Thursday, November 8, 2012

Post Office Day& Envlope Tutorial

...yup... that's what today was...

Today I spent the entire morning  making envelopes, addressing them, stuffing them, then filling out customs forms.... sixteen of them to be exact. Then I went to the post office, where I handed them all over in order of weight/size to make it quicker... then one of her coworkers helped slap the sticky parts on while she input all the info and weighed them. 

Why so many? Well, I saved up all the giveaway stuff from October to do at once... plus there was one left over from September that didn't get me her info on time, and a couple from just this week that I slipped in there too.

Don't believe me?  Here's SOME of them...I actually did up four or five more after I took this picture.




The giant butterflies are photoshopped in to hide the addresses ;)

So Pam, Kristen, Tiffany, Jami, Kimberly, Marla, Gina, Zan, Rita, Susan, Jennifer, & Beti  .... your giveaway goodies are in that pile there. Along with two prizes for Marlene Cupo's Non-Blogger & Blogger challenge at BSC, a thank you to Marlene for starting it & hosting it, and one PIF.

So all of you I just named, watch for the butterflies in your mailbox... I didn't stick any notes in them to let you know what it is... I was lazy >.< lol So  butterflies = goodies from Skye ;)

AND... since I made all of those, I took pictures to give you a simple tutorial on how to snazz up your mail, or recycle those bubble envelopes :)



    First off, you'll need the following items :


Pretty paper - here I'm using butterfly giftwrap
tape
scissors
gluestick
envelope - I'm using a new one in this photo, but you can use an old one as well... trust me, several of the packages in that photo above are recycled bubble mailers.


  


Lay your envelope on top of the paper to measure how much you'll need. 

I cut a long strip to fold up from the bottom, leaving the top open.









Take your glue stick and run it around the outer edges on the BACK of the envelope first, then across the middle in an 'x' . I find this gives good coverage, but you can cover the entire envelop if you want.

No, my glue isn't pretty colors...I just photoshopped it to show where the glue is....if you look, you can see that the glue covers MORE than just the colored part.






Place glue side down on the paper, putting the edge of the flap at the edge of the paper. Smooth it down so it sticks firmly. 

Add glue to this side as well, stopping at the edge of the ENVELOPE .. do NOT glue the flap.

Add this point, if you want to, you can fold the side in to make a nice crisp edge. I didn't >.<






Your envelope should look like this. 
Trim the edge around the flap. Fold the sides of the paper in to fit the envelope.  IF you folded the edge inside in the last step, you'll only have the one layer to fold over, and it will be considerably neater. If you didn't (like me), you can trim one side to make it shorter, then fold the longer piece over top. 

I taped all the sides down for security, but if you feel your glue is strong enough, you could just glue them.






 So now all your paper edges are folded and secured, and you have a completely covered envelop. 
Write the addresses out on plain white paper and tape them in place - this lets the address stand out from the picture.
I COMPLETELY cover the address with tape to seal the ink to prevent it from smudging and becoming difficult to read.




You now stuff it with whatever  you're putting in it,  fold and stick the flap ( I tape it down as well... extra secure ;) )   And you've got a pretty package already to go!

If you're using a 'pre-used' envelope, leave about an inch of paper extra to act as the 'new' flap to seal your envelope when it's done :)

Easy Peasy :)  If you have spray adhesive, this would be even easier...I don't ;) I think I'd make waaaay too much of a mess with that.. but that's just me :)

So now you know, if you open your mailbox and see a pretty package with butterflies on it, it's from me :D
I also have rainbow paper with butterflies on it... I used up an entire roll of the blue and white paper today and went to buy more...but they were out >.< so I got the rainbow butterflies instead ;)


~ Skye

25 comments:

  1. What a great idea. Thanks. I always reuse those envelopes and sometimes they get shabby looking.

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    1. Stickers and stamps and pretty drawings just weren't enough anymore ;) Share some pics when you start snazzing yours up :D

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  2. Thanks for the tutorial. That is such a good idea! I can't wait to get my butterflies!

