Stationery from Japan

Hey there, lovely to see you today!

I was given this sweet package from family members who took a trip to Tokyo, Japan:

The packaging is simple but the shop's stamp and sticker are both cute and effective. As an added detail, a small origami doll was included...TADA!

Have a look at the gifts inside. 

The long envelope contained three bookmarks. The material is similar to grasscloth that gives the bookmarks some texture. I just love the kissing bunnies and I can't wait to use them (and I do read two or more books at the same time)!

This is a book containing notepaper. The paper also has texture and I can imagine it would be lovely to write on with a felt-tip pen.

I love stationery and the ones from Japan are beautiful and are of very good quality. As with the rest of my stationery, I always wait for the perfect occasion to use them. 

Now, can we return to the origami doll decorating the package? I'm quite obsessed. I want to make my own version, too.

I looked through my stash of paper remnants left over from card making and scrapbooking and trimmed the paper into squares measuring 3.5 inches by 3.5 inches.

Using this origami doll tutorial, I made these dolls using construction paper, gift wrap remnants, and security envelopes...TADA! I used white glue to hold the folds in place.

These origami dolls are made from construction paper, floral gift tissue, and card stock (heads/faces)...TADA!

Here is a variation...short hair and floral accents. 

Just by adding paper wings, my origami dolls are now angels...TADA!

And that is how I turned my paper stash from blah to TADA!

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Three Thoughts for July

Happy July Everyone!

Here are a few little thrills now that the summer months in the U.S. are in full swing:

1. Fourth of July Fireworks

Independence Day is always capped with a display of fireworks, the most popular being the Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks live in New York City and broadcast on TV. Did you catch it? It's a show that never gets old, always leaving children and adults in awe.

Our town and the neighboring towns have our own fireworks display. It's usually held in a park where people can picnic and play, until it's dark enough for the light show to begin. A community gathering and a festive atmosphere turns the start of July from blah to TADA!

2. Books and Trips to the Beach

I'm all about summer reading lists and book recommendations. I take a book with me wherever I go (along with a handmade bookmark) -- it keeps me occupied when I have to wait and deters me from scrolling on my phone. Of course, reading on the beach is on top of the list around this time of year...TADA!

3. Always Have Snacks

I love me a good snack: chips, biscuits, cookies, trail mix, chocolate, candy, you name it! I'll always have some around so that I'm ready when the craving hits. That's why I got such a kick out of this storage solution/art installation:

I saw this candy cabinet at a department store and thought this would be a cool DIY project for furniture that needs a new lease on life like an old medicine cabinet. Just add the cheeky message, "In case of emergency break glass" using alphabet stickers, stencils or brush lettering...TADA!

Wishing you lots of thrills this July!

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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Transforming a Junk Mail Envelope

Perhaps you still get junk mail in your mail box? 

The dictionary defines junk mail as "unsolicited mail that consists mainly of promotional materials, catalogs, and requests for donations."

While the amount had lessened over the years, I still receive my fair share of junk mail. Most of it goes to the recycling bin but some I save so I can turn them from blah to TADA! 

This was an envelope I kept from a credit card company. I like that it's bigger than the standard size and made of thicker paper. 

The first step of repurposing this envelope is to cover all the branding and printed matter. I do this with white acrylic paint and a paintbrush. I do about three coats of paint with drying time in between.

Now that the envelope looks like a blank slate, let's use some art journaling techniques like collage. I simply tore magazine pages and glued them randomly on the envelope (both sides). 

Another technique is adding color. I applied green and yellow paint on the envelope using a damp sponge. Sponge painting adds dimension through its unique patterns...TADA!

I'm adding even more collage. I think the birds from this clothing catalog are a good fit. 

A bird cutout for the front of the envelope, secured in place with glue.

And another bird cutout for the back. I used a paper punch and hole punch to make the confetti that I also glued on. 

Here are some of the details up close.

I love how layered it looks and how we instantly transformed junk mail from blah to TADA!

So, how will you recycle your junk mail?

