Way back in the day when I first started paper crafting I thought I'd try my hand at making envelopes. Custom envelopes are super cute but I soon found them to be way too much work to my impatient mind. The templates soon made their way to the back of my storage and were never heard from again.
Enter the new We R Memory Envelope Punch Board. Super cool I thought, but I wondered if it would really live up to all the hype. Of course I had to find out. Especially as it is made by We R Memory Keepers, who have a history of producing great tools. The Crop-a-dile is still one of my all-time favorites.
I have to tell you, this just may be their best tool yet! And making envelopes is a breeze. Once I got started I was soon addicted to trying out all kinds of sizes and papers. Seriously. I can make an envelope in less than a minute. I couldn't take a photo of them all but above you can find a small sampling.
The Envelope Punch Board is a great little tool. I love how light and portable it is and how the front is printed with a myriad of envelope sizes that you can easily make.
As I'm always, always, always losing my scoring tools and bone folder, I absolutely LOVE this handy storage pocket for the scoring blade. And it's a great bright color to find easily on my desk.
So here's how it works...
Envelope Punch Board Tutorial
Note: click on the images to make them larger to see the detail...
1. First choose your card size from the chart. The tool automatically makes the envelope large enough to fit your card size. You almost don't have to think to use this tool! I've circled my card size above in red. I decided on 4"x4" because I like square and square envelopes can be really hard to find.
2. Look across to the paper size. In this case it's 6 7/8" x 6 7/8" so cut it to size.
3. Check out the score line number on the right of that line. For this envelope size it says 3.5". Place the paper on the punch board with the left edge at the 3 1/2" mark.
4. Press the punch and score along the scoring line with the tool. This is your first fold line.
5. Turn the paper counter clockwise once and line up the score line with the little score guide.
6. Punch and score.
7. Turn and repeat two more times.
8. Round each of the corners using the top punch notch. You can't see it in my photos but it's just on the other size of the scoring guide at the top of the tool.
9. Fold the sides along the scoring lines and adhere flaps.
Truly it takes so much longer to read about than to do. And just in case you're wondering, I didn't take the time to round the corners on the above envelope. Oops! But is still works great that way too.
Not being happy just to make plain envelopes, I started looking around to see what else I could do. It's been awhile since I used the corrugated kraft paper and thought it would make a really great textured envelope. Yes I know that you can't mail it but for hand delivery, why not?!
It fit in perfectly and was easy to score even with the texture and thickness. The punches worked well on even this tough paper.
The little envelope I made fits a 3"x3" card. There's something very sweet about tiny isn't there?
I added some embellishments to the outside of the envelope. If it's not getting mailed, might as well make it extra special, right? Some white ink brushed across the corrugations makes the texture stand out even more.
The little coordinating card uses a sweet Avery Elle stamp set I've been dying to play with. It's a simple little card so as not to overwhelm it's size. What you can't see in the photo is that the stamped panel is popped up on foam adhesive. I always like to do that on a simple design to add a little extra interest.
Thanks for joining me today in the CLASSroom! Happy creating!
Supplies:
edited to add...my apologies on the strange supply list. A few gremlins working against me this morning.
