"Open When" Letters

by shackarowan

1.2M69715

Intro: "Open When" Letters

I seen a picture online of open when letters, which are letters you customise and make for your loved one. An example being "open when.. You're having a bad day". I could not find any good source to help me in making these letters for a birthday gift for my boyfriend (which he absolutely loved by the way) so thought I would take step by step pictures and show you how to do them! Enjoy!:)

STEP 1: Gather Your Equipment

First step is to get together all the equipment you're going to need, which are as follows:
• A pair of scissors
• White paper
• Coloured card
• A stick of glue
• A pen
• Confetti
• Surprises to put in the letters

STEP 2: Print Designs on the Card

The next step is to print off different designs on all the different coloured card. These are going to be your envelopes. Of course you can just but regular envelopes but where would the fun be in that?:) plus the colours and different designs look way nicer than a plain old white envelope!

STEP 3: Draw Out the Shape of an Envelope

Next you have to take an envelope (I used a 5x7 so it would fit on an A4 page) and trace all around it so that it makes a template for your envelope.

STEP 4: Cut It Out

Exactly what it say! Cut out your template and you should have something like what's in the picture.

STEP 5: Fold in All the Sides

Fold in the sides the same way the envelope you started with was folded.

STEP 6: Glue

Put some glue along each side of the bottom flap, which is the one with the straight top. (Make sure you only glue the sides! If you glue the top it will stick to the inside of the envelope.)

STEP 7: Fold

Fold in the two side flaps and fold the bottom flap (the one you just glued) onto them and press. This should now look like an open envelope.

STEP 8: Print Your Labels

Choose what you want your letters to consist of or be for and type out your labels. Of course if you don't have a printer you can always just write them out. The photo is some examples of what I used.
"Open when you're feeling down"
"Open when you're bored"
"Open when were fighting"
"Open when you're having a bad day at work"
"Open when you need my love"
"Open when you're missing me"

STEP 9: Apply Label

Stick your labels onto your envelopes. That's the envelopes done! You're now ready to write your letters! The letters can be as personal, soppy or funny as you want. Put your letters and your little surprises and confetti into the envelopes and seal.
You can seal by the glue stick or by sticking the top flap into the envelope. I sealed with wax for a romantic touch.;)

STEP 10: Wrap Them Up!

Tie a nice bow around the letters for a nice look. And that's it your all done! I hope this was very helpful and your loved one enjoys them as much as your going to enjoy making them!:)

14 Comments

AmberG94 4 years ago

What type of suprises can you use??

ashley_barnes 8 years ago

I really need to make these my boyfriend and I have been dating for almost a year and Id do anything for him he always shares open when letter on his social media talking about can someone please do this for me so I need to know what to put inside the envelopes ??

Tin Heart 9 years ago

I've been attempting this project for when my SO finally goes on that once-in-a-lifetime trip. But I'm stuck on the part where you print a pattern onto the paper. I've been google searching for things like "Printable Pattern" "Pattern for paper" "Printable wrapping paper" "star pattern" "Stripe Pattern" ect and I can't seem to find anything close to the wide spaced patterns you have on your envelopes!

Do you mind if I ask where you got the patterns?

SparkySolar 9 years ago

I love this instructable thank you so much

jennace 9 years ago

Simply lovely!! This makes me smile, and I aint even gonna get any of these! I am gonna make some tho because my family does deserve!! Thanks for the instructible.

kelly226xo 9 years ago

What's some ideas to put inside?

doodlecraft 9 years ago

Fun idea, I like the homemade envelopes! :)

jmwells 9 years ago

I did something similar when my oldest got married. She says she still has two left. Things like Starbucks cards(she's an addict), spa gift certificates, hug coupons, phone card, and babysitting coupons.

shackarowan 10 years ago

I put the letter (obviously) some confetti, some quotes I found online and some naughty stuff!;) you could put whatever you want in them like sweets or puzzles, anything really!

kandrews8 10 years ago

What did you put in them ???