Creating Wedding Invitation Flaps: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding invitations are a key part of planning a wedding, and there are many ways to make them luxurious and personalised. One way to elevate your wedding invitations is to add flaps to the envelopes. This can be done by purchasing envelopes with flaps, or by making your own envelopes with flaps. You can also add envelope liners to the inside of the flap, which can be made from any paper, including decorative paper or wrapping paper.

How to make a flap for a square envelope

Square flap envelopes are a classic choice for wedding invitations. They are commonly made in bulk and are a great option for those on a budget. This guide will take you through the steps to make a flap for a square envelope.

Materials

To make your own envelope flap, you will need the following materials:

• Heavyweight paper or card stock (8.5 by 11" up to 11 by 17")
• Decorative paper, scrapbooking paper, or wrapping paper
• Glue runner or adhesive
• Paper trimmer with a scoring attachment or a bone folder (optional)
• Scissors
• X-Acto knife
• Cutting mat

Step-by-Step Guide

• Choose a card stock and decorative paper to match your wedding invitations. The card stock will form the outer shell of the envelope, and the decorative paper will be the lining.
• Print an envelope template. You can use this template to create a stencil by tracing the shape onto your chosen card stock and cutting it out using the lines as a guide. Alternatively, you can print the template directly onto your card stock and cut it out.
• Use a paper trimmer to cut the card stock to create the envelope shell. You can also use a cutting blade, such as an X-Acto knife, along with a cutting mat for more control. Cut just within the lines to avoid any pencil marks on the inside of your envelope.
• Score the paper to make indentations in straight lines to encourage the paper to fold cleanly and easily. This step is especially important if you are using heavy card stock.
• Cut out the lining for your envelope. If you are using scrapbooking paper, it usually comes with cutting lines on the back to make this step easier. Cut the paper to the appropriate size and then score it where the fold of the envelope will be.
• Glue the liner into place using a glue runner or adhesive.
• Fold the flaps of the envelope into place. Apply glue or adhesive to the flaps, fold the bottom flap upwards, and you're done!

Tips

• If you are making multiple envelopes, it is helpful to put together a couple of envelopes with liners from start to finish first. The first few will always take much longer until you become familiar with the process.
• When addressing your envelopes, handwriting the addresses can add a personal touch.
• If you plan to emboss your return address, do this before adding your liner.

How to make a flap for a euro envelope

A euro flap envelope is a long back flap with a rounded corner. It is widely manufactured and comes in a variety of colours, textures, and sizes. Each manufacturer makes their euro flap in a slightly different size and shape, so it is important to be careful when ordering envelope liners.

To make a flap for a euro envelope, you will need the following supplies:

• Heavyweight paper or card stock (8.5 by 11" up to 11 by 17")
• Decorative paper or scrapbooking paper
• Glue runner or adhesive
• Paper trimmer with a scoring attachment or a bone folder (optional)

First, choose a card stock and decorative paper to match your wedding invitations. The card stock will form the outer shell of the envelope, and the decorative paper will be the lining. Cut the card stock using a personal paper trimmer to create the envelope shell. Cut just within the lines so that you are not left with any marks on the inside of your envelope.

Next, score the paper by making an indent in a straight line to encourage the paper to fold cleanly and easily in the right place. If you are using heavy card stock, scoring is likely necessary. Lighter weight papers do not need to be scored but it will help them fold in the right place.

After scoring, fold each flap into place and smooth over any creases with a flat object, such as a ruler or the side of a pen. Cut out the lining for your envelope. Many scrapbooking papers come with cutting lines on the back to make this step easier. Cut out the paper to the appropriate size and then score it where the fold of the envelope will be.

Glue the liner into place using a permanent adhesive glue runner. Roll the glue on the outer edges and near the seam where the paper will fold. Lastly, fold the flaps of the envelope into place. Apply some glue or adhesive to the flaps and fold the bottom flap upwards.

How to make a flap for a pointed envelope

To make a flap for a pointed envelope, you will need the following supplies:

• Heavyweight paper or card stock (8.5 by 11" up to 11 by 17")
• Decorative paper, scrapbooking paper, or vellum
• Glue runner or adhesive
• Paper trimmer with a scoring attachment or a bone folder (optional)
• Scissors
• Pencil

First, choose a card stock and decorative paper to match your wedding invitations. The card stock will form the outer shell of the envelope, and the decorative paper will be the lining.

Next, print the envelope template. You can either print the template onto card stock to create a stencil or print it directly onto your chosen card stock. If you use a stencil, trace the shape onto your chosen card stock and cut each one out using the lines of the stencil as a guide. If you print directly onto card stock, cut out the shape of the envelope using the template as a guide, cutting just inside the lines.

Now, use a paper trimmer to cut the card stock to create the envelope shell. You can also use a cutting blade, such as an X-Acto knife, along with a cutting mat, which gives you more control but may take longer. Cut just within the lines to avoid any pencil marks on the inside of your envelope.

After cutting, score the paper by making an indent in a straight line to encourage the paper to fold cleanly and easily in the right place. Scoring is especially important if you are using heavy cardstock. Lighter weight papers can be scored with a pointed tool like a paintbrush or pen. Line up the places on the envelope that you want to fold with a scoring tool or ruler and slide the scoring tool over the paper. Repeat this step on all flaps that need to be folded. After scoring, fold each flap into place and smooth over any creases with a flat object, such as a ruler or the side of a pen.

