Instructions
STEP 1: GET MY FREE DESIGNS FOR HOW TO MAKE AN ENVELOPE
First, download my free DIY envelope design SVGs from myfree resource library — look for design #373. I have designed a variety of envelopes in several different sizes for you to use including:
- A1: 3.625" x 5.125"
- A2: 4.375" x 5.75"
- A6: 4.75" x 6.5"
- A7: 5.25: x 7.25"
- A8: 5.5" x 8.125"
- A9: 5.75" x 8.875"
- A10: 6" x 9.5"
- Square envelope: 4.25" x 4.25" (which can be easily adjusted to any size square!)
- Greeting card: 4.25" x 6.25"
- Cash envelopes for the envelope system of budgeting
- Gift card envelopes
- Commercial #10: 4.125" x 9"
STEP 2: SELECT, CUT, & MAKE AN ENVELOPE
My collection includes more than 30 unique envelope designs. Most follow the same basic steps for cutting and assembly, but some require a few adjustments. So, I will walk you through the assembly steps for three of my envelope designs; then you can use what you’ve learned to make whichever envelope(s) you like.
VERSION ONE: MAKE A SIMPLE ENVELOPE USING 12" x 12" MACHINE MAT
I'll show you how to make this on a Cricut. First, open the file called "envelope-sets-jennifermaker-4x6-SVG.svg" from my DIY envelope designs.
TIP: If you are not sure how to upload an SVG cut file to Cricut Design Space, watch this helpful video training series I made. If you're on an iPhone or iPad, here's how to download and upload an SVG file to the Cricut Design Space app.
This is what my 4" x 6" DIY envelope design set looks like in Cricut Design Space.
With the design set selected, click “UnGroup” at the top of the Layers Panel on the far right.
We’re going to make the envelope with all the circles on the flap. Select the envelope design (which is grouped with a white insert piece and faint rectangle) and drag it to the far right.
Next, click and drag your cursor to make a bounding box over all the other envelopes you aren't going to use right now. Click "Group" on the right side of the Canvas above the Layers Panel.
After you have grouped the unneeded designs, click the eye icon next to the resulting group in the Layers Panel to hide them.
You should now only have the one envelope on your Canvas.
With the envelope design selected, click “UnGroup” to separate the envelope from the insert piece.
Now back in the Layers Panel, click on the first Basic Cut Layer that looks like a faint rectangle. We are going to change that from a Basic Cut line to a Score line.
With that layer selected, click on the drop-down field that says “Basic Cut” under “Operation” in the top menu on the left. Scroll down and select “Score.”
The center rectangle on the envelope design should now be a dashed line. Also, the layer's description in the Layers Panel should change from Basic Cut to Score.
Attaching the two layers tells the machine to keep these two layers together. Without attaching the score line to the envelope, they will show up as separate layers when it's time to cut.
Take your cursor and drag a bounding box over the envelope and score line to select both layers. Once selected, click "Attach" at the bottom of the Layers Panel.
In the Layers Panel, you will now see the two layers are attached and the third layer is at the bottom. This third layer is the piece of cardstock that will go behind the dotted envelope flap on the inside of the envelope. We don't need to make any adjustments to that layer.
We are now ready to cut the envelope. Make sure your machine is selected in the top right menu and click "Make It."
If prompted, click “On Mat” on the next screen and “Continue.”
You should see two mats. The first Mat is white and the second Mat is green. Click "Continue" in the bottom right corner of the Prepare screen.
For the base material I select "Medium Cardstock - 80 lb (216 gsm)" and I always select "More" for the pressure for a nice, clean cut.
Since I'm using the same material for both mats, I will also check the box next to “Remember Material Settings.” Make sure your Cricut Fine-Point Blade is in the correct clamp.
Place the cardstock on a StandardGrip Machine Mat (green) and use your hands or a brayer to make sure it’s properly adhered.
Load the mat into your machine and press the blinking “Go” button to start the process.
When the cut is finished, unload your mat, flip it over, and gently bend the mat to release the cardstock. This helps prevent the paper from curling or ripping, which it may if you pull the cardstock from the mat.
