Have you ever rescued something from the trash because you knew that there had to be something you could do with it — surely something better than sending it to the landfill — but you just weren’t sure what that something was? (I’m totally guilty of that on multiple counts!) We got an e-mail from reader Dawn, who needs some post-trash-picking inspiration. She writes:
I recently rescued a stack of blank white 9″ wide x 7 3/4″ tall envelopes from the trash at work, but I don’t know what to do with them. Any ideas? All of the searches on the internet I have done on envelopes are how to make your own, not crafts to do with existing ones. I have about 45 of them.
Alright, clever readers. If you has a big ol’ stack of large envelopes in your craft stash, how would you use them?
[image by cohdra @ morguefile.com]
31 Comments
OKIFOLKI
Cut windows in them, bind them all together and hey presto! You have a photo album. :)
rhonda
I like the idea of using them to make an accordion file like this one: http://blog.paperama.de/2008/05/airmail-envelope-accordion-file-folder/
Monique
Oh oh oh I re-found one I had seen before and you plea for ideas reminded me of it……..
http://www.curbly.com/m/7217-how-to-make-an-envelope-book
Bella01
Valentines day is coming up?? Also would be good for travel packs. Print colouring pictures on them and put craft materials in them. Surprise for kids? Thank a mailman day is on the 4th Feb, so could use it as wrapping?? or put kids drawings or craft in it for him??
Bella01
You could donate them to a local school or charity
Angelique (@miscellaneaarts)
I’d bind them together and make an art journal or scrapbook out of them!
Kristi(e)
You can surprise a loved one: http://ohhappyday.com/2011/04/envelope-surprise-diy/
Eveline
check this out, it’s real cool and if you check this video you see so many more idea’s
http://youtu.be/_yidAX2wavg
Eveline from the Netherlands
saaleha
How About Orange had a nifty tutorial on how to convert envelopes into gift bags.
http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2009/03/gift-bags-made-from-envelopes.html
I’d make up and embellish a couple of them and set them aside for gifting.
buggal1989
I LOVE to have found these!
Personally I’d hand cut cardstock and make cards to fit these envies. Join 2 slightly smaller than the envie peices of cardstock by punching holes on the top or left hand side and then tie them together with ribbon, lace, raffia or other trim. Next add your own stickers and embellishments and custom message. Then presto, you have a custom handmade by YOU card to send to a friend or loved one! And since they are so large you can enclose a flat gift like a pack or several sheets of stickers, etc. to the envie. Very nice for a Valentine’s day card!
They would also be so great for someone who uses Listia a site where you can win free stuff on auction to mail flat items like stickers and small squares of scrapbook paper!
I have found tons of free crafting materials on this site!!! I can’t even begin to list all the stuff I have gotten to craft with.
You have to earn the credits to bid with by listing FREE items yourself. It’s a great way to recycle your leftover crafting supplies!!! Bought a big bucket of foam stickers for a crafting project and have maybe 1/4 th the bucket leftover? Someone on listia.com is dying to have them (probally me!).
Happy Crafting!
Off The Cuff Cooking
I would make origami cranes out of them — larger than an average origami paper, obviously — and then suspend them all in some fashion from fishing line at various heights to have a beautiful white collection of flying birds as a decorative statement… Or cut them into a garland of 44 paper snowflakes to leave up the rest of winter, and then carefully store them in the last of the envelopes for next Christmas.
Allison
BAGALOPES! They are easy to make, and SO useful. Plus, you can stamp/decoupage/color/etc. any way you like. Here’s a great tutorial (not mine, just love this site). Or, you can google “bagalope” and find many different ideas! http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/bag_a_lope/
Angie Platten
You could use them as envelopes but decorate them with inks, rubber stamps, collage, etc… what fun it would be to receive one! Or, take an existing book, somewhat thin, cut the pages down to about an inch and then glue the enveloped between page tabs to create a unique journal of envelope pockets.
