Celebrating the enthusiasm for Paris Love Letters, and because envelopes have such potential, here’s How to: Make a book of addresses!

A graphically effective project to show off the satisfying form of addressing an envelope.

You’ll need:

• A sheet of thick paper, around A4 or US letter size
• Scissors
• Scalpel
• Ruler
• Pencil
• A pen for writing – I’ve used an oblique Flourish from Tom’s Studio
• Ink – Seen here is Iron Gall calligraphy ink from Meticulous Ink
• Scrap paper for notes
• Ink/paint/coloured pens for embellishment, if desired
• Cutting knife (optional)
• Stamps (old or new) – these were found on the Paris Love Letters workshop
• Glue stick for the stamps

Step-by-step:

Fold the sheet in half length ways.

Open out and fold in half widthways.

Then take one short end and fold it up to meet the centre crease.

Whisk the paper round 180 degrees and repeat with the other end.

Nicely divided into eight.

From the short side, cut up the middle. leaving the last quarter intact.

Then start folding up one ‘trouser leg.’

Keep folding forwards and backwards…

…until you have folded a concertina on one side.

Then fold round the corner, to continue the concertina.

Here’s a view from above, with the corner turned, ready for the second leg: Keep folding away from what you’ve already done.

Finished!

On the outside of one end, with the crease at the top, lightly draw an envelope flap in pencil.

I lined the ruler up with the bottom left corner, but you could go freestyle – whatever suits!

Happy with this.

So the next step is to cut away the waste part.

Leaving you with a jaunty, instantly-recognisable, pointed envelope flap.

On the other end, draw a different style of envelope flap. Feel free to be a lot more adventurous than this!

And then cut that away too.

WIP: Two envelope flaps!

Oooh now it’s time to make the most of the way the concertina changes direction, by cutting a little window (see picture below for context.)

And carefully cut it out with the ruler and scalpel.

Love it! If you want to go full office-stationery, you could affix a little crinkly glassine rectangle to the inside…

There we are! Now for the addressing!

Using whatever method (handwriting, printing, calligraphy, rubber stamping) suits your taste, begin to add addresses on to each ‘page’.

This ink and pen combo is delicious, even if my lettering/spacing has plenty of room for improvement.

Just saying: The Booklover’s Bath workshop includes a copperplate calligraphy workshop…and there are whispers about a Winter 2026 date…

Continue adding addresses. You could mix up the fonts or keep them the same, as I have.

Be sure to make the address text fit within the box!

You’ll see on the top here, that I’ve added text suitable for the back of an envelope.

Select some stamps to add as a finishing touch to each address.

Use the glue stick to adhere them in place.

Keep going until all the addresses have stamps.

At this point, you could add airmail stickers, franking marks, or anything else to make this project your own.

Here’s one side complete.

Had to find a way to include ‘Sealed With A Loving Kiss’ somehow.

So many stamps for so many more stationery projects….

Looking forward to seeing your address books! Please tag @paperhazell or @thetravellingbookbinder

Happy corresponding!

Places on the last Paris Love Letters workshop of 2025 have just opened up – join us for more envelope enjoyment.