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The Envelope, Please

September 21, 2014

The Envelope, Please by Judi Kauffman

We’re welcoming Judi Kauffman back as today’s Guest Designer. She’s showing how to stretch one sheet of Dragonfly Ladies in Circle peel-offs to decorate seven envelopes!
And she included a bonus Flower Cuties envelope, too.

Thanks for inviting me back, Joset. Remember those pieces of paper that start with
“Dear (person’s name)” and end with “Love (your name)”? Yes, I’m talking about LETTERS,
and letters require an envelope, and I’m a firm believer that decorated envelopes are more
fun than plain ones.

That’s where today’s project comes in: I’m challenging one and all to decorate a batch of letter-size (#10) envelopes. Then write letters; fill those envelopes and mail them! Include a bookmark, a drawing or photo print, a clipping from a newspaper or magazine. I think you’ll be amazed at the impact real mail has on folks these days.

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INSTRUCTIONS

1. Design strategies:
*Pick interesting #10 envelopes (heavy weight speckled, flannel-finish, linen weave, or other)
*Use the sheet of peel-offs shown, Dragonfly Ladies in Circle, or choose butterflies, flowers, owls, Asian vases, cupcakes, or other themes.
*The goal is to create at least six or more envelopes from a single sheet of peel-offs. Use a single large motif for some of the envelopes and groups of smaller motifs for the rest of them.
*To further stretch the sheet of peel-offs, use one medium size heart per envelope instead of all three, fewer leaves or fewer circles and mini hearts, one bow instead of two, and so on.
*Option: Save a few of the smaller peel-offs and decorate the writing paper that will hold your letter!

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2. After placing the peel-off(s) onto the envelope, cover with a sheet of lightweight (text/computer) paper and burnish well with a burnishing tool or the bowl of a spoon so the peel-offs won’t budge while in the postal system.

3. Color in and around the peel-offs using markers, colored pencils, or paint. Draw wavy or zigzag lines on which to write the recipient’s address and your return address. Add doodles and details with fine nib black and medium point white pens.

SUPPLIES

2565 Dragonfly Ladies in Circle in Black (Elizabeth Craft Designs)

ProMarkers (Letraset)

Pigma Micron 01 in Black, Gelly Roll Medium in White (Sakura of America)

Flannel-finish #10 business envelopes (Manufacturer of choice)

BONUS PROJECT

The shortest Flower Cutie Peel-off from Elizabeth Craft Designs sheet 2566 is the right height for a #10 envelope. Here she is, ready to wend her way through the postal system –

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  • Mary Prasad October 2, 2014 at 5:15 pm

    Great idea! I love your doodles and designs!!

  • kellyboothKelly Booth September 23, 2014 at 8:16 am

    So Fun Judi! That’s something I never do and should…..

  • Bibi Lindahl September 22, 2014 at 11:40 pm

    I love to decorate envelopes and I love the way you have done it here, Judi! Thank you so much for the fun ideas and inspiration!

  • Raquel Mason September 21, 2014 at 3:24 pm

    I like decorated envelopes too & yours are wonderful especially with your doodling.

  • judi kauffman September 21, 2014 at 3:14 pm

    Thank you all for the kind words. They really were fun to do. I mailed envelopes with well burnished Elizabeth Craft Desigs’ vinyl peel-offs to several friends as a “test” before doing this project for the blog – they didn’t budge on any of my test envelopes. I’ve used them on postcards many times with good results, too.

  • quietfire September 21, 2014 at 1:41 pm

    Oh, boy, these are absolutely adorable!!

  • Karen Aicken September 21, 2014 at 10:32 am

    Fun envy’s, Judi! I haven’t sent out a ‘naked’ envelope in almost 25 years, but never thought of using Peel Off’s. Great tip on burnishing them on well, and I love your marker/doodles addy lines.
    Cheers
    Karen

  • Rita Edwards September 21, 2014 at 8:42 am

    Always such great ideas! Lovely envelopes!

  • Marge Burns September 21, 2014 at 8:08 am

    I always decorate my envelopes too. Yours are very pretty

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