Wow! You guys are incredible. After this post, I received emails from you saying that you, too, have heard of Dave Ramsey and are participating in some form of Financial Peace University. Then I received a few emails wanting to know how I made my envelopes, so here you go! Hope this helps.
Start out by cutting out two pieces of fabric measuring 7 3/4 inches by 7 3/4 inches. It's a perfect square.
I thought this ice cream fabric would make a great envelope for groceries. What do you think? The inside will be the red with white polka dots, while the ice cream pattern will be on the outside.
We don't want a flimsy envelope, so to add a little stiffness to the envelope I also cut one piece of heavyweight interfacing.
Iron the interfacing to the wrong side of one of the pieces.
Place your two fabric pieces right sides together and begin sewing around the outside edge. I like to make up my own seam allowances by using my presser foot of as a guide. It works well for this purpose.
Leave a small opening on one edge of the envelope.
Clip the corners. Then turn the envelope inside out.
Iron.
This is what the outside of the envelope looks like after it has been turned inside out and ironed.
Here is the inside (or back) of the envelope. Notice on the left side there is still a small opening from where the envelope was turned. You can hand sew that little hole shut, or, if you're lazy, like I am just leave it. It will get sewn later. ;)
Topstitch the top and bottom edges.
Then fold the envelope in half and sew the side edges.
Done!
Stick your money in there and you're good to go. Wasn't that easy? 
Now make one for all of your categories. Send me photos of your finished projects. I'd love to see them.
61 comments:
This is too weird, my husband and I were going to start the envelope thing on his next paycheck...
I have to make these! You picked the most adorable patterns for your fabric, too!
In seeing the title of your post, I started randomly singing the song The Green Grass Grows All Around Lyrics. lol Cute envelopes. :)
What do you do with your change? Do you have a LWML mite box?
Yay! Thank you for sharing! I can't wait to dig though my stash to make some for us.
How did you make your labels? Love these!!
Ha, ha, Erin! I actually carry my envelopes in my wallet. Perhaps I should post a photo. My wallet has a coin slot in the back.
Amy, I made the labels on my computer and then printed them on an iron on fabric sheet.
Good one Erin! Thanks for the post Jan. Mine are still not done :) But Mom will be here next week so that greatly increases the chances of them getting finished!
*Gasp* I linked over from Pinterest. I loooove these. My hubs actually works for Dave Ramsey. :) Obviously we're a fan of the envelope system. I get sick of the paper cuts, though! I love this idea. I linked over because I was hoping you sold these on Etsy or something!! Hey, that'd help the debt snowbal... ;) I'm not much of a sewer. Perhaps I could do these with my magic hemming tape. :)
Missy! Thanks so much for the comment. You are too sweet. How cool that your husband works for Dave Ramsey. I do have an etsy store however I haven't sold anything. I've always had dreams to start selling stuff. Perhaps now would be a good time. :)
my husband and I have been doing the dave ramsey thing for a while, but I always used paper envelopes. I love the fabric ones. I made them last night and they are perfect!!!
~katryna
Katryna, glad to hear that they turned out well for you. I'd love to see a photo!
I can't wait to make these!! Thank you for the great idea and tutorial!!
We do the envelope system except I use plain white envelopes :( These are super super cute! Thanks for sharing :)
Hey Jan, In June you said you might start selling these cute envelopes. Did you ever do that? Please share a link if you did :)
Unfortunately I have not started selling them. I haven't had the time to sew lately. :( If I ever do get around to it I will definitely post the link.
Just found these through Pinterest. I love Dave Ramsey and this is a great way to do the envelope system. Off to purchase some heavyweight interfacing... :)
Thanks for posting!
I LOVE this! :D One question: How do they hold up in the wash? Do they get flimsy?
Just saw your link on $5 dinners. We are a family of 7 and are going to start the FPU class in a few weeks! This is perfect! I'm a new stalker of your blog. It's gorgeous!
I'm not sure how they hold up in the wash. I've never washed mine. I think they would be okay since it's heavyweight interfacing.
Nice to meet you Marisa! I love meeting new stalkers. :)
These are fantastic! I know of a certain little girl who is dying to use her new sewing machine and these would be fabulous! Thanks!
I'm a Dave Ramsey fan, too, and on a debt reduction snowball. I came across him just at the time I'd decided I would do that on my own. I love your envelopes!
these are awesome! i wish you did sell them, i found you via $5 dinners. i luv your blog!
I am planning on making some of these was considering a zipper though-is it neccessary? or is it just extra work, i would consider selling them if anyone is interested-just need to see how much time it takes and cost to set a price. Let me know what your thoughts are!
LOVE these!! We are a "Dave family" as well! Thanks for sharing.
I love these! Thank you for sharing them, can't wait to get started! :o)
These are cute.. will be making some.
smile.
Thank you for all the sweet comments. I am hoping to get some up for sale in my Etsy shop soon. I'll keep you posted!
