Samples to Sarah (P&I)

 *See previous post regarding my Paper & Ink IG Takeover Week.

These are to Sarah specifically, as that is who I sent my info to.

Used my RW and blue india ink, then filled in with yellow color pencil and red dots to match the stamp. (I love primary colors!)

Again, used my RW to make an abstract design vs. the name. These designs could also be used for Congrats or Bday cards.

Walnut ink and drop in colors with some 3d accents.

Close ups of 3d gems:

Samples to Paper & Ink!

 Paper & Ink Arts hosts an Instagram "Takeover Week" for those who submit their work, so when i found out about it, I did just that in hopes of getting chosen. And I did! I was so thrilled and excited, and had so much fun creating my posts (featured this week! Check it out!     )

One of my posts focused on Snail Mail (using folded pens, mostly my Ruling Writer), which I sent to P&I as Thank You's. Below are 2 to P&I (see other post for those that went to Sarah).

Used my folded nib and india ink on astrobrights env.

Again folded nib and india ink, trying to do fun, whimsical lettering.

This was Strathmore paper where I tried lettering "paper and ink" for samples but I didn't like how they were turning out.

Backside with samples.

C'mas in July! (to Janet, 2021)

I can't help it.... Every year I end up doing Cmas envelopes as well as other holiday creations. I'm mainly a "Cmas-once-a-year" person (AFTER Thanksgiving, ending the first week of January), but I always get inspired in July (plus, I try to get things done that I put off in December or finish after-Cmas ideas!) 

I only did 2 this year though! (and one is a just a sample) I wasn't even going to, but the main reason was because i'm doing a "12 Days of Cmas in July" for IG. SO, I made this one for Janet:

Used a callig marker and lowercase Neuland alpha. I also printed the address small under the tree shape, just to make it (hopefully) easier for the po.

I hate how the star looks like a starfish vs a regular star. 

Back side. Wish I had just lettered it "hello-ho-ho" vs the 3 "ho's". Hate when I can't think of better ways to do the back.

This is an experimental piece that turned out so well, i made an env. to match! It's so much prettier in-person with the metallic watercolors and 3d effects. Can't wait to letter and send! (maybe to myself! -- haha!)

Happy Christmas in July!

Misc. July PTEx

 Was struggling this month with names & ideas, so I decided to group these less-than-stellar ones together.

to Chuck: white ink & folded pen. It needed something, so added some iridescent metallic stickers.

Fun one to Sharon. Wanted to use this stamp and match colors, so used some garage sale dot stickers. (my foundational is rather sketchy -- grrr.) India ink and folded pen.

Wish I had done her name bigger, but also wanted to use a "delicate" lettering with gold. Didn't show up very well, so I outlined with white. Then added star stickers.

*ANNOUNCEMENT -- Follow button up!!!

When i first started this blog I was basically experimenting (am still learning my way around blogger!) I wasn't liking my other blog, so I decided to make one just for Snail Mail.

I transferred all my mail art to this blog and tried to organize it so it would be fun to view, for those who are snail mail fans like myself!

I finally made it public (not sure when exactly), as well as posting to my IG account, but couldn't find the "Follow" button to add. Since there was no way for me to promote it, I forgot about it, thinking no one would view it. Then, life would get busy for me and I would keep forgetting to update it (or I'd get apathetic, thinking no one saw it), til one day I noticed that I had not only several views, but from different areas of the world! (just fyi, every time I update or look at the blog, that counts as a page view. AND every day, if I don't want my views to count, I have to disable my views but going to the same link. I have no idea why I have to do this every day vs. it being a default.)

ANYway... After getting an env. and note from someone recently, saying they enjoyed my blog, I decided to re-visit the layout, and voile! I found out how to add the button!

SO if you are a daily/weekly/monthly/whenever follower, please sign up now! It's just nice to know if I have followers b/c that motivates me to post. And depending on that, I will try to post daily.

Thank you to all who have been viewing thus far! You can find the blue button just to the right. And just so you know, I don't allow comments 1) just to make things easier for me, and 2) to avoid spammers and trolls.

I appreciate it! I hope you'll follow me on IG as well!

