Tuesday, 4 April 2023

Tuesday Post - a recycled envelope

Hi Everybody! 

Today I have another entry for Elizabeth's recycle, repurpose and re-use challenge at AJJ.  In the past I often used to tear pages out of my journals because I didn't like them or I didn't think they were right or good enough etc. I don't do this these days, I leave everything in! Today I want to show how I repurposed this to make something useful....

This was a quick sketch back when made with diluted acryl paint, book paper and soft pastels:

I took one of the ubiquitous envelopes from Amazon:

I cut a bit away from my page:

Added part of a letter and some gesso:


Brought it all together and added some more colour using soft pastels again. As you can see, I still have a lot of things to recycle:


The quote is 'Creativity takes Courage' from Henri Matisse:





This was quick and fun, and I now have a large envelope to hold A4 papers or scraps or whatever:








Have a great day, take care,
and thanks a lot for coming by!

42 comments:

  1. Hi Valerie — I like your figures with the ambiguous faces. Nice artwork today.

    best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  2. Lovely repurposed envelope! Thanks for the funnies.

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  3. Hi Val, good morning! I always love your men, and you have made something useful and beautiful. Hope you are resting enough. Hugs from us all, Sarah

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    1. Hey, it sounds like I have men going in and out here. Now wouldn't that be nice! Hugs to all, Valerie

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  4. Hah! I can see that the male visitors (plural) that you have coming and going from your apartment conceal their identities as faceless Don Giovannis. Who knew the comings and goings of a lady of a certain age in Balconia-by-the-Rhine? Who can imagine what goes on behind closed doors? Maybe each Cassanova has to add to your stash of things "too good to throw away and I might find a use for it later." Perhaps crafts-folk are the original recyclers, or would pathological hoarders be a better definition? I don't shop with Amazon, but when books arrive for me from PUP we open the package very carefully so that Miriam can reuse them when she ships stuff from her ETSY shop. Spring has definitely arrived here, Valerie. Yesterday it was eleven degrees and I saw crocuses. All our patience had been rewarded. Hugs and kisses - David.

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    1. Well, today I really did have 3 men here! And I'm not going to tell you more than that! Okay, I'll give you a clue....the youngest was 4 years old! I think all crafters are hoarders - guilty. And people who like to read hoard books - guilty! And some people need a computer in every room - guilty! Those cardboard pockets are really good, I have quite a few of them, too, you never know when they might just come in useful, like with this challenge! Glad you have spring, enjoy! Hugs xxxxx

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  5. Great recycled envelope love the men figures and fabulous textured background-love the funnies and unfortunately can relate to the throwing away of the box one!!!
    Carol x

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    1. Thans Carol! Throwing away boxes and taking them out again - this has happened to me so often! Have a great day, take care, hugs!

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  6. Hi Valerie, I hope you are keeping well. Your page is amazing and I love the way you recycled the envelope as a background for the figures and that stencilling looks beautiful ☺️. Creativity does take courage, sometimes you just have to go for it! It seems I've missed some gorgeous art and thinkies/funnies on your posts, I love the dog faces too and the black cat page is beautiful. Thanks so much for all your kind wishes on my blog posts and wishing you a wonderful April! Hugs, Jo x

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  7. I'm laughing out loud at that, because I'm famous for thinking I'll remember what to do, then having to go back to get that dang box out of the trash to refresh my memory!(lol) What a clever and lovely idea to to create art with an Amazon envelope. I truly adore it! Hugs, RO

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    1. Glad it gave you a laugh, things like that happen all the time and every where! Hugs!

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  8. That's a great save of recycled material, and I love the envelope you've created to keep things organized! Great design! I'm laughing so hard at the funnies you shared today, they're all so true! I can relate to the elderly woman in the car more than I care to! LOL TFS

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    1. Thanks Carol, glad you liked the funnies, they made me laugh too! Have a great day, hugs!

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  9. I like what you have done with the recycling. The funnies are funny. I had to laugh about the box, the number of times I have to check the directions on them is crazy.

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  10. Hi Val, love your post today. The recycled envelope is greaat. And the funnies!! Hugs, Martha

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    1. Thanks Martha, have a great week ❤️😊😊

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  11. Oh Valerie! I don't k now where you found that funny about the instructions on the box but that is me Lol! I don't have a friend like that! I am that friend! Hee! Hee! Love your way of recycling the Amazon envelope, I have lots of those, just can't throw them away. Have agreat week. Hugs, Angela xXx

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    1. Thanks Angela, glad it gave you a good laugh! I did the same again this evening! Have a good week! Hugs!

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  12. Love your piece. What a great idea. Those memes are a hoot. Hugs
    Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com

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  13. Hi, Valerie! I'm late getting around to visit. I had sudden and unexpected oral surgery. If it's not one thing it's another ~ lol! I love your repurposed envelope. What fun!
    and yes, creativity takes courage. And your thinkies and funnies are marvelous. Have a great rest of the week!

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  14. Thanks Louise, hope you are now feeling better! Take care, hugs!

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  15. I like your figures. Posing and stylin' :)

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  16. I do like your re-purposed envelope.
    Happy midweek wishes.

    All the best Jan

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  17. A fabulous piece of recycle art!

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  18. That's a handsome piece, Valerie. I like that one very much. I also just did that "get the box out of the trash" thing yesterday!

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    1. Thanks Jeanie. I think we all do that trick with the boxes!

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  19. What fabulous recycling project for Elizabeth'a AJJ theme Valerie! Love the funny about reading instructions over and over!!! Hugs Chrisx

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  20. LOVE the page you made, Valerie. Your sketch is super cool and the recyling is super creative. Love the quote, but not as much as your cartoon about throwing the box away and digging it back (which I do all the time - does that count as temporary recycling?). Fun post. Hugz

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    1. Thanks Nancy. I think we all do that box thing, too funny! Hugs!

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  21. How much fun was this? It looks fun and functional as well. Fabulous altered envelope, xoxo

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  22. Some great funnies but even better is the art you produced. How clever to reuse that piece of art from something you made previously and use it in this way to make a folder. I am sure you must be well pleased with the end result, I know I would be if it was mine.
    Hugs, Neet xx

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