Hello! Last week I joined a FB group that does weekly swap events of different kinds for junk journal craft-artisans. I signed up for an event the day after I joined for altering 2 security window business envelopes per swapping. I decided to go all gusto and signed up for 2 partners!! Mine to get have not been received yet but my receivers have mine so I can now share online!
I did 3 almost identical to each other except for color tones and then ventured out to do 1 with different stamps and stencils. Belly bands/closures are different for each which are extra items that I didn't have to do. These were my FIRST altered envelopes to ever do!!!! It was scary at first but I quickly figured out how to do a 'template' to do the paper application layer all in 1 piece!!! Yes, I did! ------->
back side of green:
front side of yellow:
These business envelopes had been saved from mailings and were sitting in my desk drawer. So they're not only altered, they're recycled/upcycled!
Papers were stenciled first (letters, numbers, and symbols for yellow; flourishes, +/x, and striped hearts for green, blue, and purple) then stamped with multiple designs and sentiments; smeared and/or dabbed ink pads, decorative tapes to surround the windows were I was uneven; cardstock or patterned paper scraps to fill in the window space/cover the security lining print; and then kept closed with their belly bands/closures
One of my swap partners says she has a February junk journal that she will incorporate the 2 received! I thought that was a great idea to have monthly JJs. Personally I really love how the 'girl boss' turned out. I'd just received that stamp along with the 'hustle' sentiment phrase stamp as a set in a mystery clearance box purchase from Peachy Cheap website. I wasn't sure if I would ever use it but for this project, it was a great choice!
Challenge Blogs to share/link are:
1. Moving Along With the Times challenge blog; started Feb 1 w/ 1 more day; theme of numbers; MY yellow envelope has some numbers stenciled on it
link= http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/2023/02/challenge-151-for-february.html
2. As You Like It Challenges blog; Feb/since 23rd; Favorite Stencil or freestyle background; MY envelopes have several stencils and stamping to create my own "patterned papers" for the altered envelopes instead of pasting a bunch of papers, dictionary/book page scraps, etc. for a crazy quilt look. Why? The JJ group and swap are brand new to me and I was wanting to push/reawaken my creative thoughts. Most of my cards, bookmarks, and TNs are mixed media but they are usually fairly controlled following a sketch or trying to stay 'composed'. With the stencils and stamps I used for the envelopes' outer papers I was just doing everything fairly quickly and random angles/placements with some overlapping.
link= http://asyoulikeitchallenge.blogspot.com/2023/02/favourite-stencil-or-freestyle.html
3. Path of Positivity challenge blog; Feb/current; anything uplifting/encouraging and option of fashion inspiration; MY yellow envelope has the very stylish 'girl boss' image that just gives such a strong powerful vibe
link= https://pathofpositivitychallenge.blogspot.com/2023/02/ch-109-anything-goes-positive-with-opt.html
4. Get Creative Challenges blog; from Feb 6th; theme of hearts & where anything can be made; MY green, blue, and purple envelopes have heart(s) with stripes and small hearts in clusters
link= http://getcreativechallenges.blogspot.com/2023/02/118-hearts.html
5. Beyond The Blue challenge blog; Stencil crazy; use more than 1 stencil; MY altered envelopes have 2 or more stencils on them--yellow envelope has 2 different stencils with lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols; blue, green, and purple envelopes have flourishes using the 1st stencil; +/x using a 2nd stencil; heart clusters using a 3rd stencil; and striped hearts using a 4th stencil
6. Mixed Media Lovers challenge blog; about 4 days or less left to February challenge; theme= washi tape; MY altered envelopes have 3 glitter tapes (1 color per envelope), and a micro-thin yellow tape for the yellow envelope
link= https://mixedmedialovers.blogspot.com/2023/02/challenge-22-washi-tape.html
7. Crazy is our fame--Stencils are our game challenge blog; February; stencils usage with option of hearts; MY altered envelopes = 3 colors (green, blue, purple) have 2 different heart stencils applied as well as flourish stencil & +x stencil; the yellow envelope has different stencils used
8. The Outlawz Saturday Paper A La Mode; February 2023; anything but a card & Feb theme "I Love..."; MY blog post is about altered business envelopes to use for junk journals and I love trying new things, mixed media, color, having time to be creative, etc.
link= https://theoutlawzchallenges-saturday.blogspot.com/2023/02/the-outlawz-saturday-paper-la-mode.html
and Facebook groups to share/link are:
A. Need Crafty Inspiration?-- for me, joining this JJ group was to spark some creativity...to keep me fresh and refreshed; it's been several years since I've done a JJ
B. Mixed Media Creativity
C. Paper, Paper, Paper and DT Calls
D. Paper Crafting Galleria
E. Mixed Media Art
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Crafting in the USA Midwest Region with some snow on the way tonight!,
Becca S
