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Upcycled Envelopes

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Upcycled Envelopes
Swap Coordinator:robotlove (contact)
Swap categories: Handmade  Paper Crafts  Mail Art 
Number of people in swap:6
Location:International
Type:Type 3: Package or craft
Last day to signup/drop:September 26, 2009
Date items must be sent by:October 11, 2009
Number of swap partners:1
Description:

For this swap, you will send your partner a package of 5 (regular sized) upcycled envelopes you made out of paper material most people would normally just throw out.

Examples being:

  • old outdated maps
  • old book pages
  • restaurant take-out menus
  • paper grocery bags
  • magazine pages of a read magazine
  • sheet music
  • junk mail/advertisements (no names & phone numbers, plz)
  • technical/electronic manuals
  • flyers
  • etc...

They cannot be made from cardstock/scrapbook paper you buy in a craft store! =x

Also, please try choosing a sturdy paper so they'll survive being used as mailing envelopes.

You will also include some kind of sealant on/for the envelope flaps (like double-sided scrapbooking tape, envelope seals, lickable envelope glue, or deco tape [but no scotch tape!])..

and you must also include at least 1 (non-used) extra from this list:

  • 5 (or more) address labels made for your partner
  • air mail labels
  • a gel pen (or 2?)
  • 5 (or more) nice letter sheets (no loose leaf paper)
  • stickers (to decorate the envelope or letter with)
  • mini-upcycled envelopes

  • (if you have another suggestion for the extras list, lmk!)

So in short, you will send 5 upcycled envelopes with a sealant on them (or with tape included to seal them) and at least 1 extra from the extras list. . . . [This swap is international because this should be pretty lightweight to send.]

And last, but not least, please put your best effort into this and make sure it's something you'd be happy to receive too. =)

Requirements:

  • Must have a rating of at least 4.9 with no 1's or 3's in the last 6 months (but if you feel you have an unfair rating and would like to join, please pm me first..)
  • Must have been rated for 5 package/craft swaps. Postcards & email swaps (e-swaps) will not be counted.

  • You will need to click "sent" once you have sent your package

  • You will also need to rate your partner once you receive your package! Non-raters will be banned from future swaps of mine along with any flakers...

Thanks for taking a look at my swap and if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below or send me a pm! =)

swap graphic found here

Discussion

spin 09/20/2009 #

On my watch list until I can find the lickable glue! :D

RyeRye 09/20/2009 #

is there a website you can go to to learn how to make the envies?

robotlove 09/20/2009 #

@spin if you ever do find some, please tell me where you found it! I've also been looking for some. =)

robotlove 09/20/2009 #

@RyeRye - I put up a tutorial on my blog for making envelopes out of these KR bags I had: bags > envelopes walkthrough

You can just substitute the bag material for another kind of paper.

spin 09/20/2009 #

@RyeRye I have taken some old envelopes apart and just use those for templates! Some with a straight upper lap and some with the triangular upper flap... If you have an envie you really like, just open up the glued parts ( over some steam maybe, I just carefully ripped them apart) and you can draw around it on the paper you want to make your upcycled envie out of, cut, and lgue on the corresponding places done! :)

Thanks for the tutorial, @robotlove I will check it out nw! Maybe you have a cool shape I haven't seen yet...

One more question: will a folded envelope work to?The origami kind? Or only envies that have to be glued?

spin 09/20/2009 #

Oh those bags are soooo cool @robotlove i!!! I make my envelopes just like you do! :D

RyeRye 09/20/2009 #

Thanks for the suggestion Spin. Now I feel really silly I didn't think of it. lol

robotlove 09/20/2009 #

@spin this particular swap is for envelopes that have glued-down flaps. Reason being, I'd like for them to be be able to make it safely through a mailing should your partner choose to use them that way.. and I'm not sure if origami envelopes are strong enough to withstand that. =)

robotlove 09/20/2009 #

Also, thanks for reminding me about using steam to open the envelopes, @spin . I completely forgot about that! =x

spin 09/20/2009 #

Ok! Thanks for clearing that up! :D I have already a few sheets of paper in view! :D

crafstatmungersmills 09/20/2009 #

Just to let everyone know there is a few on youtube. I do believe it was under recycled crafts. The name of it was "How to make recycled envelopes" I hope this helps. Have a great week.

Fittzwm 09/21/2009 #

I am not sure how to make the flap self-seal-able... Signing up anyways. Maybe my recipient will get a shiny new glue stick!

Fittzwm 09/21/2009 #

Darice makes a 'remoistenable' glue. I found it here

Fittzwm 09/21/2009 #

Darice makes a 'remoistenable' glue. I found it here

robotlove 09/21/2009 #

@fittzwm Sorry if it seemed confusing. What I've started using is Scotch scrapbooking double-sided tape. It's basically like regular double-sided tape only it also has this plastic strip over one side that you can peel off later. So you can put some of this onto the top flap and the plastic strip can be peeled off later when you want to seal it. =)

But I've left the option of including other items you can seal an envelope with, like envelope seals, decorative tape or "deco tape" can be used as well.

