Baseball to Nava

When I first started exchanging with Nava, she told me she's a Cubs fan, and actually lives near the stadium! So, how fitting to send her a b-ball themed envie.

Plus, b-ball is still in full swing! (no pun... haha). And, my oldest just got back from a Twins game in MN.

My seams need work, as it's tricky with the puff paint. 

Plus, her name is too close together (the last name).

More DC art

Here are a few more env.'s inspired by modern art from the Nat'l. Gallery of Art, DC (East Bldg)

*I had to turn a lot of these on their sides in order to make the env.'s mailable, etc.

Calder. How perfect does this line up with a flap on an env??

Another Calder. I hate that the yellow square will get covered by a stamp. :(  #Waaa.

Jackson Pollock. There are obviously others that will be easy to duplicate, but I found this one fun, as the Left side reminded me of folded pen work.

Another Calder. Wish I had thought to take a full pic of it, as I made it a folded piece with the white part the back flap on one side.

And this one was a bit of a fail, as I made the squares too big. Will try to redo. (It's inspired by the lower entrance of the building.)

Cut outs to Jean

In July, I took a class at our local Art Center (abstract lettering), and the first project we did was cutting out an alphabet from squares, using as few cuts as possible. This was to get us to really look at the shapes of letters. (see below)

Jean and I discussed this, and she had talked about wanting to do this with stamps! (That would be one expensive envelope!) But instead she made copies of a stamp and did so with my name.

SO, for the Aug. PTEx, I decided to one "up" her! 😆 (I wrote in her letter, "I see your stamps, and raise you this envelope!")

This month, she gave us her full name to letter. (How perfect, huh??) 

The funny thing, is the cutting was the easy part (and I'm not a fan of cutting). I had trouble getting the colors to line up, so that was the irritating part that took the longest. (see below!)

Piece for art center class. Tome's sample (the instructor) was lovely (wish I had a pic), as her letters were all the same size. I just started cutting out mine, not measuring (as I was antsy to do fun lettering).

The final background insert. Told Jean I wanted to do something fun with the background, but not sure what. Then I wish I had just colored the entire piece. You can, however, still see her name, even though the shapes aren't evenly colored.

Also, the envelope wasn't the sturdiest, so I hope it went through the mail ok with no tears!

Then, I kept going and decided to do a whole cut out of her name. (At this point, my finger was getting tired and cramping.) Used card stock for this. (Also, the heart in the top A is from a heart shaped hole punch I have. And for the 2nd A and first i, I just used a marker, as I'm not good at cutting circles. Plus, my hole punch wouldn't reach.)

With stamp.

Not done yet, as I STILL kept going! Got the idea to do the back too. Originally, I wanted to do "AUG PTE" cut out, but too much work, so I only did OPEN, and just lettered the others. (I also did a cut out "HI" card, but forgot to take a pic! grrrr.)

Hope she gets a good chuckle from it all!

*UPDATE:

Jean posted to her blog on 9/11 and here is how it arrived (she had let me know it arrived intact when she got it):

it's sometimes such a bummer when the cancellation marks up the art of the envelope. Sometimes, as Jean notes & notices, it adds to it. Other times, not-so-much.

I'm just glad it didn't tear!  :)

 

Art inspired envies (DC)

In mid-August my family and I went to DC for a week. One day, we visited the National Gallery of Art (East Bldg -- Modern/Contemporary Art), and I was SO inspired!

I got so many ideas for envelopes based on artwork displayed.

This is my first creation! (Miro)

Not exactly like hers, but I did it free-hand.

I also turned on its side, so as to put the name and address between the wavy lines.

Correct View

Side view

And addressed:

With matching insert

 

Clear env. (mag.) to Cathy

 I need to get more clear env.'s, as I have so many ideas for them. Been trying to use my pretty magazine pages (the ones that might be too "cluttered" to send on their own).

This one is so pretty, and the stamp matches perfect! Good space for the address too.

pp for name

Back flap

mag page outside of env.

more pp work

close up (ish) of name.