Stationery Made from Junk Mail

I'm delighted to see you!

Last week, I transformed a junk mail envelope from blah to TADA! 

This was originally an envelope from a credit card mailer. I painted it white to cover any words and illustrations. Then I added sponge painting and collage to give it a layered look. This is the back of the envelope.  

Here is the front of the envelope. Notice the recurring bird theme? Since this is just an envelope, I had to make something to put inside. 

Today, I'll show you how to make this matching folder.

It begins with junk mail. It's been a habit of mine to figure out ways on how I can turn blah to TADA! before throwing things out, that's why I'm giving new life to this old election flyer. It's made of thicker material so that it has the heft of a notecard.  

I paint it with several coats of acrylic white paint with some drying time in between each coat. I really love this process because it reminds me of a blank slate. 

Once I'm satisfied with the paint coverage (very little visible signs of its past life), I trim it down with scissors. I want to make a small folder with two pockets on each side. I also make sure this folder will fit the envelope.  

The next step is collage. I'm using torn-up magazine pages applied to the folder with glue. I add it to both sides.  

Now, it's time for some sponge painting for color and texture. Let this dry and repeat on the other side. 

I folded and creased the bottom flaps and glued the sides together with hot glue. I plan to tuck in some handmade goodies in the pockets...TADA!

I added a strip of washi tape at the center to reinforce the seam and for a decorative edge. 

Let's tie the bird theme that appears on the envelope to the cover of the folder. This design was from a fashion catalog. I made flower-shaped confetti from the paper scraps with the help of a paper punch. 

Here's what the cover of the folder looks like...TADA! Can you believe that this was once junk mail? 

This is how I decorated the back of the folder. 

This is the inside of the folder with vibrant colors and pockets ready to be filled. Doesn't it complement the envelope?

This is how it looks on the flip side. 

Instant handmade stationery...this is how I turned junk mail from blah to TADA!

Part Three of this craft will be the treats that I'll put inside the folder. Stay tuned!

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