Sometimes inspiration comes from the strangest places . . . like credit card junk mail. For a while, I was getting a steady stream of American Express card offers in the mail and frankly I was pretty annoyed with the daily barrage of thick, paper wasting envelopes. One day, I opened up one of those envelopes on a whim and spotted a brilliant piece of printed paper. Part of the campaign was how American Express was my passport to whatever and they included a paper passport full of stamps. I was instantly inspired to use it in my art journal!
Supplies:
- Brown card stock
- various printed papers (maybe from junk mail!)
- tag or tag template
- word stamp
- black ink pad
- brown ink pad
- ribbon
- silver thread
- glass beads
- paper piercer
- sewing needle
- hole puncher
- eyelet
- decorative fibers
- metal tag
- double-stick tape
- small glue dots
- standard tape
- scissors or paper slicer
- hammer
- marker
Layer 1: Foundation
- Measure and cut a brown card stock square slightly smaller than the paper bag journal page.
Layer 2: Word Background
- Using printed paper, measure and cut a square slightly smaller than Layer 1.
- Ink up a word stamp of your choice and fill the square from top to bottom. Tip: Test your stamp on a test paper of the same pattern to see how the ink and stamp look before putting it on your final piece. Also, remember sometimes less is more when it comes to word stamps!
- Attach Layer 2 to Layer 1 using double-stick tape.
Layer 3: Passport Frame
- This where my junk mail makes its artistic debut! Any printed paper, however, will work. Measure and cut a rectangle slightly smaller than the height of Layer 2. Leave about a 1½” clearance along the left-hand side.
- Crumple the paper over and over again, until it starts to feel “soft.” Then, lightly drag a brown ink pad over the whole thing. This gives the paper a worn, antiqued look that really adds some character to the page as a whole. Tip: Memories makes a translucent series of ink pads that work really well for this technique. My favorite for antiquing is a color called, “Sand.”
- Attach Layer 3 to Layer 2 along the right hand side, using double-stick tape.
Layer 4: Quote Tag
- This layer can be achieved by using a pre-cut tag or simply creating one yourself. To make a tag, its as easy as cutting out a rectangle that is smaller than Layer 3 and nipping the top two corners at an angle. Punch a hole in the top and you’ve got a tag!
- Cut a square from printed paper that fits the middle of the tag from edge to edge, but leaves considerable space on the top and bottom.
- Cut a smaller square that fits from edge to edge on the tag and previous square, but leaves clearance on the top and bottom to allow for a framing effect. On this square, pencil in the quote and then go over it with marker. Attach this square to the larger square with double-stick tape.
- Attach quote block to the tag using double stick tape.
- Grab some silver thread and wrap it around the top and bottom of the smaller quote square multiple times. Secure the ends with standard tap on the back of the tag.
- Add metal “wisdom” tag, using glue dots.
- Insert eyelet through the tag’s hole and hammer into place.
- Thread several strands of decorative fiber through the eyelet and secure into place with a simple slip knot.
- Attach tag to Layer 3 using plenty of double-stick tape. Don’t be shy about loading it on pretty thick!
Layer 5: Ribbon and Beads
- Any ribbon will work for this part, but I used a thin silk ribbon because it bends and lays flat with more easily than standard ribbon. Trying to plan this layer is like trying to pour water in a straight line, so you’re better off just going with the flow. Let the ribbon decide where it wants to go and where it wants to bend.
- At each bend or curl the ribbon takes, tack it into place by stitching a glass bead into place. To make this easier, keep a needle pre-threaded (with left-over silver thread, maybe?) nearby and use a paper-piercer to make a hole through all layers so your stitch has an instant place to go. Come up through the hole with your needle, catch the bead, and then go back down through the same hole. Tip: Instead of making a knot at the end of your thread, hold onto the ends and tape them down with standard tape. Knots can tear through paper!
- Continue your ribbon path until you’re happy with how it frames your page. Secure the ends of the ribbon on the back of Layer 1 with standard tape.
- Attach the completed page to the paper bag journal with plenty of double stick tape.
Junk mail has never been more beautiful! Stay inspired!
– – –
c.b. 2012
Now that is the first time I’ve seen anyone make good use of credit card solicitations! 🙂
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I used the rest of it in my Wreck This Journal. I’ll have to post that page one of these days. 🙂
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Damn! That’s such an awesome use for rubbish- I love seeing new and creative uses of things without any perceived value! Nice job!
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Hmmm . . . maybe I should post some pics of the jewelry I made from old nuts and bolts. I love how art challenges us to look at everything differently, even rubbish!! 🙂
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I’ve gotten the passport books and boarding passes, but not stamps. I want that one ! Do you remember that martha stewart commercial where she tiled the bottom of her pool with expired credit cards?
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Never saw that commercial, but that’s definitely creative! 🙂
I have the boarding passes stashed for another project. They are so cute and I know I can make them into something cool. 🙂
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Good job being creative that way!!
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Thanks! 🙂 After this page, I’m a little more careful about what goes in the shredder.
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Oh, yes, you’ll have to be.
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Stupid I know But…
Tag you’re it!
http://notyethere.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/ive-been-tagged/
Jim
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Ahhhh! I got tagged again! 🙂
I’ll play a little later this week . . . your questions are so much fun! Thanks for thinking of me.
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How creative! Gosh, never thought I was throwing away craft supplies!
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It just goes to show there’s a use for everything! 🙂
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What a good idea! You are brilliant! To think, even THOSE can be used to create. Thank you for sharing this.
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You bet! At the very least, this page turned something very annoying into something beautiful. I’m all for that! 🙂
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lovely. would love to see the nuts and bolts jewelery.. 😉
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Thanks! 🙂
I’ll work on putting together a post. I just made a necklace I want to write about and I may throw in the nuts and bolts for good measure! 🙂
Thanks so much for reading!
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Love this, C.B. You’re so creative. I love seeing your new creations. 🙂
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Thanks!
My craft table has been very busy lately, so stay tuned for more fun projects! 🙂
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Love these pages and appreciate your tutorials!!!!!!!!
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I’m glad you’re enjoying them! 🙂 Its fun to share the process and I hope it continues to inspire.
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How brilliant of you to see junk mail as art! That’s so much cheaper than going to a crafts store and paying big bucks for novelty paper and you’ve used it so creatively. Thanks for sharing your idea. 🙂
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My favorite kind of art (or crafts) uses objects we’d never consider for a project. Junk mail, discarded books, old magazines, nuts and bolts, etc. all have an artful purpose if we’re willing to alter our perspective! 😉
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wonderful piece of artwork! and now I know what to do with all the credit card junk mail.
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Thanks! 🙂
I just got another credit card mailer and it had the prettiest page tucked inside. Beautiful greens and swirl patterns – I can’t wait to use it! 🙂 Maybe I should write them a thank you note for the pretty paper, but a no thanks for the credit card.
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Another great page – and a great quote!
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Thanks! 🙂
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GREAT colors!
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Thanks! 🙂 I always struggle with picking colors, so its always nice to hear the color combination worked!
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Just brilliant!
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Thank you! 🙂
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That turned out beautifully! Nice use of junk mail =)
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