File Folder Envelope Tutorial - Mail Art Challenge

I had a request to share a tutorial on how I made this piece of mail art for a recent swap. Tiffany over at Southern Gals Designs on YouTube got some girls together who are mail art junkies to participate in this fun challenge. We had to create a decorated envie and incorporate text paper somewhere on the envelope. That was the only rule, other than filling it with at least three items for the recipient.

Here's what I came up with...

Finished File Folder Envelope ~ Mail Art Challenge

And here's the back:

I took pics along the way to show a bit of the process, but hadn't originally intended to make a full-blown tutorial. Since I didn't document everything fully, if anything is unclear, just pop me a question in the comments below.

Step One: Gather Materials

• Text Paper
• Scrapbook Paper
• Embellishments/Images
• Manila File Folder
• Envelope Template (I used an old greeting card envelope)
• Sewing Machine & Choice of Thread
• Paint, Pens, etc. 

To fulfill the challenge to use text paper, I chose a couple sheets from this handy dandy vintage typewriting manual. I thought it was appropriate since so many of us mixed media artists love our typewriters and vintage ephemera. This one is from 1951, a treasure I found when helping an older gentleman clean out his storage shed. I got a sweet blue typewriter as well (I will show pics soon!).

Front Cover ~ 20th Century Typewriting Course

I just love the images and typewriting exercises!

Inside front cover 

On the inside front cover is a series of "finger gymnastics", designed to help you warm up. It's tough banging away on those keys! No. 6 looks a bit like a Vulcan peace sign.

I also found these jumbo postage stamp images on a piece of junk mail featuring vintage stamps from the 1950's. I thought it went well with the 1950's typewriting manual.

Who said junk mail can't be useful? Fodder for mail art!

I opened a large greeting card envelope and laid it flat. I traced it on a dog-eared manila folder that still had some life in it. You can also use a fancy envelope punch or Google some printable envelope templates to find the size and shape you like best.

Flattened manila folder envelope

OK, obviously the pic above is well into the process. I had already collaged everything and did the sewing. But you can get the gist of what the envie looked like before folding. This is the inside.

The next step was collaging the images and scrapbook paper to the envelope. I ran out of Mod Podge, so I used a homemade decoupage (roughly 50/50 Elmer's Glue and water). This part was tedious and a little messy. I had to be careful since I was dealing with delicate vintage paper. I kept the layers of glue thin by scraping over the top of each paper with a credit card. I used my hair dryer (heat gun) to quickly dry. I believe I also let it hang out a while and finish drying, but I can't remember for sure. Of course, the edges curled up a bit as you can see in the pics, but once I began scoring, folding, and sewing, I beat them into submission.

Front of file folder envelope in process

I like the smooth texture the homemade decoupage provides. I'm not sure the overall archival quality of it, but it works well when you are trying to save money. The various scrapbook papers were leftover bits from other projects. They were cut into scallops, pennants, etc. to add a little interest to the edges and flaps of the envelope.  I used one of the typewriting diagrams for the main focal point, and then glued Tiffany's initials to the top of the typewriter. I also cut out the letters to spell PRACTICE. {Thanks to Lynn Lassen for the alphabet letters!}

I used my sewing machine to sew along the edges. I used a fancy little embroidery stitch as well as straight stitching. It's all a little imperfect, but that adds to the charm. I also sewed along the top of the alphabet letters to add texture and to make sure those little guys stayed secure.

Everything was creased by hand and by using the back of a pair of scissor handles to keep the folds fairly crisp. Here is the envelope beginning to take shape. I enjoyed the way the vintage stamp images overlapped to create a flag or bunting effect.

File Folder Envelope Sewn

As you can see here, the envelope is nice and thick. I've added the little gifts inside. I used hot glue to glue the envelope back together. I will explain more about this in a minute.

Thick sturdy file folder envelope

Practice Makes Perfect - True in Typing and ART!

