Package Upcycling?

Like so many of us I have a repeat prescription and use a postal pharmacy to get it filled each month.  Sometimes the little boxes of pills come in strong card envelopes.  Of course these are far to good to just get put in the recycling bin so I save them.

The intention is to one day make a pocket journal or folder of some kind with them.  Last week the first of them was given a make over.

Firstly the envelope had to be prepared.

Sorry when it comes to moving pictures around "New Blogger" is absolute rubbish.   I am stuck with these two like this and not side by side as intended.

Using some old K & Co papers I've hoarded for years (including 2 house moves!) the front and back were covered and the edges "tidied" with wide Washi tape.   Gluing the paper on did leave quite a few wrinkles at first, a lot of these flattened as the glue dried and as everything would be covered a few wrinkles would not matter.

The whole of the flap was covered in Washi Tape.  It was mostly going to be covered but as small parts would show at the side the tape seemed a better option than gluing more paper on.

Look at all those wrinkles, I really have to work on my skills when it comes to pasting paper onto another flat(ish) surface!

Now came the fun part.   You might remember that last year I was very lucky and won a stash of printed pads from Mintay Papers.  They really are fabulous and cry out to be used, unlike other paper pads collected over the years these invite you to cut into them and use various elements from them.  I used a page from the 12" x 12" Urban Jungle pad.

None of the dimensions of the envelope are 12" but careful selection and some fussy cutting gave me a single piece for the flap, that actually comes down much further than the flap.  Two more sections cut from the same page were also fussy cut and stuck to the body of the envelope.   Before everything was stuck in place a tassel from a strand of gemstones was attached to a piece of cord and attached to the flap.  

When ever I die cut a tag the re-enforcing rings from the same die are saved, three of these were stuck together and then along with the tag holder also from that die, they were triple embossed with Brass ep. The little bird is from another TH die cut into yellow acetate, a scrap of vellum had been used to ink the rings and frame with gold ink this paper was placed behind the acetate and carefully cut around.  Sticky pads and self adhesive gems were used to finish everything off.

For the back I simply taped a stencil in place (before decorating the front).  The surface was not level the structure of the envelope gave it some un-evenness, so the stencil was not completely flat to it.

From 2017/18 I have several pots of embossing paste, some have already completely dried up others need using up.  Three colours of these pastes were spread over the stencil and as it was not completely flat there are a few smudges as well.  As the aim is to compile some sort of folder with these envelopes the backs need to be flat and as simply decorated as possible so this is all that has been done on this side.

Challenges

More than Words mini Challenge - Use the word New.  As usual I am being cheeky here as the paper prize was awarded by them I thought I would honour that by sharing this with them.

NBUS - #22 My Never Before Used Schtuff this time is the printed paper.

Use your Stuff - #414 Out with the Old.  The embossing paste, the left overs from die cutting, the acetate and vellum were also both left over scraps.  That paper as well, while not a left over it is very old perhaps 10 years so time to get used!

Get Creative - #97 Anything Goes, no twist this month.

613 Avenue - Anything Goes, no option this month.

We Love to Create - #1-2021 Always Anything Mixed Media Goes

Creative Fingers - #199 Anything Goes

   

OK that is enough of that I think, hope you enjoyed reading what went into this one.  Stay Safe, Keep Well, Wear Your Mask, and Have Fun.