My DIY (Printable) Chevron Save-the-Dates and Lined Envelopes

[AtoZ]

Here's my quick and easy chevron save-the-dates thanks to a free printable from Wedding Chicks (see more of their free printables here).

 

What I really like about the free printables:

1. It's free!
2. There are a number of colour options
3. The wording is customizable
4. This printable is from a suite. We'll also be making the matching invitations, RVSP cards, menus, thank you cards and possibly the escort cards.

 

 

 

What I needed to make them and the lined envelopes:

• White linen card stock from papercircle.ca. I bought 8-1/2" by 11" which let me print four per page.
• White linen A2 envelopes from papercircle.
• Custom stamp from MyStamp on Etsy
• Calligraphy pens and fine-point detail pens from Michael's
• Paper trimmer
• Double-sided glue runner
• Canon Pixma 982 printer. (We scored a deal and bought it when it was $100 off the regular price.)
• Plain printer paper

 

 

 

I added the travel agent's and our wedding website's information to the back. It took about 10 minutes to mock up -- I should have spent more time on it, but I was satisfied with the result.

 

 

 

Making my own envelope liners:

 

The envelope liners were really easy to make. There are a ton of how-to tutorials out there, but this one is helpful and includes free templates and patterns, as is this one which has over 100 envelope liners and templates.

 

The pattern I used is "tiny pieced chevron" in light grey from Melstampz's Flickr. She has hundreds of free digital paper patterns to choose from. I printed them on plain computer paper. I was able to cut two liners per page (they were slightly smaller than the envelope, but you can't see to the bottom of the envelope when you open them).

 

Some tutorials recommend you cut an envelope to trace a pattern. I simply measured from below the envelope's glue line and cut a square template from a piece of thin cardboard. I trimmed the excess paper around the angled sides of the envelope flap afterwards. 

 

Once cut, slid the paper into the envelope below the envelope's glue line. Secure with double-sided tape on the envelope flap. 

 

 

The breakdown:

 

 

 

Time: 3 hours to make and assemble 64 save-the-dates and lined envelopes -- minus the printing time, during which I watched TV and drank wine.

This was spread out over four evenings, but easily could have all been done in a day. We left the paper to dry overnight before running it through the printer again.

 

Cost:

• .20 per white linen envelope = $12.80
• .28 per white linen card stock = $4.48
• $40.32 in domestic (Canada) postage

 

GRAND TOTAL: .90 per save the date, postage included

 

*Note: I'm not including the price of the computer paper and some supplies because we already had them and will be using them in future projects.

 

 

Future paper DIY projects:

 

As I mentioned, we're going to be doing the invitation suite, so we ordered all the card stock and envelopes at once to make those plus programs, welcome letters and luggage tags for the invites. This saved us shipping costs.

 

Some of the future costs will be slightly higher because we are using Tiffany blue metallic card stock for the envelopes and luggage tags, which will hold together the invitation suite along with teal and white Divine Twine we already purchased from GreenMunch.ca.

[AtoZ]

Forgot to mention: 

 

We're also purchasing Wedding Chicks welcome tote bags. They have three different chevron patterns, which tie into our invitations, but we're going with this Bienvenidos option in Tiffany or aqua blue. 

 

The bags come in groups of 20 for $125 -- but are often on sale for $100 for the lot. They ship to Canada for a low cost, fellow Canucks!

 

 

[lyna89]

They came out really nice and I think it's super cute that the save the dates, invitations, thank you cards, bags, etc are going to match! I love matching!

[MrsWWhite]

Forgot to mention:  We're also purchasing Wedding Chicks welcome tote bags. They have three different chevron patterns, which tie into our invitations, but we're going with this Bienvenidos option in Tiffany or aqua blue.  The bags come in groups of 20 for $125 -- but are often on sale for $100 for the lot. They ship to Canada for a low cost, fellow Canucks!

Thanks!

[CAKnight]

Hi AtoZ,

I noticed you are my wedding date twin! The first one that I have found on this site! I'm so excited...less than a year to go!!! 

Thanks for sharing the envelope liner tutorial! In your honest opinion, do you think it was worth the time, effort and expense of doing them? I've been thinking about doing them, but I can't make up my mind...

 

Originally Posted by AtoZ 

Here's my quick and easy chevron save-the-dates thanks to a free printable from Wedding Chicks (see more of their free printables here).

