DIY string-tie envelopes

Hello! Sorry about the little break. My son has been off on his half-term holidays so I had a blog-free week!

Now I am back, I just want to give a big shout out (and a big thank you) to my new sponsors, pi’ikea street and paper glitter….do check their sites out!

I also wanted to say a massive thanks to all the people who have left comments lately (and to those who have sent me lovely emails). It’s been especially great to hear from people who have been making the projects…and ace seeing all your pictures…hurray!

String-tie envelopes

I do confess that I have always had a ‘thing’ about string-tie envelopes. They seem impossible to get hold of though so I thought it would be fun to make my own. They are very easy to do!

String-tie envelopes

These dinky little envelopes are great for all-sorts of things (storing paper ephemera, housing invitations/gift cards, storing seeds). I have also been making some for my sons to play with (as they are obsessed with letters/post offices at the moment). I reckon they would also make a cute gift.

String-tie envelopes

By the way, now my kids are getting better at using scissors they have been really enjoying making their own envelopes using the template from my previous post.

String-tie envelopes

You will find a full tutorial and templates below! Happy Monday all :-)

String-tie envelopes

You will need:
Paper
Card
String
Glue stick
Scissors
Tiny brads/split pins (the heads of the brads I used were 3mm in diameter)

How-to

1. Print out the template onto paper. Cut score and fold.
Template one (tiny envelope, print out on A5 paper)
Template two (C7 envelope, print on A4 paper)
2. Cut out some small, card disks. Paper will work just as well but card will be a bit more hard-wearing.

String-tie envelopes

3. Using a needle, pierce two holes in the envelope and a hole in each disk (marked on template).
4. Attach card disks to envelope using brads. (If you don’t have any brads then you can sew them on. See this tutorial at simplymodernmom.com).

String-tie envelopes

5. Fold the three edges of the envelope up and glue.
6. Attach a piece of string to the top disk and tie off. Wrap round disks to fasten.

String-tie envelopes

If you are not keen on the rainbow brights then I think pastel/neon would be a great combination. For example, make a pale pink envelope with neon pink disk and string. (Note to self: must buy neon card/paper!)

Job done!

String-tie envelopes

 

60 Comments Leave yours

  1. very very nice! thank you! :)

  2. Cindy Sermersheim #

    I love the envelopes and paper gems!

  3. Eek! This is the perfect way to wrap those train tickets to Luxembourg I just bought for my boyfriend and me! I may have to attempt to adapt the pattern to fit the tickets, I’ll let you know how it goes :P

    Thanks for the tutorial, they are super duper cute!
    Megan xx

    • Kate #

      …oooh sounds lovely Megan…hope you and your b/f have a great trip! The envelopes are pretty small. If you need a larger template posting then do yell!

  4. Anjie #

    LOVE these!!!!! Might I ask where you get all of those lovely bright papers from?

  5. Thanks for this great tutorial and for the useful templates ! I’ll probably use them for regular envelops too !

  6. JennyAnn #

    I am also interested in where you get your beautiful paper….is it card stock? I live in US and regular craft “construction paper” is not of the best quality….scrap book card stock is too stiff.
    I love everything on your sweet site!
    JennyAnn

    • Kate #

      Hi JennyAnne,

      Answer just above ;-)

  7. April Rainwater #

    Perfect for saving garden seeds. I’ve been looking for a small envelope that can be resealed several times.

  8. love them ! will make some for my kids !

  9. Any tricks for cutting out your template? Yours look so perfect.

    • Kate #

      Just a pair of scissors…..

      I (mis)use a small pair of embroidery scissors for all of my papercutting HTH :)

  10. Kristi #

    I love these! Thank you so much for the great tutorial!

  11. Mary #

    Love, love this! Thank you

  12. Amy #

    These are fantastic! Perfect for storing seeds. However I found the original template (temp. one) wasteful. So I traced two on to a new sheet and made copies. There is also enough room to write a quick run down of instructions. I have no idea how to make a template, I am sure the computer will just beat me up anyway. Computers pick on me.

    • Kate #

      Amy, template one is meant to be printed on A5 paper not A4 paper so maybe that’s why you found it wasteful? I’ll post a new .pdf tonight (with 2 small templates on an A4 sheet ;-)

      • Amy #

        I printed both actually. The first temp. printed bigger for me so I used it. But I thought I was using the right paper, temp one says a4 (next to the link) but on the actual temp. I think it did say a5.

        • Kate #

          Ahhh yes…I had labelled it incorrectly. All sorted now. Thanks for pointing that out. (Too much rushing!)

  13. I love these string tie envelopes too! And the notion of using neons on these is brilliant….what is it about paper? It just makes me happy…

    • Kate #

      Hi Holly. Makes me happy too! Cheap, easy, accessible, requires no specialised tools, easily recyclable…ahh the list goes on.