Keep in mind, I’m cutting my envelope on a Maker, so I will be prompted to insert the Single Scoring Wheel tool into Clamp B on my machine for the second mat. Instead, I’m going to click “Edit Tools” and choose the Scoring Stylus, which goes in Clamp A. This way, I don’t have to switch out tools mid-cut which saves time! Click “Apply.”
Now, put the next sheet of cardstock onto your mat and use your hands or a brayer to secure it. This is the piece of cardstock for the envelope.
Insert your Scoring Stylus in Clamp A of your machine and a Fine-Point Blade in Clamp B if it’s not already there.
Next, load your mat into the machine and press “Go” to start the score and cut.
When your cut is finished, press the load/unload button to remove the mat. Turn the mat over and slightly bend it back to release the cardstock from the mat.
Grab your two cut pieces of cardstock, craft glue, and a scraper. Begin bending the envelope piece along the score lines. Use a scraper tool to create a sharp fold or crease.
Fold in the two side flaps of the envelope to the center.
Apply craft glue to the side flaps, then fold up the bottom flap and press in place.
Take the piece of white cardstock and apply a thin line of craft glue to the outer edge on all four sides.
Place the white cardstock sticky side down on the inside of the envelope flap, the part with the dots. Hold it in place until it dries.
This is what my finished envelope looks like.
To seal the envelope, you can use craft glue, double-sided tape, or one of my handmade stickers. I have a lot of tutorials on the blog that show you how to create and customize all sorts of stickers, including address labels!
Holographic Stickers
How to Make Stickers with Cricut
VERSION TWO: MAKE A LARGER ENVELOPE
You can easily cut the larger envelopes on a 12" x 24" StandardGrip Machine Mat, but I know many people don't have access on one. That's absolutely fine! In order to cut the larger envelopes on a 12" x 12" mat, you will need use a few pieces of paper and to glue the flaps to the main piece prior to folding. Let me show you what I mean.
Follow the directions in Step 2 to Upload a file into Design Space. This time, select the file named "envelope-sets-jennifermaker-a10-SVG.svg."
Make sure to zoom out so you can see the whole design.
"UnGroup" the envelope designs as before. We are going to use the heart envelope design, so let’s pull that one off to the side. Select the other two and either hide or Delete them.
In the Layers Panel, there are five layers that look like lines and have no noticeable color like the other layers. That means we want to make those into Score lines. Hold down the SHIFT key and select the five layers by clicking on them.
Under “Operation” at the top of your Canvas, use the drop-down menu to change "Basic Cut" to "Score."
You should now have dashed lines instead of solid lines like mine.
Select the envelope and then click "UnGroup" at the top of the Layers Panel on the right side of your Canvas.
Now, we will Attach the Score lines to their envelope flap pieces. Drag your cursor over the top piece with the slit along with the dashed Score line. Then click "Attach" at the bottom of the Layers Panel.
Repeat this process to Attach the Score lines to each of the remaining three flap pieces.
Follow the machine settings and mat preparation process in Step 2 to Score and Cut all the envelope pieces.
To assemble this envelope, begin by folding the cardstock on the Score lines for each of the four pieces.
Use a scraper tool to help bend the Score lines for the heart. Place the edge of the scraper at the Score line then bend the piece up.
With all the pieces scored, let's assemble the envelope. Take the piece with the heart and add craft glue to the front side--the one with the Score lines-- of the short flap.
Take the rectangular piece of cardstock and place its long edge over the flap with the glue. Align the edge of the rectangle against the fold in the heart flap.
Repeat these steps to add the remaining three pieces. Your envelope should look like mine.
Next, fold the two side flaps to the inside. Add glue to each side of the heart flap then fold it up and press the edges to the side flaps.
To close the envelope, bring each side of the heart tabs up so they touch each other.
Fold the top flap down and slide the heart tabs through the opening.
Once through the flap opening, fold down the heart tabs to keep the envelope closed. This is what my assembled envelope looks like.
