Decorative Envelopes DIY

Red and gold are not my colors but the warm theme of this decorative Dragonfly Envelope Stationery Set is gorgeous! Years ago, I had greatly admired a mixed media piece in luscious reds and golds at a Thrift store in Georgia. I went back to get it a few days later, thinking that surely no one would want it. Sadly, it was gone. 

That experience inspired me to choose a similar color theme for this project. It started as a mis-printed piece of lightweight cardstock destined for the round file. I used my  We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board to create an envelope.

Most of the print ended up on the backside. 

To make a more neutral background to work on, I lightly sponged white acrylic paint over the print. Leaving some showing enhanced the design.

I began stamping using background and small stamps. 

The #90246 Dragonflies stamp is from Stamps Happen, Inc (could not find a website, shared Etsy search), licensed by Carolyn Shores Wright.  

The Primulars Postcard #3721H stamp is from Rubber Stampede (could not find a website, shared Etsy search), licensed by Sarah Lugg.

The Dragonfly Background #RS4756 stamp is from Hampton Art (sold in 2007 to National Spinning in North Carolina, shared FB page), licensed by Judy Melvin. The clock stamp is one of my eraser, hand-carved stamps.

I bought the wooden floral, round rubber stamps from Aliexpress in a set of 6. 

The Wish Postmark #554E stamp is from All Night Media, Inc., (could not find a website, shared Etsy search).

Because I used light colored stamping inks (my Whispers vintage set, shared Ebay search), I lightly outlined some of the stamped images with black ink. I glued on some red seed beads. 

I began working on the clips. I tied a bow from a scrap of red grosgrain ribbon and painted on gold glitter glue. I also painted the glitter on the top of a clothespin and lightly brushed the sides with red paint.

I painted and embellished 2 love words printed foam hearts elements for the paperclip accessory and added flat rhinestones to the clothespin.

I began to color my design with chalk pastels, using mostly red, gold and peach. I accented with a gold glitter gel pen. I like the pastel set that I bought from Hobby Lobby. It is from Loew Cornell and has 48 nice-sized sticks in a great range of colors.  

I embellished with pressed flowers and flat, acrylic rhinestones. The postage stamp is made with a bead soup glued into the rectangle space.

I sealed the pastel design with spray fixative. I applied glue to the backsides of the foam hearts and sandwiched the paperclip and some silk flower petals between them. I clipped it to dry.

I traced the envelope flap onto a piece of red craft paper, cut out and added for an envelope liner.

The envelope closure is made with a hook and loop dot.

I dry-brushed a bronze, coin charm with a metallic gold paint pen. I embellished the envelope flap with the bow. I attached bead dangles and the coin charm with a jump ring through a punched hole in the flap.

I finished the clips by adding glitter paint, beads, sequins and flat rhinestones. brushing with Mod-Podge to seal. The paperclip has a different design on each side.

This sweet little decorative envelope set could add a garden ambience to a sunroom table or enhance a foyer console display. It could decorate a cabinet or shelf vignette. It could even be used as craft studio decor and do double duty as papercrafting storage.

The next time you want to toss out a mis-printed sheet or a damaged envelope, salvage and alter it. They also make nice gifts ribbon-tied in 3's. But watch who you give them to. Some people don't know what these types of artsy gifts are for. 😄

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Order a mini hearts envelopes printable from Love Romance Marriage. Use them in collage, altered art and journal making. Use to store tiny stamps and ephemera. Use as thank-you notes.

Handmade Mini Accordian Journal Tutorial

I had a lightweight piece of folded scrap cardboard with even the little end flap folded. I liked it and didn't want to toss it. I also had written the word*LOVE* on a scrap of paper with the last of some glitter paint in a squeeze bottle. 

One day I thought, This love word would fit perfectly on the front, and I could make a mini folded book. Instead of time-worn love themes, I decided on the scripture Love thy neighbor as thyself. (Mark 12:31)

I thought about a neighborhood design with houses made of triangles and squares of scrap paper. I then changed the theme to the paraphrase I love myself and my neighbors benefit! This fitted perfectly with my belief that if we don't learn to love ourselves first we can't truly love anyone else. I decided it would focus on self-love and high self-esteem.

I painted the entire piece of cardboard, back and front, with metallic copper acrylic paint in one of the 4 oz bottles from the craft section at Wmart. I then dry-brushed in places gold glitter paint.

I added a flower die cut and a faceted metallic rhinestone to accent the O in Love. I added sequins and other rhinestones to embellish the front.

I kept gathering all types of scraps from my scavenged stash to fill out my neighborhood and the sky above. I typed out and printed the quote and collaged it down. The phrases Be Happy and Count Your Blessings are from a sheet of transparent quote stickers for scrapbooking.

I made flower bushes by cutting up used greeting cards. I made trees by cutting turquoise cardstock with decorative paper edger scissors and drawing on details. My color theme evolved into mostly purple, yellow and turquoise.

On the back side and further playing on the neighborhood/home theme, I designed the narrow flap to mimic a front door. The 2 strings with end beads simulates a pull doorbell. The eye and the inkwell leads to what is inside, a chance to write something good about self.

Once you open the door, you can see the full invitation quote, What I love about me. Two micro tags are attached to the door chime pulls and are not removable. The mini tag with the colorful pony beads strung on eyelash yarn can be removed from the heart-printed, vellum pocket. On these tags are to be written a few individual words that describe what is beautiful about you.

The bluebird, the fence and the flower bush was cut from greeting cards. The seagulls are clip art.

As you can imagine, this was a very satisfying project. This sweet little handmade book got away from me when it sold at Etsy. 🥲 Like a loved one who has passed, I have the pics to remind me of happy times and to share. We can try but we can never really remake one-offs. The spirit is just not there, although something brand new and just as beautiful can be made.

I love the creative flow of altered art. It can be exhausting to think about creating something like this. The ease is in receiving the inspiration and letting the flow come and then it creates itself. It also tells you when it's finished.