About

Cost: $ $ $ $ $

Difficulty: • • • • •

Time: 50 mins

Sculpt and seal a translucent tea bag
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 <a href="http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/blog/pushing-the-envelope">here</a>.

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Luna D. favorited Loose Leaf Tea Bag 24 Apr 16:42
Alex B. favorited Loose Leaf Tea Bag 18 Dec 03:20
Rainer Meg favorited Loose Leaf Tea Bag 10 Feb 20:24
Lorraine E. added Loose Leaf Tea Bag to Vintage gift s 20 Dec 22:22
angel.hackney1978 favorited Loose Leaf Tea Bag 15 Jul 15:19
Sarah Bear favorited Loose Leaf Tea Bag 15 Jul 11:21

Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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).
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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!
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 15
Affix the address label and postage. Add other surface decoration if desired, and you’re ready to mail your creation!

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Comments

Penny F. · North Bay, Ontario, CA · 19 projects 31st December 2011

This is a cute idea but I personally would not ship my teabags out like this. Giving as a gift to someone wrapped like this is a cute idea but I would have to make several of these as I couldn't give just one out unless it is with something else tea related.