Jessica @ Sunny Tuesday
This is a cute idea. It’s a card organizer for the entire year:
http://littlenannygoat.blogspot.com/2008/10/craft-tag.html
Steph
You can make so many things with them….folded and cut to make a mini book, cards, 3-D projects. Here is Kathy’s website she is super aweasome at crating gread projects. She made this photo album/gift card holder out of big envelope.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr2Lzw63VsU&feature=youtube_gdata_player
You can also check her page out here:
http://www.paperphenomenon.blogspot.com/
Good luck
Steph
http://www.scrappyrae10.blogspot.com
Ticia
I store my patterns in those envelopes, rather than trying to refold them again to fit back into that itty bitty envelope. So much easier.
But, otherwise I’d agree with several of the other suggestions of either the album using the envelopes or making “travel packages” for kids.
OH! They’re also great laminated with velcro dots for closures for holding EVERYTHING, then they’re nearly indestructible.
StacyMN
Id use them in my biz. That is a hard to find size for sure and I use 80-100 a month for mailing sales sheets.
Sue J.
You can cut the corners off and use these corners as bookmarks, it slips right over the corner of the page of the old-fashioned paper and ink books we all know and love. This is a super fun project for kids to decorate and include with a book for a special friend’s gift.
Daisycurls
Dye them,stamp them,or water color on them. Then cut them up for quilling with.
Jess K
Do something liked this but on envelopes. They would make sure cute treat bags/envelopes!
http://www.handsonaswegrow.com/2012/01/activity-snowman-fridge.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+handsonhouse+%28hands+on+%3A+as+we+grow%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
Suzi D
I use them for patterns. Especially doll patterns, as there are so many tiny pieces in 1 commercial pattern. I can print the pic on the front, they go right thru the printer, and then I can keep all the pieces for 1 doll dress or outfit in each envelope. No need to take out 63 pieces when you only need 4 or 5. Also useful for separating sizes. Works great for baby clothes patterns, too.
mary s. - aka Big Mamma
I would reuse them for any type of card making / stamping images. Any use, your right, is better than in the land fill.
Claire
I’d have fun painting/coloring/stamping them and then I’d make boxes or bags out of them similar to this idea from How About Orange. . .
http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2009/03/gift-bags-made-from-envelopes.html
Linda
go here http://thecraftsdept.marthastewart.com/2011/01/an-overseas-care-package.html to see the cute care package that was made using a lot of extra envelopes they had laying around… so cute and easy. going to be doing this with some excess envelopes i have myself. good luck!
LizA
Open them up and flat, then sew together with a machine. This creates a larger “fabric” to make a kite!
I’ve seen some cool ones made from USPS Tyvek envelopes.
EllenB
I just made a great little project using envelopes. It’s a secret envelope box and the cost was about a dollar. It’s fun, easy and there are some great tutorials on YouTube. Read about it on my blog –
under “Fall, leaves, fall .”
Panya
Envelope books were my first thought as well. I read this article way back when it was first published in Dec. 2000! [I was married two months prior and made one for my new husband, stuffed with love notes and candy. :-)]
http://www.marthastewart.com/266388/envelope-books
[Links for both cloth and paper binding tutorials are at the bottom of the article.]
ANN
youtube has a video of how to make a greeting card organizer using envelopes just a slightly bit smaller but you could easily adapt the measurements to fit your envelopes.
@Sassy_Pony
Hey, I love reading all of the dollarstore posts. I’m sending you a little idea from over the pond. How about using the envelopes to make a folder with different pockets. I blogged about a folder I made at the weekend to carry around in my handbag, to try and be a little more organised. So far it seems to be working :)Have a read if you like…
http://sassypony.co.uk/?p=445
Zoe x
Noreen
Here are lots of ideas for gift bags made from envelopes:
http://craftyjournal.com/envelope-gift-bags/
Spencer
I used about 50 to make a waterproof box and a vase.