Another technique (to Jean)

 This is something that happened by accident. I was testing my markers on dark scrap paper (that had some dried acrylic ink on it) and I accidentally colored over the ink. Voila! It made the ink colorful. The only bad thing is that it can wipe off easily.

Decided to try it on an env. for her:

Pearl white acrylic ink and marker over.

"decorated" address on the back. Used color pencil on top and markers for the zip.

Mag. Env. to Lina

 It's been so busy for me lately, that I've lost track of sending / receiving to Lina. I could not remember if I owed her an env. or vice versa, so I decided to send her this one that's been sitting in my "Lina" folder:

I loved the colors of this and geometric design, and once again, how perfect the heart stamp goes!

I made my own design on the bottom Right corner, to cover up text.

I also added a 3d embellishment above her name (the blue square).

Backside. Again, my own design element on the bottom left corner to cover up text. Wish I had done a 3d piece on this side as well.

Bday 3 to Janet

Last minute idea...This is a piece of decorated cardstock, probably for name place settings. Have no idea where I got it, but have had it forever. Have been using for bday and celebratory cards.

Metallic acrylic ink and pointed pen.

Flip side. (Am trying to mimic that fun beautiful "bouncy-ish" pointed pen lettering. Not sure what it's called (and I don't have an exemplar) -- contemporary lettering?

 

B-day 2 to Janet

Another b-day themed magazine page! At first, I was going to put it in a clear env., but then decided I could address it ok. I did the address first, and was unsure how to do her name, but the more I looked at it, I started to see letterform shapes within the food! How perfect! (the "n" and "t", not-so-much as the others, but they still worked!)

back flap

An experimental insert. Was just playing with this design, and I like how it turned out, so decided to mount on a card for her. (and of course, I did it on scrap paper, so you can see through it with other doodles, etc.)  😕

 

B-day to Janet! (#1)

 Janet's birthday is on the 8th, so I sent her 3 (staggered) envelopes. Here is the first one:

Tried this technique i saw on IG, but didn't work out on the black envelope, so I pasted on a pink one. Looks better in person.

back flap

Insert

July clear env.'s (Close-ups)

 And here are the clear ones:

Used Zig Fudebiyori metallic brush pens. 

Love these pens, as they're perfect for slick surfaces -- no smears!

Did a fun patriotic insert, folded over for a card. This could be perfect just as an envelope itself, but I wanted to letter her name big. (Which, I probably could do, but I wanted to use up my clear env.'s)

Lauren's:  shown with insert removed. India ink and folded pen for stars.

Back side. Glad I thought to do the "from" big in brush lettering.

Back side with insert removed.

Janet's. 

With hers, I'm glad I thought to alternate colors. Forgot to take a pic with just the insert though.

July close-ups (Red env.'s)

 Here are close-ups of the July ones from the previous post. Made from red wrapping paper (as I have a hard time finding red envelopes). Also, used my new Posca pens!!! Absolutely LOVE these pens, as they are way better than Sharpies (sorry Sharpie!) They are so much more opaque, and I'm so happy b/c I've been searching for a good white opaque pen. (Now, if I could just find good white ink that flows well for my folded pens!)

Love my heart stamps! Tried to alternate thick and thin letters. Star stamp accents.

Back side.

Same as Janet's. Hate my "s".

Back. (trying to do the return address in a fun way)

Faye's was the first one I did (pictured with a Posca marker!) I love how it turned out (esp. the "y"!), except I messed up the "f". Tried to cover it up.

June???

 So, I don't know who all views / follows this blog of mine, but those who do check it, Thank YOu!! AND so sorry I was MIA for June -- I have no idea where all my June envelopes are. Maybe June just flew by, as it was quite a while before I got any from others. But I feel like I've been sending out some, so who knows??? (or maybe it's because I was busy making ones for July?)

Anyway, here are a few July themed ones I sent out this year. (Close ups to follow.) I was in way more of a patriotic mood this year than last!

Hope you all had a good 4th! (am also attaching some fireworks pics from ours. Not the best pics, but we had a nice time!)

July themed to Shannon and Lina

 Decided to do a last-minute env. to both Shannon & Lina, since I was having fun with my designs.

Again, used my new Posca markers.

I think I did this for a few others as well, but forgot to take pics.