Hand-made envelopes

What easier way is there to add a little flair to your thank you cards, invitations, or birthday cards?


* These particular envelopes were made with old Magazines

I started making my own envelopes a couple months ago and I got so many compliments on them, I decided to make more. Some other great mediums to use are: newspaper, maps, old book pages, and anything else your mind can think of! I even made an envelope out of Duct Tape!

There are only a few steps and you'll be on your way to getting compliments from all of your friends about how much they love your creative touches :)

First, Begin by taking apart an envelope and making a template. I would recommend making sure that your envelope fits onto one sheet of paper before you get started on your template. Trace your template out onto Cardstock and then cut out. (This can be re-used, so don't throw it away when your done!)

Then pick two magazine pages you like. I really like using Martha Stewarts Living Magazines because they are larger then the standard magazine pages.

Glue the two sheets together so that both pictures you chose are on either side. I used a glue stick, but spray adhesive would work really well too if you have it. (when you are using maps or other items to make your envelopes this step can be removed, but because magazines are so flimsy you will want to double up the pages to make sure they don't rip during mailing) Although it is an added step when using magazine pages, I found it fun to mix and match pages, so that the inside of the envelope is just as fun as the outside.



once your two pages are glued together, you'll want to trace your template onto the sheet of paper, and then cut it out.



Fold the two outside flaps in first and use a glue stick to glue the bottom one to them. Then one more step and your done! Just fold the top flap down and when you are ready to mail it, glue it shut. VIOLA, you now have a wonderfully personalized envelope and you saved a tree while doing it!



* I like to use maps of peoples city or state or make an envelope with a map from a trip I went on.... there's endless possibilities to how creative you can be with this fun little craft!

Reuse and Recycle

Need an easy craft idea and something that will liven up that drab wall in your bedroom??? I have just the thing.

With recycling being the new "trendy thing to do" I thought I'd show this easy pick me up for your room.

First, I must give props to my friend Nikki who gave me this idea. With just a few steps you can create one person's garbage into your own art work!

The hardest part of this project will be finding the actual windows. These were found on Blake's property in Pittsburgh, where there are many more waiting for me to save them :) Just the other day I saw some sitting out on the street ready to get picked up by the garbage men!!!!! Some dumps will let you walk in and take what you want, others may make you pay 5-10 bucks for an item. You can also find these at flea markets, garage sales, and like I said before, the side of the road.

The most important thing to do is take the glass out of the window frame. Most of these windows are 50 years old, and the glass is no longer secure. Taking the glass out will also make it lighter and easier to hang on your wall. I simply screwed right through the window frame and into the wall, but you could also pick up brackets at your local hardware store.

After taking out all of the glass, put on a mask to prevent inhaling any of the paint chips. Scrape off as much excess paint as possible and finish by sanding. After scraping off the excess LEAD paint, wash it thoroughly (WATCH OUT FOR SPLINTERS - I would recommend wearing work gloves at all times). Let the window frames dry completely for at least 24 hours or more.



After the window frames have dried completely, spray a thin layer of clear varnish (I went with the spray paint style in Satin). You'll also notice that I left on some of the existing paint to keep the vintage flair. If you wanted a specific color window you could always scrape off all of the paint, re-paint it the color you want, and then sand off spots to give it the antique feel.

If any of you try this out, let me know how it goes!