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Can you think of a more Hygge way to send a card to someone than learning how to fold paper into an envelope? Not only is it a money saver, especially if you create an adorable homemade card to go with it, but it’s also a terrific way to repurpose paper you aren’t using! And we’re all about repurposing those lingering objects in our craft drawers here at Repurposing Junkie.
These how to fold paper into an envelope can make for a cheery Christmas Card envelope or even an adorable Bookish ornament. Say, you could get extra creative and quirky and even use them as bookmarks.
In this article, we’re going to show you a few easy-to-follow how to fold paper into an envelope DIYs that you’ll be able to use for any occasion!
Styles of How To Fold Paper Into An Envelope
There are lots of different styles you can learn how to fold paper into an envelope; here are a few that we’re going to show you!
- Standard Envelope: Perfect for mailing a handwritten letter that’s neatly folded up.
- Square Envelope: A nice alternative to a standard envelope if you’re looking for something a tad bigger.
- Pouch Envelope: Looking for that vintage look? This envelope will be up your alley!
Let’s take a look at the supplies you’ll need to learn how to fold paper into an envelope before we get into our super craft mode.
Supplies Needed
The supplies you’ll need for your homemade envelopes during this easy-to-follow adventure of learning how to fold paper into an envelope are quite simple! Most, if not all, of these items, are probably chilling out in your craft drawer right now!
- Paper
- Glue Stick
- Tape
- Ruler
- Pencil (Optional for marking measurements)
- Scissors
What’s awesome about learning how to fold paper into an envelope is that you can use a variety of different types of paper. Including paper from previous crafts, you’ve done, like a Blackout Poetry session!
Standard Envelope DIY
The standard envelope we’ll be crafting below is a terrific vessel for handwritten notes that are neatly folded up. You get a certain charm from learning how to fold paper into an envelope than with one you’d buy at the store.
Standard Envelope How to Fold Paper into an Envelope Steps
We’ll go through each step nice and easy with pictures to follow along so you have a fun time learning how to fold paper into an envelope. Get your paper and supplies ready to go, we’re crafting an envelope!
Step One: Fold the Top Corners
Choose your sheet of paper. We’ve decided to go with a fun page from our Blackout Poetry book; turn your paper over so the decorative side is facing down.
Once the paper is flipped to the correct side, fold the top corners in so that the two corners meet in the middle.
Step Two: Fold the Sides Accordingly
For this step, grab something that resembles the size of what you’d like to put in the envelope. We used a developed picture as our size guide.
Place your size-guide item in the middle and fold each side in, using the item as your folding point.
Step Three: Fold the Bottom Half Up to the Top Fold
We’re almost finished! Next, you can take the bottom half and fold it up to where the bottom of folded corners are.
Step Four: Unfold the Bottom, Glue the Sides, & Refold
Now that you know where your fold will be, and you have a creaseline, unfold the bottom.
Get your glue out and apply it to the top of the folded sides, like in the photo. Now fold the bottom up as you did before and apply pressure to make sure the glue adheres to the paper snuggly.
Allow the glue to dry and do its thing, and then you can take a peek inside and see your envelope start to take its shape.
Step Five: Put Your Contents inside, fasten, and Use!
And just like that, you have an envelope! After you have your contents inside and you’re ready to seal your envelope, you can either use glue, tape, or a wax seal if you’re feeling fancy.
If you’ve used decorative paper, like we have, use a piece of scrap paper and glue/tape it to the front of your homemade envelope so your return/to address is legible.
Square Envelope DIY
Next up on our how to fold paper into an envelope crafty tour is crafting a Square Envelope! This type of envelope is great for bigger cards/letters/pictures you may want to send in the mail or have for safekeeping. We also think this is the easiest envelope out of the cards you’re learning how to fold paper into an envelope. So, let’s do this thing!
