Creating Exceptional Envelopes
Using dies to create fancy envelopes is not new to Stampin’ Up!, but the Envelopes Dies, item #153531, is new to the August-December 2020 Mini Catalog. There are 12 dies that help you quickly create custom accents.
In this mini series, I will be taking a look at the various ways to use the Envelopes Dies and coordinating stamp set, Ornamental Envelopes. To begin, I chose to focus on the 4 basic envelope liners in this die set.
The smallest of the Envelopes Dies perfectly fits the 3 x 3″ Envelopes (item #145829).
The Envelopes Die that is the next size up works well with the Note Cards & Envelopes in Whisper White (item #131527) and Very Vanilla (item #144236). The note card size is 3-1/2 x 5″. I call this the medium die in my liner chart below.
The most common Envelopes Die would be the A2 card size, a half sheet of cardstock folded in half. When closed an A2 card measures 4-1/4 x 5-1/2″. I refer to this die as the regular size. Stampin’ Up! sells Medium Envelopes in Very Vanilla (item #107300), Whisper White (item #107301) and Clear (item #102619) for A2 sized cards.
The largest of the Envelopes Dies fits an A6 envelope. Stampin’ Up! does not sell this size envelope, so I purchase mine elsewhere. The A6 envelope measures a whopping 4-3/4 x 6-1/2″.
Envelopes Dies Liner Measurements
You have the Envelopes Dies, you have envelopes. How do you know what size to cut your Designer Series Paper to make the two function as one? The Envelopes Dies do not come with suggested dimensions on the packaging (that was the first place I looked!).
So next, I did some math and measuring and came up with a chart of my own. I wanted to be frugal with my DSP, using only enough to make my envelopes pretty without wasting my gorgeous paper.
I determined that I wanted about an inch and a half of DSP to tuck into my envelope. Thus I came up with the following chart to keep with my dies for future paper-cutting reference.
Envelopes Dies Paper Cuts
SMALL DIE: 3 X 3″
MEDIUM DIE: 5 X 3-3/4″
REGULAR DIE: 5-1/2 X 4″
LARGE DIE: 6 X 4″
Die Cutting the Envelopes Dies
After I cut my paper to the right size, I needed to line up the Envelope Die correctly before running it thru my die-cutting machine.
I made sure to keep the top of the Envelope Die (with the scalloped edge) to the top most part of my paper. The remaining paper beneath will eventually be tucked into the envelope.
Whenever I run a die thru my Big Shot, I try to keep the die at an angle for an easy entry into the rollers. This helps to take the stress off the die and makes a much quieter crank thru.
After you die cut your paper with your Envelopes Dies, you will find that some hand-trimming is in order.
I simply used my Paper Snips to trim off the remnants from both sides. The type of cut is not important: straight, angled, etc. This portion of the liner will be hidden in the envelope, never to be seen again.
Set and Score Your Envelopes Dies
Next, you can add the die cut envelope liner into your envelope to dry fit it. I made sure to settle mine into place just below the adhesive area the envelope came with. I also balanced it from side to side.
Once I was happy with the envelope liner placement, I closed the envelope shut. I used my bone folder to crease the envelope and the DSP inside at the same time.
If you want a really nice crisp folded edge, do what I did! I removed the liner and scored it along the crease with my bone folder on both the front and the back of the DSP.
Adhere Your Envelopes Dies Liners
And now for the final step: adhering the Envelopes Dies Liners into your envelopes. It is important to place the adhesive along the top of your liner only. The bottom portion that is tucked into the envelope will be fine without any adhesive, which is convenient since it would be a very tricky accomplishment indeed.
It is just as easy to put the envelope liner into the envelope and add adhesive along the top portion, then close the envelope flap down over the paper. If you prefer to add adhesive to the paper before you put it in the envelope, and then slip the liner in, that works well too.
Envelope Envy
As you can see, it is so simple to add some flair to the inside of your envelopes. In fact, the hardest part may be choosing the Designer Series Paper you want to use for your envelope liners! Make sure you stop by my online store, https://juliemakson.stampinup.net/ to find your favorite paper patterns.
Adding an envelope liner may not be something you do every time you make a card, but it is definitely a way to make any card extra special. And there is more in store, as I continue to explore the array of options with the Ornamental Envelopes Bundle in my mini series!