"Collage" to Jean (July PTEx)

This env. is inspired by my Laurie Doctor class, "Speak to Me...", as I love this collage "technique".

I loved matching the colors to the stamp, as that made the design easier. (I also added "Have" to the stamp so it would read, "Have Fun". Then below that , "Keep Creating!")

Back side

with flap opened.

Before pic. You can see where i penned, "Creativity" on the left, then filled in with watercolor. In the middle column, I used metallic ink and wrote some quotes about art and creating, and colored over with teal. Then for the Right Column, I wrote out "art attack" in brush lettering and added more words in-between the letters.

I had fun with it and love how it turned out. I also did another one similar to this that i'll post later!

 

Clear to Nava (Seahorse)

 

This is another calendar page (and this one had to go in the clear env.), but I'm not sure how well it was for addressing, as I had to go over it to make it darker.

I used my white Callipen marker for her name (our name!😁) and perm. pen for addressing.

Fun seahorse!

Clear env.

backside

Before stamps

calendar page to Jean

i have no idea what kind of sea life this is (although I could look it up, and it probably says somewhere on the env., but I forgot to look and take note.

However, how perfect does the stamp match?? 💛

My oldest got this calendar in the mail (for donating -- cannot remember what org), and it's perfect for making env.'s (although slick paper!)

Some will probably go in clear env.'s but this one was ok for addressing.

inside where you can see the calendar!

 

FP design to Karen K.

I have a red set I designed for my P&I takeover week in 2021 ( https://snailmailingmadness.blogspot.com/2023/08/decorated-red-p.html ), so I wanted to dupe that env. for Karen.

Love these button stamps!!!

With letter. (brush name)

close up of design.

and just fo' fun, here's a similar design on another env. (done on the back)

Love the color combo!

Miro to Nele

Nele speaks several languages, and sometimes sends me pieces lettered in other languages, so this time, I thought I'd do the same (or try!)

I used the Joan Miro quote, "A simple line painted with the brush can lead to freedom and happiness." I then translated (via Google) to Spanish, and lettered with a B-6 nib, incorporating some of the shapes from his work (as well as an alphabet, inspired by the artist -- which I used for Nele's name too).

matching set.

back side

I wanted to do a whole artist theme for Nele, sending her mini env.'s based on the Calder paintings from my DC trip last year ( https://snailmailingmadness.blogspot.com/2024/09/more-dc-art.html ), but nothing was turning out, plus it would require more postage. So, I just sent this Rothko piece instead (which did not turn out. -- waaa.)

Hard to letter on watercolor. Sigh. 😖😞

Harry Love (to Meg)

Meg and I were exchanging messages on IG re: our Love of Mr. Styles, so I decided to send her an env., (as part of another Paper Source challenge) earlier this year.

It didn't turn out quite like i planned, but I decided to send to her anyway. (Would have been better had my printer worked.)

Anyway... I lettered some of my fave songs of his in a rainbow, then added pastels and a pic of him from his 2021 Grammy performance. (story below)

I also included this insert.

I cannot remember if I've ever shared this story, so I will do so again (maybe it's on my fp blog?) -- 

I had heard of Harry Styles, but wasn’t quite sure who he was, other than some goofy teen in a silly boy band. Oh boy… was I wrong!

My family and I went to the movie, Dunkirk. In Harry’s first scene, I turned to my hubby, surprised, and said, “Hey! I think that guy is from that one boy band!” I wasn’t sure of his name, but I recognized him.

I’d heard of One Direction, but had no idea just how popular they were. I had no idea their names either. And I even had a few songs of theirs in my itunes workout playlist! (But didn't know it. I just liked the songs; didn't know who sang them.)  I couldn’t tell you anything about them.

Fast forward to March 2021 and the Grammys. I didn’t watch the Grammys that year (because I never watch the Grammys), but the next day, on my Instagram search feed, I was seeing all these memes and posts about Harry’s Grammy performance. “Huh,” I thought. “Why is this guy performing at the Grammys, and what’s the big deal?” Intrigued, I look him up on YouTube.

OH….MY….  W-O-W. What a performance. That Monday night, sitting in our living room on my tablet, I viewed that video, that awesome performance of Watermelon Sugar, at least 50 times. Maybe 100. I don’t know. I couldn’t get enough.

Not only was that song fun (and just a tad risqué!), but that version of it was right up my alley! To me, it was cool, smooth, funky, jazzy. And the performance itself….So simple. Nothing too flashy, No trying too hard with extra props, etc. Just matching leather outfits and a green boa. (And some bright lights at times.) LOVE.

The way he sang it. The way he danced. Who WAS this guy???

I looked up the song and the album. Wait…what??? This is his SECOND album??? HOW did I not know this? I listened to top 40. I knew about Billie Eilish, why did I not know about Harry? After listening to the first album, I realized I recognized a few songs. I must’ve just not been paying attention. (or was probably listening to my alt music instead.)

Although a lot of the songs on his first album were good, his Fine Line album had me hooked. Man, this guy is talented! One song after another would have me mesmerized. And for a good week straight, I watched and re-watched that amazing, electrifying Grammy performance…every…single…night. 50+ times. I was addicted.

I went down the Harry rabbit hole...

After getting a good listen to his first album (I wanted to soak up each and every song), I then moved on to his first. How, HOW did I not about this???

I cry at Sweet Creature. I'm surprised with Kiwi, but love it. Again, I'm obsessed, getting my fill of each track.

After fully immersing myself  with both albums, I then went down the One Direction rabbit hole. (thus, realizing I knew -- AND liked! --some of their songs too!) I was consumed with the band; consumed with Harry.

(Then, in 2022, when Harry's House came out, once again, i was hooked from the very first song. 💖💖💖)

To this day, no matter where I'm at -- be it the grocery store or a football game, even at home -- when Harry comes on, I stop in my tracks to listen. (Cue the golden aura, star-struck expression...)

#lovemesomeharry

"Believe" to Nele

I did something similar to this for my Art Healing Journal, so I thought I'd re-create for Nele.

I did her last name big on the side, in a decorative manner, then colored in with color pencil. (pp for her name)

With matching insert.