Before and after
Those who enjoy creating handmade envelopes on a regular basis know how frustrating it can be working with flimsy materials, such as a paper template. Let's create some templates made from cardboard to keep on hand in a file, an organizer or in a craft drawer. This activity is kid-friendly and offers teaching in the areas of recycling, arts and crafts.
Instructions
1. Disassemble the envelopes chosen for this project. To keep the template file diverse and interesting, try finding at least between five and ten different envelopes. If the envelopes have a strong adhesive, wave them over a pot of boiling water and steam open them.
2. Cut the food boxes so they lay flat. It's best to use the areas without creases so the template can lay flat when finished. Depending on the size of the envelope, however, this isn't always possible.
3. Trace out all the disassembled envelopes on to the pieces of cardboard. If the pencil doesn't show up well enough, use a pen or a marker. Trace them so the lines touch. This will prevent a lot of cutting and wasted space on the cardboard.
4. Cut out the cardboard templates. Be as precise with the cuts as possible. To ensure clean cuts, use very sharp scissors. Reserve all scraps (aside from small bits) for future art projects.