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    1. :) Let me know when it arrives :)

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    2. My pretty envelope arrived!! I love the bracelet. :) Thanks for the candy, it got eaten immediately.

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  3. I am so excited and you know what my birthday is next week and I can not wait to get this present!!!!

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    1. Happy early birthday :) I'll cross my fingers that it gets to you right on time ;)

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  4. Wow, what a nice job on the envelopes.

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    1. thank you :)I get tape-happy, but they're pretty so that's all that matters ;) lol

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  5. OMG those are gorgeous! Pretty mail makes me happy.

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    1. my new butterfly paper has some pink in it, plus I picked up some stationary with pink:) I'll have to be sure to send you some pretty mail ;) lol

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  6. I <3 the tutorial!Thank you!I was looking for a way to make my packages seem pretty without spending a bunch of money and this might work!Skye you always give good tips:)

    Ive tried before to enter your drawings but im usually on my phone doing it and it hasnt let me the last few times ive tried:( Congrats to all the winners!

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    1. You'll have to make a note to stop by when you're on a computer. The main giveaways run the entire month so there's plenty of time to enter them :)

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  7. So pretty! Now I feel inadequate in yet another area - packaging! LOL

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    1. Sherri... my packaging is pretty, but it's a messy job of it >.< I should get the spray adhesive and make it all smooth and proper and not rely on so much tape. I could cut my edges and corners a lot neater, too. It just proves that if *I* can do it, anyone can make their mail pretty ;) And with all the different papers out there, plus stamps and stickers, it's so easy for everyone to come up with their 'own look', even to match it to their store if they have one ;)

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  8. Ok, that's just all kinda cool! I have to hang my head in shame that I never thought of making the outside envelope pretty. :) Thanks for sharing girl!

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    1. Shirley, didn't you write letters as a kid/young teen and doodle or put stickers on the envelope? lol I used to draw all over the envelopes when I'd write to my best friend, and she'd do the same.. I think the postal workers enjoyed our mail as much as we did lol

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  9. Thanks for the envelope tute! I usually send plain ugly mail. This will help jazz things up.

    I thought you might have forgotten to send the package and it was all good. Now it is extra exciting!

    Still lovin' your blog! Thanks again!

    Zan
    zanc@att.net

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    1. Nope, didn't forget... just new I'd have a bunch so instead of taking a few little envelopes, I figured I do one trip... Next time I do a month long gig like that, I'll do the smaller trips lol
      sorry to keep you waiting ;) It should reach you next week :)

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  10. And I was just ABOUT to throw away all those used envelopes I have been saving...Marlene told me I only needed two! :p WELL now I can use them AND make them pretty too! I love packaging up my goodies extra pretty! Maybe I will even make my own wrapping paper! THANKS Sandra. xxoo ~Shelley

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    1. Shelley, I keep a bag beneath my desk that I put all the envelopes I receive in. When I need one, I see if there's one the size I need, and if not, I can always cut one of the bigger ones in half :) some pretty, inexpensive wrapping paper and glue, and tada! new envelope! and the best part is, you can search out wrapping paper, scrapbooking borders, stamps and such to customize your envelopes to match your shops :)

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  11. Look at you....making things prettier for everyone. I guarantee you've brightened the day for a few postal workers along the way. Great tute. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Well for a while I using glitter paper...and cackling gleefully at the knowledge I was leaving a trail of glitter-covered postal workers across the continent :D But I'm twisted that way ;)

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  12. OK so beat me with a wet noodle for telling Shelley to throw away all her used envelopes. Sandra knew you were oh so creative and now have totally put me to shame. ;o(

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    1. *gasp* You advised a crafter to 'throw something out'?! Are you nuts!? LOL There are always options to 'use stuff' ... the challenge is in actually USING it rather than setting it aside to do 'one of these days ' ;)

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