How To Make Envelopes For Your Handmade Cards | The Cardmaking and Crafts Guide

When you want to make a handmade card, you have many options for buying pre-made blank cards and envelopes, ready for you to personalize and decorate.

You can buy them in packs from 5-50 in all colors — both online, and in stores. These are great for making multiples, such as Christmas cards or party invitations.

But, sometimes you might want to make a card with a unique shape, size, or paper.

I love to match my cards to the envelope, so when I use a print or patterned paper on the card itself, I make sure I have a sheet leftover for the envelope as well. (It doesn’t always have to be the exact same sheet of paper; any complementary design or color works.)

TIP: Remember not to make the card so big that the envelope paper won’t cover it!

Okay, are you ready to have fun learning how to make an envelope for any situation? Here we go…

Making an envelope is basically just folding and gluing around the card.

You can literally wrap your card like a present, using double-stick tape or a glue stick instead of Scotch tape.

Thinner paper will be easier to fold, but you can also use cardstock or any other paper.

Practice using scrap paper or newspaper before you use your one good sheet of patterned paper.

How To Make Handmade Envelopes

Someday, I will master the art of the video tutorial. But for now, you get these old-school, step-by-step photos!

For this example, my card is 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 (known as standard envelope size: A2) and my envelope is a piece of paper 8-1/2 x 11.

Follow the dotted lines to fold the paper all the way around the card.

Be careful to not fold the envelope too tightly on the card, so the card can slide into the envelope. You can draw folding lines on your paper (wrong side up) or you can just fold around the card (like a present).

Next, follow along the blue lines to cut away the parts you won’t need.

The next 2 photo diagrams show you the order to fold the 3 sides (all but the envelope flap) and use your double stick tape or glue stick to secure the envelope. I use Tombo Mono Permanent Adhesive.

And your envelope is done! Of course, it will look much better when you use a fun piece of patterned paper that matches your handmade card. All the markings and lines you see here were simply used to illustrate each individual step for making handmade envelopes.

When you are ready to seal your envelope, I suggest using a glue stick, because it will be easier for the recipient to open. Be sure to let it dry completely before you put it in the mail.

Must read: How To Know Which Craft Glue To Use When

Landscape vs Portrait Orientation Envelopes

Depending on your patterned paper or the orientation of your handmade card, you might need to place your card “the other way.”

These two photos show where to cut the paper for your envelope when your is card placed inside “landscape” (wide) instead of “portrait” (tall, like in the examples above):

TIP: Take the envelopes that your bills come in and unfold them. You will see a close-up example of the basic “landscape” envelope template used here.

Bonus Tips For Making Handmade Envelopes

The following example shows one reason why you’ll want to pay attention to the orientation of your patterned paper. As you can see, when using paper with numbers on it, you’ll want the numbers to face the right way.

And finally, to send your new handmade envelope through the mail, you will need to use an envelope label for your address.

So now you have the skills needed to create custom envelopes for any size card. I’ve found that practice makes perfect; have fun experimenting.

I will be back to show some handmade cards in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and how to make the envelopes to match them. In the meantime, get out there and create!

Even More Unique DIY Envelope Ideas!

Suzie

I've been crafting for many years. I started with cross-stitching, then moved on to wearable art, projects with painted wood, fabric crafts, and paper crafts -- which has transformed primarily into card making. I also do some rubber stamping and scrapbooking, but mostly I enjoy creating handmade, one-of-a-kind cards.

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Baby Blue Angel

This was great i know what to look for and how to make my envelope as to look i went shopping for my card but was confused and didnt know what to do about my envelopes as there was so many but they were expensive so i am chuffed and now know that i can make my own envelopes and also this step by step presentation helped me alot.

Thanks ever so much!
Baby Blue Angel

This was great i know what to look for and how to make my envelope as to look i went shopping for my card but was confused and didnt know what to do about my envelopes as there was so many but they were expensive so i am chuffed and now know that i can make my own envelopes and also this step by step presentation helped me alot.

Thanks ever so much!
[email protected]

I actually like your step by step photos better than the tutorial videos I’ve seen because I can print them out and refer to them. Very nice little job of labeling your steps in the photos!!! 🙂 thank you!
Amanda Samson

Thanks! I prefer this method instead of the video tutorial as well…it’s easier to go step by step than to refer to a video.
Nrdogmomo06

This is terrific! Your instructions with the excellent illustrations made it so clear!Thanks a million…just what I needed. Nancy
Bopperkid

So if I have a card that’s 6 by 7 1/4 what size paper would I need?
- Suzie
  
  Hi Bopperkid – for that size card, you can use 12×12 paper, but you’ll have to fold it differently. Place the 12×12 sheet face down on your table like a diamond, with one of the corners pointing up. That top corner will be the envolepe flap. Place your card horizontally on the paper in the middle, and slide it up until the card corners hit the edges of the paper, making sure the top corner is centered (not touching the card, but in the center if you were to draw a line straight down). Pull your card down just a tiny bit, so the card corners don’t actually touch the edges. You can then fold all the corners around your card, like a present. It will be a tight fit, so maybe practice on construction paper first! You will only need to cut the bottom point into a straight edge to match your card. Good luck and have fun!
- Suzie
  
  Hi Bopperkid – for that size card, you can use 12×12 paper, but you’ll have to fold it differently. Place the 12×12 sheet face down on your table like a diamond, with one of the corners pointing up. That top corner will be the envolepe flap. Place your card horizontally on the paper in the middle, and slide it up until the card corners hit the edges of the paper, making sure the top corner is centered (not touching the card, but in the center if you were to draw a line straight down). Pull your card down just a tiny bit, so the card corners don’t actually touch the edges. You can then fold all the corners around your card, like a present. It will be a tight fit, so maybe practice on construction paper first! You will only need to cut the bottom point into a straight edge to match your card. Good luck and have fun!
Manjula

This is so simple and yet so brilliant. Thank you for sharing.
Manjula

This is so simple and yet so brilliant. Thank you for sharing.
Manjula

This is so simple and yet so brilliant. Thank you for sharing.
SuServesHm

Thanks for the excellent step by step instructions which are written & the photo’s explain it just great. I’m glad I found this site. I to make cards for gifts & giving “:)
Thanks – Susan
Robbiepowell87

So easy! Loved it! I made some invitation too small for the original envelopes and these step by steps were just perfect! now even the envelopes have character thanks!
Diva Ramirez

THANK GOD you don’t use video tutorials that sometimes go way too quick. I really appreciate this and hope that you do more. Thank you, you saved me in a quick pinch!! 🙂 God I love the internet! ;]
disqus_Pek8CtkHlk

thanks so much!!! this helped a ton 😀