Help Brighten the Postal System...

...with Colorful Handmade Envelopes! They are so fun and super easy to make! Plus, we all use them in the swaps we send.

Templates: There are all sorts of ways to get them, but I’ll share my favorite: Take an envelope you already own and carefully take it apart. Trace it onto a piece of card stock or cereal box cardboard, etc., cut it out, and now you are ready to make envelopes! I’m sure once you try this method, you’ll start looking at all envelopes in a new way.

My favorite brand of paper to make envelopes from is K&Company. Their 12x12 pads of scrapbook paper come in a variety of designs. I tend to use the double-sided varieties because it makes them good & sturdy for mailing. Here's a tip on where to find great deals on these pads and other brands as well: www.scrapbuck.com If you spend $20, you get free shipping. Sturdy calendar pages work well too. Magazine pages are generally too thin.

Swap details:

• You will make a total of 12 envelopes and send 6 to each of your 2 partners. The envelopes should be no smaller than the minimum allowed by USPS (5” long X 3 1/2” high). Other than that, you can make them as large as you want to.

• Please mail them in a larger handmade envelope. (I've found I can make a 6x9 sized envelope out of a 12x12 piece of paper. Paper shopping bags work well too.)

• Please add a short (or long) note, telling them a bit about you and/or your day. This card can be handmade or store-bought.

• Sender’s choice on envelope colors/patterns/designs.

Joining information: Newbies welcome with a well-filled out profile. Everyone else must have a minimum rating of 4.9, with no 1s or 3s in the last 3 months, without a good explanation.