Recycled envelope book

By Spotlight

Don’t let bills get you down... instead use the envelopes they come in for creative purposes.

Final Result

Materials

• 12-18 used envelopes
• paints in colours of choice
• paint brush & palette
• water jar
• scrapbook paper
• sewing machine
• perle thread or embroidery floss
• buttons
• darning needle
• scissors
• optional - bead

Step 1

Paint
Collect envelopes of varying sizes. Cover both sides of the envelopes with a paint wash and allow to dry.

Step 2

Pages
When the envelopes are dry fold them in half with the opening at the top. Take three folded envelopes and place one inside the other making sure the folds are aligned. Stitch together down the fold using the sewing machine with stitch set longer than normal. Repeat for each set of envelopes.

Step 3

Cover
Cut a strip of scrapbook paper 2cm wider than the height of the envelopes (13cm). Mark the centre at top and bottom edges then mark 5mm on each side of the centre. Fold along each 5mm line to create the spine.

Step 4

Stitch
Place stitched envelopes into cover and using needle and thread stitch to spine as shown in diagram.

Step 5

Buttons
Fold front and back edges of cover under 1.5cm and stitch a button on both sides of the front. Stitch a button on each side of the back edge leaving thread long enough to bring to the front and wrap around the front button. Add a bead to the end of the thread if desired.

Handy Hint

When opening mail, slit across the top of the envelope for a neat finish.

Handy Hint

Use for storing business cards, notes, postcards and diary information.

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