VERSION THREE: MAKE AN ENVELOPE FOR BUDGETING
The third envelope I want to demonstrate is helpful for budgeting! Cash management envelopes are used to allocate funds by a specific category for the month. For example, you might have an envelope with cash that you plan to use for dining out.
First, locate and upload the file named "envelope-sets-jennifermaker-cash-SVG.svg" to Design Space. Follow the same steps we went over earlier for the first two envelopes. You can zoom out to see the whole design on the Canvas.
Next, select the envelope design and click "UnGroup" at the top of the Layers Panel.
"Delete" or hide the orange envelope layers. I'm not going to cover assembling it as the concept is similar to that of the other envelopes.
Select the green envelope and click "UnGroup." Select the grid/table layer then click the drop-down menu under "Operation" to change "Basic Score" to "Pen."
OPTIONAL: If you want to change the color of the grid, click the color box next to the "Pen" Operation to select a different color. I am leaving mine set to black.
Next, click the layer with lines. Under "Operation," change "Basic Cut" to "Score."
Your envelope should look like mine.
If you would like to add headers to the columns of the cash envelope, select the "Text" icon on the left of the Canvas.
When a new text box is created, the default font is Cricut Sans, which is perfect for this project. Type the word "Date."
Now, under “Style” at the top, click in the drop-down menu and select "Writing."
You'll probably want to zoom in at this point so you can see the table. We are going to place our Text in the first row.
Click to select the word "Date" then use the double ended arrow in the lower right corner to reduce the size of the word so it fits in the first cell of the top row of the table.
You can also select the word and change the font size using the increase or decrease arrows next to "Font Size." I found a font size of "7" worked great for my headers using Cricut Sans. This font size may differ for you depending on the device you are using.
Now select the word "Date" and click "Duplicate" at the top of the Layers Panel. Move the duplicated word to the next cell in the first row.
Double-click on the duplicated word and change "Date" to "Name." Center the word in the second cell.
Follow the steps above and create two additional text blocks, "Amt." and "Balance." Hold down the SHIFT key on your keyboard then select all four text blocks. Then under “Align” in the top menu select "Center Vertically.”
With all four text blocks selected, click "Duplicate" at the top of the Layers Panel. Move the duplicated text blocks to the first row in the other table.
Now, we need to Attach the Text, Score lines, and Pen lines to the envelope layer. Use your mouse to select all of the layers, then click "Attach" at the bottom of the Layers Panel. Your designs may disappear for a moment while Design Space works, that's ok!
We are now ready to click "Make It."
On the Prepare screen you should have one mat that indicates Score, Pen, and Basic Cut functions. If you have more than one mat, one or more of the layers did not Attach to the envelope. Repeat the steps above.
Click "Continue." Select
"Medium Cardstock - 80 lb (216 gsm)" for the base material.
Load your Single Scoring Wheel into Clamp B and your pen into Clamp A. If you are using a Scoring Stylus, refer to my instructions from the first envelope.
Apply a sheet of cardstock to a StandardGrip Machine Mat (green) using your hands or an optional brayer. Insert the mat into the machine and press the load/unload button when it begins to blink. Press the blinking "Go" button to begin the cut.
After the machine scores the cardstock, you will be prompted to change the Single Scoring Wheel to the Fine-Point Blade in Clamp B. If you are using a Scoring Stylus, you will change it to the pen in Clamp A. Continue the cut process.
When your envelope is finished remove the mat from the machine by pressing the load/unload button. Remove the cardstock from the mat by flipping the mat over and bending it back slightly to release the cardstock.
To assemble the envelope, begin folding on the score lines. Bring in the two side flaps to the center of the envelope.
Add glue to the two side flaps.
Fold up the long flap onto the side flaps and press.
Bend over the top flap and you are done. This is what my assembled cash envelope looks like.
STEP 3: SHOW IT OFF
And here’s a look at some of the beautiful envelopes I made from my collection! You can make them all different colors and sizes. I especially love the fancy ones with cutouts.
There’s just something so special and thoughtful about giving someone a homemade card in a homemade envelope with a personalized sticker! It really shows you care and took the time to make something just for them! I can’t wait to see all the fun envelopes you make, so please make sure to share them.
