How to make crafty ‘Junk Mail’ that’s full of surprises

Who said junk mail had to be boring?
Forget bills, advertisements, and boring envelopes. We're giving junk mail a crafty makeover!

If you love stickers, pretty papers, tiny treasures and sending surprises through the post, you're going to love this creative take on happy mail.

With delightful pockets, miniature curated sticker sheets, decorated envelopes and a bright pink ribbon holding everything together, it's the kind of mail we'd be absolutely delighted to find in our letterbox.

And the best part? You can make your own with the crafty supplies you already have!

The booklet unfolds into a series of colorful panels, each filled with its own collection of decorative details and hidden treasures. There's something so satisfying about discovering all the little surprises tucked away inside.

And we especially love how the different papers, stickers, and textures come together. Nothing feels too perfectly matched, which gives the whole creation a wonderfully handmade charm.

How to Make Your Own Junk Mail

Ready to send a little crafty happiness through the post? Here's how you can make your own fold-out junk mail creation.

What you'll need

Patterned papers and paper scraps; we used pages from our Create & Decorate books
Vellum papers; we used sheets from our Junk Journal kits
An assortment of stickers and sticker flakes
Sticker sheet backing paper
Washi tape
Glue or double-sided tape
Scissors
Ribbon or twine
Little paper treasures to share

1. Create your fold-out base

In this example, we taped together four panels of decorative papers and folded them concertina style. You can cover one large piece of card or a manilla folder.

2. Decorate with patterned paper

Cover your panels with an assortment of patterned papers. Try mixing gingham, florals, stripes and colourful checks to create a playful patchwork effect. You can also tear the edges of some papers to add texture and a more handmade feel.

3. Add pockets and secret compartments

This is where the fun really begins! Create little pockets using folded paper, vellum, glassine bags or miniature envelopes. Attach them to different panels and decorate them with stickers, paper borders and little bows. Experiment with different shapes and sizes to make each compartment a little different.

4. Fill it with crafty treasures

Now it's time to gather all the little surprises you'd like to share. You could include sticker flakes, mini sticker sheets, washi tape samples, decorative tags, tiny notes or a miniature handmade booklet.

You don't need to include anything expensive. Sometimes a thoughtfully chosen sticker or a little handwritten message is the sweetest surprise of all.

5. Add the finishing touches

Use your favorite stickers to decorate the spaces between your pockets. Tiny hearts, flowers, bows, smiley faces and colorful dots are perfect for adding those extra little details. You could also add a special message for your recipient or decorate a tag with their name.

6. Decorate the reverse side

If the reverse side is blank, have fun decorating it with stickers, patterned papers and different textures! You don't necessarily need to add pockets to this side, especially if your creation is already getting a little bulky. Just keep in mind how sturdy your cardstock is and how easily everything folds together.

7. Wrap it up with a ribbon

Once you're happy with your creation, fold everything together and secure it with a pretty ribbon. We used a vibrant pink satin ribbon, which adds a lovely finishing touch and makes the whole thing feel like a little present.

Pop it into suitable protective packaging, check the postage requirements, and your handmade junk mail is ready to make someone's day!