{birthday envelopes}

It's birthday season around here! To hold the cards, I sewed up a couple of felt envelopes for Tilly's friends, and figured while I was at it, I'd tick another project off the first birthday list for Tilly. 

Similar to the Valentine's envelope, this version is a little more baby friendly, with a Velcro fastening for easy access. Want to make one yourself? Or, a whole set for your little postman? Here's how:

Materials: 

7" x 12" piece of felt in your choice of colour

Small scraps of felt in other colours (for the stamp)

Embroidery thread

5" length of sew-on Velcro

You can choose whether to hand-sew or machine your envelope. I hand-stitched the name and stamp, and machined the edges, but it would work just as well all hand-sewn or all-machined (if you are confident with free-motion sewing).

Cut your felt to 7" by 12". This is the perfect size for holding a notecard (A6, I believe). Cut triangles from two of the corners, along a shorter edge, (1 1/2" along the sides).

Fold your envelope so that the bottom edge (without snipped corners) reaches to the lower corner of the triangle along the top edge (the bottom of the 'flap'). This is the shape your final envelope will be. Place pins along the fold, and along the bottom of the flap. You should only pin through the top layer of felt, not all the way through.

This will mark the space for the front of your envelope, and show you where to sew on the name and stamp. Unfold the envelope and sew on a name in the middle, using backstitch or chain stitch (as above), or your machine if you're cleverer than me!

Assemble your stamp. Cut a 1" x 1 1/2" rectangle for the base, either using pinking shears or simply scalloping the edges with your scissors. From contrasting colours, cut a 3/4" x 1 1/4" rectangle to go on top of the base, and an emblem of some sort for the middle.

As these will be given on birthdays, I added the babies' ages (one) on my stamps, and a heart for Tilly's (as she'll be using the same one again next year!)

Stitch the second rectangle to the top layer of felt, in the upper right-hand corner of the front of your envelope. There is no need to stitch the base, as the second rectangle will hold it in place.

Stitch on your number, heart, initial, or whatever emblem you've picked.

Now, for the fastener. Cut a 5" length from both the hook and the loop tape. Pin the hook side to the backside of your envelope, 1/4" from the top edge.

Now, refold your envelope (bringing the bottom edge up) and fold the top flap down to see where it meets the back of the envelope. Pin the loop tape in that spot.

Sew both pieces of Velcro in place.

Pin the edges of the envelope together.

Sew along the bottom edge of the flap, just above the top of the backside of the envelope. Do NOT sew the back to the front!

Continue sewing round the other three sides of the envelope, sewing front and back together.

Your envelope should look like this! All ready to fill with birthday cards, and to be used by little postmen for years to come.

What a colourful day at the post-office! And, unlike regular envelopes, it should stand up to a bit of chewing...

Sending Out Happy Thoughts

I've had better days.

The funny thing is, when I'm by myself, I feel like I can handle Justin being away. I really do try to look on the positive side, and think about all the new experiences he'll have, and all the time I have to devote to creative things while he's away. I treat myself a bit... yes, two banana splits at 4 o'clock might have been a bit too much of a treat, but I also forgive myself! I write, I play music, I give Bella lots of attention. We're doing okay.

The hard part, it seems, is being around others. I don't really understand how that works. I was so looking forward to dinner with friends tonight, but I came out of the evening feeling so much more isolated. The whole time, I wanted to excuse myself and shake off the negativity that was settling in, but I didn't; I stayed and ate and talked, thinking that's what people are supposed to do when their spouse is away, that's what's supposed to cheer people up.

Well, apparently, it's not what cheers me up, and so I'm spending a bit of time this evening reconnecting with the positive energy I've got all by myself.

I'm writing a few little cards to send to friends, family and a few new Unraveller friends who I think might appreciate a bit of happiness in their post boxes. There's nothing like sending some happy thoughts out into the Universe to make me feel a bit better about a could-have-been-better day.

Hope your Monday's been a bit easier! xx