Fun postage that kept true to the color palette of Black, White and Red

I added some details with thinned acrylic paint. This including grunging up the typewriter paper on the front and flicking some black and white paint splatters here and there. It reminded me of ink splats or little drops of White-Out Correction fluid. ;-)

I kept some plastic sheets that once contained punch-out labels to use as a stencil. I wanted to create a place to write the addresses on the front and back. I used the thin white paint to keep it semi-transparent. I did outlining with pens (regular ballpoint and micron, I believe) and also a dark sketching pencil.

Hot Glue Seals this Handmade Envelope

Once I was done, I was ready to close the final flap of the envelope. I was stumped at first, because I wanted to make sure Tiffany could still open the envelope, but since it was thick and bulky I knew the glue or tape had to be strong enough to hold it shut. Since my choices were limited, I decided to continue on with the hot glue.

I added a drop of glue in the top corners and another along the middle of the flap. I finished it off with a large circle of glue at the "V". That flap wasn't going anywhere! It reminded me a little bit of an old-fashioned wax-seal, but on the inside. I sent Tiff a message about how I sealed it. I told her to just take something sharp like a metal palette knife to scrape under the dabs of hot glue. It looked like it would open with minimal damage to the design.

Well, that's basically it. I am pleased with it and hope to make more envelopes like this. I still have tons of that yummy typewriter manual paper to use, and I have ideas for other envies that will help me use up some of my stash. The thickness and durability of the envelope makes it appealing. With an added layer of mod podge or other sealer, these could also make nice storage envelopes.

I wanted to add that I was also inspired by some delicious handmade envelopes by Yoliebean, which I watched before making mine. Here's the video that got my wheels turning when trying to figure out the substrate for my project. Her work is beautiful!

Never hesitate to ask any questions~~~
Sandra Lee

Customized Moleskin Journal Flip

Look what I've won! Thanks to Betty G. Richardson for this lovely journal. You can visit her blog at:
http://artyauntie.blogspot.com/

Here's a YouTube video showing the prize I won for Betty's cover art contest.

Kandinsky ATC #3

Kandinsky ATC 3/4 by Sandra Martin, Creative Currents

Invest yourself in everything you do. There’s fun in being serious.

~Wynton Marsalis

In my third artist trading card paying homage to Kandinsky, I used a couple of my favorite color combos, coral and turquoise. I intermixed them with quite a few primary colors, too. 

I think this card is probably the most feminine of the four. Lots of fun shapes...the pearl-like circles, the paisley-like shape, and a little red heart peeking in the top right corner. The atmosphere is fun and light, fitting perfectly with Wynton's quote. 

The blue circle on the bottom right reminds me of the earth. There are also a lot of interlocking circles which remind me of the vesica piscis from sacred geometry, symbolic of birth. This is one I don't want to interpret too deeply, but just enjoy the dance of colors and shapes. 

Next, I will share about the last card in the series, number 4. 

To view the others:

Full Reveal

Kandinsky ATC 1/4

Kandinsky ATC 2/4

Sandra Lee

Kandinsky ATC #2

Kandinsky ATC 2/4 by Sandra Martin, Creative Currents

“That’s the thing about jazz: it’s free flowing, it comes from your soul.” 

― Billy Crystal

In my second ATC in the Kandinsky series, I filled the space with a busy array of shapes and colors as I listened to jazz music. Most of the music flowing through Pandora was mellow, like this piece called Stardust by Wynton Marsalis. Some of that was captured in the light purple section on the left.

I enjoyed paying homage to Kandinsky in this free flow work. I tried not to stress over mimicking him exactly. But at times I tried to echo the many-layered circles he is known for. Much of the time, though, my own style and mark-making shines through. 

Billy Crystal's quote about jazz is equally true of spontaneous art. In that place of free flow and letting go, our soul is revealed. Things seem to bubble to the surface on their own accord.

When I look at this piece, again with some distance now, I see a story revealed in the seemingly random marks. The "Kandinsky circles" remind me of cells in the body, dividing and forming new life, thoughts, and ideas. I see a leaf emerging...another symbol of life.

