Loose Leaf Tea Bag
Sculpt and seal a translucent tea bag
Posted by Pushing The Envelope
About
Finished Size
71⁄2 x 43⁄4 inches (19 x 12.1 cm)
Project by Jennie Hinchcliff. From the book Pushing The Envelope by Marthe Le Van. Read our review here.
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You Will Need (8 things)
- Sheet of glassine or Vellum Paper , 20 x 10 inches (50.8 x 25.4 cm)
- Glue Stick
- Stationery to write letter or make card
- Stationery to write letter or make card
- Loose-leaf Tea to include inside envelope
- Decorative Paper for envelope return address label, 4 x 15⁄8 inches (10.2 x 4.1 cm)
- Stapler
- Twine or embroidery floss, 10 inches (25.4 cm) long
Steps (15 steps, 50 minutes)
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1
With the piece of glassine or vellum paper in a landscape position, score a horizontal line with the bone folder 3 inches (7.6 cm) from the bottom edge. Fold the paper along this line upward from the bottom.
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2
From the top edge, measure down 21⁄4 inches (5.7 cm) and score a horizontal line with the bone folder. Fold down from the top along this line. The top edge now overlaps the bottom edge slightly; glue the edges together along the overlap.
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3
Turn the paper over with the seam side down and the paper still in the landscape position. Fold the right-hand edge over to the left-hand edge. Crease with the bone folder.
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4
Measure in 5⁄8 inch (1.6 cm) from the creased edge; score a vertical line with the bone folder. Fold the top piece from left to right along this line.
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5
Turn the paper over, measure in 5⁄8 inch (1.6 cm) from the creased edge again, and fold back the other side to match the first. This completes the expandable bottom of your tea bag envelope.
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6
From the bottom of your envelope (where the creased edges are), measure 81⁄2 inches (21.6 cm); trim off all layers of paper to this length. Then measure 8 inches (20.3 cm) from the bottom and trim off only the top two layers of paper to this length, leaving the bottom two layers at 81⁄2 inches (21.6 cm).
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7
Working with the top edge of your envelope, fold the left-hand corner over so that it forms a triangular shape; repeat on the right-hand side. Fold your two triangles to make their points meet in the middle, and leave approximately 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) unfolded in the middle of the top of your envelope—this makes the envelope look more like a tea bag when folded over.
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8
Fold the topmost edge over so that the horizontal edge you left in step 7 is just below the meeting point of the two triangles. Crease with the bone folder.
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9
Set the envelope aside. Write a letter or create a card. Then carefully unfold the top edge of the envelope and slip your missive inside one of the layers that form the envelope.
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10
In the remaining layer, carefully pour loose-leaf tea. Remember, the envelope will have to make its way through a lot of complicated post office machinery, so try to keep the contents as flat as possible.
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11
To create a return address label, fold the 4 x 15⁄8-inch (10.2 x 4.1 cm) piece of decorative paper in half vertically.
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12
Using a coin, cut two rounded pieces away from the top corners of the return address label. Be sure the pieces being cut away are from the creased edge!
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13
Sandwich the piece of twine inside the folded return address label. Staple to hold in place. Handwrite the return address or apply an address label.
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14
Carefully unfold the top opening of your envelope; tuck the return address label inside, in the layer with the tea. Making sure that a tiny tail of twine is sticking out of the top of envelope, refold and staple closed.
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15
Affix the address label and postage. Add other surface decoration if desired, and you’re ready to mail your creation!