How to Make a Tracing Paper Envelope
Dear Wonderful, Creative You:
I’ve got a wonderful video tutorial for you today. It’s one of my favorite techniques for making an art journal page interactive – a tracing paper envelope. I love the delicate, almost vulnerable feeling of tracing paper – it reminds me to be gentle with my art, which reminds me to be gentle with myself. I’ve been talking with the community in my membership about various ways to take care of ourselves creatively. These tracing paper envelopes can be a wonderful addition to your art journal pages. Imagine how they might hold a letter to your inner artist, a poem that lights you up, or a favorite small drawing.
Have You Made an Interactive Art Journal?
Have you ever used envelopes, flaps, or pop-ups in your art journal? It’s one of my most favorite ways to play with my drawings and paintings.
Here’s a little peek at the book I made while I was teaching Slow Art in France last month.
I love the little flower pop ups and the arms on this page. It’s fun to feel like I can surprise the viewer.
What a joy it is for me to share this technique with you. If you are brimming with excitement, but aren’t sure how to begin take this further in your art journal, I’d love to show you how to make your own pop-up book.
You can join me for my on demand class: Pop-Up Book: Little Book of Wonder – and see all the wonders you can create in your art journal.
Tell Us About Your Art in the Comments
Do you enjoy using interactive elements in your journal? How did it go for you with the tracing paper envelope? What’s inside yours? I can’t wait to hear all about it.
Creatively Yours,
Amy
P.S. If you would love to have both the Accordion Fold Journal Class and Pop-Up Book at a discount, we now have a bundle! Get the Accordion Pop-Up Journal Bundle here!
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Thank you Amy!
Thanks for being here Amy! xo
Thanks for the beautiful tutorial, Amy!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it Wei-Li!
Love your ideas and techniques! Very sweet!
I’m so glad that this speaks to you!
Very lovely and inspiring art, Amy !
Is the concertina sketchbook part of, or is it included in the Little Book of Wonder as well?
Hi Suzette: We actually have a little bundle for the concertina class and the pop up class, you’ll find it here: https://mindfulartstudio.com/shop/accordion-pop-up-journal-bundle/
Happy folding!
Beautiful! So relaxing just to watch and listen to you!
YAY for relaxing and creative time Kyoung!
I love this little envelope, Amy. Thanks for sharing the technique.
So happy you like it Roseanne!
Do you think you could put YES paste into used glue sticks, to have a glue stick?
Sally – how are you such a genius?! Please report back and tell us how it goes!
I love these little envelopes Amy – thank you so much ! I paused your video and made two. One has the bloom pattern on the outside and cracked pattern (both from your book) on the inside. The other envelope is smaller and has two images I cut from an old wildflower book I rescued. I like them both. I love your interactive concertina fold book.
OOH this is so fun Carol! It sounds amazing~
Thanks for sharing this! Do you double side the paper, i.e. two sheets glued back to back?
Hi Judy – No I use single ply. 🙂 Happy creating!
The possibilities are endless! This is such a wonderful technique. Thank you for teaching and inspiring us, Amy!
This is music to my ears Susan! xo
Thank you Amy so much!
I’m happy you liked it Mariela!
Hugs to you, Amy, my art friend. I got my little book of wonder, it is a mini book (ca. 8 x 12 cm). the next one must be bigger. Thanks so much for all the wonderful inspiring ideas., Anneliese from Germany.
I love that you are planning your next Book of Wonder, Anneliese! I cannot wait to see what you create.
Aw, Anneliese, that’s so sweet of you. I can’t wait to see and hear how you enjoy going bigger! xo
I want to thank you for the wonderful class Amy. As a beginner in the world of mixed media, it’s great to start with something small!
This is wonderful to hear, Mary! You are so right, starting small makes it easier to get started as a beginner.
YES – I always value starting or continuing small! 🙂
Love this little envelope. I purchased the Little Book of Wonders last year, and have not watched it yet. My head is brimming with creative holiday gift ideas after watching you flip through the pop ups and accordion folds. Thank you. I did sketchbook Revival again this year, and I am going to add the tracing paper envelop to that page. Thank You!
Ooh Jenny – I’m so excited to see this. What fun! I can’t wait to see some of these little books! Cheers
Thank you for this tutorials lovely Amy
We are so happy you enjoyed the tutorial, Sandra!
thank you , Amy. That was a lovely view of some of your creativeness. I have used some of my “universe” circles (that I made with you many years ago) in my books.
Hi Carol:
Oh that sounds like a lot of fun! I’m so happy that you enjoyed. Perhaps you’ll make an envelope! xo
Amy, thank you so much for sharing your ideas. You always get me thinking and excited to try something new. I look forward each week to having an email from you in my inbox.
Hi Jen: I’m so excited that this idea speaks to you! I wonder what you will put inside your envelope…a dried flower? A poem? A drawing? xo Amy