Weave a Striped Paper Sleeve for Summer Postcards
Keep a few unsent postcards and stamps together in a flat paper sleeve. The woven front gives a small collection of leftover colored paper a purpose. This sleeve fits standard 4-by-6-inch cards and is meant to travel inside a bag, not through the mail.
Cut the pieces
- Two pieces of lightweight cardstock, each 5 by 7 inches, for the front and back
- One piece of ordinary colored paper, 4 by 5 inches, for the weaving base
- Eight contrasting paper strips, each half an inch wide and 4 inches long
- Three strips of strong paper tape, two 7 inches long and one 5 inches long, plus scissors, a ruler, a pencil, and a glue stick
Weave the panel
Fold the base paper in half so the 4-inch edges meet. From the fold, cut seven parallel slits half an inch apart, stopping half an inch before the open edge. Unfold the sheet. Thread the first strip sideways through the slits, alternating over and under the bands. Start the next strip under wherever the first went over. Slide each row close to its neighbor without forcing it. The eight rows fill the 4-inch-long slit area.
Use small dabs of glue to secure loose strip ends. Flatten the weaving under a book with clean scrap paper on both sides. Once dry, glue the panel to the center of the front cardstock. Leave the border clear for the sleeve seams.
Tape the pocket
Stack the front and back with their short top edges aligned. Center one long tape strip over each side edge and wrap it onto both faces. Tape the bottom edge the same way, leaving the top open. Slip in the postcards and tuck stamps inside a folded scrap of paper so they are easy to retrieve.
If the woven rows buckle, back out the last row and slide the others apart slightly. If the pocket opening feels tight, check whether any tape folded inward. Trim protruding tape rather than pulling it away from the cardstock.
