Make your own lined envelopes with any paper. Free Silhouette cut file or SVG!
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So the other day I was thinking about Christmas cards and about how much I absolutely DESPISE doing them. Do you hate them as much as I do? I have no clue why I don’t like sitting down, setting up, writing something out and getting Christmas cards in the mail, I really don’t For years, literally YEARS, I have gotten them together at the very. last. minute. and then not mailed them. Why? WHY?!?

This year I decided that I’m not even going to pretend to try to and get cards off to everybody and their dog and pare business down. Sorry dental hygienist from way back when, you’re off the list. And when my list got really, really small I realized something else… I don’t need a box of bazillion cards now, do I?

Make your own lined envelopes with any paper. Free Silhouette cut file or SVG!
And so cheap old me decided to just put that box of store bought cards down and head home to get into my craft stash to make some envelopes all my own. Instead of cards, you see, I’ll just put some of my favorite 5×7 photos I’ll have cheaply printed up at Walmart inside of some nicely handmade envelopes.

To make these guys I wound up using a thinner cardstock for my actual envelope that I purchase in books for $5 like crazy from Walmart. They’ll have seasonal colors like spring flowers, fall jewel tones, or whatever and I always grab one because FIVE BUCKS. I dug out the prettiest colors and then dug out all of the rainbow papers I could find to line them and got after it. I’ve made these 2 ways, now… The first way is with a cardstock outer envelope and regular weight paper inner liner. I did this because I liked the color combos I could get with my stash better, ’cause I’m being cheap this Christmas and don’t want to buy anything. And these envelopes are great but you can kind of see the perforation on the envelopes created so that you can easily fold the envelope up. It also isn’t the most protective of photos because it’s still a bit bendy. The second way was with a paper envelope, which looks nicer on the edges because the perforation isn’t nearly as visible with a heavier cardstock inner liner. That one is PERFECT for sending pics if you don’t want to worry so much about them getting bent in the mail. It’s not a surefire guarantee that pics will arrive perfectly but you also can’t put more than a couple in the envelope.

Make your own lined envelopes with any paper. Free Silhouette cut file or SVG!
You can also size these envelopes as you need to. I’ve made these to fit 5×7 photographs but I also scaled down the pointy design for 4×6 photos. To make them the size you need just be sure that center rectangle shape, the one with the dotted lines for perforations, is the size you need PLUS 0.25 inch. So if you need envelopes that will hold cards that are 3 inches by 6.5 inches you’d resize the whole business so that the inner rectangle measured around 3.25 x 6.75 inches.

And as far as design goes we have 3. There’s a pointy edged one, a scalloped edge and then a plain old straight one. And, if like me, you have a difficult time writing addresses on things in a neat way and you have a Silhouette (don’t know about other machines, sorry!) you can use the pen tool to get those suckers addressed with the pen tool (address block is already on these guys, too, so yay!) Alright, we’ve got your options for look, materials and sizing COVERED and how I feel about ’em. Want to make some? Let’s quit with the chitchat and hop on this business because I’m pretty sure neither one of us has all dang day…

Make your own lined envelopes with any paper. Free Silhouette cut file or SVG!

For this project you will need:

Make your own lined envelopes with any paper. Free Silhouette cut file or SVG!

First thing’s first let’s grab those cut files and get to business. We have that pointy design, scalloped and plain in both SVG or Silhouette Studio. Grab all the free lined envelope cut files here.

Above is what the files look like. The red shape is for the outer envelope and the blue is for the optional inner liner.

Make your own lined envelopes with any paper. Free Silhouette cut file or SVG!

Cut them out and gently fold inward along the perforations.

Make your own lined envelopes with any paper. Free Silhouette cut file or SVG!

Apply glue to the backside of the envelope liner and line up with the folds/perforations of the outer envelope piece. Repositionable glue is a good idea and if using spray like I did, it’s really a good way to go. Allow the glue a few minutes to set up.

Make your own lined envelopes with any paper. Free Silhouette cut file or SVG!

If you’re making a whole stack, assembly line this business and move on to the next and give each ample time to cure a bit.

Make your own lined envelopes with any paper. Free Silhouette cut file or SVG!

To form the envelopes fold the bottom portion up to make sure that fold is easy to create.

Make your own lined envelopes with any paper. Free Silhouette cut file or SVG!

Pull the bottom back out and bring the side flaps in.

Make your own lined envelopes with any paper. Free Silhouette cut file or SVG!

Glue the top and side flaps together and apply weight, like a stack of a few books, to help the envelope dry nice and flat.

Make your own lined envelopes with any paper. Free Silhouette cut file or SVG!

Fold the top flap down and you have an envelope! Once filled just seal ‘er up with glue and this is a done deal!

Make your own lined envelopes with any paper. Free Silhouette cut file or SVG!

Oh, and if you’re addressing the envelopes with a sketch pen or pen holder for the Silhouette. I used the fonts Quirk Standard (free), Happy Holiday Hand Lettering Font Set ($20),  and La Fa Salt ($10).

Make your own lined envelopes with any paper. Free Silhouette cut file or SVG!

And those liners all rainbow and happy, right? Need a link to those cut Silhouette and SVG files again? Get them here.

Well, I’m off to hand select a few of my fave pics from the year for each of my “Christmas card” recipients and I’ll be back soon with some more super colorful ornament crafts!

Make your own lined envelopes with any paper. Free Silhouette cut file or SVG!