Emily's Envelope

Hello Studio Calico friends! It's Emily with a simple tutorial on envelope-making. There are plenty of envelopes out there already, as well as plenty of templates for envelopes, but if you need a very specific size, I'm here to show you how to make your own custom envelope.
Here's a supply list:

cardstock
liquid glue
scissors
pencil
eraser
ruler
pattern for body of envelope
pin
additional supplies could include 2 matching brads, extra paper for embellishment

First, I traced the pattern for the body, I made mine 2.75 inches wide by 5 inches tall. After I traced it, I added a bit more than half of the width of the body to each side (in this case, I added 1.75 inches on each side. 1.75" + 1.75" = 3.5" just a little than I'd need so that I could overlap the two sides when they are folded in on each other.) I also added a top and bottom flap. For the top, I added 1.5" and for the bottom, 1". Remember, these measurements are arbitrary. What you decide to add is all up to you, it depends on the look you want to achieve.
Next, I cut out the exterior lines, making the top and bottom of each side flap a tiny bit shorter than the center's height, this makes it easier when you fold the envelope.
It's much easier to do said folding if you score along those fold lines. If you don't have a score tool, you can used the edge of a desk to help get the scored lines.This next step is where practice makes perfect, or a good corner rounder comes in handy. You don't have to do this part, but I like the rounded edges on the top and bottom flaps. I also like the side flaps to have a bit of a dip when they are folded together. It's sometimes a trial and error, so start small. For the bottom flap, my corner rounder wouldn't quite fit so I had to do that by hand.You're nearly done at this point, you just have to glue the two side flaps together, then glue up the bottom flap.
For the final step, you can add a punched circle of patterned paper and brad in order to secure a string that can close the envelope. This last part is purely up to you, keep it plain or fancy it up. You'll need a pin to poke a lead hole for the brad, be careful poking the lead hole in the center of the envelope, use your fingers as a buffer so you don't poke through the envelope. :) Wrap the string around the top brad a couple of times then wrap back and forth between both brads to keep the envelope closed.The possibilities are only limited by the size of your cardstock. The biggest envelope you could make with a 12x12 sheet is probably 5.5" wide by 9" tall (this is just a guess on my part). I hope you've enjoyed this and will be able to put your new skills into practice soon!