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Don’t toss out the old calendars as you replace them in the new year.
Instead use them to make calendar envelopes for all your mailing needs. This is a simple way to make envelopes that also add a bit of whimsy to your letter writing and even your bill paying.
I have been making envelopes this way for years and yes I do use them for everything from paying bills to mailing thank you cards and more. These envelopes always get talked about and are a fun way to use what you already have on hand.
These are simple and quick to whip up. They’re a great cold night project and great for kids too.
Supplies Needed:
- Old Calendars
- Glue / Glue Stick
- Scissors
- Envelope Template (Feel free to print and cut this as a template or simply peel apart an envelope you have on hand for tracing)
Cutting:
Tear apart the calendars, so that each photo is a single page. Lay the template over the photo and arrange so that the center highlights a special or nice spot for the envelope. Trace the template and then cut along the lines.
Folding & Gluing:
Turn the envelope over so that you’re looking at the dates, not the picture.
Fold up the bottom edge first, scoring with your fingernail. F
old in the side flaps next again scoring with a fingernail. Run a bead of glue down the edge of the bottom flap and fold the side flaps over, pressing down firmly.
Let the glue dry for a bit before folding the top flap down. Store your envelopes like this in a stack, in a drawer, or box.
Using Upcycled Calendar Envelopes:
Simply address and stamp as usual. To make mailing addresses clearly visible use labels. I’ve done this for years and have never had a problem with the postal service in delivering these.
You can use any number of materials in place of calendars – old magazines, catalogs, etc. Don’t forget the coloring pages and artwork of children, too.
If this is a project you really enjoy, check local thrift shops for supplies (like old books, magazines, even calendars).
How to Use Calendar Envelopes for Gifts
These upcycled envelopes make great gifts. Combine a stack in a theme for friends and put them in a little box or tie a ribbon around them with a nice pen and some labels. This is great for the person who loves to write letters.
Making Envelopes from Old Calendars
Upcycle old calendars by turning those photographs and other pieces of artwork into homemade envelopes.
Materials
- Old Calendars with Beautiful Images
- Glue / Glue Stick
Tools
- Envelope Template
- Scissors
- Marker / Pen
Instructions
- Unfold an envelope to use as a template. Make sure to choose an envelope that will fit over the photos of your calendar.
- Tear the calendar apart carefully so that the pages remain intact but unattached.
- Lay the template over the photo images so that it looks nicest on the big part of the envelope that will be the front side.
- Trace the template with a marker.
- Repeat for each calendar page.
- Cut the envelope out along the traced lines.
- Turn the envelope over, so that you're looking at the calendar squares / dates.
- Fold the bottom flap up.
- Fold the sides in.
- Use fingernail to crease the folds well.
- Glue the edges of the side to the bottom flap.
- Let the glue dry.
- Fold the top flap down.
- Repeat for each cut out template.
- Store the envelopes so that the top flap is folded down.
Notes
When ready to use, stuff the envelope with your letter.
Use labels for return and mailing addresses and add a stamp.
Seal the top flap with scotch tape or glue before mailing.
I’ve made small ones to hold seeds I’m saving too.
Oh for sure, that’s a great way to use ’em. Makes for pretty gift giving too.
I used to do this all the time with magazines, about three kids ago. Now that I don’t take any magazines, using calendars is a great idea!!
Love this! I used to do it, as a teenager with magazine pages, and haven’t thought about it for years. Great tip!
i am sharing this on my FB group! these are beautiful :)
Thank you so much! Such a fun and easy project and I’m glad you like it.
This is a seriously awesome idea! :)
This is an awesome idea ! Thank you .
What a fun idea! I always have leftover calendars – more than we need! Thanks for such a great idea. :-)
Happy 2015!
Simply brilliant! I have never seen this idea before. I always recycle, but this inspires me to be a bit more creative with my “trash”. Thanks!
I love this idea! I always hate putting old calendars in the recycle bin. Thanks so much!
You are welcome enjoy!
I am an activities director at an assisted living facility. Do you have any ideas of how to make greeting cards from past calendar pictures? Thank in advance for any help you can give me.
I’m sorry to say I don’t know. Cardmaking is not at all in my wheelhouse.
Consider using light weight card stock and glue the picture on front and fold in half. Writing personal notes inside personalizes the card.
