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Thursday, May 20, 2010

Laminated Envelope Tutorial - (subtitled "Making Your Budget Cute")

Soon (as in next month), my husband and I will be going from two reliable, predictable, incomes down to one reliable income and one not too reliable or predictable income.  It's what we want in order for me to stay home with my new baby when she arrives, but it means the "B" word.  Budget.  We are going on a cash budget for things like groceries, toiletries, diapers, etc.  That means I have to keep the cash in my bag and not succumb to my friend the Debit Card.  So far, I have learned one very important thing:

In order for this budget to work, the envelope I store the cash in needs to be cute.

So, I made it cute.  You could use this for coupons, recipes, or storing receipts.  Anything where cute is required to maintain order.  In my life, cute is always required to maintain order.  Another thing you can add to the envelope is this Organic Produce Guide that I found on my friend Tara's blog.  (It's a cute way to remember what to always buy organic and what isn't as important).


Supplies:
  • A piece of 12x12 scrapbook paper (double sided is best and easiest)
  • Double sided tape
  • Scissors, pencil
  • Laminate

1. First, you need to make an envelope template.  An A2 envelope perfectly fits cash and I wanted my envelope to be small enough to easily fit in my purse.  It also fits well on a 12x12 piece of paper.  I steamed it open using my teapot and some tongs.  [I felt like some kind of secretary spy from the 40s or something.]  Just don't burn yourself on the steam!  Use the oven mitt!  And the tongs!
Use the completely opened envelope to A.  Trace on your 12x12 piece of paper or B. Trace on a piece of cardboard to use as a permanent template.  I chose to do the latter.
I cut out the envelope shape to create the template.

2.  Next, cut out the envelope from your chosen paper.  The template is great because you can see what you are cutting and make sure everything is lining up.
3.  Next, laminate what will be the INSIDE of your envelope (in my case, the flowers).  Trim the laminate so it is even with the edge of the paper.  Once it is laminated, fold all flaps in to pre-crease them. 
4.  Then, using double sided tape (mine I folded in half to make it thinner), assemble the envelope.
Place the double sided tape along the bottom edge of the envelope's side flap.

5.  Laminate the side of the envelope with the pocket.  Cut the laminate slightly larger than the pocket part, then trim the laminate so it is even with the sides of the paper.  This is the laminate I used:
(This laminate is repositionable, so it is easy to use!)

Smooth the laminate as you go to get rid of any air bubbles or wrinkles (you could use a bone folder - I used my fingers).
6.  Lastly, laminate the smooth side of the envelope, including the top flap.  Leave about a 1/8" edge around the envelope, then fold it over to the pocket side to seal it all in!

This is the envelope before it is trimmed to an 1/8" edge.

7. Insert money and go SHOPPING!

9 comments:

  1. Love it! What a clever and inexpensive way to make budgeting easier! :-)

    Blessings,
    Shannon

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  2. Love it!!! Good idea and way to make things more pleasant.

    Lots of love,
    Sommer

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  3. Oh my goodness, you are my kindred spirit! I too, had to go on a spending diet and all cash budget as a WAHM. My husband didn't understand why I had to put cash in separate envelopes (instead of one - too tempting!) and moreso, why on earth they had to be cute! love the post! and ...you can do it, it's a lot of tricking your mind out to overcome the spending you were used to on two incomes. xo

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  4. You're cute and definately Quaint & Quirky.

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  5. Keri,we are such great minds. I was just thinking of making a really cute envelope to put my P.E.I.trip funds in! :)


    ps. Hows the baby??

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  6. very cute! I got plastic envelopes from the dollar tree, but this might work just as well!

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  7. SO cute!!! And I love the paper you chose!!! Adorable :)

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  8. Oh wow, I love your envelope! What a great idea, and isn't the pattern pretty :)

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  9. Thank you for sharing your tutorial, I can't wait to make some for myself.
    Laura

    ReplyDelete

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