Mail Art Booklet

Booklet Construction

   So, for those of you that don't know, the group that I lead is celebrating it's 2nd birthday. Envie Addicts Unite! has been around for a long time. To celebrate we are stepping outta our comfort zone and doing some more unusual mail. Some of the players are sending objects, while others are going to try to send different shaped envelopes and postcards. I've sent out my September mail, so I can share it's construction here with you. :)

   Before I do though, let me show you the finished project, that way you can decided if you want to know how to make it. The one that I'm showing you was sent to a good friend of mine, that I met on AFA. (ATC's For All) She is one of my swap "buddies." (helper) I thought it fitting, to send her something more personal. The first pic shows the front....

I used a few real stamps...Wasn't sure how much I should use, so I guessed, then added more! In the bottom left corner I added faux stamps. The black edges that you see is Washi tape. It's lining the whole project. The blue leaves....I made a stencil out of junk mail....drew in some veins with a white Uniball pen. ....and of course....a few rubber stampings fill up the blank spots nicely. 

The above pic is showing the back of the project. The floral Washi tape is there just for it's trip through the mail. I've asked my friend Juanita to remove and discard the tape. Kinda self explanatory. It's got more rubber stamping, stenciling and a red wax seal. So now let's open up this booklet...

Here it is part of the way opened. Not sure how well you can see the pic. (My comp is small, so I can't see the smaller writing...but basically it's a poem about Persimmons....'Cause we're ushering in the Fall soon. On the opposite side is a map that I aged with blue Distress Ink. 

Let's open this booklet up all the way...

Now it is completely opened. If you haven't guessed yet, these are three envelopes glued to each other to form the booklet. The fun thing is the pockets! On the first panel, to the left, I copied down the poem "Sea Fever" by Robert Frost. It's one of my favorite poems. To compound the idea of the sea, I added a postcard from my recent trip to the beach in Washington State. I wrote a personal note on the back of it. Here it is a little closer...

On the middle panel I added a "Found Relative" card and wrote a personal note to Juanita all around it. In the pocket is another postcard, but this time it is of an artist that I admire, Wayne Thiebaud. Another note is scribbled at the back of this postcard..

I have to have some original art up in this thing! So in the last panel in this booklet, I added a postcard done by moi. :) the front panel is of a map, that I aged with a blue Distress Ink. I've X marked a spot that says, "Crab Sightings"...and yes, it's because the art is of a crab.

Are you still here? Still interested? If you are, no worries, the construction takes less explaining! Ha! First, grab three envelopes of your choosing. I'm using a kraft paper envelope by "The Paper Studio" I bought mine from Hobby Lobby, but I have seen it at Micheal's and Joann's as well. Next....

...using a paper trimmer, cut the bottoms off two of the envelopes. Not a lot, just enough for there to be an opening. Add glue to one of the flaps and slide it into the bottom of one of the cut envelopes. Do the same for the next envelope. As far as glue, I'm using Tombow, but any white glue should suffice. In the last pic, of the above cluster, you can see it all strung together. It's practically done! Let it dry a little then move on...

You don't really have to do this part, but I seen it on Pinterest and liked how it looks. I used Washi tape to line the whole project. I liked the more mature look with the kraft paper and black lining, but think of it being colorful, light and fun! ...Anyhoot, there ya go! A blank space to decorate. If you make one, let me know. I'd love to see what you've done. :)