      I really need to invest in some neons…on the list!

  14. Love this!! i am so making some!

  15. Liis #

    Hi!
    I love your blog:)
    Any chance you could make a bigger template that would fit a standard postcard size card?

    • Kate #

      Hi Liis,

      I don’t think there really is a standard postcard size so to speak. Let me know your specific dimensions and I will see if I can fit one onto an A4 template :)

      • Liis #

        Hehe, sorry:)
        By a standard postcard size I meant 10,5 x 14,8 cm. I hope you can fit it on an A4.

  16. elleblue #

    I have also loved string tie envelopes, just not the boring color. Now I can make my own stunning array of colored ones, thank you!

  17. These are both beautiful and useful, thank you! Like the others, I’d find them useful for seeds. I’ve often wondered what I could make with those beautiful Paperchase papers, now I know! But … Where do you get your bright string? Is it wool or embroidery floss?

    • Kate #

      Hi Caro…it’s called “DFN craft thread”…if you google it you will see it. It’s like a thick embroidery floss :)

  18. Deborah K #

    Thank you for the great tutorial and the templates!

  19. Catherine #

    I would have loved making these; however, we don’t have A4 paper that I can find in the U.S. Don’t even know what size that is. I wish I had a template for a 6×9 envelope like this. That would be heaven.

    • Kate #

      Hi Catherine,

      A4 paper is just the standard sized paper that you put in your printer. I’ll try and post some additional templates over the weekend :)

  20. Fabulous! I love the templates, thanks

  21. Aileen Nelms #

    I love this! I make my own envelopes to send my letters off and this would be a nice change. Thank you so much for the idea.

  22. Can not wait to make the envelopes.
    I have just been making stamps with my sons. I have easy carve printing stamps.
    They are from england. Educational art and craft supplies . http://Www.educationalart.co.uk.

    They are very easy .
    Good luck

    • Kate #

      Ooooh thanks for the tip Candice…they look great!

  23. Debbie Jennigns #

    These are awesome! I have made some similar envelopes, but not with the tie closure. I love these! Thank you so much for showing me how to make these. I do love my paper crafts. =)

    Have you done any of the paper embroidery for cards? It is a lot of fun and I have gotten many many compliments on the cards that I have sent out.

    • Kate #

      Hi Debbie…thanks for the message. Paper embroidery definitely on my list. Have been trying a few things out over the last few months but nothing good enough to post!! Next week I may have another stab at it and see what I can come up with!

      Do you have a blog? Would be nice to see your examples!

  24. I have always loved envelopes like this. Now I can make them!

  25. its wonderfulllll !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  26. pleassssseee tell us more about all types of envoleps you know because now its my favourite website !\

    • Kate #

      Thanks Radhika….my son and I have been ill so no new posts last week!! There will be a new tutorial up soon I promise…

  27. Patty #

    Thanks so much for sharing the templates – too cute!

  28. Betsy #

    These are just adorable … I can see so many uses for them! Thanks for sharing!

  29. I love these!! I featured this on my blog, here: http://punkprojects.blogspot.com/2012/02/make-it-monday_27.html

    -Katie

    • Kate #

      Many thanks Katie

  30. I too have a ‘thing’ for string envelopes, I love how colourful yours are!

  31. My gosh, that is a-dor-a-ble! I love, love, love it! Love your colors too, and the way you keep them so consistent throughout the site. Did I say that once before? Well, it impresses me every time.

    I also love string envelopes. I made a little string-envelope-style box coming up near Christmastime last year. Not as brightly colored as yours — for fun, mine were kind of military (I’m a trumpet player in the Army Reserve).

    You brightened my day! Thanks!

  32. Mina #

    Splendidness in squares!! Can’t wait to try out on my own. But what would be other options than using split pins but still gives a finished look? Thanks for sharing the tutorial!

  33. i loved it a lottt !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love alllll… the colourful things n i made these envelopes too ! its just Fantastic

  34. Jen #

    love this! thanks so much!

  35. Made these today using printable papers!

    http://www.cuteanduseful.com

  36. Erica #

    hello! i wanna know what type of paper do you used to have the envelope shape cut out. and what do you mean byy card and paper for the materials needed. thanks!

  37. Thanks for the tutorial! love it- and love the colors you used as example!

  38. Kristi #

    Wonderful tutorial and templates! Thank you so much for sharing!

  39. meg #

    these are gorgeous and cute

  40. hola, felicitaciones por tan bonito proyecto y gracias por compartirlo.

    • Kate #

      muchas gracias Alicia

  41. cherrie #

    the envelopes are sooo nice, love this tutorial:D

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