big thumbs up. Solid color has its place, too - if a stamp is really striking they often look better without other distractions.

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  10. Envelope 100! So happy to read the story behind your blog's name!

    Of course I make envelopes, but the white paper of brand new bought envelopes attract me, too, to draw and stamp on.
    However making envelopes by recycling is much better, environment friendly, so I should do it more often. Calendar pages and covers of magazines give best quality (strong envelopes), and pages of bird magazines I love for the great photos. And I bought a second copy of my favourite comic book (Asterix) to make envelopes of the paper, but still hesitating to cut it...

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    1. I also find it hard to cut into books. Magazines I don't mind.

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    2. It is hard to imagine Heleen cutting a page of an Asterix comic! :O

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    3. I think your imagination is correct, Eva! My extra copy of the latest album (Asterix and the Picts) already is waiting half to be turned into envelopes. And worse: more than a year ago I bought two old, overused, Asterix albums in a second hand/recycling shop (one so to see has had a little damage by water), which are waiting all that time to be turned into envelopes, too
      Still a big threshold to do so.

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  11. ok, so I need to read your blog in the morning, but I am @ work! I make envelopes all the time, Wall paper sample books are the best. It stops the retailers from trashing them when they become out of date & the choice is endless.

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    1. Well, the blog is still here later in the day, too. Great to have a source of paper for your envelopes. Lots of great patterns on wallpaper.

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  12. Those envelopes are so cool! It'd be fun to be the recipient of one! I'm not sure I have the patience to make homemade envelopes, though. Thanks for sharing! :)

    With Love,
    Mandy

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    1. They are not that difficult. Scissors, cool paper or magazine pages, and either glue or double sided tape. Glad you liked them.

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