*****

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New Purpose for A Passport Case

Hello and thank you that you're here!

While tidying my closet, I found some purses, wallets, and travel accessories.

This passport case stood out because I've had it for years but I never used it. The passport case I currently use is just the right size and I'm pretty satisfied with it. But maybe I can still use this one and turn it from blah to TADA! 

It's made of leather and has a nice camel color.

Inside it has a lot of pockets for cards, cash, and other small things we carry daily or during our travels.

 

I'm reminded of the Traveler's Notebook with a soft leather cover.

Inside the Traveler's Notebook, you can add small notebooks for note-taking and sketching, as well as additional accessories that help in memory keeping and organization.

It's quite a cool system that's portable and can be used over the years. 

Here's another leather case, this time for the Field Notes notebook. 

It's a handsome leather case that fits the notebook, a pen, and things that you'd normally carry in your wallet. It's both a wallet and small folio that you can tuck in your back pocket or fit a tiny bag. 

I think my leather passport case now has new purpose!

I slid a notebook in one of its pockets. 

This one fits perfectly but I can look around in stationery shops like Muji or Yoseka for similar-sized notebooks. I also sneaked in a thin pen in the centerfold of the passport case. 

The pockets will store journaling supplies like washi tape and stickers, and also for keeping ephemera like business cards and flat mementos. 

This passport case continues to be a passport to adventure! I'm using it as a journaling notebook that will keep me company for daily excursions and longer vacations together with my compact watercolor kit. If you want to explore journaling, here is an informative article to get you started.  

And that is how I turned a leather passport case from blah to TADA!

*****

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Tinting Paper using Peony Petals

I've said it before and I'll say it again...

Peonies are one of my favorite flowers! They are bold, bountiful, and really command attention. That's why I've used peonies as a muse for many crafty blah to TADA! transformations:

Handmade paper flowers made from gift tissue...TADA!

Creative gift wrapping where I turned an empty jar from blah to TADA!

A page from my Art journal where I used watercolor and a felt tip pen...TADA! 

And still another page from my art journal where I used rubber stamped-peonies, colored pencils, and collage...TADA!

Even if my peonies have wilted, don't they still look beautiful? Instead of tossing them right away, I'm going to experiment using these peony petals as dye. 

I separated the petals and spread them on top of white paper (this is copy paper) that I trimmed into rectangles (about 4 inches by 6 inches).

I'm using these cake pans to help me stack my paper. This is what I had in my cupboards. You can use saucers, tiles or other objects with a flat surface.  

Flip one of the cake pans so that the bottom faces you. Lay one sheet of paper with petals on top of the cake pan. 

Keep adding another sheet of paper with petals on top until you have six stacks.

Top the stack with another cake pan, this time the inside facing you. The goal is to sandwich the paper with the two cake pans. If you have a few more sheets of paper with petals, put them inside the cake pan and use a smaller cake pan to sandwich this set. 

I gently put my cake pans sandwiched with paper and petals inside a cooking pot. I weighed everything down with a marble mortar bowl (from a mortar and pestle set). They key here is to add a weight so that when boiling water is poured inside the pot, the cake pans do not float and release the sandwiched paper and petals.

I poured freshly boiled water inside the pot, making sure to cover the paper. Then I let this sit for at least two hours. 

Then I removed the cake pans from the pot, took out the paper, and placed the paper on an old t-shirt or towel to absorb the moisture. If you can see, there are hints of the color pink that have stained the paper. 

Wrap the paper in the old t-shirt or towel and put a weight on top of it (like a stack of books, making sure to put a plastic bag between the books and the t-shirt/towel bundle to keep the books from getting wet). Leave this to dry overnight. 

Unwrap the bundle and take out the paper. It will still be a little damp.

Slowly separate the layers. 

Gently peel off the petals and discard them. They have done their job by adding pink tint to the paper...TADA! 

Leave the paper to dry completely.

I can use my peony petal-tinted papers as stationery, for scrapbooking, art journaling, and collage. 

And that is how I turned wilted flowers from blah to TADA!

*****

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