I adore Mini Envelopes and Cards for my Junk Journal. They fit perfectly in pockets, can be paper-clipped on pages, or serve as pockets for journaling cards or tags.
I prefer to use a lightweight paper (Southworth Resume 24lb) to minimize bulk. I used plain Ivory, but the paper can be coffee or tea-dyed, inked, or painted too.
Craft tools used for this project include: a paper cutter with a score board, and a corner rounder.
How to Make the Mini Envelope
Start by aligning your paper on the score board at 4 3/4″ (the envelope length, top to bottom) and cut. Next, turn the paper sideways, align at 3 1/2″ (the envelope width, side to side), and cut.
To score the envelope, turn the paper lengthwise on the score board, align the left edge at 4 3/4″ and make a score line at 2 7/8″ and 7/8″. Then turn the paper on its side, top to bottom, align the right side at 2″ and score 1/2″ on both sides.
The next step is to remove or cut away the unnecessary side parts.
To accomplish this, turn the envelope so the short side, 3 1/2″, is facing up and down with the shortest score line, 7/8″, at the top (as seen in the template image above). The smaller top fold is the envelope closure, and the bottom fold makes the envelope pocket.
Now you want to cut off the unnecessary pieces along the 1/2″ score line on both sides of the small top fold and the bottom fold, as noted by the squiggly lines in the template image above.
Once you have the unnecessary pieces removed, fold all the pieces along the score lines in towards the center of the envelope. Take your corner rounder and round the top and bottom pieces and the top of the side pieces. I used the biggest corner rounder setting.
You should have an envelope like the one shown below.
The next step is to ink along the edges, front and back. Then fold the small side flaps inward, glue along the edge, and fold the bottom flap upward onto the glued side flaps to create a pocket. Now you can make the Mini Card go inside.
How to Make the Mini Card
I use the same lightweight paper (Southworth Resume 24lb) to make the card.
Start by aligning your paper on the score board at 3 3/4″ and cut. Next, turn the paper sideways, align at 2 1/4″ wide and cut. Next, fold the card in the center, crease well, and decorate as desired.
You can make a journal card, should you decide to use the Mini Envelope on a journal page as a pocket, by gluing the back sides and bottom onto a blank page.
To make the card, use the same paper and align your paper on the score board at 3 1/2 ” long and cut. Next, turn the paper sideways, align at 2″ wide, and cut.
You can round the corners, ink the edges of the card, and decorate as you desire. I love to use a text stamp with light brown Archival Ink for background interest and fussy-cut nature-themed images to glue for pretty decorations.
