Spring Break Guest Post | Kolette Hall

Glassine Envelope Notes from Kolette Hall

One of the fabulous things that makes crafting so interesting is that it follows trends, which means it changes and morphs and takes different paths as time passes. However, throughout the years that I have known Ali, one thing has always remained constant. She is a master of capturing stories and lives life with care and intention. It is with this sense of passing along that same care that I share today’s project with you.

I have had the opportunity to design product for many different companies but my latest venture tops the list in terms of favorites. Who has a Silhouette? I see you raising your hand saying, “Me! Me! Me!” That’s how I feel about mine - that I purchased only a short two months ago. Since purchasing it, I have created tons of projects and become a Contributing Artist to the Silhouette store (click here). That’s how happy I feel about my Silhouette.

But don’t worry – this project can be done with your own two hands if you don’t have the designer’s edition of the Silhouette software or the SCAL software for your Cricut or other electronic cutter. I am including an exclusive SVG file below but you can also download a template and cut this project out with your favorite pair of scissors, so don’t stop here – this project is for everyone.

INSTRUCTIONS

Have you ever heard of glassine envelopes? I bet you have but just didn’t know their official name. They are waxy little envelopes that stamp collectors put stamps in. They are not very expensive but you usually have to purchase 75 or 100 at a time. Last week I placed 10 sets of Teeny Tiny Card Kits in my Silhouette store – complete with little envelopes and tiny cards to go with them.  Click here to see a full list of these files in my “Teeny Tiny Card Kits” post.

Below is an exclusive folder that includes the following files for a Teeny Tiny envelope to create our own glassine envelope:

• Teeny Tiny Card Kit – 2x3 Straight – handout template Thumbnail (jpg)


• Teeny Tiny Card Kit – 2x3 Straight – handout template (pdf)


• Teeny Tiny Card Kit – 2x3 Straight Thumbnail (jpg)


• Teeny Tiny Card Kit – 2x3 Straight (svg)

1.  Either use a ruler and thin Sharpie marker to trace envelope (but not perforation marks) onto wax paper or place wax paper on your cutting mat. When working with wax paper, be gentle and move slowly so that you do not tear or wrinkle it.  Gently press down the wax paper, smoothing it from the center of the mat out. I used the vellum settings to cut out the shape (speed = 3, pressure = 14).

CUTTING BY HAND | Make sure you click “Do Not Scale” in the print dialog to keep size ratios correct before printing. Cut the envelope shape just inside the traced lines. Add perforation marks with a ruler and craft knife or just leave them out.

2.  Use a credit card or scraper to gently remove envelope from your mat. Be careful not to wrinkle or tear it.

3.  Fold envelope on perforation marks. Use a ruler to line up corners of envelope and fold sides over for a straight crease. The wax paper is delicate so take your time in lining up the fold lines.

4.  Use adhesive along seams to adhere envelope together – center seam first, then fold the bottom flap up and adhere with clear adhesive. Note: some adhesives stick more effectively than others. Take your time and you’ll figure out how your adhesive works best on the wax paper.

5.  Print out “cards” printable (either the Teeny Tiny Card Kit – 2x3 Cards (jpg) or the Teeny Tiny Card Kit – 2x3 Cards (pdf) included in the download above). I used white cardstock because I like having the color come from the embellishments but you can choose to print onto colored cardstock if you choose. Make sure you click “Do Not Scale” in the print dialog to keep size ratios correct.

6.  Trim cards – I trimmed 1/8” around the outside of the cards first then cut straight down the middle of the white space between each card. Cards will be 2”x3” with a white border when finished.

7.  Place a card into your envelope. Use it as a canvas for your embellishments. The semi-opaque nature of the wax paper creates a beautiful opportunity to see the design of the card through the front of the envelope. Play with that feature of your envelope and card sets.

8.  Add washi tape strips or patterned paper strips to your envelope (I found some of my washi tape here. Notice how I wrapped the washi tape around from the front to the back of the envelope, using the end of the tape to close my envelope flap. Use baker’s twine or string to wrap around the envelope or add small embellishments such as my die cut butterfly or rhinestones. Or simply tie your envelope like you are wrapping a present – the baker’s twine acts as the closure to the envelope. Click here to see my word for 2012 and why I am reaching for butterfly accents this year.

9.  Now comes the part about living with care and intention.  Use these Teeny Tiny treasures as a vehicle for spreading kind thoughts and words to those around you.  Some cards are for specific events or relationships but some are general.  Consider jotting a message on the back such as, “Have a fabulous day!” and tucking one in a place where you are not sure who will find it or even when it will be found – between a pile of books at the library, on the copy machine at work, between a couple of DVDs on your shelf at home.  Create a happy surprise for the recipient and share your compassion - intentionally.

I will be opening an SVG store on my blog very soon – follow me to get updated info.

For those with a Silhouette, go to my Silhouette store to find 10 other Teeny Tiny Card Kits. Files come with an envelope, an envelope with a hang-tag, a flat card and folded card. Mix and match for lots of possibilities.

Go to my blog for more ways to use Teeny Tiny envelopes and for all file links. You can get printable cards for each size of envelope on my blog as well. Click here for info.