Ways of using those painting and drawings, just lying in a drawer

I’m always on the look out for ways to use my artwork for different things, I mean, not just hanging on the wall.

I’ve made my own Christmas cards since my kids were little, and have only missed the odd year when I was too stressed out with work to get my act together - there have been occasions when people have received their cards way after New Year. And when my kids were born, I always made Baby Announcement cards for the daycare teachers, friends and family with drawings of the baby on.

But Christmas cards and Baby Announcement cards are specific designs, made for the purpose, needing thought and preparation beforehand. So what about making cards or - in this case - envelopes out of papers you’ve already painted, which are nice, but perhaps not nice enough to frame and hang on the wall?
Well having just been in Germany and visited two Art Museums in Hamburg and Bremen, and having bought some postcards there - I discovered a clever folding technique to make an envelope. The postcards were wrapped in a poster for a Van Gogh exhibit and what I thought was a pretty envelope, was in fact a kind of parcel.

When I opened it up and looked at how to fold it, I immediately wanted to make one of my own - using one of my paintings. So below are two videos which show how I went about it. I think the films are pretty easy to follow, but in case you want some details - here they come. I’ve specified which brand I use, but you cana use any brand you like, of course.

The materials I used to paint the painting are:
1 x A3 piece of kraft paper (mine is 170g)
GOLDEN Matte Medium (as glue)
Gelli prints (printed paper on a gel plate - I have several videos how to use one on youtube, eg. here and even more in my online course available in the shop)
Liquitex Clear Gesso (provides a sanpaper-like surface which is fabulous to draw onto and gives thin paper a bit more body)
Faber Castell Albrecht Dürer Watercolour Pencils (colours: Pine Green, Ivory, Helio Turquoise, Light Ultramarine Blue, Helio Blue Reddish, Magenta)
Daniel Smith Watercolors (Prussian Green, Rich Green Gold, Quinacridone Magenta, Phthalo Blue Red Shade)
Schmincke Designers Gouache (Titanium White, Indigo, Lemon Yellow and Chrome Yellow).

What I didn’t do in the video is protect the surface before I start to fold the finished picture. I should have sprayed it with a matte varnish. And if you decide to mail your envelope you can always put it in a cellophane envelope to protect it.

Folding: I used a piece of A3 paper - this measures 29,7cm wide and 42 cm long. After a lot of trial and error (I’m right-brained!!) I managed to come up with the simplest solution, which is having the paper with the long edges horizontal.. Then I measure 19 cm from the left hand short edge inwards and marked it, Then the same thing from the right hand short edge in towards the middle and marked it. Then I drew two vertical lines down the page (Make sure they are perfectly parallel).
Now begin folding in the top left corner and line the edge up with the line furthest away from the corner. Turn the paper and do the same thing again. Then do the other corners, always using the line furthest away - not the one that is nearest. You can see if rather clearly on the film.

Hope you have fun with this. And you can always use wrapping paper or newspaper or any paper that is cut down to an A3. Oh! And if you want to make a smaller envelope out of an A4 (finished square envelope measures 12 x 12) then place the A4 in front of you with the long sides horizontal, and measure 13 cm in from the left, and 13 cm in from the right. Fold it in the same way and you’ll have a smaller, cute version.

Here are the films: Part 1 and Part 2

If you enjoyed watching me paint and are interested in learning similar techniques, why not check out my online course, Blooming Marvellous in my shop - ( click here on shop ) there is a preview there too when you click on the link in the shop, just scroll down/Jacqui x