Music Quote & "dancers"

Have been using this quote on diff. env.s.  Saw these cute little note "dancers" on Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/284993482657994690/ ) and how fun and perfect! 

Tried to make my lettering look like notes as well but not too much.

Diff. lighting of finished piece.

Corrugated paper embellishments

THIS was a very fun happy accident! Started out as a bicycle piece for my bedroom. I had adhered some 3d bicycle designs to it, and it didn't turn out, so it just sat in my art room. I liked the background, so again, decided to turn it into an envelope, but when I removed the attachments, the paper tore (plied off?) I sat looking at it wondering how I could salvage (as it looked so bad with the torn paper), and I came up with the idea of adding these 3 corrugated colored papers! (Just used some neon paints.) 

Not happy with my lettering (the last part of gratitude bled a bit, and I don't like the writing below it), but still, I was mostly happy with the outcome!

I added a few gems (can you see 'em?) and more splatters. It was hard for me to part with.

Not sure if this kind of env. requires extra postage, but I hope not (as i don't know how much it weighs, but it feels like a regular env.) Can't wait to see how well it gets delivered!

Band Aids

Ok, so, how cute are these??? Got the idea off pinterest (saw it as a card) and HOW fitting for now, huh?

I made this as a postcard and have not sent the other yet. Wish I knew a nurse i could write to. 

Spread love, not germs.

Again, i love this one (LOVE, love LOVE how the stamp worked well!) but not happy with the background. I didn't want to do a complete background with it, as I was afraid the "Spread love" part would get lost, even though the red would stand out. So I tried to cover that part and do the background over it. My script isn't the best and I don't like how I spaced the words. But still, not bad! 

Needs a little more white space around the address. Plus, if I could redo, I'd make "not germs" in a more upright or san-serif type of lettering vs. the way it is now. 

The red words are the background words on the front.

Music Nib Design

I created this env. (the design) a while ago when i got my new split nib automatic pen (from P&I arts). I was just messing around, wondering what I'd do with it, when I came up with this idea. (looks a bit chaotic, yes?) 

Of course, after I finished, i thought I should have done a music quote instead (see yellow env. ) 

Another "Find calm in the chaos".

Splatters on the back.

Rock / Island Simon Garfunkel song

This was actually a piece I started YEARS ago, but never finished (not thrilled with my italic lettering). Got the idea in hs, then tried to redo with a script/gestural lettering background, but never made time to redo. Decided to make it into an envelope for the Mail Art Stories challenge!

Background lyrics done with a split nib and gouache in italic lettering. Added "Rock Island" on top with folded nib.

Backside.

(Pers. Note:  A lot of times i feel this way emotionally. Simon and Garfunkel's music really resonates with me.)

Snail Calligram

 Ok, brag time!! I am so, so SO proud and happy with how this turned out!! I got the idea on Pinterest from this:  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/284993482656912266/ . When I first saw it, I thought it could easily be transformed into a snail (for "Snail Mail"!) and it's been in my ideas folder for a while now. SO thought it a perfect time to try and create! (Plan to do for some of my pen pals as well.) And how lucky that the stamp goes!

I was beyond thrilled it turned out (esp. since I'm so impatient to doing "planning" sheets/trial runs first). Although I included the address in the bottom part of the snail's body, I decided to write it out as well, to make delivery easier.

Here is the wording, starting inside the small circle part of the shell:

"Snail mail is a huge passion of mine. It's such a fun hobby for me. I love sending envelopes lettered creatively, but decorated ones are fun too. I love to letter names big. It also makes me happy to know they're enjoyed."

Body of snail:

"I am so grateful for my art especially during this time. It gets my mind off negativity and my other worries. Please deliver to: ..." and then I write out the address.

Faces

Another idea in my To Do file that again, didn't turn out to my liking (my lettering). From this Pinterest post: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/284993482656661911/ . If I could redo (which I will!), I'm going to leave out the red lettering to the left (and just have the outline of the woman).

Added a 3d gem sticker for the earring. 

Can you tell my backside is a woman with curlers??  :D

Calm in the Chaos

Again for Pulp Gallery.

