As the hostess of "Mail Me Some Art" I get a lot of mail every week.
Many of the envelopes people use to send their swap items are works of art themselves. Sometimes I reuse them, but since most of my own mail art takes the post card form, I don't use that many envelopes. Some are just too beautiful to recycle, so they've been piling up in a basket.
I finally had a great idea for using them.
I turned them into pages in a hand-bound journal!
I folded each envelope in half, and used three envelopes per signature.
There are 8 signatures, and I used a long-stitch binding.
It's pretty fat, so I incorporated a stretchy band into the back cover so I can hold it closed.
The front and back covers came from a cardboard envelope sent to me by Valerie. The spine is duct tape.
I'm not sure what I'll use it for, but I'm in love with this book.
Here's a shaky one-handed flip-through if you want to see a little more.
I think it is pretty all on its own, kind of a signature piece. And I love how you bound it together. Nice!!
ReplyDelete~Dawn
Bookbinding is so much fun. What a great idea, too, to use those beautiful envelopes.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great idea! Having so many different styles represented makes the book quite interesting..
ReplyDeleteWhat a fab idea, Karen! Great way to do something with the mail art envies from my pen pals! Thanks.
ReplyDeletelove it! This is similar to what I did with all of mine from Swapbot, though I altered a book with mine, I think the next one I do will be more like your format (then I can add as many as i'd like)
ReplyDeleteGood idea - so fun to see one of my envelopes in there!
ReplyDeleteMine have been piling up too so will follow your lead and bind them up. Thanks for the inspiration.
Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteFarStarr--isn't it? I want one!
DeleteVery cool!!
ReplyDeleteKaren -- FABULOUS idea (as usual) and I may have to steal the book....er...idea...myself. I have so many envelopes -- what a terrific way to use them. I love the book.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great idea! I loved seeing your mail art at the SFCB this week!
ReplyDeleteI'll mail you some art!
How cool is this! I have used some envelopes as tip ins for journal pages, but a whole book--how amazing!
ReplyDeleteI thing I even saw a bit of one of mine wobbling by...
We all agree - you're a genius! While I don't have many envelopes, I do have boxes of postcards and binding them sounds PERFECT!
ReplyDeleteOooh Terry, that would be one more nice way to store my MailArt PCs - thanks for the idea!!
DeleteThis is really gorgeous, and I love the idea!
ReplyDeleteYou have every right to love that book! Fabulous!! Great colors! YUM-my!!
ReplyDeleteI love that even the cover is an envelope. Beautiful book!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! You could use it as a coffee table book.
ReplyDeleteoh BEautimous BEautimous wise Karen!! you inspire!!
ReplyDeleteThat is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThat is pretty awesome right there!
ReplyDeleteI have been saving my received envies just for something like this. Wasn't sure how to pull it all together, but I am now! Karen, this is so awesome! I hope you don't mind me "borrowing" this idea! :)
ReplyDelete