How to make...

Giant Paper Bag Envelopes! YAY! Honestly, I need to do my research and check to see if these are compatible with the postal service. I use these babies to hold cards and small papers- just because. Yeah, you can get file folders, OR you can make your own kind of folder. All you need are scissors, glue, and a large (or any size) paper grocery bag.

Step 1: Cut the paper bag at the point where it naturally folds... you'll basically still have the bottom third of the bag.



Step 2: Cut down the side seams- just follow the natural folds! Easy peasy.



Step 3: See?



Step 4: Think of the bottom of the bag as the back of the envelope (where you would put the stamp and address). Fold down the side triangles. To fold the bottom portion of the envelope, just fold in the sides where you think it looks best. I usually line up the seam (that used to be attached to the side triangles) with the bottom of the envelope. See picture if this is too confusing.





Step 5: Fold bottom of paper to the seam. This basically just makes the envelope look more finished.



Step 6: So, it should look like this.



Step 7: So basically, you do the same thing to the top as you did to the bottom- although you might want to vary the top flap by making it more pointed or angular or awesome because it's ultimately the part that people will see. You will end with something like this!



VOILA.



Don't forget you have to glue the different components in place. Also, to seal it you either have to use a few drops of glue, a sticker, or some double-stick tape. I usually make these out of small paper bags, which should be sendable, although as a precaution I sent them in plastic envelopes just to make sure they got where they needed to go. Make sure you at least get the envelope flat and take care of anything that could catch in a machine, because that's the biggest qualm the post office has with obscure letters.

In my experience, people really liked them. I sent one to Sufjan Stevens and he wrote me a letter back. Yay:) I'd like to think he wouldn't just write back to any run-of-the-mill letter.