Envelopes From Napkins!

Beautiful Christmas Napkins

~ and other lovely napkins can be made into unique envelopes ~

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Do I have my Christmas shopping done?

Or what you should ask, is have I even started???

And what about all that delicous baking this season inspires ?

Or handmade gifts for friends? ... Christmas cards?

The answer would be, "No, but look, I made envelopes!"
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It is actually a fairly fast and easy project... and I make a few

here and there to have on hand for special cards

and correspondence. It seems I am often picking up another

pack of lovely napkins just because they are so pretty, as I did

while perusing Christmas decor in a shop the other day...

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You can find envelope templates at craft shops or online,

and you can make your own by opening an envelope and using

it as a pattern. Trace around it onto card stock, for larger ones

a file folder works great. You can see in the red one above

I taped card stock together to make one. If you cut out an

area in the front you can see the placement better.

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Napkins are usually three-ply, so first separate the layers.

My highly technical technique is to lick my thumb and finger

and pinch the napkin, a layer will stick to each finger,

then pull apart. Lay the top layer onto freezer paper,

shiny side up for the freezer paper, and right side up for

the napkin, and iron it. The shiny side will adhere to the napkin.

This makes it thick enough to use as an envelope.

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Lay the template onto the napkin and trace around it,

then cut out and use a glue stick on the sides.

Glue on a label for the address.

Voila!

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... Here are some I've made ...

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I also love the translucency of the sheer top layer of napkins

for use in collages. I've used this Christmas napkin

in collages recently, by adhering it with matte medium

to a painted canvas baord, and adding images and glitter.

Be careful though, because when wet it is very delicate.

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Beautiful envelopes can also be made from magazine pages.

I have a file folder filled with lovely pages torn from magazines.

(A smaller template needs to be used for these)

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It is fun to have a couple of friends over to 'play'

and make some envelopes while chatting and laughing,

or in the evening while watching tv. These envelopes are fun

to have on hand for little notes, birthday greetings, etc.