Making a card for someone is a very special way to cheer them up or let them know you're thinking of them. Why not take it a step further and also make them an envelope as well.
There are many envelope templates available on the internet. One of my favorite template sites is Mirkwood Designs. For this project, I used the Basic Envelope template and instead of keeping the envelope entirely made of paper, I cut a window in the front and adhered a small piece of acrylic there instead to make a window into my envelope. If I were going to mail this, I'd slip a piece of paper inside with an address and I'd be ready to go. If I'm just going to hand-deliver it, I'd let the card shine through.
Here's a quick tutorial:
1. Print out your envelope template in the size you want, trim and use it to cut an envelope out of patterned paper.
2. Use a Scor-Pal to score the envelope where it shows on the template. Use an X-acto knife and ruler to cut a rectangular hole in the FRONT of your envelope (leave enough of a border around the hole that you can still fold the flaps in and have them hidden).
3. From a 12"x12" Clear Scraps acrylic sheet cut a piece of acrylic that will fit, and overlap slightly, the hole you made (use scissors or a paper trimmer). Adhere this over the hole, on the inside of your envelop using Zip Dry or Glue Dots.
4. Continue to fold up your envelope, gluing down the flaps. Embellish the envelope further by doodling on the outside around your window.
5. Create a card that has a large portion of the sentiment or embellishments at the exact place that you've created a window. Insert card...and make someone's day.
Other Options:
**make the window quite large - almost the whole front of the envelope. Remember to leave enough paper on the sides of the front of the envelope so that when you fold the flaps in to finish it, they're hidden. On this particular one I used rub-ons to finish the front of the card, all in the same wintery theme as the card.
**Use a double sided patterned paper to make your initial envelope - this will be just an added bit of interest as the recipient pulls their card out and discovers the inside of the card is patterned as well.
Thanks,
Cathy