I hope this was more understandable and possibly of help to you or anyone else who was unsure on how to do this. =x

robotlove 09/21/2009 #

@Fittzwm Nice!! Thanks for providing a link to one. =)

TangleCrafts 09/21/2009 #

Envelope glue recipe (I've made it, used it & it works):
* Dissolve 3 sachets of gelatin in 250ml water.
* Leave to cool for 5-10 mins.
* Use a sponge to apply to your surface while still warm (I usually cut up a cheap kitchen sponge).
* You can re-heat it if it starts to go lumpy & store it in the fridge until you need it again.

This recipe is obviously not vegetarian-friendly. According to about.com mixing together equal parts of white craft glue & vinegar (with added flavouring, if you like) also works. But I haven't tried this.

TangleCrafts 09/21/2009 #

P.S. The glue recipe above will quite likely make your paper curl. Just leave your envelope out to dry, then squish it under some heavy books overnight to flatten!

TangleCrafts 09/21/2009 #

@RyeRye - this link is to a post I made on my blog a few months back, with step-by-step pics for a very easy envelope to fold & glue (not origami). I use this envelope all the time - it's very handy!

JenMeister 09/21/2009 #

I also wrote a tutorial with a template for making envelopes :)

robotlove 09/21/2009 #

Wow! Thanks for all the helpful hints, tips and tutorials guys! It's awesome to know that there are others out there like me who enjoy making envelopes like these. =)

RyeRye 09/21/2009 #

wow thanks for the blog and tuitorial @Tangle & @Jen

spin 09/21/2009 #

Ooh! Thanks for that link @Fittzwm !! I will absolutely try it! :D

spin 09/22/2009 #

I don't know about you guys, but our junkmail is not all that! LOL I would have to double it up in order to make it withstand mailing....

How is all of yours so far? Any tips?

spin 09/22/2009 #

AHA! I remembered some old art magazines I had! :D YAYYY! I have my envelopes made! Artfully! LOL

robotlove 09/22/2009 #

Awesome @spin ! I finished a few envelopes as well!! =)

As for junk mail envelopes, hmm.. I wouldn't be able to tell you. I've never worked with using junk mail for envelopes (although i've seen them made before so i tossed it up there as a suggestion) but I think doubling them up might work if they're not bunching too much. n_n;

user1936 09/22/2009 #

you may also have to double magazine pages if they are to thin

spin 09/22/2009 #

LOL Suddenly I can't stop myself and every scrap of paper is inspected for envelope potential! LOL :D

robotlove 09/22/2009 #

A few questions have been brought up that I thought I would adress in the comments as well:

In regards to the type of paper material you should use: This swap is to make and send your partner 5 upcycled envelopes that are strong & sturdy enough to be used as mailing envelopes. So if your base material is a thin magazine ad, you might have to double up the layer to make it more sturdy. Try gluing on an extra ad sheet or a layer of printer paper for this.

"Can I use my own printable stationery?" - Yes. I'm not requiring people to send only store bought stationery sheets. But on that same note, please use your best judgment in sending your partner something both of you would be happy to receive. That would mean that it's not okay to just send them sheets that only had writing lines on them. =(

"Is it okay to fold the stationery?" - Personally, since I know it'll be folded to fit in the envelope anyway, I don't mind if the lettersheet is neatly folded so I'm going to say it's okay as long as it's folded in a traditional "letter fitting in an envelope way". But if anyone in the swap prefers not to receive folded stationery, you can mention that in the comments.

"What about envelope glue?" - @Fitzzwm has kindly provided a link to where you can buy lickable envelope glue (the kind of glue on most envelopes.) But if, for some reason, you can't buy this.. another option for sealing envelopes might be double-sided scrapbook tape. The one I use is Scotch double-sided scrapbooking tape.

-

If anyone else has any other questions or suggestions, I'm open to hearing and answering them. =)

robotlove 09/22/2009 #

Wow.. lengthy comment!! haha.. (sorry, it's kinda tl;dr)

@spin I know how you feel! =)

CarolCarioca 09/24/2009 #

Just loved this swap! Now I'm doing my envelopes!

@spin I'm feeling like you... my husband is already looking at me weird, thinking I was crazy... ahahha...

:)

spin 09/25/2009 #

LOL @CarolCarioca My husband stoped wondering at what I am doing LOL....

Houndstooth 09/26/2009 #

LOVE this idea! Hope you'll do it again when some of us go-getter newbies (who have the energy but not the required mail swaps) can join you! :) Great swap!

robotlove 09/26/2009 #

@Houndstooth If this swap goes well without any major problems, I would love to host it again. =) And when I do, I'll send you a message to let you know.

happylilartist 09/26/2009 #

i found this link that offers recipes of a lick and stick glue. I haven't tried them - but one of the recipes listed was mentioned by @tanglecrafts that she uses, and another she mentioned with vinegar and elmer's.

hope this helps.

spin 09/26/2009 #

I am trying one of the "lick-em, stick-em" recipes for my envelopes! :D

spin 09/26/2009 #

OMG! If anybody wants to know: I tried the Elmer's/vinegar combo and IT TOTALLY WORKS! :D I used Agave sweetener though instead of peppermint (didn't have any...)

robotlove 09/26/2009 #

@spin Can you taste the vinegar in it?

marliese 10/25/2009 #

This is was so nice - I hope we can do it again some time. :-)

JenMeister 10/26/2009 #

I had fun too, we should def. do something again sometime :)

robotlove 11/13/2009 #

Aww. I'm glad you guys liked this swap. :) I had fun with it too.. and I'll probably host another round sometime in January (after the holidays.)

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