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Raise your hand if you think it's a complete waste of time to decorate the envelope for your handmade cards? Oh, ok.....that might be a lot of hands, but don't leave yet! I have something for you too (see option #3 below)!
This week I'd like to challenge you to be inspired by envelopes. It's so much fun to decorate or create your very own 'Artistic Envelope' design. The inspiration site for this challenge is my "Artistic Envelopes" Pinterest Board (including over 300 uniquely fabulous envelopes!), or you can use one of the 12 envelope designs uploaded as images at the bottom of this post. Important: The "envelope" is the STAR of the IC528 gallery this week...so if you include a card in your upload, then the card should be in the background please. Also, please make it fairly clear 'where' someone would put the 'address' on your envelope....so that others will be inspired too! This should be a fun challenge for everyone, both experienced and newer stampers!
If you choose to address the envelope, please remember that you are posting on the internet, so I suggest you use Harry Potter's address from his first book for your artwork. His address was:
Mr. H. Potter
The Cupboard under the stairs
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
SURREY
You have three (3) options for your approach to this challenge:
Option 1 ARTSY ENVELOPE: Make your own creative artsy envelope! Remember the envelope will be a piece of artwork which can stand on it's own (but will be a container for a card or paper project as well). Please try to get some inspiration from the Artistic Envelopes board above, and indicate which pins inspired you the most in your upload description.
Option 2 MATCHING ENVELOPE: Make an envelope to match a card that 'you' recently posted on SCS. (The card would have been made before this challenge). It should be the size appropriate for the card you selected, and in your description you would include a link to the card (please only use SCS links rather than blog links). (In this case, it's up to you if you want to also add a link to an image which inspired you from the inspiration board.)
Option 3 CARDS WITH AN ENVELOPE AS THE FOCAL: Make a card that has an envelope on it's front (the envelope would be the focal point in this case). The second image in the attachment images below gives an example of what that might look like....and/or you can be inspired by one of the envelopes on the board to create your unique card design. In that case, please put a link to the images from the IC528 Artistic Envelopes Site that most inspired your 'envelope card'.
With all of those options, I'm sure that you will be able to find something that floats your boat for this 'envelope' challenge! I'll be keeping my eye open for the inspiration genius' out there who clearly capture something special from the inspiration site. They'll be pinned on my very own "Inspiration Genius Awards Board" too! If you are not a Pinterest member, please note that I've uploaded 12 of my favorite pins from the board and you'll find them at the end of this post.
HERE are some envelope-making TIPS:
Use the envelope punch board (click to see video) to create your own envelopes if you don't have any. If you don't own a punch, there are many printable templates on the Artistic Envelopes board that you can use to create envelopes from a print out.
Sketch on scrap paper! Cut a piece of scrap paper down to the size of your envelope and sketch out your design first...this way you don't waste envelopes.
Use 'thin' watercolor paper if you are making a watercolor envelope. The SU watercolor paper is probably the thickest you should use. Here is great video (click here) by Kristina Werner for watercoloring on envelopes.
Oddly shaped, or layered envelopes, will cost more to post. So keep it simple and flat - unless you plan to pay more or to hand deliver.
Use masking to protect the areas for the address, and return address, unless the address will be fully integrated into the curves and lines of the artistic design. Remember there has to be space for the postage stamp(s) too!
Please remember that all inspiration links should be inspired by images from my "Artistic Envelopes" Pinterest Board (with the exception of Option 2 above).
Use the keyword: IC528 (no spaces or extra characters) when you upload your card, and make sure you put commas between your key words.
For those of you who say you get overwhelmed with having too many images to choose from, I've uploaded 12 of my favorites. So just stick with one (or all) of those for your inspiration. Click on the images below to see them bigger and to get their links on SCS. Don't forget to let us know which photo served as your inspiration piece please.
Lovely Pinterst board which gives much inspiration....from a little added decoration to envelopes that look like masterpieces themselves. I created an envelope for a card that I had previously made. Thanks.
I'm one of those people who raised my hand at your first question. While I don't think it's a "waste of time" to decorate the envelope, I'm not sure the post office likes much more than the address on the front. However, if I'm hand-delivering my card, I'm more likely to decorate the front of the envelope. The one I made for the challenge is definitely a "to be mailed" envelope.
I agree that you have to remember that the envelope is a professional container....helping your card get where it's going, and very dependent on what the mailman can understand. With that in mind, I wanted to share this with you - it's something I'm passionate about too:
I'm one of those people who raised my hand at your first question. While I don't think it's a "waste of time" to decorate the envelope, I'm not sure the post office likes much more than the address on the front. However, if I'm hand-delivering my card, I'm more likely to decorate the front of the envelope. The one I made for the challenge is definitely a "to be mailed" envelope.
Thanks for a really fun and different challenge today, Audrie. I went through every card on the inspiration site - WOW so many beautiful envelopes. I chose your Option 2 - Matching Envie. This is my envie
__________________ Priscilla (aka - PJ)
QFTD187 My Gallery
The envelope; the bottom half of the coffee cup is where the address to the receiver would go, top left corner your own address. I ran this off my copier in color.
Audrie this was a great challenge -- took me most of the morning - but a great challenge!
__________________ Jan 'Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ'. Philippians 1:6
Thank you Audrie for the inspiration for the envelopes as it really added to the wedding card that I needed to get make for my dear friends getting married. Here is my card and envelope:
Hey ladies! Don't think I'm crazy, but I made 20 envelopes yesterday!! I think I feel in love with this art form - LOL! I am uploading my five (5) favorites to the IC528 gallery now if you want to take a peek.
Ok Audrie, loved the challenge to do an envelope but boy I could not make myself happy with the final outcome! Tried several before I settled on these, but then had to make additional cards to match the envelopes!!
I loved this challenge, and spent the snow day morning creating! I tried option 2 with making an envelope to match a card, and then I got carried away making envelopes from calendars, which was one of the pins on the Artistic Envelopes board. Thanks for the challenge!
IC528 - Artistic Envelopes {01-16-16}
Postman's opinion...
IC528 Affectionately Yours
Oh what fun
