We all love mail don't we?! As long as it doesn't contain bills! In this internet age sometimes we lose the art of staying in touch by snail mail but I'm guessing that if you're here today, you just might be a paper crafter who values making things and sending them the old fashioned way.
Today's project has two parts, a card and an envelope combo that will be fun to create and also receive. I'm reminded once again that everything pretty doesn't have to be inside the envelope. Why not decorate it as well? And while you're at it, why not MAKE the envelope out of some paper you have on hand. It's really not hard at all!
I'm crushing on this Technique Tuesday stamp set called Snail Mail. Aptly named, it is soooo cute! I just knew I had to have it and it has inspired today's project. I adore Technique Tuesday and today I'm giving them a little love. Some of my very first stamps were by Technique Tuesday when I started scrapbooking years ago. Fabulous quality and style!
With all these cute stamps, I wanted to stamp them onto an envelope and thought, why not make my own? I pulled out my Envelope Punch Board from We R Memory Keepers and decided to make the 4.5 x 6" size. It's perfect for fitting in an A5 card, especially if you make them a little bulky like I do. To create the envelop you check the sizes and cut the card stock to size, then follow the punching directions.
I wrote a post awhile back on how to use this board with all the steps and if you haven't seen it done, I have all the step outs here.
You'll end up with an envelope like this...but don't adhere it together yet! It's so much easier to stamp on when you leave it open.
So here's where the envelope magically turns into Kraft! Actually, my design idea went a different direction and I decided instead of a plain white envelope I could get anywhere, I'd love to have a Kraft one! So I made one, quick as a wink!
Now what I wanted to do was create a box for the address area so that I wouldn't stamp where I wanted to write. The Tim Holtz Ruler is amazing for this and I simply lined the ruler up with the edges of the envelope and then drew a box in pencil. Use light pressure so that it is easy to erase later!
Next I started stamping. I stamped some of the Snail Mail sentiments on the envelope in Jet Black Archival Ink.
And then, using the pencil marks for placement, I stamped a floral and leaf frame using another Technique Tuesday stamp set, Garden of Life by Cath Edvalson. Avery Elle Pigment Inks are some of my favorite inks and they are wonderful for stamping on Kraft!
Don't forget the envelope flap too! And just before you move on and put the envelope together, heat set the inks with a heat tool to prevent smearing.
Isn't the envelope cute?! Next step...make a pretty matching card!
I wasn't quite done yet since it came to mind that a sweet little envelope on the card front would make a great place to stamp another card sentiment and also hold a little gift card for the recipient. This one is the 3"x4" size and is created from a 6"x6" sheet of patterned paper. Once I put it together I sanded the edges to define them and add a little shabby vintage look.
Once the envelope is adhered to the front of the card, I added in some pretty coordinating die cuts from the Garden Leaves by Cath Edvalson die set. They are cut from both card stock and felt for lots of variation in texture and then adhered along with some sweet buttons from Lilac Lane and a little paper flower from Maya Road.
You can find all the supplies listed below to make things easy.
Do you love happy mail? I'm busy sending Christmas cards right now but this one is going out soon after the holidays.
Thanks for joining me today in the CLASSroom!
Julia
Supplies:
