Bee theme to Shannon

i think I had read somewhere on her IG acct. that she liked bees. So I made this card for her with the see-through env.

Thought it fun and perfect how the honeycomb part fit in the "o".

Love how my B/bee turned out.

Inside the env. Love how my floral sticker fit.

Before adding stamp.

Scan (thought maybe it'd show up better).

Insert. A bit plain, but didn't know what else to add w/out distracting from the name.

 

Repurposed to Lina

There's something about this corrugated envelope i love, so i decided to try and salvage to send to Lina.

I tried redoing a design over it, but that failed, so I drew her name on the red paper and pasted over. It looks rather odd for some reason, but I love how it turned out and how well the stamp went (really wish I could find some decent red envelopes again! They're either too flimsy or too dark).

 

July 4th to Janet

Janet got 2, as after I started the top one, and was nearly finished, I got the idea for the bottom one (which was inspiration from one I received from Judy in 2003 -- See on Older Envies to Me page). 

I went ahead and sent the top one since I had spent so much time on it. (The zip code numbers are inspo from Anna Pinto.)

I also enclosed this piece to a few. I created it with my folded nib and black india ink, scanned in and printed off to decorated individually.

Mini piece of art Postcard, 3d

 I've been getting into making postcards lately, as it's a way to decorate snail mail w/out having to worry about the stamp!

I created this one as an experiment and sent it to Jean:

It's on watercolor paper, painted over with white acrylic paint. I then added wire and 3d embellishments: wood circle, wood square, green & pink are textured papers.

I was worried about postage, so I used an int'l. stamp to be safe. But as soon as I sent it, I found it funny, as I've created 3d pieces such as this and enclosed in envelopes!

Jean then informed me that it only weighed .25 ounce.  :/  But at least I now know! (I was also worried about the 3d embellishments and if that's cause for more money.)

I love how this turned out and had a bit of a hard time parting with it. I actually told Jean if she ever wanted to return, that's fine by me!

Pink 3d to Leanne (IG)

I was so thrilled to get an env. from Leanne, and then she goes and sets the bar for me!

Not as spectacular as hers, but I hope she likes.

On astrobrights paper, and did her name in 3d.

with Inserts

Close up o abstract collage. (not liking this artwork, as it's missing something, but not sure what. Maybe I should have done wire & beads threaded through the watercolor?)

*Update:  She got it! Here is a pic she posted to her IG:

 

Repurposed Spirograph to Anthea

Here is a repurposed piece from an enveloped decorated with a spirograph design:

The original is below. I added embellishments and her name.

I loved this design. Thought it was so fun (so much so that I almost bought a spirograph set! Could kick myself for getting rid of my son's when cleaning out his closet.)

Lowly worm!

I love Richard Scarry's Busytown books! I had forgotten all about them until a few days ago when I came upon a post on IG, and voila! -- I got yet ANOTHER idea for Mail Art Stories.

June 5 was his birthday (101 years ago), and also, this represents home schooling during the quarantine as well as the uncertainty of what will happen this fall.

Wish I had done "BMS" in red not blue. oh well.

Back:  I "cheated" as I printed out the apple (I hand-drew the one on the front).

*How fun would it be for there to be postage stamps of Busytown characters?!?!

These books bring such a smile to my face and such warmth in my heart. Love them.

 

3d on craft to Jean

This was a semi-experimental one, as I ordered these stamps on ebay (came with set of notecards to match), but I was wondering about the "validity" of them. So, sent an env. to Jean to see if it went through. Must've been ok, as she got it! (see below)

3d name with puff paints. Gestural lettering.

"fun" return address

Cancelled env.

 

THank you to Shannon.

First env. to Shannon as a Thank You for organizing the Mail Art Call.

Walnut Ink and folded pen

This was a sheet from a sketchbook, and in order for the flap to fit, i had to leave on the spiral part and adhere paper behind it. I love how it turned out!

My thank you insert, which she posted on IG! (Love her pic!)

Plus, I forgot to take a pic of it, so Thanks Shannon!

 

Matching Env. & Card to Lina

Shannon (from Bold Moves Studio) is Lina's mom, so I started exchanging with Lina during the pandemic, to hopefully brighten her days.

Wasn't sure what to create, but i love how this turned out.

However, not liking the stamp on this.

 

Another Mail Art Call (but that's the theme!)

This was done with my new tool: Fine Line Applicator (got it at amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00756OEVI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and white india ink. The pic isn't the best as I think it looks more vibrant in-person, and in the pic the colors look too dark.

The reason for this env. is I feel as though I've been seeing a lot of Mail Art Calls since the pandemic. I've been loving all of them though, as they've been so fun to do (esp. this one!)

Altered Mondrian

Got this idea from a map creation on IG (by airyfairylettersa:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CAHoeJxnDqP/ ). Thought it was so cool and would make a fun env. So I did one for Janet.

Created this fitting insert.

Before pic.

ig Sample:

 

Hot Dogs for Memorial Day

 Did these for Memorial Day. (Will update if I can find b/4 pics, although nothing too radically changed.)

Did the address on the bun. (PTEx)

This was for #cheerymail for Victorian Letter Writers. She sent me a card first so I replied (it was the only one i got out of 300!)

I LOVE how the EK stamp looks like a simplified geometric hot dog!

with insert.