ENVELOPE PROBLEMS
ENVELOPES and paper sacks are typical problems for paper construction and are varied enough in shape to suit the abilities of pupils of different ages. The making of envelopes is of importance industrially, altho, of course, automatic machinery takes the place of most of the hand processes. Yet there is enough similarity between the hand and the machine process to make the type of construction evident. Careful "laying out", cutting, folding, and gluing are necessary for successful work and must be insisted upon at all times.
To keep up the Interest in the making of envelopes, several forms are introduced, and the uses of the finished envelopes are different. Mailing envelopes are made in many shapes and sizes and from different materials. Filing envelopes are made in different proportions to fit particular uses,, and increasing in difficulty as different school grades are reached. Paper sacks are included with the envelope problems as they are of the same general character.
Many uses for the envelopes and sacks will suggest themselves and different constructions may be made as other need's appear. It is hoped that teachers will find in these outlines constant hints for new ways to attack the problems in paper and card board work, but it is also expected that a reasonable number will always have a definite line of problems to present to pupils, and will not hesitate to give such directions as will make the work clear to the pupil.
More freedom may well be allowed in the uses of the envelopes as made, than in the methods of making them. As suggested for the card problems, there is a good deal of illustrative material which should be saved for future reference, and which if mounted or saved in envelope files would be convenient of access as needed. Certain of the envelope files will be found convenient for newspaper clippings, and others for magazine illustrations.
The arrangement of envelope problems by grades is as follows:
First Grade
141 Envelope folder (Thin tag board or heavy cover paper)
142 Square envelope (Book paper or cover paper)
143 Pocket for clippings (Thin tag board)
Second Grade
241 Paper sack (Thin cover paper or manila wrapping paper)
242 Mailing envelope (Bond paper or flat writing paper)
243 Long mailing envelope (Bond paper)
Third Grade
341 Photo filing envelope (Light or medium tag board)
342 Long filing envelope (Medium tag board)
343 Large filing envelope (Medium or heavy tag board)
Fourth Grade
441 Sack with folds (Thin cover paper)
442 Flat envelope file (Medium tag board, binders' cloth, cloth board, marble paper)
443 Book envelope file (Medium tag board, cloth board, binders' cloth, marble paper)
141. Envelope Folder
1 piece Thin tag board or heavy cover paper 6"x9"
Paste
Rule, pencil, scissors
DIRECTIONS
a. Place the sheet of paper with the long edges in a horizontal position
b. Fold left edge nearly to center of sheet and crease c. Fold right edge nearly to center of sheet and crease
d. Open to original position
e. Fold bottom edge up nearly two-thirds of the distance to the top edge and crease
f. Fold top edge down nearly to folded edge at bottom, crease and open
g. Cut away comers as indicated in drawing at A, B, C, D
These cuts may be made at an angle as shown in drawing, or they may be made on folded lines
h. Refold all parts
NOTE
Different shaped folders should be made if time permit. It may be well to apply paste for about one-half inch in width along the inside edge of bottom lap and press firmly in place to make a regular envelope in place of the envelope folder.
142. Square Envelope
1 piece Book paper or cover paper 9"x12"
Paste
Rule, pencil, scissors
DIRECTIONS
a. Fold one short edge to one long edge and crease on diagonal fold
b. With paper in this position cut away the three inch strip This leaves the paper 9" square
c. Fold the other diagonal
d. Fold A to B, and C to D
As shown in first drawing
e. Fold bottom up, — E to F
As shown in second drawing
f. Fold top down,—I to J
As shown in third drawing
g. Open top part back to original position, and with rule draw pencil line from K to L, and M to L
h. Open all folds and cut away portions G and H
i. Fold in sides and paste at D
j. Apply paste at edges of bottom fold and press into place
NOTE
Step "h" may be omitted to simplify the work and the paper left square but the folds will be more clumsy
143. Pocket for Clippings
1 piece of Thin tag board 9"x12" Paste Scissors
DIRECTIONS
a. Cut sheet to 9"x9" as directed in 142, "a" and "b"
b. Fold other diagonal
c. Fold in the four corners about one-half inch past the center of the sheet, and in the following order, —A, B, C, D, as shown in drawing
d. Unfold top part, D
e. Cut on fold E F
f. Paste as in 142
241. Paper Sack
1 piece Thin cover paper or manilla wrapping paper 9"x12"
Paste
Rule, pencil, scissors
a. Place the sheet of cover paper with the long edges in a horizontal position
b. Fold the left edge to within about one inch of the right edge and crease
c. Fold the remaining one inch to the left and crease
d. Fold the bottom up about one inch and crease
e. Open the whole sheet and cut away the parts as shown in the drawing
f. Refold in the same order and paste the laps on the outside
NOTE
If desired small notches may be cut in the top edge after it is pasted to give a closeir resemblance to the usual form.
