Embossed to Leanne

I embossed this env. a few years ago (see below), then posted to IG last month. Leanne had commented on it (saying she liked it), so I decided to send to her!

pp and metallic ink for her name

playing around with scrap sheets of paper. Since Leanne does this as well (paper scraps), thought it fitting to send her way. (green is wooden circle)

Before pic.

Embossed L on back. (from alpha stencil)

 

Circles to Janet

I created something similar to this last year (to myself!) as a trial piece (see below), so i knew I wanted to redo for someone else. I used removable tape (to leave room for the name), then painted the circles over it (with metallic watercolors). Didn't know who to send to, so it sat in a To Finish folder for about a year or so.

Going through files and came upon it recently, so decided to finish and send to Janet. Since the design was mostly on the right side, decided to put the stamp on the other!

I originally created the insert for our home, but didn't like how it looked hanging, so decided to make as a card to match!

Added 3d embellishments to both.

Back flap with 3d hello, but spacing off. grrr.

Wonder how difficult it was to go through the mail this way.

One addressed to myself. Name reminds me of Asian lettering. Kinda fun.

Wonder where I would have placed the stamp.

 

Mini Cards

I was really into making cards in the early 2000's, but I was always so apathetic about it, since there is such an abundance of cards out there. Handmade AND store-bought. But with envelope exchanges, I usually always send inserts of some sort and it's nice when I already have some one hand.

Plus, if I'm going to continue with the Mail More Love/Care cards, I want to included a little card for the recipient as well as a letter.

SO, I've been slowly going through my box of "To Finish" cards and decided to plug away at them.

Here are some I started 20 years ago, and finished up recently:

Actually, this is one that was already done that I kept for myself b/c I liked it so much. But time to pass it on! (corrugated paper, handmade paper, handmade env.)

I had watercolored this one, but it needed more, so I added a gem and wish I had stopped there. I then added 3d paint, but do not like how it turned out. However, it's not too bad, so someone will get it!

Another w/c piece I had paired with this card. I added a gem, splatters and gold paper.

Tissue paper creations with gems and matching envelopes.

Red Brush Lettering

Although I have a lot of ideas for Leanne, i wanted to get something quick to her in the mail, as I can't keep up with her wonderful creations to me!

Wanted to alternate between big and small and make it colorful as well. These heart stamps are coming in pretty handy too!

Then, did a card the same but a tad smaller.

Red Pentel pointed brush pen.

 

Butterflies to Jean

It's funny, as at first I didn't care for this butterfly stamp much, but it's come in handy in so many ways! Goes with so many spring and summer themed env.'s 

Decided to create a theme for Jean:

I love both butterflies in different ways. Aside from a little feathering of the ink, I love how my insert turned out. So elegant and pretty.

And the one on the env. itself is not too bad. Will be interesting to see Jean's comments.

 

"Sunny" postcard to Lina

I started getting into postcards and repurposing cardstock strong enough to use as postcards, and decided to send one to Lina.

This one is actually a failed bicycle design on paper that I pasted on top of a failed watercolor piece. The only bummer is that if you held the postcard up to the light, you can see the design through it.  😕  Hopefully she didn't!  😄

I really like how it turned out, as I got inspiration from the gratitude env. I sent in for the Mail Art Call:

https://snailmailingmadness.blogspot.com/2020/05/corrugated-paper-embellishments.html

I really like postcards, as they cost less, plus I don't have to worry about matching the stamp. However, I don't get to do the name big and fun. (unless I did the name on the front side too)

Mini card & env.

This was an enclosure for a letter sent to the Mail More Love project. I have a lot of mini handmade cards and env.'s and need to start dispersing them to others, as I've forgotten about them over the years.

I created this years (decades?) ago, and recently added to it. At first, it was just the paint strokes, then I added the heart gem sticker and "hello!" Love how it turned out.

Also sent this. Pinspiration and want to make more. Easy, simple, and fun.

 

40th Bday to Ellen

This is for Jean's daughter. I wasn't thinking when using the square env., so i had to double up postage (was thinking I'd only need the one stamp -- so irked).

Folded pen for the name and pp lettering for the address.

Dancing Cap numbers for the back!

With card. This is store-bought, but decided to up and use for her.

Added my own lettering inside the card.

 

Bday to Jean R

Another converted envelope!

This was one I lettered on a year ago with Imagine (planned to use the Lennon stamp), but I didn't like how it turned out. Don't know why I kept it, but glad i did as I was able to re-use (again, got idea from one Jean W. sent to me that she used marker on to letter over. I wouldn't have even know had she not told me).

Used my big 1.5 cm wide nib and automatic 5 nib split pen. I didn't really think this through -- just started playing with designs. Looks a little "Halloween-ish" but really not too bad. Decide to use as a b-day one to her, and made an insert to somewhat match.

Used my white fine point Sharpie to letter her name (pp uncial), then added color and 3d accents plus glitter.

 

Bday to Janet

Wanted to do something elegant, yet a mix of lettering and stickers, but didn't turn out (well, her name did, but not the combo),

pointed pen and gold ink. I'm really please with her name.

with insert

back. Mix of stickers and lettering.

 

Fun, happy accident!

Was having trouble trying to find an env. to Jessica, and came upon this magazine page. I had actually planned to do her name in a monoline fashion, alternating thicks and thins, and then I noticed the "arrow" /line pointing to the dessert (see my arrow I drew below). How PERFECT! Easily started for me and easy to add on.

I'm so bummed I didn't take a before pic of this, as this turned out to be a fun little fate of lettering and "happy accident"!

Again, stamp from Janet. Colors matched ok.

 

Bicycle Postcards

 These are pieces I created about 3 years ago (see below) and decided to make them into postcards:

For one I used neon acrylic paints, and the other is a mix of blended color pencils and watercolors. Both on wc paper.

Quote: "Whoever invented the bicycle deserves a thanks of humanity." - Lord Charles Beresford.

Before pieces:

These 2 experiments are inspired from something I saw either online or in a magazine (can't remember where!) -- was trying to use negative space for the bike. Lighter one is watercolors and bottom is pastels.

Bday Mag Page to Janet

Thought this magazine page fun for a birthday env.

Kinda wish I had done her name thicker, but not bad.

Although the colors of the card match, I don't like it, and not sure why. Plus, i was going to letter her name as the bow, and I forgot.

Backside. I love the stripes.

 

Brown craft to Leanne

I must say, at the risk of bragging, I really love how her name turned out. Cannot remember, but I think I used my Pentel pointed brush pen. 

You can barely tell (see close-ups), but I added little gem stickers. Hope they stayed on!

with skyline insert

back side

Close up of one gem sticker.

Close up of another!

Skyline.  :)

 

Converted Gratitude piece to Mail Art Stories

This Gratitude piece didn't turn out, so I fashioned it into an envelope:

This one says, "We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude." (white writing on the left side; Gratitude is bigger in black; 3d design over "i" dot)

Backside

I cannot get over how well the stamp matches! What a pleasant "surprising" happy accident! (esp. since I'm not liking the these pink int'l. stamps very well)

3d puff paint to Nele

After not exchanging for nearly 3 months b/c of the pandemic (Nele said Belgium wasn't allowing incoming int'l. mail), I decided to chance it and send this to Nele. In Mid-June, I had checked online to see if there were still stipulations, and it said most of Europe was allowing mail.

I did this skyline sketch from something i found online, scanned in, then add original lettering each time I send one out (have sent about 3 or so to diff. people).