Something Special Card + Envelope Tutorial
We hope Jennifer Casa’s Something Special Card + Envelope Tutorial inspires you to create something beautiful for someone you love. Learn more about Jennifer in her introduction, and make a visit to JCasa*handmade part of your daily routine.
After you make the basic card + envelope as a foundation piece you can then embellish, embroider, quilt, print… Do something to make it unique! Mix things up, and personalize your card to make it the perfect something for your special someone. Create your personalized fabric card or Valentine with Jennifer’s tutorial by February 12th, share it in the forum and you might win one of these fantastic prizes. This is just the start of a full month of February “True Love” at Sew,Mama,Sew!
From Jennifer: Our lives are overrun by email, texting, and virtual hellos-– With this simple fabric card + envelope project, I encourage you to take a step back from the everyday and make something memorable, something as one-of-a-kind as your special someone. Express yourself by transforming ordinary correspondence into something extraordinary. The possibilities to personalize this project are endless, so have fun! Make something special every day. And make every day something special!
Finished Measurements
Envelope = 5.25” x 7.75”
Card = 4.75“ x 7”
What you need
- Envelope fabric: 1 piece each of exterior + lining fabrics measuring 10” x 10”
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* If using a fabric with a directional print, be sure to cut the square so that the motif runs from corner to corner (see left image). |
- Card fabric: 1 piece each of front + back fabrics measuring 5.25” x 7.5”, you can cut the back fabric to size now, but do not cut the front fabric until you have “written” your note.
- Interfacing (medium-weight fusible): 1 piece 9.5” x 9.5” (for envelope), 1 piece 4.75” x 7” (for card)
- Water-soluble pen, embroidery floss + embroidery needle
Let’s make the envelope first!
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1. Fuse the interfacing to the WS of your exterior fabric according to the manufacturer’s instructions, centering the interfacing ¼” in on each side. |
2. Pin the exterior and lining fabrics RS together.
3. Using a ¼” seam allowance, stitch around the ENTIRE piece. Yes, you read that right-– Stitch around the entire piece, backstitching at the end.
4. Clip 3 of the corners (if your lining fabric has a directional print, pay special attention clip the top and both side corners – not the bottom).
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5. On 4th corner (the bottom corner if lining fabric has a directional motif), make a mark on the edge of the fabric 2” in both directions from the corner. Using a straight edge, draw a line connecting those two marks and cut along the line – cutting off the corner. |
6. Go back to the machine and backstitch at those cut edges so that when you turn the piece, you don’t end up unraveling the whole thing. (That would be a bummer.)
7. Turn the piece RS out through that corner opening, carefully pressing into corners using a bone folder or chopstick. Press on both the front and back.
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8. On that open corner, turn the exterior and lining fabrics toward the inside of the work ¼” (RS together), press and pin closed. |
9. Using a 1/8” seam allowance, edgestitch around the ENTIRE piece on the RS, backstitching at the end.
Form envelope as follows:
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1. Looking at the WS with that notched-off corner of the square at the bottom, fold the bottom upwards so that the edges align with that of one adjacent side corner when it is folded inwards. Pin in place. |
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2. Repeat on the other side. |
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3. Using embroidery floss, hand-sew those adjacent seams of the envelope using any stitch you fancy. |
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4. Choose a small button and mark the spot for placement of the corresponding buttonhole on the corner point of the envelope flap. Make buttonhole and sew button onto envelope. Hey presto, you’ve made an envelope. |
Now let’s get to the card!
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1. If you wish to embroider your message on the card, do so NOW on the front fabric. A water-soluble pen is your friend, but keep your message short + sweet. |
2. Once your message is complete, cut the front fabric to size (see dimensions above).
3. Fuse interfacing to WS of back fabric according to the manufacturer’s instructions, centering the interfacing ¼” in on each side.
4. Pin the front and back fabrics for the card RS together.
5. Using a ¼” seam allowance, stitch around the piece, leaving a 2” opening on one side for turning.
6. Clip the corners and turn the piece RS out through that opening, carefully pressing into corners using a bone folder or chopstick. Press on both the front and back.
7. On that opening, fold the fabrics toward the inside of the piece (RS together), press and pin closed.
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8. Using a 1/8” seam allowance, edgestitch around the ENTIRE piece on the RS, backstitching at the end. |
Tuck the card inside the envelope + present to someone special.
Here’s another example of a card + envelope I made for my husband-– It includes nine different felt patches with embroidered words which can be combined in many ways to express sentiments appropriate on any given day.
I like that it’s interactive so we can leave one another messages in a prettier manner than the sticky-notes we have been known to scribble on.
You could also stamp the fabric using fabric ink, or piece together some fussy-cut patchwork-– Really, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Enjoy + happy making! xoxo
© Jennifer Casa for Sew,Mama,Sew! – January 2010
75 Responses to “Something Special Card + Envelope Tutorial”
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I have made cards from fabric before but never thought to make an envelope. This is beautiful and so clever. Thank you for sharing it.
This is just darling! Great idea for those fabric scraps too!!
this is so sweet. i just love it. the tutorial is great. thank u
This is awesome! I will be making one for my hubby and son; I know they will LOVE it! This is also a fantastic project to get me back to my sewing machine I’ve been neglecting thanks to all my knitting projects.
This is so completely fantastic!! I can’t wait to make one!
Wow, what a fabulous idea!
This is great, Jen! Thanks for sharing your talent!
I. Love. This. I especially love that I have been looking for something with buttons to help my 3 year old who is having trouble with them. I can combine words her is learning and buttons and mail and Valentine’s Day all in one! So excited to make this!
