Three final envelopes
Envelope template and instructions for construction
Detail: Homemade seed paper butterfly wings
Detail: Assembled stand holding a card
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Module Three explored ways to create a container for the previously crafted greeting cards. In many cases, this involved constructing an envelope, but the challenge was to make this design dynamic and more unique than a traditional store-bought envelope. Similar to the previous module, all creations had to be mailable in some way. This involved minimum and maximum size requirements, as well as postage and material guidelines.
This assignment also built upon the previous module by further developing its crafting techniques and creating harmony between the card and envelope. They needed to feel like they were made for each other through cohesion in form, pattern, function, or an element/principle. After studying techniques for creating 3D forms out of 2D templates, multiple exercises and iterations were developed and refined to produce three final envelopes.
STATEMENT:
In my envelope design, I prioritized creating a functional and reusable design that harmonized with my previously created cards. Envelopes are often very wasteful, as they are only intended to hold the card for a short period then are thrown away. I wanted to create something that would not create unnecessary waste, and solved this problem in two ways. First, I included instructions for turning the main panel of the envelope into a foldable stand for the card. Since my cards are flat and cannot stand on their own, I decided that this would be practical for users wishing to display it. Additionally, I created plantable recycled paper to use in a portion of the envelope. It contains wildflower seeds and planting instructions, and is cut into butterfly wing shapes to harmonize with abstractions from my card.
Because of this, I did not focus on making my composition overly “fancy” in its essential template - it still looks like a regular envelope at first glance. However, this form further emphasizes the unique features and makes the card’s functionality stand out. Unlike my cards, all three envelopes are identical because I wanted to keep the same level of usability across each envelope. Finally, I chose to not incorporate color in my envelopes because I felt it would distract from the function of my card, and colored materials would not be as durable.
REFLECTION:
In the end, I am satisfied with how I made a dynamic yet functional envelope with reusable aspects. As someone who is interested in sustainability, I often consider how my creations and target career path can often be wasteful in the amount of “stuff” they put into the world. I am proud of how I created containers for my cards with minimal amounts of non-reusable material. I learned an entirely new skill through my papermaking process, as I had never attempted this before. It was an interesting experiment, and although I did not produce “perfect” results, the cube exercise reminded me that imperfection is not inherently bad.
With more time, I would have liked to explore other ways to make my envelope more dynamic on top of its existing functionality. I feel that there is also still room for refinement in the assembly of my envelopes, as I am still working on improving my neatness in this area. However, using the Cricut once again made a significant difference in the ease of transferring my digital template to a physical form. I did face some minor issues with my Cricut’s scores, pen lines, and cuts aligning incorrectly, but this was mostly out of my control and did not detract from my envelope’s effectiveness. I feel my crafting has significantly improved throughout the semester, and I am proud of how this progress contributed to a harmonious card and envelope set.