How to Make Stationery

Your child's private diary is even more personal when she creates it herself in this artistic kids' paper craft. With a handmade paper cover, kids will be so proud of their work they'll have a hard time hiding their journals away from prying eyes!

What You'll Need:

Diary Cover

Diary

How to Make a Handmade Leaf and Twig Diary:

Step 1: Staple the nylon net across the back of the picture frame, stretching the net tightly (this is best done by an adult). Set aside.

Step 2: Fill a bucket half full of warm water. Tear the grocery bag into 2x2-inch pieces. Drop the pieces into the bucket of water and stir with the slotted spoon. Let soak 1/2 hour.

Step 3: In the blender jar, add the soaked paper to an equal amount of water a little at a time. Don't overload blender and use plenty of water.

Blend on low speed, then medium speed, until paper becomes pulpy. Don't overblend. Fill dishpan halfway with warm water. Pour pulp into pan.

Step 4: Hold the frame horizontally, net side up. As you lower it into the pan of pulp, tilt it down and scoop under the pulp, moving it away from your body. Tilt it to horizontal under the water and lift up, shaking it slightly.

Do this in one smooth, continuous motion. If the pulp is too lumpy or has holes, dump it back into the pan and start over.

Step 5: Let the pulp on the frame drain for a moment over the pan. Wet one of the pieces of sheet and smooth it onto the flat plastic, removing any air bubbles. It is important that the sheet be flat and stuck to the surface; if not, the pulp will not come off the netting later.

Turn the frame with the pulp upside down and set it onto the wet sheet. Use the sponge to press out as much water as possible. Do not rub.

Step 6: When most of the water has been removed, lift the frame away from the pulp. The pulp should stick to the sheet. If it does not stick, or if there are holes, dump it back into the pan of pulp and start over.

Step 7: Once the pulp is stuck to the sheet, pin the sheet to the clothesline until the piece of paper on it is dry, then carefully peel away the paper. While the paper dries, make another piece.

Step 8: On a piece of handmade paper, measure 1/2 inch in from a short edge and make a light pencil line. Then measure up from a long edge and make marks at 1-1/2 and 3-1/2 inches.

Punch holes at the marks. Using this sheet as a guide, mark and punch holes in recycled paper and other sheet of handmade paper. Stack all sheets, with the handmade paper on the top and bottom.

Step 9: Thread the twine up through each hole. Lay the twig over the holes and wrap twine around the twig. Then wrap twine around the opposite end of the twig and tie the ends in the middle. Set aside.

Step 10: Draw the leaves and cut them out. Trace an oak leaf on the dark red paper and elm leaves on the gold and orange papers. Cut out. Glue leaves onto front of book. Press under a heavy book and let dry.

Have some old magazines piled up around the house? See how your kids can turn them into pretty mailing envelopes in the next section.

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How can a paper craft help save trees? Reuse and recycle the paper you already have! A good way to recycle is to make your own envelopes out of magazine pages.

What You'll Need:

How to Make Magazine Page Envelopes:

Step 1: Pick a page with a pretty picture on it.

Step 2: Fold 1/3 of the page over, and tape up the sides. Fold the last part of the page down to make the flap.

Step 3: When you put your letter inside, seal the flap with a piece of tape. Use an address label on the front so the postal carrier can read the address!

Got the hang of it? Keep reading to learn how to make envelopes from old maps, brochures, and other papers found around the house.

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Here's a fun kids' paper craft that makes use of all those printed materials that add up around the house.

What You'll Need:

How to Make Recycled Material Envelopes:

Step 1: If the printed document is much larger than an average sheet of paper, cut it down into a rectangle shape (longer on one side, shorter on the other). A sheet of notebook paper (8-1/2x11 inches) is a good size to practice with.

Step 2: Pick which side you want to be on the outside of your envelope. Lay that side face down, and position the paper so that the longer side goes from left to right.

Step 3: Fold up the bottom four inches of the paper and crease well. Then fold the sides over about half an inch, using tape to seal them in place.

Step 4: After you've written a letter and put it inside, close and seal the remaining flap.

Put the postage, the address you're sending the letter to, and your return address on the other side of the envelope. Use address labels if your envelope is too dark to read easily or is difficult to write on.

Do your kids have a few "thank you" cards to write? Make it fun by creating your own unique greeting cards and envelopes in the next section.

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Skip a trip to the card shop. In this fun paper craft, you and your kids will make your own one-of-a-kind greeting cards. Your best friends or favorite relatives will be thrilled to receive a unique greeting designed and made by you. Even the envelope is an original!

What You'll Need:

How to Make a One-of-a-Kind Envelope and Greeting Card:Step 1: To make the envelope: Download and print this PDF of the envelope pattern. Use a pencil and tracing paper to trace the envelope pattern. Cut pattern on the solid lines.

Step 2: Place the paper pattern on the envelope paper. Trace around pattern with a pencil. Cut out the envelope.Step 3: Carefully fold along the dotted lines. First fold in flaps A and B. Fold up flap C. Apply glue to edges of flap C and glue over flaps A and B. Place mailing label on the front. When ready to mail, glue flap D down.

Step 4: To make the greeting card: Fold colored paper in half and then in half again.

Step 5: Use scissors to cut out small pictures from the extra paper you used for the envelope. Arrange the pictures as you wish and glue them to the front of the card.

Keep reading to learn how you and your kids can create a matching set of note cards and envelopes perfect for all occasions.

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This creative paper craft is a great way to encourage your kids to send out those "thank you" notes after birthday parties or holidays. Of course, coordinating cards and envelopes can be used for any occasion, like just saying "hi" to faraway friends.

What You'll Need:

How to Make a Matching Stationery Set:

To make your own stationery, you can use plain envelopes or make your own.

Step 1: To make the notecards, cut and fold over a piece of construction paper, making sure it will fit inside the envelope.

Step 2: Unfold the construction-paper notecard. Cut a piece of writing paper to fit inside the notecard, and glue it in place. Repeat this procedure to make a set of notecards.

Step 3: Use markers to decorate each notecard. Draw a simple design, such as a series of stripes, curvy lines, or polka dots. Or cut a rippled edge at the bottom of each notecard so a bit of the writing paper shows. This gives the card a lacy look.

Step 4: Draw a matching design on the envelopes, leaving room for the stamp, the address, and your return address.

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ABOUT THE CRAFTERS

Handmade Leaf and Twig Diary by contributing designers Sharon Broutzas, Rice Freeman-Zachery, Connie Matricardi, Susan Milord, Lynnette Schuepbach, Kim Solga, and Florence Temko Magazine Page Envelopes by Lisa Lerner and Kersten HamiltonOne-of-a-Kind Envelope and Greeting Card by contributing designers Sharon Broutzas, Rice Freeman-Zachery, Connie Matricardi, Susan Milord, Lynnette Schuepbach, Kim Solga, and Florence Temko