Winter Swap to Stela (SMC)

 I signed up for a 1:1 winter swap in Dec. for the SMC, and I got such lovely, fun goodies from Stela! Hope she liked what all I sent:

Mix of altered uncial and pp for her name.

Again, this is a matching env. & card set from donating.

Items sent:

Bees bookmark (donation piece), matching stickers, original insert and 2 minilopes with mini Cmas inserts (see below).

gift tag

New Year's env. & card

Misc. Cmas

Here are some extra holiday env.'s sent out, that weren't that special to post on their own, so I'm grouping together!

This first one is a printed set I got for free from donating.

This next one is handmade from the usps catalogue.

I thought the "dot" print heart stamp went great with it.

A minilope and tree.

insert w/another minilope to Amy (I did a gingerbread house to Amy, and of course, after, I thought of the Rudolph nose. So, that's the reason for the addressed mini env!)

The insert was my attempt at a joke from The Office.

Some gift tags.

Small env. & card to Carly, my pers. trainer!

Red to Connie (stamp in name)

Again, didn't turn out quite like I'd hoped & planned.

As you can see, I wanted to use the circle stamp for the O in her name, but I just don't like. Maybe thicker letters would help?

It always look a bit weird when I incorporate the stamp like this -- My first thought is always, "Wait, where's the stamp?!?" 😄

Pre-printed to Carolyn

Another I got for free from donating.

For this one, I tried taking elements from the snowglobe to use in her name, but my execution wasn't that great.

Elements I tried to copy (you can see closer up in the snowglobe art):  the tree "A", dotted R, b/w checked L, and the N.

Matching card. (See if you can find how I tried matching!)

Back side.

And the inserts I sent:

matching stickers, printed tree art inside green env., minilope Rudolph and insert. (copy of one I did for Mary).

Close ups (spacing got off with this one)

See the "happy holidays Carolyn"?

Paint tree to Chuck

This was a covered up mistake, as at first, I tried using my paint shaper tool and Jean's name, stacked (inc. her midd. name)

It wasn't turning out, so I covered up with more paint, decorated and used for Chuck.

Once again, my spacing got wacky with his last name (looks like "My Rick"). #sigh

Did this "Neuland"-ish Noel as in enclosure.

Poinsettia to Mia

This is one where my idea was better than the final piece.

i wanted it to look more graphic/abstract/geometric, but I struggle with that sometimes.

Oh well. #goodenough

close up.

 

Varied Letters to Judy H.

Continuing with my varied lettered trees...

This one is so close, but I messed up the V. Then, the address wasn't lettered as nicely as I wanted (need to work on my uncial!) I also had to use 2 stamps, which I don't like to do, but it's b/c of all the enclosures. (Some mail artists are really clever with multiple stamps, but I'd rather focus on my lettering.)

Name in brush for the letter.

Minilope with embossed tree.

Back side of env.

another "env." insert

And the inside saying.

Varied letters to Meg (PTEx, Australia)

After creating one for Julie W, I had such fun with using my brown craft env.'s for these Cmas themed env.'s. So, I made one for Meg too.

Mad the greens don't match as well. #grrrr

Another insert to match! This one is so close to perfect! Where things started going wrong was the "Happy" (spacing) and then too much ink with the w in "new". Oh well.

I love how the M, e, and T match with her name!

All the inserts.

Varied letters to Julie W.

I knew I'd be sending an env. to Julie, but wanted to wait til after her Zoom party meeting. I always want to do something unique for her -- plus the pressure's on! -- so I came up with this idea (shortly after creating the one for the Wilson's).

i messed up the J (brush) and was so irked. However, didn't want to waste an env. so tried to make due with the other letters.

Here is the original sketch idea

with a filter, just fo' fun.

And matching insert.

I ended up sending her the sketch, as I liked it, so I just pasted on some scrap wrapping paper!

White name Tree to Angelique

Originally, I wanted to do her name in white uncial, however, I don't trust my white inks and nibs, so I ended up drawing instead. (However, I'm so mad how the last name is too crowded! -- my spacing and planning need more work. -- #goalstoworkon2025 )

It's kind of hard to see when working so close. BUT #goodenough and #betterdonethanperfect ?

I also did this little decorative pp tree on the back:

Can you see the "hello angelique" at the bottom?

Looks better in-person

inserts:  minilope with 3d tree insert, "Peace" bookmark?, original holiday greetings and a mini book (*see folded pen blog for rest of layout)

Another view of the inserts.

Varied lettering name trees

I started a new style for my env.'s this year, which was inspired by a card I sent to Nele: 

https://foldedpenfan.blogspot.com/2024/12/various-lettering-to-nele.html

and here is her env:

(I hate having to block the address, since it's part of the design.)

I then, as you can see, I got on a kick to send to a lot of people.

I addressed this one to both Jean and George, in order to fill up the space. (And I KNOW I added an extra design element -- a diamond --  to the lower left of the name -- by the W -- to balance out the design, but cannot find a pic! -- grrrr.)

Anyway, I had such fun with this that I did a lot of my env.'s this way! (I'm tempted to post them all here, but will space them out.)

Square env. to Shannon

So, I know I tried to cover up her address within the "tree", but forgot about the bottom. Which is OK, as her address is public b/c of the mail art call in 2020. (Just had to point that out!)

The address and name didn't quite work out in the tree shape, as I probably didn't plan it out as well as I should have. However, it's still nice!

(I wanted to include the address again at the bottom, just to ensure delivery. Esp. this time of year!)

with a letter and a fun way I did her name.

Then, I made her this minilope from a page of the po catalogue.

Included a brush tree to match!

Did this a few years ago, and touched up for her.

Finally, I re-gifted a pretty bookmark to her, as I'm a big e-reader now, and I know Shannon reads.