There are not many people who don’t love getting mail. I am not referring to credit card offers and Valpaks. I am talking about envelopes and packages that elicit excitement in wondering who it’s from and what’s inside. (In case you can’t tell, I REALLY like getting mail. If you want to make my day, send me a little something!)
Unfortunately, sending mail doesn’t fill me with the same waves of joy and anticipation. Instead it’s more likely to involve scrounging around a drawer or closet in frustration trying to find some adequate packaging. Today’s post features five ideas to make sending mail a bit more fun and less costly.
1. Wrapping Paper Padded Envelopes
Kirstin and Jordan from KoJo Designs turned wrapping paper into these beautiful padded envelopes. After hot gluing bubble wrap to the paper, they sewed the edges to create the envelope and then used pinking shears to give them a finished look. I always debate whether or not to wrap gifts before mailing them, so this is the perfect solution! Imagine how lovely these would be for the holidays!
2. Fold-Your-Own Envelopes
Su of TangleCrafts shares her template and tutorial for making your own envelopes or self-mailers at Craft Leftovers. What I love about this is that you can use scrap paper to create a basic envelope for everyday use or opt for decorative paper to dress it up a bit. This is especially helpful if you like to make your own greeting cards. Why not be even more of an overachiever and make a coordinating envelope?
3. Fabric Postcard Invitations
Want to really wow your party guests? Follow Diane Gilleland’s tutorial at Craftstylish for creating fabric postcard invitations. After sewing and quilting her fabric, Diane then glued on a cardstock postcard with the party information and zigzag stitched around all four edges. If you are wondering if these can actually be mailed, the answer is yes! Diane mailed one to herself, and it came back looking just as lovely as when it left.
4. Custom Postage Stamps
Ashley from Ashley Brooke Designs created custom postage stamps for her sister’s upcoming wedding. Ashley created this adorable “Southern Love” illustration in honor of where her sister’s fiancé proposed and the locale of the wedding. Obviously, Ashley is a super-talented designer! If you’re not quite as artistic as Ashley, you can also create postage using your own photos.
5. Repurposed Cardboard Mailer
Recycled Wares turned a cereal box into a cardboard mailer. This seriously is so easy, as it only involves a bit of folding and cutting. As an added bonus, you will be doing your part to save the planet since it involves reusing. I won’t lie though. Being the frugal girl that I am, I am most excited about the fact that it only costs me a little packing tape and a cardboard box from my recycling bin. I cannot wait to give this a try!
What creative touches do you add to your outgoing mail?
Thanks for visiting “5 Ways Saturdays!”
I LOVE these ideas! I really love getting mail, and will definitely have to start sending things like this out! Thanks for posting!
I love all these ideas. I love getting and sending mail. Unfortunately, I send more than I get! LOL!
Thanks for all the ideas!
I LOVE the bubble wrap wrapping paper idea. (And we still have some of that same chandelier wrapping paper too!) So fun!
I love all of these ideas! Saving this to my pinterest for future reference…
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the quilted fabric post cards!!! Quilting is my gig and this is a GREAT way to use some of the scraps I have! Thanks Beckie — I love Saturdays!
Wow.. I love sending and receiving snail-mail… this post will hopefully inspire me to do some more creative projects! I really like the padded envelopes… so much cuter than the ones in the stores!
I saw on a blog SOMEWHERE (and I had it bookmarked until I had to reformat my laptop) and someone took plastic easter eggs and mailed them and it worked. She would tuck a little something inside, tape it shut and take it to the post office to have it weighed for mailing. How cool is that?
Love all these ideas! Only drawback on Zazzle.com is that the postage is 2x more than going to the post office. Just thought I’d let you know so you didn’t have to research it yourself. Would be beautiful for special occasions and I just might be willing to spend the extra bucks!
You are so cute. Thanks Whitney!
These are all so cute!! However…my husband works in automation at the post office and if I handed him something like that to mail (except maybe the custom stamps) he was absolutely REFUSE to take it I think!! I’d have to just sneak it off to the post office myself I think.
That is funny! Just sneak it past him. HA! Love it.
I just received a “message in a bottle” from my little niece. She mailed me a plastic bottle with a little not wrapped up inside. It was the best mail ever! I dont know where she got the little bottle, just know it made my day!
Keith, That’s awesome! I love getting and giving special mail!