Halloween to Janet

 I think I mentioned before that my long-time (2 years?) pen pal (and new in-person friend!) Janet moved to a different nearby suburb, so now I have to memorize her new address, as her previous one was emblazoned in my head.

Hope she gets this one in time, as I decided to send her a last-minute Hall-themed envie.

Again, the altered gothic lettering.

I didn't do any fun insert as I didn't have time. So, just a little letter!

And again, had a little fun with the address. (zip code)

Watercolor monsters to Lina

  Wanted to do something fun & cute for Lina ("Merry, not Scary!"), so thought I'd send her some of my watercolor monsters.

I always have fun with these, but can never find stamps to match.

Maybe I'll do these for Cards for Kids next year. (Bummed I forgot this year.)

Last-minute idea

  I got this idea last-minute and was originally going to do it as an env., but then decided on a postcard b/c of addressing:

Before pic: (decided to add more paper to make it look more like a mummy)

Back side: 

Although some one on IG suggested putting it in a cello env. I wanted to mail as is to see how well it travels! Maybe next year I'll use a vellum env. as that's a good idea! 

Can't wait to see if it goes through ok!

Mix of gothic and blood drip

Oct. PTEx.

 insert

 

"Eerie" green gothic to Agata (italy)

 Another for the Spooky Mail xchg on IG.

Got loads of comments on this. Was happy with my idea and how it turned out.

Spider them to Maggie

 My spiderweb "calligram" didn't turn out (itsy bitsy spider), but I didn't want to waste the env. so I did my altered gothic for Maggie.

Had a little "fun" with the address too (on the back):

Dripping Blood to Susan

 Oct. PTEx:

Good 'ole blood-dripping theme!

Halloween to NH po

Sending Hall. themed env.'s to the NH po workers!

to Steve

To Judy

Before pics:

To Renee

Before pic

To Paula.

Not lovin' the Innovation stamps -- didn't know they'd be shiny.  :/

Before pic.

To Nancy.

*Didn't have any more magazine pages, so Nancy got a watercolor one. (But the boo card is to all)

Back

Repurposed to Janet

This originally started out as my "Spread Love not Germs" env. (for the Mail Art Call -- ), and instead of wasting the paper, got the idea to cover over it (as best as i could) from an env. Jean sent me (in which she used marker).

I used black india ink and just started making thick stroke marks with my 1/2" wide coit pen. (see pics below)

I also used my 5 point automatic pen for more unique strokes. Then added color, and metallics and colored over the red hearts to make them diff. colors. Since there was no room for lettering, I had to cut and paste the name and address (much like I did for this one: https://snailmailingmadness.blogspot.com/2020/08/thank-you-to-open-sky-stories.html ).

I thought it looked really good, but *UDATE: I mailed it the week of 10/11, so she would hopefully get it before Nov., when she moved, BUT she didn't receive til      . Not sure why it has Return    as she did mail forwarding.

 

Boo to Leanne

  I was low on Halloween stamps this year, so only a select few got them. Miss Leanne was one! Decided to do my gothic lettering from last year on a green env. for her:

The darn paint smeared, but hopefully it looks like I meant to do that. (Spooky, eerie?)

The cat stamp looks orange in this pic, but it's actually a green color (depending on how you look at it, i guess, since they're metallic/ iridescent). Anyway, that's why I chose it, but wasn't thinking when creating the env. as far as a theme goes. So, I did the spider and web. Couldn't think of how to make a cat for it.

Did my fun idea from last year on the back!

insert.

Music Env. & Card

 This one was a bit hard for me to part with, as I love it. I created it early this year (inspired by my other Mail Art Call submission with this quote), and it was an inspiration from a piece I saw on Pinterest (just the art on the env., not the words).

I think the card could be a great env. design too, then emphasize the recipient's name (vs. the quote -- have the quote on the card).

It went to Patty, but unfortunately I covered her name (wrote it in pink to match colors in design.) And of course, not enough room for the heart stamp.  :/

Spider & Pumpkins to Shannon

  For Shannon's, the spider stamp was so perfect! And for her "o" I DID remember to do a spider to match. The only thing that bothers me is the placement of the stamp. Wasn't sure how / where to put it so as not to interfere with the design.

Before pic.

Perfect for doing the name in white and lettering the address on the white stripes of pumpkin (with spider.)

back. Love the pincushion pumpkin!

Insert /card. 

This started out as a piece I did last year -- 2nd pic ("itsy bitsy spider -- again, how fitting!), but I didn't like how it turned out, so I made into a card.

I used color pencils to fill in the front counters and metallic watercolors for the back.

Gourds to Jean

I don't know if recipient's like these or not, and I hate how they're so flimsy, but this one is just too cute.

Thought the ghost stamp fitting. Wasn't sure how to letter her name, then came up with this "shaky" writing (I'm sure there's a proper name for it but cannot think right now).

Before pic.

Did this insert to "match" and Funny story behind it:

So, we are well into a worldwide pandemic (8+ months in the US; nearly a year or more world-wide) and sadly there are people out there refusing to wear a mask to help stop the spread. When I lettered Jean's last name, at the last minute I tried to make the "O" into a ghost. I messed up and was trying to figure out how I could fix it, but the more I kept looking at it, the more it looked like a ghost wearing a mask! SO, I drew this little guy. Would be fun to do on an envelope as well. #evenCasperwearsamask

Here is a close up of the "O" from her name:

Back side of her env.

used my pointed pen and white india ink