Washi Accordion Envelope Bunting Tutorial

 

Storage buntings make so much sense – they are decorative and functional – and they cleverly make use of unused wallspace. This pretty print-and-cut bunting is made of accordion envelopes decorated with patchwork motifs. The patterned shapes are cut out from Silhouette Adhesive Washi Sheets – simply cut out with your Silhouette machine, peel them off the backing, and affix them on to the pre-printed design outlines. 

Each envelope has a pleated accordion inset – expandable space for stashing stuff. (To do a quick study on how to fold them, check out my previous blogpost – and Paul Jackson’s new book, Complete Pleats.)

The envies are also fun as solo hanging envelopes – the choice is yours.

Here are your free design files – it looks like a lot of stuff, but the envelope construction is fun and do-able. There are files for the accordion panel, for the envelope (in three colours), and for the washi shapes.
AccordionPanel.studio3 
GreenWashiEnvelope.studio3 
YellowWashiEnvelope.studio3 
RedWashiEnvelope.studio3 
WashiShapes.studio3 

AccordionPanel.pdf 
GreenWashiEnvelope.pdf 
YellowWashiEnvelope.pdf 
RedWashiEnvelope.pdf 
WashiShapes.pdf 

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Washi  Accordion Envelopes

You will need:

1 pack Silhouette Adhesive Washi Sheets

A 4 Photocopier card, cream

Coloured copy paper (Paperchase Spectrascope pad, A4)

Joy Craft adhesive Hook and Loop dots

3mm-wide ribbon

Tacky PVA glue, cocktail sticks

Fine-point embossing tool, metal ruler

1 Cut out all the envelope components. For each envelope, you need the envelope Front Flap/Back piece and the Envelope Front piece, plus two reinforcements cut out from cream-coloured photocopier card (print-and-cut with a Silhouette machine); one accordion panel cut from coloured copy paper (print-and-cut with a Silhouette machine); and adhesive washi cut-outs cut out from Silhouette Washi Sheets (cut out with blade on no.1 setting). (Three colours of envelope are provided.)

(Note: if you are lucky enough to have a Silhouette Curio and the large base, then you can emboss the fold lines of the accordion panel using the fine embossing tool.)

2 Using a fine-point embossing tool and a metal  ruler, score the fold lines on the accordion panel. Crease the folds – fold the horizontal folds both ways and prime the zigzags so they will fold easily. Next, fold the accordion panel into a U-shape, following the fold lines. Fold from the right side of the paper (the unprinted side) - it is pre-creased, so you can clearly seee the folds. The direction of the fold reverses at each “V”. Refer to my previous blogpost about pleating for more specific pleatings how-tos. (To learn all about pleating, consult Paul Jackson’s new book, Complete Pleats.) Glue down the little tabs at the bottom corners of the accordion panel, front and back (use tacky PVA glue).

3 Glue reinforcements on to the holes on the envelope back. Use tacky PVA glue.

4 Time to add the washi appliqués. Peel off the washi shapes from the adhesive backing and stick them onto the corresponding shapes on the printed design on the envelope front flap. Fun!

5 Glue the envelope front onto accordion panel, edges aligned (use tacky PVA applied sparingly with a cocktail stick). Next glue the envelope back/front flap onto the free side of the accordion panel, edges aligned. Crease the flap on the front fold. 

6 For the closure, stick on self-adhesive hook and loop dots (loopy side on the envelope front, fuzzy side on the envelope flap). To adhere, fasten the dots together, stick in place on the envelope front, then lower the flap in place and smooth down. Prise apart to open.

7 Thread ribbon through the holes in the envelope back. You can choose to make either a bunting or a solo hanging envelope.

Note: the .pdfs are for those of you who don't yet have a digital cutter. You can colour in the patchwork shapes with felt-tips or coloured pencils, or you can cut appliqué shapes from coloured paper and glue them on.