Folding your own envelope -Origami style

Folding your own envelope -Origami style
Fold your own envelope from a single sheet of A4 or letter sized paper.
 
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Step 1Start with letter sized (or A4) sheet of paper.

start with letter sized (or A4) sheet of paper.
begin with a letter or A4 sized sheet. Whatever you write on the reverse side of the sheet will be wholly contained inside the final sheet.
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42 comments
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Jul 25, 2010. 1:36 PMdravenous says:
i normally like dont have a clue how these things are done but was worth it trying for the 1st soooo much FUN thanks for the tips i can fold one....wooohooo but it took some time...now i got something to pass on its a bit old scwlish but well worth it..sweet
Jan 8, 2010. 8:29 PMnightninja87 says:
thanks this website saved my butt again i was making a gift for my gf and couldnt remember how to make this envelope was in one of my origami books and cant find it thanks for this ible
Sep 19, 2009. 8:35 PMstopanator says:
fun way to make and no need for envelopes :)
May 17, 2008. 6:58 AMnate121 says:
i say to many steps
Jun 16, 2009. 6:46 AMmaeve says:
Maybe but its ok if you put it on "show all steps". I thoought it was handy because usually I get stuck with origami stuff but all the pictures and simple steps helped.
Oct 5, 2005. 6:24 PMairship says:
This is cool, but NOT legal to mail in the US. This is from the U.S. Postal Service Web site:
To be eligible for mailing at the postage rates for letters, a piece must be:
  • Rectangular
  • At least 3-½ inches high x 5 inches long x .007 inch thick.
Folded, this item is, by my measurements, 2 3/8" high x 4 1/4" long, so it's both too short and too narrow.
Not only do you not get the letter rate for something this small, you can't mail it at all.
Too bad, 'cause it's cool.
Jun 16, 2009. 6:42 AMmaeve says:
Phew! Here in Ireland this is uncategorised, but what the heck, THEY STILL DELIVER IT!
Apr 22, 2009. 7:54 PMANTQNUT says:
wow. why did you go through all that work to prove someone, that probably spent a long time working on this envelope instructable, wrong. wow.
May 20, 2009. 6:02 AMcirano says:
ease up. it is good info airship provided. It doesn't undermine the ible anyway, the envelope fold is still pretty cool. More info never make diy things uncool.
Dec 30, 2008. 6:59 PMkibbler says:
I sent it, and it worked. Those post office peeps don't really care.
Sep 14, 2007. 4:44 PMedunbarr says:
Shoot, I get stuff smaller than what the PO considers "regulation size" all the time! Post cards from loan companies, Christmas greetings from my dentist's office... I don't understand why something like this would be "illegal" to mail when I get tiny stuff all the time??
Jun 16, 2009. 6:43 AMmaeve says:
Don't bother, it will still get delivered.
Jun 16, 2009. 6:44 AMmaeve says:
PS Ithink this is soooooo cooooooool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 11, 2009. 4:01 PMthatsgenius says:
dude thats so awsome! not only are you saving money, its fun to make.
Apr 7, 2009. 4:07 PMgimmetc says:
thanks very much and it was easy and produced a nice envelope, but the A4 letter size makes envelopes that are 2 in X 4 in
Mar 3, 2009. 2:59 PMtjk94 says:
I have also noticed that if you put a giftcard in the "pocket" shown in step 19 it fits perfectly (its the same pocket you use to close the envelope in the end).
Dec 24, 2008. 4:28 PM15zhangfra says:
lol
Dec 24, 2008. 4:35 PM15zhangfra says:
i love this, im a fan of small stuff
Dec 24, 2008. 4:52 PM15zhangfra says:
ders also 2 pockets.opun opening the flap part you have the pocket u used to tuck the flap in and the flaps base
Dec 20, 2008. 5:05 PMsydburn says:
excellent directions, very well made
Dec 3, 2008. 6:29 PMunknownname says:
***** 5 Stars ***** (If You Think You Ended Up With A Small Envelope, You Would Think To Find A Larger Piece Of Paper With The Same Scale) I Laughed The First Time Giving It To The Post Office But They Take Them :)
Jun 11, 2008. 5:40 AMsnowmoonelk says:
Fab but too tiny!
May 4, 2008. 4:38 AMicecubejr says:
Can somone please tell me how to download the pattern it dosnt work
Feb 25, 2008. 4:55 PM456acdc5443 says:
thanks now I don't have to spend a hole bunch of money on envelopes
Dec 4, 2007. 10:51 AMcheepy says:
I Love This Envelope! IT IS COOL! I am gonna make my own envelopes all the time now!! Thank Saul!
Nov 8, 2007. 2:07 PMoriginalwynne says:
i didnt quite get step 22 do you think you could post a clearer pic or a vid? thanx
Sep 22, 2007. 7:29 AMElotopia says:
I love this pattern! Have been making envelopes like crazy!
Aug 15, 2007. 12:17 PMwhopoder says:
Perfect! The best envelope ori-style! I saw this long time ago... i think. No matter! Ty for this instructable :)
May 1, 2007. 4:31 AMaliciaecm says:
That sucks about the US postal service. Here in the UK we can send whatever we like. My friend posted me a message in a travel sized shampoo bottle, and my tutor at college painted a white stripe around a pebble, wrote an address on it and stuck on a stamp and it got posted fine. Great instructable! I always have trouble making envelopes.
Apr 2, 2007. 10:05 AMDillyDog says:
I just tried this with a piece of A3 and it works just great. It is a perfect size for posting. Works out to be about C6 in size. Thanks for the idea. I think I'll do all of my personal mail this way now!
Jan 20, 2007. 4:29 PMb-dog132 says:
if u love origamie go to origami-culb.com
May 21, 2006. 4:51 AMoushkul says:
BTW. It folds to 3 1/2 by 6 inches :o) Should get around your minimum size issues...
May 21, 2006. 4:50 AMoushkul says:
I'm new to the site. Love some of your ideas. I've got a way to fold A4 into a natural looking envelope which has a really cool way to open. I'll post it shortly as a new project.... Happy folding....
Mar 28, 2006. 11:38 AMssvalenteno says:
Hey Saul Great post, I am a origami nut good job describing the folds and good pics, fuzzy yet clear to understand
Mar 20, 2006. 10:13 AMIngerson says:
Don't worry too much about the minimum size regulations: just think of the unusual things Wired Magagine recieves it their "Return to Sender" competition. Snippet from their website: "Every month, WIRED magazine features a cool piece of reader-submitted concept art. Past winners include a guitar, a vintage computer, a boomerang, sneakers, and military MREs. Refashion your refuse into a conceptualist objet d'art, slap a mailing label on it (no boxes allowed!)" so a small envelope will get their just fine. mamato: please do an instructables step by step for the Florentine fold: the end result looks great but I keeping getting confused by the diagrams in that link you left.
Feb 11, 2006. 9:12 AMerikabuentello says:
great!
Feb 9, 2006. 11:07 AMsharath says:
it works great save for the tiny size. well, using different size of paper could be the soln, but can someone modify the folds such that it works for A4 paper.
Dec 30, 2005. 8:50 AMmamato says:
i kinda like the florentine fold which i used for christmas cards: http://www.ghh.com/elf/FlorentineLetterfold.html

it's simpler, quicker, and i believe has a better original to final size ratio so it might fit into the uspo criteria.

with this folding, the stamp also works as a seal... what else could you ask for ;)
Oct 15, 2005. 2:10 PMeleraama says:
Or glue/tape two pieces of 8.5x14 together (which I think is A4, or legal, and is fairly common in offices)
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Author:saul