Cut out the lining for your envelope. Many scrapbooking papers have cutting lines on the back, or you can use a liner template. Cut the paper to the appropriate size and then score it where the fold of the envelope will be. Hold the paper in place so that it is centered, and then use a scoring tool to run over the fold.

Glue the liner into place using a glue runner or adhesive. Roll or apply the glue to the outer edges and near the seam where the paper will fold.

Finally, fold the flaps of the envelope into place. Apply glue or adhesive to the flaps and fold the bottom flap upwards. Your pointed flap envelope is now ready for your wedding invitation suite!

How to make a flap for a double envelope

The flap of a double envelope is an important part of a wedding invitation, as it is the first thing guests will see when receiving an invitation. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a flap for a double envelope:

Materials

Firstly, gather your materials. You will need:

• Heavyweight paper or card stock (8.5 by 11" up to 11 by 17")
• Decorative paper, scrapbooking paper, or vellum
• Glue runner or adhesive
• Paper trimmer with a scoring attachment or bone folder (optional)
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors
• X-Acto knife or similar cutting blade
• Cutting mat

Template

Choose a card stock and decorative paper to match your wedding invitations. The card stock will form the outer shell of the envelope, and the decorative paper will be the lining.

Use a printable envelope template as a pattern for hand-trimming the cardstock into handmade envelopes. Print the template onto some heavy card stock to create a stencil. Use a pencil to trace the shape onto your chosen card stock and cut each one out, using the lines of the stencil as a guide.

Cut the envelope shell

Cut the card stock using a personal paper trimmer to create the wedding invitation envelope shell. You can use a trimmer with a sliding attachment or a cutting blade, such as an X-Acto knife, along with a cutting mat. Cut just within the lines to avoid any pencil marks on the inside of your envelope.

Score the envelope

Scoring is making an indent in a straight line to encourage the paper to fold cleanly and easily. If you are using heavy cardstock, scoring is necessary. Lighter weight papers can be scored but it is not essential.

Use a bone folder and a ruler to score the paper. Find the places on the envelope that you want to be folded and line them up with the scoring tool or ruler. Slide the scoring tool over the paper and repeat this step on all flaps that need to be folded.

After scoring, fold each flap into place and smooth over any creases with your bone folder or any smooth flat object.

Cut the lining

Cut out the lining for your envelope. Many scrapbooking papers come with a grid of cutting lines on the back, making this step easy. Cut the paper to the appropriate size and then score it where the fold of the envelope will be. Hold the paper in place so that it is centred, and then run a bone folder or similar tool over the score to create an instant score.

Attach the liner

Glue the liner into place using a permanent adhesive glue runner. Apply the glue to the outer edges and near the seam where the paper will fold.

Assemble the envelope

Finally, fold the flaps of the envelope into place. Apply some glue or adhesive to the flaps and fold the bottom flap upwards.

And there you have it! You've created beautiful matching wedding invitation envelopes for your homemade invitation suite.

How to make a flap for a single envelope

There are several ways to make flaps for a single envelope, depending on the style you want to achieve. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a flap for a single envelope:

Euro Flap:

The Euro flap is a popular choice for wedding invitations, featuring a long back flap with a rounded corner. This style is widely available and offers a variety of colours, textures, and sizes. When creating your own Euro flap envelope, follow these steps:

• Choose a cardstock and decorative paper that complements your wedding invitations. The cardstock will form the outer shell, while the decorative paper will be used for the lining.
• Print an envelope template that fits the size of your invitation, which is typically 5" by 7" (A7 envelope).
• Cut the cardstock using a paper trimmer or an X-acto knife and a cutting mat for a more controlled cut. Ensure you cut just inside the lines to avoid visible marks on the inside of the envelope.
• Score the paper to create indentations that guide the folding process. This step is especially important if you're using heavy cardstock. Use a scoring attachment on your paper trimmer or a tool like a bone folder and a ruler to create straight fold lines.
• Cut the lining for your envelope from the decorative paper. If using scrapbooking paper, follow the grid of cutting lines on the back for precise cuts.
• Score the lining where the fold of the envelope will be, using a bone folder or a similar tool to create a clean fold line.
• Attach the liner to the envelope using a glue runner or adhesive. Apply the glue to the outer edges and near the seam of the paper.
• Fold the flaps of the envelope into place, applying glue or adhesive to the flaps.

Square Flap:

The Square flap envelope is a classic option that is commonly available in bulk for higher-end papers. To create a square flap:

• Follow the same initial steps as the Euro flap by choosing cardstock and decorative paper, printing the template, and cutting the cardstock to size.
• Score and cut the paper as needed, ensuring you create a square flap on the back of the envelope.
• Continue with attaching the liner and securing the flaps as described in the Euro flap instructions.

Pointed Flap:

The Pointed flap envelope adds a unique twist to the classic square flap. It is readily available and can be made using similar steps as the Square flap, with the final shape being the key difference.

Remember to allow yourself some time to perfect the process, as the first few attempts may take longer. Creating handmade envelopes is a tedious but rewarding task, resulting in stunning invitations for your special day!

Frequently asked questions