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.