242. Mailing Envelope
1 piece Bond paper or flat writing paper 9"x12"
Paste
Rule, pencil, scissors
DIRECTIONS
a. With sheet on desk and long edges in horizontal position, lay out as indicated in drawing
The following order is suggested:
(1) Locate and draw horizontal lines, making measurements from the bottom of the sheet
(2) Locate and draw vertical lines, making measurements from left edge of sheet
(3) Locate and draw slanting lines
b. Call attention to all cutting lines and consider shape
c. Cut to lines
d. Fold on light lines
e. Consider final shape
f. Paste end laps
g. Paste bottom lap
243. Long Mailing Envelope
1 piece Bond paper 9"x12"
Paste
Rule, pencil, scissors
DIRECTIONS
a. Lay out in same manner as 242
Do not consider rounded corners until whole problem is laid out in straight lines
b. Lay out rounded corners with pencil without measurements
The teacher should show on the blackboard how much the corners are to be rounded
c. Cut to shape d. Fold and paste as in 242
341. Photo Filing Envelope
1 piece Light or medium tag board 6"x9"
Glue
Rule, pencil, scissors
DIRECTIONS
a. Locate and draw lines for folds as indicated in the drawing, — the first 1/2" and the second 4M" from the left edge
b. Locate and draw a line 3/4" from the bottom edge and parallel to it
c. Draw the short slant lines as indicated
d. Consider the shape to which the material is to be cut
e. Cut on lines indicated
f. Fold on light lines and consider final appearance
g. Spread glue on laps and press firmly in place
NOTE
The bottom should be folded up on the outside while the lap on the side may be folded either on the inside or on the outside. This envelope is suitable for filing 4"x5" dry plates or films or unmounted photographs. Mounted photographs not over 4 1/8"x5 1/8" can be filed comfortably in an envelope of this size.
342. Long Filing Envelope
1 piece Medium weight tag board 6"x9"
Glue
Rule, pencil, compass, scissors
DIRECTIONS
a. Lay out lines for folds and cuts according; to dimensions on the drawing
The order of procedure is suggested by directions in number 341
b. Draw center line as shown in drawing
c. With compass set at 1 1/4" radius describe an arc as shown at A. The center for this arc will be outside the sheet of tag board and any piece of waste paper may be used on which to extend the center line. Trie location of this center may be determined by the pupil
d. Cut, fold, and glue in same manner as in number 341
343. Large Filing Envelope
1 piece Medium or heavy tag board 9"x 12"
Glue
Rule, pencil, scissors
DIRECTIONS
a. Place the sheet of tag board on the desk with the short edges in a horizontal position
b. Begin at left edge and make measurements on both top and bottom as follows, — 2 1/8" from left edge, 4 1/4" from last point located, then 2 1/2" from last point
c. Draw vertical lines thru these points
d. In the same manner locate and draw the horizontal lines
e. Locate points and draw lines for the slanting cuts
f. Consider final shape before cutting
g. Cut to shape indicated by heavy lines
h. Fold on light lines
i. Consider the construction of the finished envelope as shown in the second drawing
j. Apply a thin coat of glue to the laps and press firmly in place
The top lap is left without gluing
441. Sack with Folds
1 piece Thin cover paper 9"x12"
Paste
Rule, pencil, scissors
DIRECTIONS
a. Place the sheet on the desk with the long edges in a horizontal position
b. Fold the left edge over to right 4 1/2", a to a'
c. Fold right edge to left 8 1/4", b to b'
x represents the end view when folded
d. Paste the lap a' b' from end to end
e. When the paste is sufficiently dry move the lap joint to the right 1 1/4" and crease edges in this position Shown in B, and in end view "y"
f. Consider opening in rectangular form as at C which is an end view
g. Fold in sides as shown alt D and press flat
h. Fold up bottom about 1" as at E
i. Cut away the unnecessary material in this fold and paste as shown in F
Only one thickness of paper should be left to paste
442. Flat Envelope File
4 pieces Medium tag board 9"x12"
1 piece Cloth board 9"x 12"
These may be cut to sizes required
1 piece Binders' cloth 6"x18"
1 piece Marble paper 9"x12"