C'est une très bonne idée, je pense que je vais faire les mêmes...
Ok....so my response is WAY late, but I made a set of these tonight! Thank you SOO much for sharing the tutorial! SOOOO excited to start using them soon! Now if I could figure out how to post a picture!
My sister just sent me the link to this tutorial. These are so cute. She made one yesterday. I'll remind her to come post a pic. I want to make some too.
Donna
My husband and i also have started the Dave Ramsey program. Love the envelopes! What do you do with your change?????
I actually have a wallet to fit all of my envelopes and the wallet has a little coin area in the back.
I love this idea! We use dave too but I hate the paper ones, they rip too easy!
I love your envelopes! What font are you using for the labels? It is super cute!
These are fabulous! :-) Sharing the tutorial on my Facebook page.
Now, if you wanted to make them very clean and long lasting inside and out, you COULD iron on vinyl, Heat n Bond makes a variety of weights that iron onto cotton fabrics - it would give you the weight you want plus easy wipe off/clean capability. Especially important with money and handling so much!
Then you wouldn't have to worry about washing them!
Thank you for the sweet comments. The font I used is called Pea Faith Dots.
Love! Will be making these (after getting 40% off coupons for the interfacing I need) :)
I made up some of these fabulous envelopes the other day and I just wanted to say "thank you" for the idea and easy-to-follow tutorial! I posted a picture on my last post at:
Www.three30three.blogspot.com
So for people who are not crafty and do not sew! Do you sale these!? I would love some!!
I love these! Do you sale them anywhere?? because I am not crafty and cannot sew:(
LOVE Dave! We have coordinated 3 classes so far and follow the envelope system! Your envelopes make it fun! Thanks for the ideas!~
I just saw your post and i can't wait until next month, my blow fund is already gone. This will be my craft project for next month!!! SO EXCITED, I am more likely to use it if it is cute!!!
Love this idea and have shared with many...I'm a little challenged though...should I have cut the interfacing smaller than the 7 3/4? I cut everything the same size and when I turned things right side out...well, it wasn't pretty!!!
I think with your tutorial even I could make these! Thank you for your step by step instructions. Your envelopes are so adorable! Now I have to get my husband to agree to use this method...
Thank you!
If you clip the corners after sewing and then iron the envelope it shouldn't be too puffy. I cut everything the same size.
We are starting the envelope system (again) and I think I may just have to make some of these! I despise the paper ones that have practically disintegrated from use and want something more durable for MY envelopes at least (read groceries, clothing, and gifts...). I think I might add a velcro dot to hold them together along with a small ziplock bag inside each for my change. Hubby also likes a ledger, but I think I'll have better success putting the receipts in the envelope. Thanks so much for the easy tutorial!
These are awesome! I made a few today, posted on my blog and linked back to you! Thank you!
I want to buy these!!! (And I still have "blow money" left this month!! :-)
Just saw your envelopes, and I have to tell you that the "envelope" system was the only way we survived feeding/clothing/...well, raising 5 teenagers! (Waaay back in the 80's) I, like others commenting here, just used #10 white envelopes - but these look so pretty that it would almost be fun!
So excited to find this how to. I've been searching for a better system then a mess of envelopes in my purse! I found super cute ones on etsy however i cant justify buying what im not afraid to try to make myself! After i grt some interfacing i will be making these! Yay! And the iron on lable, brilliant! Love it all!
does anyone sell these at a reasonable price?
I have 4 extra envelopes that I made that I can sell to someone. Maybe Jan can get us in touch somehow. I don't want to put my email on here for fear that some automated program will pick it up and start spamming me! ;)
Thank you for this tutorial! My sewing skills leave much to be desired but I managed to make several of these for myself while on break for school, as well as some as a gift for a friend. I even sold one! Not sure how to leave a picture or would share :)
Thanks for sharing these lovely and cute wallet tutorials. keep it up and I follow you...
flight bags
leather tote bags
wash bags for men
sports bags for men
retro bags
I loved these so much I made a pile of my own and blogged about it with a link back. Thank you for these, they have seriously improved the look of our Dave Ramseyness
Nice Post..Thank you for sharing...
Hi there Jan! I found my way here from another blog searching for a simple tutorial for fabric envelopes. So tired of shuffling through paper envelopes in my handbag. What a small world. Thanks!
I ran across your pin/blog yesterday and made myself some fabric envelopes. Thank you! I did change mine up a tiny bit, I couldn't find my interfacing, so they're slightly floppy, but not too bad, especially with cash in them. I also folded mine so they have a little flap over the front, and I don't lose anything or have cash slip out and get mixd up (cuz I know myself!)
I also added a small hair elastic with a button closure to your design. A little added security :-)
Thanks for a super simple tutorial!!
LOVE this idea! I use the envelope method because I get paid once a month and it's the only way I can have money all month long. Thank you SO MUCH for posting this. My envelopes have worn out several times. This way I wouldn't have to make them every six months!
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