I have done this for years. Our library has magazines in their bookstore for a quarter each. After I read them, I make envelopes from the most colorful pages and tear out all the cologne ads (woman's magazines) that have the scent under the flap. When I am ready to mail a handmade card or letter I lift the tab on the scent and rub it on the inside of my magazine made envelope. Makes it a pleasant surprise for the recipient.
There are several envelope templates for downloading on the web available for free. The larger the magazine pages, the more choices you have for your envelope size. I have also used maps and old sheet music. You will need to add a label for the address. I use my return address sticker to seal the envelope in the back. Food, art, garden, travel, and animal magazines have some great photos.
Source: My idea as far as using the scents. Envelopes from magazines have been around for some time.
By NoRulesArt from FL
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This is a great recycling project. My friend in England who I met a couple years ago through thriftyfun made a bunch of these for me. Thanks for sharing.
I'm glad I'm not one of the recipients of your envelopes! Those of us with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity would be made very ill by coming anywhere near anything with fragrance on it.
Wow, Jean & Maggie-that was harsh. You need to learn how to say things with grace. How about, "that's a nice idea, but something to think about-those of us with multiple chemical sensitivity would be made very ill by coming anywhere near anything with fragrance on it".
As for NoRulesArt-very cool idea! thanks!
I agree that your idea is lovely. The envelope you show here is beautiful. I also agree that the fragrance should be left off. I get very ill when I smell perfume/cologne/aftershave and also cleaning products.
A great recycling idea, but do you have to use a label for the address? How about where you put the stamp? Isn't the sample too dark to see the stamp and the cancellation?
Where do I find templates for the envelopes? How do I search for them? Great Idea! Maybe use the comic section for kids? Might take 2 sheets? Love the idea of music sheets! :) How about wrapping paper! Or How about seasonal and event like birthday or wedding?
Thanks for the great idea!
I agree with Jean & Maggie. I, too, am very chemical sensitive. I do make the envelopes from magazines and have done it for years, do it for my Christmas Newsletter. Everyone awaits my Christmas Newsletter each year for the colorful Christmas theme envelopes.
I love your idea and am anxious to try it. If you could share your websites where the templates are, that would be great. Also, could you answer the concern about using dark colors, such as your beautiful example, with regard to the stamp and post office cancellation showing up.
You could always just open an envelope you already have draw around it and make your own template.
That's a lovely idea, and would be delightful for cards attached to gifts, or hand-delivered. But like Melebev, I wonder what the Post Office would think of them; nowadays, with machines doing the reading, I believe they really prefer solid white or pastel envelopes.
Sometimes Christmas cards come with silver or gold linings. I wonder if it would work to use these lovely magazine or calendar selections as inner linings for plain envelopes?
I also have to agree about the fragrance - please be sure the recipient is not sensitive. Living away from the city for seven years seems to have made me less sensitive, but for years I couldn't walk down the laundry aisle in a supermarket - I had to stand well clear, fill my lungs, and make a mad dash for the fragrance-free item I needed, grabbing it on the way past. Really! Also, I worked as an Avon Lady for a while, and we had to demonstrate fragrances by spraying them on the customer's wrist. For most fragrances I had to ask them to step out onto the porch, and I would stand upwind and spray. (Thank goodness for Sweet Honesty - it's the only one I found that I can actually wear!) And I know people who are far more sensitive then me.
I agree with Jamie. The criticism was unnecessarily harsh and the point could have been gotten across in a much more pleasant way.
Yes, its true, the World comes equipped with smells, and you just have to work your way around them if you are adverse; It isnt the Worlds responsibility to do that for you.
I enjoyed reading about making envelopes out of old magazines. These days it's nice to hear that someone wants to put a little joy in other's lives by giving something so nice.
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