Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

When you head to the mailbox and find happy mail, it’s always fun. And with this DIY pencil case, you’ll find happy mail filled with pens and pencils every time you open your backpack!

With a little bit of hand embroidery and some very simple sewing, you can create and customize a letter of your own.

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

The kawaii face makes this letter extra cute, but you could skip the face and embroider a name in the center of the envelope instead.

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

Ready for a DIY special delivery? Let’s get started!

what you need:

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case
  • 9″ x 12″ Piece of Linen
  • 9″ X 12″ Piece of Cotton Fabric
  • 2″ X 2″ Piece of Cotton Fabric With a Cute Design
  • 9″ X 12″ Piece of Fusible Interfacing
  • 2″ X 2″ Piece of Paper-backed Fusible Web
  • 1″ X 1″ Piece of Black or Dark Gray Felt
  • Embroidery Floss
  • Hammer-on Snap
  • Iron
  • Scissors
  • Pencil
  • Ruler
  • Needle
  • Pins
  • Sewing Machine
  • Hammer
  • Pinking Shears
  • Printable template

how-to:

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

Step 1
Press the interfacing onto the back of the linen fabric, following the instructions on the interfacing packaging.

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil CasePress the fusible web on the back of the small piece of cotton fabric so it’s centered behind the design you want for the stamp.

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

Step 2
Cut the linen and cotton fabric down to 8-1/2″ x 11″ (use a piece of US letter size paper as a guide).

On each piece, mark the center of the top and each side 2-1/2″ down from the top. Use a ruler to make a line from the center to each of the side markings and then trim off the corners. Each piece should now look like a house shape.

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

Use the printed PDF template to cut out two eyes from felt and the stamp from the small piece of cotton fabric. You can have the stamp turned in either direction depending on your fabric.

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

Step 3
Fold the bottom edge of the linen up to the bottom of the triangle flap section and lightly crease it. Fold the triangle flap down and lightly crease it.

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

Trace the face and the postmark onto the center section of the envelope. Make the edge of the postmark at least 3/4″ from the right edge.

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

Step 4
Peel the paper backing off the stamp and iron it in place in the top corner of the center section of the envelope. It should be at least 1/2″ from the edge.

The stamp may cover part of the postmark tracing, but you can redraw that so it’s pretty close to the pattern.

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

Step 5
Stitch the mouth with six strands of black embroidery floss and back stitch.

Attach the eyes with two strands of black embroidery floss and tiny whip stitches around the edge. Add white french knots for a highlight.

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

Stitch around the edge of the stamp with three strands of coordinating embroidery floss and back stitch. Use three strands of red embroidery floss and back stitch for the postmark. If you want to customize it, add initials in the center of the postmark!

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

Step 6
Pin the two shaped fabric pieces with the wrong sides together.

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

Sew around the entire shape with matching thread about 1/4″ from the edge.

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

Step 7
Fold the envelope pieces again and attach one half of the snap to the flap and the other half to the back of the envelope. Be sure that they will match up when it gets snapped closed!

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

Step 8
Use pinking shears to trim the angled edges of the flap and the bottom edge. This helps reduce fraying.

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

Step 9
Fold the envelope again and pin the two sides. Sew the two sides, keeping the stitching on the previous stitching line. Be sure to back stitch at the top and bottom.

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

Trim the two sides with pinking shears.

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

Now your kawaii envelope is ready to use. And what can you do to make it happier than it already is? Fill it with pens and pencils, of course!

Unsharpened pencils just fit in this case, but once they’re in use they fit even better.

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

Want to simplify this project a little? Use felt for the envelope instead of linen and fabric. Instead of sewing it on a sewing machine, you can even sew it by hand!

Happy Mail Kawaii Pencil Case

Add your favorite drawing and writing tools, and take this smiling case to school with you. Or, pull out a pen and write a real letter to a friend!

Happy crafting!