An Envelope With A Button String Closure - Tutorial

Hi everybody!

Today I wanna show you how to make these vintage envelopes with a button string closure:

Start by cutting 2 pieces of paper - 4" X 9 1/2":

Score each piece (on the longer side) at 4" and at 8":

Flip the paper and score each one (on the shorter side) at 0.5" and at 3.5":

After scoring and before folding the sides, cut each paper as follows:

To make a scalloped lid, I used the second largest die from the Spellbinders set of "Classic Scalloped Circles Small". Place the die in the following way:

The look from the other side (allign correctly at the edges):

After running the die with the paper through the CuttleBug Machine:

Do the same for the other paper piece:

Punch 12 circles with a 1" circle punch:

In 8 (of the total 12) circles, punch a hole with your Crop-A-Dile tool:

Distress the edges of the envelope and 4 of the circles (with the hole in them) with the help of Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink:

This is the result so far:

It's time to use a bone-folder and crease the folds like this. In addition, make the following measurements and mark places where brads will be. 

It's easy to punch a hole with the Crop-A-Dile on the lid of the envelope, but as far as the second hole has to be in a far place, I found a different solution.

After marking the right spot, I used my X-Acto knife and cut a tiny horizontal line, just enough to put the brad's tails through it. Like this (enlarge the picture to better see the details):

With the face side of the envelope up, take one of the distressed punched circles (with the hole), attach it to the envelope and then pass the brad through. 

 Before opening the brad's tails from the other side, add another punched circle with a hole (this circle doesn't need to be distressed with the ink. It won't be visible anyway):

Just in order to secure the brad, glue another circle (without a hole in in) at the top:

Now to the lid.... Make a hole with a Crop-A-Dile in the spot we marked earlier. Take one of the distressed circles, attach it to the lid from the front, pass a brad through, turn to the back side, put another circle (with a hole), open the tails of the brad.

Take a thread (about 14''), attach it around the brad and tie a knot like this:

After it's done, glue a masking and stabilizing circle at the top, cut the excess thread (from the shorter side):

The last thing to do is to add a scoring tape at the sides and assemble the envelope:

Seems like we're done!

Simple and fun! Hope you've enjoyed the tutorial.

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