Tried making a crazy design, but really didn't turn out. Added colors to match the stamp (of "peaceful" butterfly). 

Then added the quote, "Find calm in the chaos."

Can you see the Calm in the design?

Lean on Me

This is for a mail art call for Pulp Gallery. Their entries actually ARE for envelope art. Unfortunately I found out about it late, as I got so many ideas after the deadline. I may still send in a few i'm working on.

Here is my first submission:

Thought this song appropriate not only for the lyrics, but his passing this year as well. (RIP Bill Withers)

Call for Mail Art! (Jason Brown 3d)

Janet has been so kind to send me some Mail Art Calls since she knows my passion for envelope art. These are 3 I've participated in throughout May & June:

This first one is "What's Outside Your Window". At first I didn't realize there was a theme, and just thought it was envelope art, so I sent him a bike themed envie. (You can it listed with my Bike Month envies post here:  https://lovemesomeart.blogspot.com/2020/05/bike-month.html )

When I went back and re-read things, I realized it was submitting art via mail. (So I had to write and explain all that!) I sent him 2 more envelopes. I didn't like the first, so not posting. I DO however, love this one.

3d lettering. I love how his name looks. (overlapping, gestural letters)  Wish I had more of these env.'s. Filled in with pearlescent watercolors. Enclosed the skyline of DM.

Converted Thank You env.

This started out as a gratitude piece (scroll down to see original before converting). I wasn't liking it so i made it into an envelope for Pulp Gallery's MAC.

with Love stamp

back of env.

Original piece. Tried doing a repeating pattern with the o's and a's. Then, tried highlighting a thank you.

Before adding stamp.

May flowers to Janet

And yet another magazine page envelope! (Tulip Time!)

This year's Pella Tulip Festival was canceled b/c of the virus, but I had these tulip env.'s all ready to go. (See also previous post:  "Easter & Tulips"  https://lovemesomeart.blogspot.com/2020/04/easter-tulips.html )

At first I lettered her name with a metallic ZIG brush marker, but I felt it didn't show up well, so then I made it 3d with gold puff paint.

Insert

With stamp. I forgot to take a pic with stamp b/4 mailing, so once again, Miss Janet obliged!! (Am loving these butterfly stamps!) 

Bday to Jean (late!)

I didn't know it was Jean's bday until a month later. SO, i decided to send her a belated card.

I've had this one done for a while (since last year) and never knew when to send it (if you haven't figured out by now, I'm a theme person!) 

I added embellishments to make it look celebratory.

RW and bleach with teal accents. (Wish I had more of these cards, as I love them. They're craft envelopes but not the "pulpy" kind, so the ink doesn't bleed. Wish I could remember where i bought.)

 

Bike Mail to myself

 I love this next one, but 1) I had other ideas and 2) knew I wouldn't be able to recreate on my own (vs. computer), so I just printed off the image (again, Pinterest!) and made an env. from that, addressed to me:

Didn't send, but love it.

Bike Month!

 More bicycle-themed envelopes for this year:

Before:  Magazine pages

After, addressed. Love how I did the red then yellow and blues, plus the black outline. Fun with stamp too. Glad I thought to do her name in a fun way.

After, addressed. (Used perm. red marker) Not liking how I did Chuck's name. Wish I could go back and redo.

Before adding stamp. Love how the name turned out.

up close, as I did more embossing and debossing. (Can you see?)

Added color w/in the text and more em/debossing (can you see?) It was a fun envelope!

w/stamp & insert

With insert.

I must say, I LOVE this insert! It was just a test piece and I'm so happy with how it turned out.

Then I tried to make bigger to hang in my house, but it didn't work,.

Mail Art Calls

I'm so happy (and grateful!) that I found out about this on IG. The hosts actually told me about it when they saw my Lean On Me env. (  

It's for Mail Art Stories, and it's to be at least 3 words describing what you're feeling or observing during this pandemic.

I have a TON of ideas for this and the creations just keep coming. Here is the first I sent:

This took a very long time to create, way more than I like to spend on an envelope. (I have since ordered garage sale dots and stickers!)  ;D

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