Creating With The Unusual

Thinking outside the box can be challenging but it helps to stretch ones imagination. There’s bound to be failures but many times it opens up creative possibilities.  Visits to any variety of shopping establishments for the the “usual” purchases can take on something entirely different with an open mind and willingness to experiment.

Besides always first searching through the items I have collected and are on hand, one of the other places I find a good spot to visit are the area “dollar” stores.  That’s exactly where I found o few items to experiment with for this very project. From a package of two manila , padded mailing envelopes comes the end project of this unconventional, padded folio.  

• Open up the mailing envelope by cutting it open along the sides and bottom. 
• From the two pieces cut two covers from the die. NOTE: I did not use wide (3 hole) spine. I trimmed it to 2. Also cut a spine from mat board and trimmed to a 2 hole spine to add strength. Though the spine was not used in this project for individual inserts, adding this extra piece as a re-enforcement will help if an additional inserts is desired.
• Before reconstructing the die-cuts into a new padded folder it's best t0 remove a little of the plastic bubble lining from around the edges. This will help hold the edges together with adhesive tape or glue.

A new padded folio journal was created from the two pieces. 

The procedure is as follows:

• Using the instructions from the tutorial by Jennie Atkinson, I made four folded folio inserts to fit the front and back covers and two more inserted to the insides. I created a large one for the back cover, a tiny one for the front following the size specifications from Jennie.The inside two are slightly smaller then large one. A big "THANKS" to Jennie for the instructions and inspiration!
• Here is a link to Jennie's YouTube video showing the process - VIDEO LINK
• For the small version, the measurements are:  6 x 6 patterned card stock scored at 1.75” all around and then cut as per the original tag book. Final size is 2.5” square.
• The two inside folder folios begin with paper cut to 9 3/4" square, scored at 2 3/4" on all four sides. One folder was cut in the same way as the original instruction. One was cut with the corner square cut diagonally and folded over. (Refer to photo)
• Inserts were made with the bookbinding die three of the folders, for placement in the center of them.  
• Use the new thinlit die to create a waterfall insert in the fourth folder.  

Front cover small folder folio/open

Back cover large folder folio/closed

           

Back cover large folder folio/open

                   

Inside Right folder folio/closed

Open folder folio

Inside Left folder folio

                                     

Open folder folio

Materials

Eileen Hull Sizzix die, Folio Journal

Eileen Hull Sizzix thinlit, Bookbinding & Label

Eileen Hull Sizzix thinlit, card, Waterfall & Tags

Big Shot

Padded mailing envelope

Adhesive tape

Glue

Decorative papers (I selected papers from Simple Stories, Simple Vintage Farmhouse Garden collection)

Assorted embellishments from the same collection

Various other decorative papers 

Various others embellishments

Woven edge seam binding

Distress ink and applicator

Decorative edge scissors, pinking

Velcro, thin clear fasteners, 5/8”, 3/8”