Whip Up Wednesday: Customized Envelopes

I spent all of last week being inspired and mingling with amazing people at Alt. More on that later! I missed out on Whip Up Wednesday last week, so I wanted to make this week extra special.

Have you ever made your own envelopes? A pretty patterned envelope pairs perfectly with a simple card and can be customized in so many ways!

For a fully customized envelope, start with a sheet of watercolor paper (9"x12") and painting supplies. Paint a pattern, scene, or color wash and then let it dry. I decided to make a simple pattern with different shades of the same poppy orange-red color (inspired by my favorite lipstick!). Once my paint dried, I filled in the details of the flower with a fine art pen.

Take an unused envelope and gently pull it apart. Once your watercolor has dried, lay envelope on top and trace. Cut out your envelope and flip over so the blank side is facing up. You can also find ready made envelope templates in various sizes here.

Fold sides of envelope in and put a small piece of double sided tape along the bottom. Fold up the bottom of the envelope, securing it with the tape.

Fold down the top of your envelope and you're done! If you don't feel comfortable with painting, you can also use this technique with wrapping paper, old calendars, and pieces of art made by your children. I plan on popping some heart shaped cards into these bad boys and sending them out this Valentine's Day!