Envelope Glue!

First off let me say I know good and well that you can buy a lickable glue product to use when making your own envelopes. I also know good and well that you can use double sided tape *okie has used that method herself* as a way to close an envelope but I wanted to make my own glue dammit!! The reason I say these things is because when I shared on Facebook about making envelope glue I had people telling me I should do this or that and I didn't want to do this or that, I wanted to do what I wanted to do! 

I also was told that due to the ingredients of the envelope glue was going to attract ants and then someone said that it would probably attract roaches but I am here to say that I have not seen one ant or one roach in my stash of envelopes. Oh yeah then someone mentioned "it's not vegan friendly". By this time I wanted to slap some people upside the head. I couldn't reach through the computer and do such a thing so I just called Carmen and yelled at her for a little while and I felt all better. Oh and Carmen yelled with me about the nonsense so it worked out great *okie thinks everyone needs to have at least one friend to whom one can vent and they will vent with you*. 

Okay now that is off my chest I shall share with you about this awesome idea!

LICKABLE ENVELOPE GLUE

Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons white vinegar

1 Envelope unflavored gelatin

1 Teaspoon vanilla extract

1 Teaspoon sugar

Use a small container that has a lid, I used one of the 4 oz Rubbermaid containers I had in my kitchen cabinet, and put the white vinegar in the container. Place the container into a microwave and heat long enough for the vinegar to start to boil. I believe I did mine like 45 seconds or so but it will depend on your microwave. Remove from the microwave and add the gelatin and stir until dissolved. Add the vanilla and sugar and stir well to mix. 

When done you should end up with a mixture that resembles something like this and it is ready to use!

I have had mine stored in my fridge now for a few weeks and am still able to pull it out and use it without any problems. But make sure you keep it in the fridge when not in use. It will set up but just pop it back in the microwave for about 30 seconds and it will be thin enough to use again.

I'm not sure how many envelopes one recipe will do but I can say I think I did over 300 envelopes with the one batch I made and I still have quite a bit left.

You will want to use a cheap stiff paint brush, don't waste a good paint brush on this, and then just apply to the top flaps of all the envelopes you made with yesterday's tutorial.  

Be sure the flaps don't touch anything while wet because they will stick. Drying time will depend on how thick you put the glue on and mine dried within about 30 minutes or less. Once dry you can fold the flap down and store. When you are ready to use the envelope just lick like a regular envelope and close. Oh and you won't even taste the vinegar so don't worry about giving away your handmade cards and envelopes and people being disgusted by the taste. It actually taste better than most envelopes I have licked.