Some of the symbols I was conscious of as I created, but I didn't overthink things. I simply recorded. There are three crosses at the top, symbolic of my faith. In the top right corner is a word balloon. This is a picture of the dialogue between the artist and that which inspires him or her...whether that is God, a piece of music, or their environment. 

The word balloon is also a slight nod to the Peanuts comic strip, which as many of you remember was animated in the 60's and 70's. And the Peanuts theme and other music on the soundtracks were composed by none other than the great jazz musician Wynton Marsalis. 

Keep Creating~
Sandra Lee

Kandinsky ATC #1

Kandinsky ATC 1/4 by Sandra Martin, Creative Currents

“Jazz is the music of the body. The breath comes through brass. It is the body’s breath, and the strings’ wails and moans are echoes of the body’s music. It is the body’s vibrations which ripple from the fingers. And the mystery of the withheld theme, known to jazz musicians alone, is like the mystery of our secret life. We give to others only peripheral improvisations.” 

― Anaïs Nin, The Diary of Anaïs Nin, Vol. 5: 1947-1955

This is the first of a series I created for an ATC swap last month, which you can see here. One requirement was to use a resist technique. The bottom layer was created with rubber cement, a spiral dot stencil, and acrylic paints thinned to a watercolor wash.

I turned on the jazz on Pandora and began playing with shapes, color, and recording my emotions. I remember towards the end of the creation of this piece, I saw how much the abstract shapes reminded me of a city, particularly New York City. There seems to be a great deal of traffic, blinking lights, and buildings compressed in this busy abstract landscape. I even see a river and lines which remind me of bridges.

Looking at it with fresh eyes today, I also see anatomy as well. This often happens in my abstract work. It's as if the inner workings of the body are put on display. I see a windpipe here, which also resembles a city street. It runs at a diagonal. There is a funny purple and red shape near the top right which looks like puckered lips. The lips are releasing little red shapes which I see now as music notes! This sound is going forth over the city skyline below.

It sometimes feels odd explaining my abstract pieces. But this is truly how I see my work. I don't always have to be conscious of what I am painting or drawing. But these forms always carry meaning and there's usually a story.

What do you see happening in this piece? Feel free to share you thoughts below.

Sandra Lee

Happy Mail Moment: Recycled Envelope Art ~ Creative Currents

Here's a quick video showing a recycled decorated envie I made for a mail art swap. The envie is full of destash goodies from my studio.

Sandra L. Martin
Creative Currents

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MUSIC CREDIT

"That's for Sure" by Clarence Simpson
Profile and Sample here
CCMixter.org ~ Royalty Free Music

Happy Thoughts 365 ~ #26 ~ April Showers Decorated Envie

Here's an envelope I decorated for a recent mail art swap. The envelope is a big bubble mailer which I used to house an art journal and a piece of art. The theme was "April Showers." 

This little boy was from a vintage Childcraft book full of stories and poems. I loved the 1970's illustrations and photos. I couldn't resist his little scrunched up face under that raincoat. Inspired by the Wizard of Oz, I wanted to turn his "black and white" humdrum world into a world of color and rainbows. So I added details with acrylic paints and also did some stamping. I think it conveys his youth and optimism. It certainly makes me happy! 

Rain, Rain go away.

Come again another day.

Little Johnny wants to play.

OLD RHYME

Happy Thoughts 365 ~ #24 ~ Decorated Envies

Recently I was invited to participate in an ATC swap via Artful Mail Groupies on Facebook. It's a warm, chatty group of women who love making and receiving mail art in many forms, and the occasional box or envelope of "Happy Mail" (goodies from the sender's stash of crafty stuff). I broke out the colored pencils and some Easter stickers I had on hand and added a quote on each one. (Names and addresses of recipients covered with some of my colorful stamps for privacy)

The quotes transcribed, from left to right:

Spring is God's way of saying, 'one more time!' ~ Robert Orben

Spring is Nature's way of saying, 'Let's Party!' ~ Robin Williams

Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows Poems. ~ Rainier Maria Rilke

Happiness? The color of it must be spring green... ~ Frances Mayes

Blessings,
Sandra Lee