Square Envelope How to Fold Paper into an Envelope Steps
This square envelope can be made in 3 easy steps! Each of our steps is plainly listed out with handy pictures to go with them to ensure your experience learning how to fold paper into an envelope is a smooth sailing one.
Step One: Fold Your Paper into a Triangle & Cut Off Extra
First things first, choose a piece of paper that you want to use for your square envelope. We went with a sturdy light purple piece of paper for a fun look. If you’re using paper with a design on it, make sure the design is faced down. That way, the fun side is the showing side!
Take the bottom right corner of your paper and fold it up so that it meets the left edge. Line up your paper until it perfectly meets the edge and makes a triangle, as you see in the photo below. Once you have your paper lined up, make that fold into a nice crease.
Get your handy scissors out and go ahead and cut off the extra piece at the top of your triangle. You can use this scrap piece of paper as decoration for another envelope or a different project!
Step Two: Unfold Triangle & Fold the Corners In
Now, you can unfold your triangle, and you’ll see the nice crease line that you made.
Using the middle crease as a guideline, take the left corner and fold it in until the tip of the corner meets the middle line. Do the same for the right corner and the bottom corner.
Make sure you fold your corners nice and crisp for a neat-looking square envelope. Look at you, becoming an expert in how to fold paper into an envelope!
Step Three: Tape the Bottom Sides & Finish!
Have your tape ready to go and tape along the lines of your folds so they stay closed. For a more decorative look, you can use washi tape!
After you’re done taping, you can carefully fold the top corner down, which can be sealed after you’ve put your contents inside.
Huzzah! Another envelope done in your how to fold paper into an envelope journey. And what a cute useable envelope at that!
Pouch Envelope DIY
Pouch envelopes are pretty iconic and adorable, and who would have thought, not too hard to craft either! We’re going to show you how to fold paper into an envelope that resembles a pouch in 5 easy and quick steps.
Pouch Envelope How to Fold Paper into an Envelope Steps
Below are 5 steps on how to fold paper into an envelope for a special pouch envelope. We’ve provided pictures along with each step to help you along; we’re in this together!
Step One: Fold Sides & Bottoms In
Grab your chosen paper, and just as we did for the other how to fold paper into an envelope projects, we’re using a developed picture as our folding guide. Please remember, if you’re using decorative paper, make sure the side you want to be on the outside is facing down and the inside of the envelope is facing up.
Using your guide, fold the left and right sides in towards the middle and crease your fold.
Make sure those creases are nice and crisp and now unfold the left and right side.
Next, fold the top and bottom according to the height you want your pouch envelope to be.
Step Two: Unfold & Cut Out Corner Squares
Unfold your paper so you can see all your lovely crease lines. These are now the perfect guides to outline the corner squares you’re going to cut out.
Cutting out those corner squares is easy-peasy with those handy crease lines you made!
Step Three: Round the Sides of Smaller Side Tabs
This step is important to get that classic pouch envelope look. Using your scissors, round the corners of the small side tabs (the top and bottom tabs). Don’t worry if it’s not absolutely perfect; it just adds character to your awesome how to fold paper into an envelope project!
Step Four: Fold One Side In, Apply Glue, and Fold the Other Side Ontop
You’re so close to finishing! Now, you can fold one of the sides in, apply glue to it, and fold the other side on top of it.
Firmly press down so the glue sticks, and allow some time for it to bond with the paper properly.
Step Five: Glue Bottom Fold & Finish!
Your last step coming right up! To finish things off, you can glue the bottom of your pouch envelope to the folded tabs.
And just like before, firmly press down so the glue properly sticks to your paper.
Once your glue as dried and is sticking well, you can see your pouch envelope come to life!
Think of all the fun projects you can make now that you know how to fold paper into an envelope; Christmas, Birthdays, Easter, any holiday or occasion you can think of!
We hope you enjoyed learning how to fold paper into an envelope, and we hope to see you back again at Repurpose Junkie for more fun DIYs!