How to Make an Envelope for a Card from an Upcycled Cereal Box

Hi friends, it's Natalie from Doodlecraft! If you want to learn how to make an envelope from materials you already have at home, I'm your girl!

This fun tutorial will teach you how to fold an envelope from an empty food box. Your kids and tweens will love learning the secret of envelope making from trash!

This DIY envelope is perfect for brightening someone's day by sending snail mail...or a fabulous custom Valentine card!

Or Mother's Day!

Or Christmas!

OR what about Earth Day? How fitting! I think we should all start sending Earth Day cards made from recycled materials. Who's with me?

You can learn how to make an envelope that's just the right size for a card with any paper board (or lightweight cardboard) food box.

Cereal boxes, cracker boxes, you name it - the inside of a paper board food box is perfect for decorating and doodling on.

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Want to learn more ways to make an envelope? 

If you want to learn how to make an envelope in a different way, check out Carissa's popular tutorial about making envelopes from magazine pages here >> How to make an envelope from paper or magazine pages

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The finished envelope is A2 size, perfect for a half sheet of paper folded in half or that awesome homemade card you created!

This envelope/card combo is lightweight enough for just one single stamp if you stick to the measurements I give you.

(of course, the address I'm using to show you my homemade envelope is fake - don't send my fan mail here!)

DIY Envelope Making Supplies

Some of the links below may be affiliate links where a purchase made after clicking will support this website without costing you extra!

• Cereal Box (or similar paper board food box) in need of upcycling
• Ruler
• Scoring stylus
• Double sided tape
• Scissors
• Sharpie or other markers

 

Directions: How to Make an Envelope from a Paper Board Box

How to fold an envelope step 1: Cut the paper board

Begin by taking your box apart at the seams in order to flatten it.

Next, cut your empty cardboard box into an 8" by 8" square with the help of your ruler and scissors.

How to fold an envelope step 2: Measure

For the rest of this tutorial, all the marking and scoring will be done on what used to be the outside of the box but will now be the inside of the envelope.

Mark the cardboard at the halfway mark (4 inches) on all four sides.

How to fold an envelope step 3: Score!

Line up the ruler from one halfway mark diagonally to the mark on the other side.

Next, use the stylus to score a line. Press firmly and hold the ruler while you score (I was using my ruler hand to take this picture!).

Repeat for the opposite side of the cardboard.

How to fold an envelope step 4: Measure again

Now measure 1/2 inch on each side of the previous score lines.

Line up the new marks and score both sides.

Now there should be four score marks.  Fold them inside to cover the cereal box graphic.

How to fold an envelope step 5: Cut!

After the scoring, there will be 4 little triangles on each side of the cardboard.

 Use some scissors to cut out the triangle pieces.

How to fold an envelope step 6: Doodle time!

Now use markers to cover and doodle all over the flaps of the envelope.

 Leave room on the front of the envelope for the name, address, return address and stamp.

 Add color or some metallic shimmer.

How to fold an envelope step 7: Tape

Use the adhesive to tape the envelope together.

 Run the double-sided adhesive on the bottom edges of the 2 side flaps.  Then fold up the bottom flap and tape the 2 sides down.

 Now it is simple to fit a folded card right inside the envelope.  It is the perfect fit!

 When ready, fold the top flap down and tape the flap close.

 Fill in the name and address...and add a stamp!

This amazing DIY envelope is less than 1 ounce, so it needs just one stamp!

Making this a super economical project and a great day to spend a cold or rainy day recycling things inside!

That's it!

Make a dozen and fill with Valentine's for everyone on your list!

 Save "How to Make an Envelope for a Card from an Upcylced Cereal Box" for later!

About the Author:

Natalie Shaw is a Craft/DIY blogger at Doodle Craft. She loves sci-fi, fantasy and video game geekery and that comes out in many of her projects. She posts budget conscious DIY’s, crafts, jewelry, kid friendly projects, upcycled treasures and other fun on her blog 5 days a week.You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

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