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
@Wendy, if you have a Joann’s Fabric and Crafts, Hobby Lobby, Michael’s or dollar stores nearby, you can pick up pre-cut stacks of cardstock in smaller sizes that can be used as notecards and tucked inside the handmade envelopes.
@Wendy, you can try gluing a same size drawing paper on the back of the card and fold . 😍
@Wendy, cut a section of the calander page and slide into the window. Fold the envelope like a card, and inside add another plain business envelope to finish out the card. Pretty pockets can be made from leftover scraps or the same cal page, then make tags to slide in pockets. Add a. Solid paper to back of the one in the window so , so you can write on it or decorate with sayings/?words like Thinking of you, or happy birthday. Put a small tab on the one in the window to entice pulling it out to look.
When my kids were small, I would spray glue the calendar pages onto a piece of recycled cardboard or poster board. Then cut them into odd shapes for a pretty puzzle.
Oh that’s a super clever idea!
You can make coordinating note cards as well.
Kathie,
I love these ideas! I knew there was a great project for all the calendars with wonderful pictures or designs I’ve saved. I have always enjoyed snail mail, sending and receiving. I got to know my husband’s grandmother by sharing letters before long distance calling was part of everyday phone service. Before we married, I received almost daily letters from my soon-to-be-husband from overseas. We have letters my father-in-law wrote to my mother-in-law while he was in the service during WWII. There is something special about holding a personal letter in your hands and reading the written lines.
Have you seen Hallmark “Signed! Sealed! Delivered!” series? Very sweet!
Blessings to you!
@Teresa, your reply to Kathie brings back such nice/sweet & even bittersweet memories for me! I too recall letters going back and forth between my fiancée & I when he was in the service overseas, and all my sweet friends, most who have passed on with whom I also wrote. My daily walk to the mailbox to find these cherished correspondents still has such a special place in my heart! TY for sharing :)
This is such a great idea as I hated throwing away some of the beautiful pictures that adorned the calendars. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
I hope you’ll share some photos of the envelopes you make. Have fun!
What a fantastic idea Kathie! TY for sharing! I always feel awful for throwing away some of the beautiful calendars that have passed through my hands and have become special to me through the year! At one time I just stashed them all but that became a nuisance after a few years! Yes, I am a letter writer, though I miss that not so many people do ‘handwritten’ letters anymore. :( Maybe you could start a ‘Pen Pal’ club? :) I myself would love that!!
I have considered a pen pal club but am still trying to figure out the details… Have fun making envelopes and do share photos of your creations, please.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful idea. All those beautiful calendars will be transformed and continue to be used.
Happy New Year!
I’ve been doing this for several years. I save money making envelope so I don’t have to buy them. No one has ever complained.
what a great idea! thanks for sharing.
Kathie, thanks for this amazing idea! Dunno why it never occurred to me – I love upcycling and reusing stuff. Every year I get 2-3 calendars with beautiful pictures that I feel are too pretty to throw out. Sometimes I send some to my little granddaughters when it’s something I know they’ll like. But now I’ll be able to use *all* the pretty ones! Great idea!
So tickled that you like the idea – have fun!
I am always on lookout for new crafty ideas and especially so when you can reuse like this idea. Also when you are putting out recycling papers and such,I have found old calendars,BINGO’ someone’s trash is our treasure!!!
Greetings from Australia, what a lovely & pretty idea!! I usually buy calendars with cats & kittens on them & i have a lot of friends that love cats as much as I do & these would make great envelopes for any greeting card. You can still use the original envelope that comes with the card but you can leave it blank & that envelope could be recycled if you need to send formal letters through the mail. I keep envelopes that junk mail or bills come in & I bundle them up & use them for shopping lists etc, it’s cheaper than buying those little shopping list notebooks. LOL
Thank you again for a cute tutorial.
Kindest regards
Reet
So tickled to hear this! glad you enjoyed the project.
I love this idea! I cut out calendar pictures and insert them into picture frames also.
I used to do it for small gifts, but had never thought of envelopes. Thanks for sharing ☺️
What a great idea! Do you have something similar using Christmas cards?
I tried to do this craft with my grand daughter and she had no interest. Didn’t see the point since no one sends letters anymore is what she said to me. Made me sad