project: handmade painted envelope

Yesterday I shared some little printable Valentines, and today I'll show you one way you can make an envelope for them. This envelope could be made for lots of other purposes too, in different sizes and made with other materials. I love projects that can be changed in many ways, and this is one of them.

Here's what you need:
Clear vinyl (the kind on the big rolls...I used a medium weight)
Acrylic paint
Plain fabric
Embroidery floss
Envelope Template PDF
(plus paint brush, scissors, needle)





Begin by painting on the vinyl. Hearts are good for this time of year, but there are lots of ways to do this. My little sister wanted to give it a try too...her painting is the bottom photo, but I haven't made it into an envelope yet.

Let the paint dry for AT LEAST an hour. Once it's dry, you can proceed, or add another layer of paint and let it dry.




Use the template pieces and cut out the vinyl. Cut a second set of pieces from the plain fabric.



Cut a slit as shown on the template into the back piece of the vinyl. Do not cut this slit in the fabric.



Lay the painted side of the vinyl DOWN (against the fabric). This will prevent the paint from scratching off.

Start with the back piece, and stitch the vinyl to the fabric along the concave curve. DON'T pin the pieces together, because it will leave holes in the vinyl. You just need to hold them as tightly as possible. Clothespins or other clips may help if it's still slipping as you sew.



Now, add the front piece, and stitch around the bottom of the envelope. Continue around the top flap, then secure with a knot. (You may notice that I opted to cut the little tab off of the fabric, and leave it only on the vinyl. This is up to you.)



Your envelope is all finished and ready for a Valentine! Just tuck the tab into the slit to hold it closed.





What are some other ways you might consider using an envelope like this? How about other ways you could try using painted vinyl?