How to Make an Envelope from Paper or Magazine Pages

While envelopes aren't exactly expensive, making envelopes out of paper - like scrapbook paper, junk mail or magazines - is a fun way to recycle and get super cute envelopes at the same time!

This sample envelope, for example, was made from the paper cover of Real Simple magazine. Beautiful!

Once you learn how to make an envelope, you'll want to do it all the time!

There is no better way to make your mail stand out and feel special than sending it in a cool envelope.

Making envelopes from paper is easy enough that elementary-age kids, preteens and teens can do it as a fun rainy day project or as a fun recycled craft for Earth Day or Earth Month. 

Once you’re done making your special envelopes, send a card or letter to a loved one –who wouldn't love to get mail in a special, custom made envelope?!

Ready to learn how to make envelopes out of paper you have at home? Let's do it!

How to Make an Envelope Out of Paper
like magazine pages or scrapbook paper

Supplies

• Magazine, calendar or scrapbook pages - cut to 8.5 x 11 inches before starting
• Card or letter to mail (don’t have what you want to mail yet? 4x6 inches or 5x7 inches are good default sizes!)
• Glue stick
• Pen
• Labels

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Directions

How to Make an Envelope Out of Paper Step 1: 

Pick a magazine page you like and turn it face down. 

Center your card on the page.

Don’t have the actual card you want to send yet? Cut a 4.25” x 6.25” OR 5.25” x 7.25” template out of thin cardboard like a cereal box to help you get your folds right in the meantime.

Fold in the long sides of the page against the sides of the card. 

Adjust where you fold as needed in order to avoid undesirable text from appearing on the front of your envelope.

How to Make an Envelope Out of Paper Step 2: 

Fold in all four corners dog ear style.

How to Make an Envelope Out of Paper Step 3: 

Using the bottom of your card as a guide, fold the bottom edge up. 

Mark the diagonals with a pen. You'll use this mark as a guide in the next step.

How to Make an Envelope Out of Paper Step 4:

Apply the glue stick on both sides of the magazine paper from the line you just drew, down to the fold. 

Next, fold the bottom corner up to meet the line you drew and press the edges to seal.

How to Make an Envelope Out of Paper Step 5: 

Slide your card or letter into the envelope. 

Fold the top edge down and crease. 

Open it back up and apply glue across the top and on the dog ears. 

Finally, fold it down to seal. If you are pre-making envelopes, don’t do this last step yet!

How to Make an Envelope Out of Paper Step 6: 

If desired, add labels to the front to make a pretty, writable surface suitable for mailing.

That's it!

Pin these directions for how to make an envelope to save them for later.

Printable Directions for How to Make an Envelope:

How to Make an Envelope Out of Paper or Magazine Pages

Yield: 1 envelope

Author: Carissa B

Estimated cost: $0

prep time: 2 Mperform time: 3 Mtotal time: 5 M

This easy recycled craft project will let you turn old magazines, books, calendars or any 8.5 x 11 piece of paper into an envelope suitable to send in the mail.

materials:

• Magazine, calendar or scrapbook pages - cut to 8.5 x 11 inches before starting
• Card or letter to mail
• Labels

tools:

• Glue stick
• Pen

steps:

1. If the paper you are using is larger than 8.5 x 11, cut it down to that size before starting.
2. Turn your paper face down (so the side you want to be on the outside is facing the table). Center your card on the page.
3. Fold in the long sides of the page against the sides of the card. Adjust where you fold as needed in order to avoid undesirable text from appearing on the front of your envelope.
4. Fold in all four corners dog ear style.
5. Using the bottom of your card as a guide, fold the bottom edge up. Mark the diagonals with a pen. You'll use this mark as a guide in the next step.
6. Apply the glue stick on both sides of the magazine paper from the line you just drew, down to the fold. Then fold the bottom corner up to meet the line you drew and press the edges to seal.
7. Slide your card or letter into the envelope. Fold the top edge down and crease. Open it back up and apply glue across the top and on the dog ears.
8. Fold it down to seal.
9. If desired, add labels to the front to make a pretty, writable surface suitable for mailing.

https://www.creativegreenliving.com/2012/12/how-to-make-envelopes-from-magazine.html

Copyright 2012, Creative Green Living

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DIY envelope, how to make an envelope, how to make an envelope out of paper, how to make a paper envelope, how to fold an envelope, how to recycle magazines, recycled magazine craft

Created using Craft Card Maker

Want to learn more ways you can make an envelope?

There's more than one way to fold an envelope!

If you're interested in more ways to fold an envelope out of materials you have in your recycling bin, check out my tutorial for How to Make an Envelope for a Card from a Paper Board Cereal Box

How to Make an Envelope for a Card from a Recycled Box

About the Author:

Carissa is a lifelong crafter and mom of two creative boys. The owner and lead writer at Creative Green Living, she won the Craftys Award for the "Best Craft Blogger" category in 2016 and the ShiftCon award for "Best DIY Blogger" in both 2018 and 2019.

Her goal is to empower families to make easy projects and healthier choices that are beautiful and delicious! She is also the author of the hardcover cookbook, Beautiful Smoothie Bowls (Skyhorse, 2017) and Proven Techniques for Keeping Healthy Chickens (Skyhorse, 2018). 

Her projects have been featured in magazines like Kids Crafts 1-2-3, Capper's Farmer and Urban Farm Magazine. Follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter or join the Creative Green Living Tribe.

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