Have you ever looked closely at a security envelope? You know, those envelopes that contain the boring stuff - bills, invoices, notices?
Inside those workhorses of the envelope world is a treasuretrove of pattern and color. Chevron, herringbone and wood grain are just three examples of patterns printed by men and women of the security envelope business to foil would-be cheque thieves and information snatchers.
You've probably overlooked them until now...but I'd like you to pay attention because I'm telling you - security envelopes are an eco-friendly source of paper with which to craft, and the best part is...THEY'RE FREE! (except of course for the Visa payment that came with that envelope).
To get started with security envelope paper crafting, you'll want to save up some envelopes. Put them aside as they come in, raid your in-laws' recycling bin or ask the mail clerk at work to save them for you.
Then open up the envelopes and marvel at the patterns and colors. My collection contains a lot of blue and black with a smattering of red and the occasional green. Do pink and orange exists? I'm still looking.
The card shown has a finished size of 5x7 card and fits an A7 envelope.
Trim a piece of cardstock to 5x7". Then trim the security envelope paper to a wrap measuring 4x10".
Round the corners of the security envelope paper. Spread glue on the back; I'm a simple crafter who likes using glue stick because it keeps paper from cockling or warping.
Place the paper on top of the 5x7 cardstock, wrap and smooth down.
FYI, in the above photo I'm making a card with black cardstock and below I'm working with olive green. Both are the same dimensions.
Trim a piece of cardstock to 1x2.5" and adhere to the front of the card with glue stick.
Write a nice message on the back. Mail to a friend.
For even more fun, get out more colored cardstock and security envelopes and go nuts layering it up. The joy of this comes from the layering and juxtaposing of the patterns and colors. And from the fact that you're reducing, reusing and recycling while you're crafting is pretty great. Enjoy!
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My love of crafting and writing came together when I co-authored the first of three paper crafting books for a UK publisher. Leap into the story with this post: Part 6 - The Call from England, Our First Book Contract.
