More Security Envelope Creativity

May 13, 2009 // kristen // 4 replies

A couple of weeks ago, I featured a completely clever little house made by Rebecca of This Chicken using the recycled interiors of security envelopes. I just discovered, thanks to Felt and Wire, that you can also use the patterned innards of the humble security envelope to make very pretty wrappers for soap:

How cool is this?!

Felt and Wire also introduced me to the work of artist Nancy Shapiro, who uses recycled security envelopes, as well as the reply cards that fall out of magazines, to create these incredible collages:

I’m now looking at security envelopes in a completely new light and won’t be so quick to toss them in the the recycling bin.

images from Felt and Wire / Nancy Shapiro

How to Make Jeffery Rudell’s Very Favorite Box

May 13, 2009 // kristen // 1 replies

When an incredibly talented paper artist shows you how to make his “very favorite box of all time” and offers you the template to download, do you really have to think twice about it? Jeffery Rudell has done just this and has very detailed instructions, not to mention a free download, over at Craftstylish. Eep, and how awesome is that faux bois paper? You can purchase it in a variety of colors — including teal and lime green — from Hambly Screen Prints.

image from Jeffery Rudell

John Vanderslice Gigposter

May 12, 2009 // kristen // 1 replies

If you’re a print designer, or if you just go gaga over the process behind the production of all things print, then you absolutely must see the new blog, FPO (For Print Only), by the creative duo who were behind inspirational graphic design site, Speak Up. Though Speak Up is no longer active — its contents now serve as an archive — FPO has already become a go to blog for print design inspiration.

One of the recent posts over at FPO really caught my eye. Designer and printer, Bennett Holzworth, brilliantly used grease proof doilies — yes, the kind that you found in the cake decorating aisle at most craft stores — as a major element in the creation of this unique gigposter for John Vanderslice.

I don’t know about you, but this project makes me want to head to the craft store for project inspiration!

images from FPO

Paper Flower Wreath Tutorial

May 12, 2009 // kristen // 0 replies

Laurie Cinotto (aka Lalalaurie) shows us how to make a darling wreath using candy cups, a styrofoam wreath form, ribbon, and a few other things that you can easily find. What a clever way to use the little paper cups, and what a great result! Check out the entire tutorial over at Once Wed.

images from Once Wed

Two Guitars

May 11, 2009 // kristen // 0 replies

I’m really digging the whimsical creations from Two Guitars, who specialize in Gocco printed art cards and notebooks. I love their use of retro graphics and elements like a library card backdrop, and the “Par Avion” card (shown above) is one of my favorites. See their entire collection over here.