Envelope book

CCSwaps is running an envelope book swap, so I thought I'd give this a try. My book consists of 8 envelopes. The front of the first envelope and the flap of the last envelope is what you see on the right side; it becomes the front cover of the book. I inserted an eyelet in the flap and then used gold ribbon to create the tie for the book. I covered the back of that first envelope with a beautiful napkin given to me by my friend Margaret. I found the saying in some books I've had forever... "If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it." I cut it out and mounted it onto a piece of heavy gold cardstock before attaching it to the cover of the book.

This is a view of the front of the envelope book opened. Each of the 8 envelopes used to create the book contains an insert with a saying that is pertinent to the word that is stamped on the envelope. The envelopes are attached to each other using the flaps. The book that is created is similar to an accordion book.

This is a view of the back of the envelope book opened up. I attached a different piece of decorative scrapbook paper to each of seven of the envelopes. I then sponged antique linen distress ink around the edges of each.

Envelopes 1 and 2 are shown here. As with all the rest of the envelopes in the book, I stamped a word and flourishes in inks that coordinated with the inserts created for each envelope.

Inserts for envelopes 1 and 2 were run through the cuttlebug.

For Dream I ran an ink pad across the top to color the raised portions of the embossing. I added a hot glue embellishment and the preprinted wording.

For Wonder I added a strip of decorative vellum down the right side; you can't see it in this picture, but there are images of white flowers in the vellum. Preprinted wording was attached on top of the vellum piece.

Envelopes 3 and 4.... Imagine and Explore

Inserts for envelopes 3 and 4 were both run through the cuttlebug for texture.

The card for Imagine, on the left, was a special cardstock that is a different color on each side. Once it is run through the cuttlebug I sand it to reveal the color that is on the other side of the cardstock. Once that was done I just added the preprinted words.

After running the Explore card through the cuttlebug I swiped a gold ink pad across the surface. Then I added a small piece of green vellum at the top left, a ribbon down the left side, and a clay embellishment.

Envelopes 5 and 6 are Believe and Love.

The inserts for envelopes 5 and 6....

Both were cut from handmade paper that I had purchased at a stamp convention.

For Believe I ripped a piece of matching mulberry paper and attached using eyelets. I then ran some fibers through the eyelets. I stamped some sayings on purple vellum and attached to the card.

For Love I stamped the saying onto a square of cardstock, cut with decorative scissors and attached with heart shaped fasteners. I wrapped pink ribbon around 2 sides of the card and attached with a larger heart fastener.

And the final 2 envelopes in the book...

Play and Create.

These are the inserts for envelopes 7 and 8.... Play and Create.

For Play, I ran the cardstock through the cuttlebug, attached a piece of decorative vellum that I had stamped on, added a butterfly created with the cuttlebug, and found an appropriate phrase in my stash to add to the bottom right.

For Create, I used some of my stamps and then cut a strip of decorative glossy cardstock and a ribbon to the left side.