A lot has been written about using tea staining in various projects, but what about sing the tea wrappers? Typically, I’ve thrown away the tea bags after steeping tea to drink or to stain pages with. Not anymore, though!
Steep your tea as you usually would, but rather than throwing away the bag, dry it on a flat surface. If you’re the type who drinks a lot of tea or does a lot of tea staining, these bags will multiply in no time. If you’re finding that it’s taking too long to save the bags, ask your friends and family to save their bags aside for you.
TIP: caffeinated tea works best because it stains the bag more and creates a darker impression in the bag’s creases. Herbal teas don’t work well at all if you’re looking for a dramatic tea stained look.
When you’ve collected ten or fifteen bags that have been dried completely, follow these steps for creating your handmade envelopes:
1: take apart the bags carefully and dump the tea into a separate container
2: remove any staples and discard
3: open all the tea bag so they’re flat
4: using a glue stick, affix all the tea bags together
5: set aside to dry under a heavy stack of books
While your tea bag sheet is drying, take apart an envelope to use as a template. You can also find templates for sale and on line in various sizes. Here are some sites to visit:
1: The Paper Mill Store: free templates
2: Mirkwood Designs: free templates
3: Paper Source: reasonably priced templates
4: Paper Wishes: even more reasonably priced templates
5: Lots of template links: free templates
You’ve got your tea bags affixed to each other and you’ve got your templates together. Now, you need a pencil, a good pair of scissors, a steady hand and a bone folder.
Trace out your envelopes carefully and cut them out. Using the bone folder (the edge of the handle from your scissors work well, too), fold and assemble your envelope using the glue stick. Set your envelopes aside to dry under a heavy stack of books.
Now, what do you do with all that dried tea? Throw it away? NO! Here’s some ideas:
1: add it to your compost heap
2: mix it in with your potting soil
3: mix it in with gel medium and use it as a textured application over paintings
4: mix it in with acrylic paint and use it in mixed media painting for added texture and interest
5: some teas are fragrant and can be used in sachets of potpourri mixes
When you’re envelopes are dry, keep in mind they may not be able to be used for traditional purposes. For example, if you want to send it through the mail, you may have to house your creation in another envelope that’s slightly larger. So, if you can’t mail them, what can they be used for? I’m glad you asked. Let’s explore:
1: add them to scrapbook pages
2: use them in altered book work
3: affix them to mixed media paintings
4: affix them to memory books (to hold locks of hair, etc.)
5: add them to art journal pages
6: place them randomly throughout a handmade book
7: use them as gift card holders
8: place ATCs and ACEOs inside them
9: create mini-books with them
10: use them to hold small things like sequins