This is fantastic, I have lots of scraps that will work great. Thank you for posting this.
Oh, I love this!
Love this! Thank you for the tutorial.
This is so sweet! I wish I had a Valentine to give it to. I might just try it anyway.
What a lovely, sweet idea! This little project just got pushed to the front of my (near endless) list! Thank you SO much!!
I seriously LOVE the multiple choice version!
i LOVE this idea! thanks for the tutorial
This is the most darling thing I’ve seen all day. I adore it and would love to make this. Thank you for sharing it.
Super cute Jennifer! Loves it! ^_^
This is so awesome!
Thank you for this, it looks wonderful! My kids’ birthdays are coming up, so are my neices and nephews, I’d love to make these as birthday cards for all the kids.
Here is a tutorial I posted the other day; it is beginner level, but even an experienced seamstress can enjoy the fun design: http://www.ayorata.com/2010/01/deeces-drawstring-gift-bag-tutorial.html
This is great!!!
It is delicious!!!
I’ll have to manage a way to find the time to accomplish this project!
My Valentine will love receiving such a sweet envelope:
I love, love, love it! Thank you for sharing x
I totally love this project and can’t wait to make these for my husband and my girls. Then they can be used to play post office!
I can’t wait to make one (or ten)!
What a sweet idea! Thanks, Jennifer!
I LOVE this and am reposting it at my blog http://www.schoolforallseasons.com, I hope you don’t mind, but the contest sounds great! Your projects are always so inspiring
Thanks for sharing, looks like just what I need to make for my kiddos(5), this year.
So CUTE! I love the little create your own messages note! Thanks for another great idea!
This is such a sweet and thoughtful project. Thank You for sharing yet another great idea.
Oh how sweet! Can’t wait to make this for DH!! May have to make one for DD too ;0)
Love this! I’m thinking what a cute business card holder this will be. Thanks so much!
I went bonkers making the envelopes yesterday. Now for the cards – thinking about trying that method of printing on fabric through our home printer – you use freezer paper or something, I think.
So cute & clever! Thanks for sharing!
Definitely the cutest valentine I have ever seen. Thanks for making me smile. Can’t wait to make one.
That is too cool!!!!
i’ve never completed a hand embroidery project before….this one will be my first! yay! i’m actually already in the process of making one for each child and one for the dh.
I LOVE this idea!!! fantastic!
This is too sweet. I think its so cute and would be the perfect gift for kids!! What a special gift to get from someone. THANKS!!
I will be checking the stash bin to see what I can work with, this is so cute.
jennifer,
Another wonderful project–so thoughtful and sweet!
What a beautiful idea! I can’t wait to try this!
This actually made me put my quilt to one side and run one up … AB FAB DARLING!
This is such a cute idea! I linked this on my blog. ^_^
Wow, this has to be the cutest idea I have seen in a LONG time!! Thanks for sharing!
oh this is so cute! i’m thinking of modifying it a bit and using it as a pencil case for school this year
Wow! what a wonderful idea. It is my sister’s birthday coming up in april which should give me enough time to make something exciting for her. Thanks for sharing.
I just made these with the kidlings over the weekend. I haven’t posted it yet, but I will in the next couple days. Oh, my goodness! How adorable.
This is great project. Thank you. Can’t wait to try.
This is the cutest thing I have seen for a long time… I love it!
Definitely the BEST Valentine idea I’ve ever seen!
This is absolutely spectacular. Thanks for sharing.
This is sooo cute !!
I have to do it!!
Such a beautifull idea, like to put this to use
wow! where did you get your sewing pins??!? they are so cute!
So cute! I can’t wait to try to make it.
Thank you for this wonderful tutorial! I had been sick the previous week to Valentines day and didn’t get a chance to go to the store and get a Valentine for my Valentine. I remembered seeing this tutorial and went to work. My Valentine loved it and thought it was better than any store bought card! You can view it at http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/my-crazy-valentine. Thanks again!
What a fun project! If I knew how to sew, I think I would make these and deliver them to my friends with a chocolate bar inside!
I love the little interchangeable button on notes. So very clever!
These are ADORABLE! I’m thinking of making these as CD covers/envelopes for my wedding favors. Does anyone know what dimensions would be needed to make the envelopes square (and big enough to fit a CD in?) Thanks in advance!
These are so cute! I’ve posted them in a diy thank you note roundup on my blog, The Handmade Experiment – http://emilyflippinmaruna.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/thank-you/.
Thanks!
Emily
This is just an amazing idea. I’ll be making this asap. Great gift idea. Thanks!
I wonder if I could use this as a wallet? with a few minor changes…we’ll see
This is really cute.
This is one of my favorite tutorials. This is a nice gift for any time of year.
Working on one of these to welcome my new granddaughter. Of course, I suppose her MOM will be the one to read it first
This is a nice version of a fabric envelope, love the finished look you have given it.
Debbie
Wow. This is so adorable. I cannot wait to make one!! Thank you so much for this amazing project!
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What are the finished dimensions of the envelope? Thanks!
oh this is really great, thanks for the tutoral, i am really going to make this!
Short and sweet. I doubt if mine turn out as cute as yours but I am going to give it a try.
This is SO adorable! I really want to make one of these for my best friend as a surprise, which I think she is going to LOVE love love! Thank you for sharing a great idea.
This is so cool! I want to make one right now!
This is fantastic !
Thank you for sharing a great idea.:)
I made one of those last year for my boyfriend, I’ll link it when I post the photos on my blog.
I love this idea as a gift for someone. Good one!!
Thanks!!