Haunted House (reuse of postage)

Every so often I get clever ideas with postage stamps (see my "Match the Stamp" tag) but a lot of times they are after-thoughts and I end up using already canceled stamps.

This is one of them!  ;D

 

i took 2 used Halloween-themed ones (windows -- not sure what they're called) to incorporate into this haunted house (which looks more like just a dilapidated house). A for effort!  ;)

Finished with Day of Dead stamp.

Back side. I re-used what I did for Jean Wilson last year 

( https://snailmailingmadness.blogspot.com/2024/10/slime-to-jean-day-6-bewitching-envs.html )

as it was too easy to dupe plus there was little room for her name on the front. (and you know how much I love to use the back side of an envelope!)

#snailmail #mailart #envelopeart #halloweenmail

Banned Boooooks...

To round out Banned Books Week, thought I'd share this last minute idea...

I had the idea for the ghost book pages back in Sept, but then came up with the connection. My post on IG said, "Don't be afraid to read banned books." Any others? ("Banned books aren't scary."? -- actually ended up adding this to the back!)

Close up

Not liking how her named turned out. At least I know I can redo for next year!

with postage

backside

#mailart #snailmail #envelopeart #halloweenmail 

More Scrapbook paper (Pumpkins!)

Had another piece of old paper for scrapbooking (like Jean's bats) so I converted it too!

This one was "perfect" with how the empty spaces matched up for the name and address.

New PTEx person. I felt so clever making some of the pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns!

i also wanted to save my leaves stamps and Day of Dead ones for my October envies, so I used one of the button ones (cuz, let's be honest, sometimes the stamp gets "ruined" by the po with the postmark!) 😉😆

Before

bat scrapbook paper

In the early 2000's I used to do scrapbooking but then I started using Shutterfly's online scrapbooks (however, they got rid of those a few years ago -- waaaa!!!!) Anyway, I had started a Halloween one for my kiddos (which I still could finish) but they won't be as elaborate (or maybe they will! -- depends on how much time I want to give to them! 😆😁)

In going through my papers and boxes, I decided to use my old Halloween scrapbook papers and turn them into envies. Found this one rather fun:

I love that it's not traditional Halloween colors.

Name didn't show up as well as i would have liked but that's ok. (First of my last 5 Day of the Dead stamps!) And first Halloween env. to go out this year! *My leaf stamps would have matched too, but i'm saving those AND I already sent Jean on with them.

I bought some bat stickers since I'm not that great at drawing them and thought they were going to be sparkly but it's just white on them to make them look that way.  😒 BUT at least they're not glittery! (as I hate that glitter that can come off  -- like on cards, etc.)

Green Halloween to Nava

It's that time of year again... Halloween envies!!! 😀

The only bummer is my lack of fun stamps. I'm all out of anything Halloween related. However, i do have my postcard leaf stamps, so maybe that will do?

*On the same day I wrote this post, I literally found 5 of these Day of the Dead stamps!!! I forgot i had them! SOOOOO happy!!!

I did this last year but didn't have time to post, so will start things off with this one (i'm kind of running out of ideas, so i'll probably start re-creating a few faves). Paper Source is hosting another challenge, but I don't like very many of the prompts.  :( 😒

Not diggin' how her name turned out (which is probably why I didn't post last year). I also finally purchased some bat stickers as not only am I tired of drawing them but mine rarely turn out.

With a letter (again, her name...😕😖). i must've been in a hurry.

Close ups

L. Doctor inspo to Maggie

I was touched when Maggie requested this env. from me! I had sent one to Jean ( https://snailmailingmadness.blogspot.com/2025/07/collage-to-jean-july-ptex.html ) and also did one for Nanski:  https://snailmailingmadness.blogspot.com/2025/08/purple-collage-to-nanski.html ), so I tried to do an Autumn theme for Maggie.

I actually "messed up" a bit as I forgot to do the center column in script weaver writing (like I did on Jean's), then I'd be able to add caps writing in-between the R column letters, but oh well. Plus, I like having it plain. I hope Maggie likes too!

I tried masking out a leaf shape, but it bled a bit, so it's rather hard to see. (waaaa. 😒) I wanted to add the 3d leaf (that i used to mask) to the right at the top by the columns, but it looked too cluttered or out of place (and like a football!)

I then "messed up" her name a bit (not my fault though! I'm blaming the darn paper.) I used metallic ink and it feathered (grrrr. 😠😞), so I tried to go over with a gel glaze pen, but it doesn't look as dainty. (Sigh.)

For the left column, I wrote "welcome" with a Posca, then used pastels for the autumnal colors. The middle column is caps written with gel glaze pens and walnut ink wash, then I tried adding some drop in colors (which worked!) For the Right col, i lettered "autumn" with an old Crayola brush tip marker, then added color pencil.

For the back, i did a cut-out book leaf which "matches" the insert  i sent (one of my black out poems!)

I love this as it just feels like fall.

Abstract for Fall

My idea for this was better than how it turned out. BUT hopefully it resembles a breezy fall day!

I first lettered some fall-themed words (in pointed pen), then put a wash of walnut ink over and lastly, added some 3d leaves.

Back side with another (bigger) 3d leaf.

Close up

Before:  cut out env.

Close ups

I forgot to take a pic with the stamp so Juliana was kind enough to send me one!

I didn't use the postcard fall leafs as I was saving them for October so I used one final hummingbird. I thought the colors went very well together. (Plus, hummingbirds are still around in Sept!)  ;)