Blog submission for LetterMo

Saw this "call for entries" on ig, and you know me....I rarely miss an opp. to send creative Snail Mail!

(The only thing is that it's int'l. mail, and I'm getting low on stamps!)

Did his name a bit akim-ish with my folded pen, trying to make it into a design too. (slant tip Parallel)

Did colors to match the stamp. (wish I had used teal instead of blue)

Then, did a side design for the letter ("hello"). Used color pencil and water color on some linen paper.

Was going to calligraph the letter itself, but decided to try my penmanship instead.

Extra env. to Maggie (New Year)

Last month, I had Maggie for PTEx, and her env. didn't turn out as I envisioned. So, I converted this practice sheet, but did not mail, as I didn't plan it out correctly for the stamp. However, I did send to her in her b-day env.

It was from 2021 (can you see the "2's"?), and then I added the crossbar to the 1 to make a 4. (see original piece below)

Here is the back.

original

V Day to Jessica

This should be the last of my VDay envies.

Did this salvaged one to Jessica. Love the card!

Before pic. Can you see the 3d elements? (I forgot to take a close-up pic)

Was pretty proud of my card. (am loving this pp lettering!)

 

VDay to Patty (3d design)

Sometimes, I have a hard time with bigger envelopes, esp. with the white space -- I get the urge to fill it. I guess I could have done so by making her name bigger (stacking it), but oh well. That's why I did the design.

I was tempted to add more color, but left as is, so as not to detract from her name.

And the back.

These hearts look more Gothic than intended.

Did another "border" letter, again with 3d paint.

close up of design

Before pic of letter

close ups.

 

V Day to Mary

(Still posting more Vday envies from this month!)

Love how her env. turned out! (the name)

Used a Posca pen for her name, and tried to make the M look like a heart. (can you tell? 😊)

Not sure what you call this style of lettering:  a little akim & weaver mixed?

3d hearts in the corner

Some metallic hearts on the back.

B-day to Maggie

Maggie's bday is today, Feb. 18, so I tried to make her env. Celebratory without being too V-Day-ish (as I don't know if she likes that or not).

I was worried it'd look too C'mas-y with the colors (b/c of the stamp), but hopefully not.

3d puff paint "design" of "happy birthday to you!" around edge, and fun pp lettering for her name.

And did an additional design on the back.

For the insert, I did a decorative letter, also with 3d puff paint. ("Celebrate")

Purple hearts to Amy

Last month, Amy informed me that her favorite color is purple (as I sent her an env. with purple in it), SO this month, I sent her one of my purp. env's (that I'm getting oh-so-low on! -- waaaa.)

The stamp matches perfectly, but I also made the heart "flowers" match as well.

I did her name to match the insert. (darn spacing is off though).

Close up.

V-Day to Grace

After making the script version for Leanne, I decided to do a pointed pen variation to Grace.

I gotta say, I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.

Metallic inks for both name & words.

("be kind. be mindful. spread love. do good. have compassion. help heal. be understanding. Take accountability.")

Insert to match. Collage pieces are from failed attempt below.

Other lettering with Posca pen.

Same words as on env.

V Day to Jean

Am loving these red stamps!

Not loving the insert though.

3d heart (and on insert too)

Posca pen for name

 

Watercolor name (Jeff) and card

I think I created this env. to go along with an alpha I did using watercolors & block letters, which I submitted to Somerset magazine in 2006.

Made the card to match (V-Day).

V-day to Leanne (blue script)

In creating my other PenPalentines, I had this idea I knew I wanted to use for other exchangers (PTEx). It's from a piece I did for my first 100 Days Challenge (quotes -- see pic below).

I love the color combo with red as the focal point color.

used my ruling pen for the blue script with metallic pearlescent acrylic ink (Daler Rowney), and Posca pen for her name

back side

Before pic: (wasn't sure who I was going to send to).

Script writing says: "be kind. be mindful. spread love. do good. have compassion. help heal." 

Original creation that was inspo for env.

Enclosed letter to match ink color.

V-day to Zoe (Love Stamp, orange env.)

Had fun with these stamps this month, although it can be frustrating to copy, as my markers/pens sometimes poop out. Plus, I usually try to be precise with my letters/images when trying to match the stamp.

I calligraphed a letter to her on blue notebook paper, which you can view on my fp blog:

https://foldedpenfan.blogspot.com/2024/02/love-letters.html

 

PenPalentine to Sandie

Sandie was the other organizer/ host for this exchange, so here is her Thank You.

The quote on the left says, "let your love shine", which is a lyric from the Pablo Cruz song, "Love Will Find a Way". Used my slant tip Parallel for the quote, and a Posca pen for her name.

Not diggin' the insert, as my darn ink wasn't flowing well (grrrr.)

 

Thank You to Angela (PenPalentine)

Whenever I do an exchange like this, I always try to send the hosts/organizers a Thank You (plus, I get to send another env. that way!) 😁So, here is one to Angela.

 

Did a 3d puff paint design again, and Posca pen name. Decided to keep it simple with just black, red (and greys).

Continued the design on the back too.

And here it is with an insert.

Extra PenPalentine (Shannon), IG

Shannon not only lives in Iowa, but Clinton as well (where my hub's family is from and where he was born), so when I saw her address, I had to send her an env.!

This one is made from wrapping paper! I've had it for a few years. Because the surface is slick, I had to use a Posca pen for her name and perm marker for the address.

Her insert.

 

PenPalentine to Mindi (4)

I was trying to do Mindi's name -- or the M -- in the shape of a heart. Hopefully, she can see that. 

with insert

Before pic. Had fun with this.

Happy with final piece.