Fold your own envelope from a square of paper

The square envelope

Turn the square so a corner points up, like a diamond. Then fold the corners to the center in the order shown.

• Valley fold folds toward you, like a V
• Mountain fold folds away from you, like a peak
• Cut an adult or older child cuts here
• Crease fold both ways, then open again

Getting the size right

The finished envelope is a bit smaller than you might guess. As a rough rule, the pocket is a little over two thirds as wide as the square's side. So a square about 8 inches across makes an envelope that fits a card about 5 inches wide, and a square of about 20 cm fits a card of about 13 cm.

The easiest way to check is to put the card in the middle of the diamond before folding. Fold the side corners in over it. If they overlap the card with a little room to spare, the square is big enough.

Making a square from a rectangle

1. Fold one short edge down to lie along a long edge, making a triangle.
2. A strip of single paper sticks out below the triangle. Cut or tear it off along the edge of the triangle.
3. Open the triangle. You have a square with a diagonal crease across it.

Good papers for envelopes

• Leftover wrapping paper, which folds easily and looks festive.
• Large magazine or catalog pages with bold colors.
• Children's own paintings once they are dry, which makes the envelope part of the gift.
• Old maps or calendar pages that would otherwise go in the recycling.

Very thin paper can tear in the mail. Keep those envelopes for hand delivery or to tuck inside a gift.

Ways to seal it

A glue stick is the simplest seal. Stickers and a strip of paper tape also work, and children enjoy picking one. Wax seals look lovely in photos, but the hot wax is an adults-only job. A small sticker in the same spot gives a similar look.

Mailing a homemade envelope

A homemade envelope can go through the mail if it is sturdy, sealed and clearly addressed. Write the address on a light-colored panel, or stick a plain label on darker paper so it can be read. Very small envelopes, square ones and anything stiff or lumpy may need extra postage or may not be accepted. Postal rules change, so check the current size rules with your postal service before you mail a handmade one.