 

What I really like about the free printables:

1. It's free!
2. There are a number of colour options
3. The wording is customizable
4. This printable is from a suite. We'll also be making the matching invitations, RVSP cards, menus, thank you cards and possibly the escort cards.

 

 

 

What I needed to make them and the lined envelopes:

• White linen card stock from papercircle.ca. I bought 8-1/2" by 11" which let me print four per page.
• White linen A2 envelopes from papercircle.
• Custom stamp from MyStamp on Etsy
• Calligraphy pens and fine-point detail pens from Michael's
• Paper trimmer
• Double-sided glue runner
• Canon Pixma 982 printer. (We scored a deal and bought it when it was $100 off the regular price.)
• Plain printer paper

 

 

 

I added the travel agent's and our wedding website's information to the back. It took about 10 minutes to mock up -- I should have spent more time on it, but I was satisfied with the result.

 

 

 

Making my own envelope liners:

 

The envelope liners were really easy to make. There are a ton of how-to tutorials out there, but this one is helpful and includes free templates and patterns, as is this one which has over 100 envelope liners and templates.

 

The pattern I used is "tiny pieced chevron" in light grey from Melstampz's Flickr. She has hundreds of free digital paper patterns to choose from. I printed them on plain computer paper. I was able to cut two liners per page (they were slightly smaller than the envelope, but you can't see to the bottom of the envelope when you open them).

 

Some tutorials recommend you cut an envelope to trace a pattern. I simply measured from below the envelope's glue line and cut a square template from a piece of thin cardboard. I trimmed the excess paper around the angled sides of the envelope flap afterwards. 

 

Once cut, slid the paper into the envelope below the envelope's glue line. Secure with double-sided tape on the envelope flap. 

 

 

The breakdown:

 

 

 

Time: 3 hours to make and assemble 64 save-the-dates and lined envelopes -- minus the printing time, during which I watched TV and drank wine.

This was spread out over four evenings, but easily could have all been done in a day. We left the paper to dry overnight before running it through the printer again.

 

Cost:

• .20 per white linen envelope = $12.80
• .28 per white linen card stock = $4.48
• $40.32 in domestic (Canada) postage

 

GRAND TOTAL: .90 per save the date, postage included

 

*Note: I'm not including the price of the computer paper and some supplies because we already had them and will be using them in future projects.

 

 

Future paper DIY projects:

 

As I mentioned, we're going to be doing the invitation suite, so we ordered all the card stock and envelopes at once to make those plus programs, welcome letters and luggage tags for the invites. This saved us shipping costs.

 

Some of the future costs will be slightly higher because we are using Tiffany blue metallic card stock for the envelopes and luggage tags, which will hold together the invitation suite along with teal and white Divine Twine we already purchased from GreenMunch.ca.

[AtoZ]

Hi AtoZ, I noticed you are my wedding date twin! The first one that I have found on this site! I'm so excited...less than a year to go!!!  Thanks for sharing the envelope liner tutorial! In your honest opinion, do you think it was worth the time, effort and expense of doing them? I've been thinking about doing them, but I can't make up my mind...

It took me no time at all to line them once I had a template (which also only took a minutes). I was averaging 10 in about 4 minutes and received a lot of compliments -- people thought I bought them lined. The only annoying part was printing the paper. That took a long time but I was able to do other things while the printer chugged along.

[CAKnight]

AtoZ,

You must have really influenced me because I haven't been able to stop thinking about doing liners. I actually have kind of a funny story.

 

My wedding colors are pink, orange and yellow. Basically, my wedding is based around my profile picture.

 

So I went to Dollar Tree and found some yellow wrapping paper. I bought it and did 2 envelopes and they look nice. But, I kept wondering if I could find something that wouldn't clash with the colors and the hibiscus flowers. Anyway, I went to Walmart, Michaels, Target, Big Lots (and I'm sure random other stores that I can't remember, including multiples of each). Today, I happened to go to a Target today. Jackpot! I found something perfect. It is shades of pink, yellow and oranges water-colored chevrons! I LOVE it! It compliments my boarding pass invitations well!

 

Sorry for the long story! Just thought I would share!  

[AtoZ]

That sounds great! You'll have to post a photo once you've done them.

[CAKnight]

Oh yes, I definitely will! Hopefully I will be able to post one in the next couple of days!

Originally Posted by AtoZ 

That sounds great! You'll have to post a photo once you've done them.

[mellie818]

They came out really nice and I think it's super cute that the save the dates, invitations, thank you cards, bags, etc are going to match! I love matching!

great job!