Music nib name to Nan, Canada

 I have a lot of store-bought decorated envelopes (from decades ago!) -- have no idea where I bought them -- and am trying to figure out ways to letter them creatively to match the lettering with the design.

Although I had another idea for this one, it turned out well. (and esp. with the ugly international stamp!)  ;D

Used my music nib so lines would match env. design, and created insert to match.

Flap design

Flipped close up:  Used some Dancing Caps

Bright Hot Neons to Janet

Because of the hot weather, wanted to do something summery and bright for Janet, so got out my astrobrights paper and neon ink.

hot pink ink on bright yellow, which then looks neon orange.  It's a bit "blinding" (in-person)!

Here it is with a matching stamp:

I love it when I can find a stamp that goes perfect!

Just for fun:  Used a "cartoon" filter and loved the effect!

And a matching insert:

(inspired by HLC) -- used too many curlies though)

Same for Chuck (August PTEx) -- folded nib wasn't working well. grrr. Again, Love how I matched the stamp though!

Grid Rubbing, Jean's name

 I tried this a while back in doing something different with lettering -- making letterforms by rubbing over a pattern. A little tricky, but some did turn out.

Tried doing a little "Neuland" style. This stamp matched the best.

Env. and matching card.

Decided to do a pattern fill-in, which I like better (plus, it's easier!) Wish I hadn't done so with the exclamation point. Also, wish I had scanned in first before adding color. (#redo)

Whale Tale to Nele (pull-string art)

I saw this technique on Pinterest so I tried it one day. Kinda fun. Very easy. So I decided to try and make some designs for envelopes.

Nele does this too, and her's turn out looking like Peace Lily flowers. Mine for some reason, looks like a whale tale! Kinda fun, yes?

i chose Primary colors b/c of logo on the back of the paper.

 

Circle stamp design to Maggie

I have a ton of paper samples from my days as a graphic design student, so at times, I play around with them and make my own decorated envelopes. Here is one sample I made recently with a swirl stamp:

And now, here it is addressed:

Didn't have a good stamp to go with it, so used one of my baseball stamps, since it's still baseball season! (Someday I'll get my small printing right.  :/   )

the back sealed

 

Lettering Progress

 So funny how one can improve in such a short amount of time. Since getting back into my lettering last fall, I cannot believe how much it has improved since then! (Hope this doesn't sound brag-ish... it's just that over the months, I've seen my lettering get so much better.)

Looking back on some pieces I did from then, I cringe. BUT am so glad I'm seeing improvement.

Here is an example of what I'm talking about. A few days ago, I came upon some sketches from my bond paper pad with altered foundational lettering. That reminded me of a card/env. I sent to a friend in which I used that style, but had forgotten to take a pic of it. So, I asked her if she still had it and if so, to please take a pic of it to send to me. (I guess she has it hanging at her desk at work!  :)  -- that is where I sent it to her.) Here it is:

Not bad, but am hating the "T". Sent it to her for her b-day. (stamp fail!)

I don't even use this anymore (since I'm so into my folded nibs!) But with HLC I do play with it every so often.

Anyway, I just had to share this. So glad she kept it. Funny how some people who don't do lettering (or art) love things we may think are terrible.

Imagine Tie-Dye, Lennon stamp

 Can you "Imagine" getting this in the mail?? (ar, ar)  ;D

As I've said before, I hate not doing the name as the focus on an envelope, but I've had this idea for a while now, and decided to use it for this month's PTE exchange.

It was another hard one for me to part with, as I love the paper, but I need to use up my Lennon stamps and ideas. (And, actually, I could easily re-create this paper with some watercolors and/or pastels, so no biggie, I guess!)

Decided to do something different on the back this time. (no time to create an insert this month.)

dainty drawn letters to Maureen

This was inspired by something Jean did on her blog. She had outlined the letters, then added what looked like gold dots in the centers. So I tried to copy, but colored in my outlines.

Other than the m, I love how it turned out.

3d watercolor flower as an insert.

Creative "from".