Paste, glue
Rule, pencil, scissors
DIRECTIONS
a. Lay out four envelopes from tag board according to dimensions in drawing
b. Fold on light lines with part A folded first
This brings the visible edge of the joint in the center of the envelope as shown in drawing at B
c. Fold up bottom lap
d. Glue each joint carefully and place under a weight until dry
e. Lay out curve at top end of envelope and cut to line as shown at B
f. Cut binders' cloth to size for the folded hinge at bottom ends of envelopes
At F and G are shown two methods of hinging. At F the file is used without the cover boards, while at G the folded hinge is fastened into a cloth covered case. Another form of this case is shown at H with a lap around one end, this being the form for which material is included in foregoing list. If hinge is to be made as at F, cut the binders' cloth as shown at C, 5"x7" and make folds 1/2" apart alternating up and down; if as at G, cut as shown at E, 5"x9" and fold in same manner
g. Apply glue to envelopes and set into folds of binders' cloth
See illustrations at F and G
NOTE
If a cover is desired it may be made as shown at G by fastening two pieces of cloth board or marble board together with a piece of binders' cloth 4"x5" D, and gluing the hinges on the inside oS: the board covers. Another form of cover is shown at H,, Here binders' cloth may be used for the hinges only or the whole cover may be covered with it. Comers may also be made as an additional problem. Covers should be lined with marble paper.
If much filing is to be done a filing case as shown in the drawing on next page will be found convenient.
This case is made as follows:
a. Cut soft wood base 1/4"x5 1/8"x11 1/2"
b. Cut two soft wood ends 1/4"x5 1/2"x8 5/8/"
c. Cut two cloth board sides each 8 5/8"x12"
Use No. 15, 20 or 25 stock
d. Fasten the ends of the base with 1 1/4" brads
e. Fasten the sides to ends and base with heads, thin
f. Cover corners with stay tape or 1 1/4" strips of binders' cloth
g. Cover sides and ends with marble paper or cover paper
It may seem desirable to line the case with marble paper or cover paper to make a better inside appearance. In this case, either the outer or inner paper should be carried over the top edge.
443. Book Envelope File 4 pieces Medium weight tag board 9"x12"
2 pieces Cloth board 3 3/4"x8" (cut from 9"x12")
1 piece Binders'cloth 9"x12"
1 piece Marble paper 9"x12"
Paste, glue, eyelets, string
Rule, pencil, scissors, eyelet punch
DIRECTIONS
a. Lay out four envelopes from tag board according to dimensions given in drawing
For order of operations in laying out envelopes see number 242, on page 102
b. Fold and glue
Fasten bottom lap over end laps as illustrated above
c. Punch holes and set eyelets in envelopes
Locate holes near bottom corners
d. Cut binders' cloth to 9"xl0 1/4"
Save remaining strip for "i" below
e. Place the two pieces of cloth board on the binders' cloth and make pencil lines around them
Make sure that the distance between the boards is the same (1 1/4") at both top and bottom
f. Cut corners away as shown
Enough cloth should be left at the corners so that when it is folded it will completely cover the cloth board
g. Apply glue to the cloth board and press into place
Glue must be spread thinly and evenly
h. Fold cloth over edges of boards, and glue
i. From remaining strip of binders' cloth, cut a piece
This is to be glued down the center of the back, inside, to make the hinge stronger and more durable
j. Cut two pieces of marble paper 3 1/2"x7 3/4"
k. Paste marble paper inside of covers 1/8" from edges
l. Punch holes in cover in such positions as will coincide with the holes in the envelopes, and set eyelets
There should be a margin between the outer edges of the envelopes and the edges of the cover of about 1/8""
m. A shoe lace or piece of strong black cord may be used to hold envelopes in place in the cover
NOTE
The envelope problems suggested on the preceding pages represent some variety in an important line of paper construction. Other stjrles and shapes will suggest themselves.
Below the full sequence of envelope problems is arranged for comparative study.
Continued on this page