Envelope Book Instructions

Supplies:-

•     4 (or any number you like) matching envelopes

•     2 pieces matte board or heavy cardstock cut 1/8" larger than envelopes on every side

•     4 sheets decorative paper - 2 pieces cut 1" larger than matte board on every side (these will be your cover papers)    & 2 pieces cut 1/8" smaller than matte board on every side (these will be the inside covers).

•     1 sheet cardstock cut same width as envelopes by 9 cm long (this will be your spine - increase length if you add      envelopes)

•     Tags – if you want to use them

•     adhesive

•     paper cutter or scissors

•     bone folder

Directions:-

•     First take your pieces of matte board (or heavy card) and score a line one centimetre in from the side (where your spine will be) on each one – use your bone folder to fold back carefully, making sure you don’t split the board

•     If you are going to stamp the cover paper, do that first. You can add layers and/or embellishments later if you wish to.  Apply adhesive all over one side of the matte board and adhere to the cover papers, folding carefully at the pre-scored fold, to avoid creasing later on.  Mitre the corners, make sure there’s enough adhesive on them and fold down.  Always glue opposite sides first – so top and bottom and/or sides first and then the other two.  NOTE the second envelope book was not covered with paper - it was decorated with Adirondack Dabbers (resist technique) and Adirondack Pool ink, then overstamped.

•     Measure & score the cardstock for the spine, every 1cm along the width (7 scores) and accordion fold. If you have a Scor-it, this is really easy - just line the card up with the half inch mark on the ruler at the top and score, then flip, move the score line to the half inch mark and score again, repeating until you've scored each line.  This gives you a really tight, perfectly aligned concertina. Using Double sided tape, attach one end to the inside of each cover – making sure that you have four valley folds for your envelopes.   

•     Glue the inside covers to the other sides of the matte boards, covering the edge of the  cardstock you’ve already glued to them.

•     Decorate the envelopes on the flap side (or both sides), remembering that the one centimetre on the left hand side of the envie won’t be seen as it will be inside the accordion fold, then attach the back bottom edge to the spine on the FRONT side of each fold with d/s tape.   

    I stippled with Fluid Chalks, then stamped the envelopes to create more of a background effect - the tags and the flaps provided the main focus.

    Stamps used were Time to Stamp's Photo Booth plate I (for the women images) and ATC 1 & 2 for the design elements.

•         Add layers, stamped images or embellishments to your cover if you wish.

Book hinges

  Decorate tags to go inside the envelopes – or use A6 pieces of card – or use your imagination as these envelopes could hold all kinds of treasures and/or keepsakes.

These pages were made by stamping with Adirondack Dabbers, heat setting, then sponging inks over the top.  The ink was removed from the dried Acrylic paint with a baby wipe, which also blends the inks a little, giving you some nice shade variations.