Pratikpen (scroll)

Was experimenting with this rarely used tool and my white ink and.... very happy with the results!

it's just a mini env. but cannot wait to re-create for a bigger one.

a bit wrinkly but that's ok.

 

April to Sharon (yr long exchange)

I had such fun with this name! (can you tell?)

For the env. I used a pp and white ink and for the letter, one of my callig markers.

I debated about coloring-in the white as it seemed to plain but then i was also worried about ruining it as I loved the simplicity of it too.

\

Same with the insert (but it didn't turn out quite like i wanted)

I could have connected the o to the r but too much design.

b&w on brown craft to Leanne

In Feb, I got a lot of random Vday cards and i LOVED it!!! (feelin' the love!!!) Leanne was one of them. I hadn't heard from her in a while and she was feeling a bit down with the state of our country (as was I) so I tried to be encouraging, hoping I'd be able to help her find a way back to her art (which i did! Yay!)

Used various broad-edged tools for her name. I always love b&w on brown.

Nov. to Dominique

Another L. Doctor inspo!

this one stems from my tiny art piece: https://foldedpenfan.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2025-10-30T07:34:00-07:00&max-results=7

I also did a version of Killian Caps for her name.

Back side (again more K. Caps)

Close ups

And with one of my Erasure Poems art (did leaf match).

 

L. Doctor inspo to Maggie

I was touched when Maggie requested this env. from me! I had sent one to Jean ( https://snailmailingmadness.blogspot.com/2025/07/collage-to-jean-july-ptex.html ) and also did one for Nanski:  https://snailmailingmadness.blogspot.com/2025/08/purple-collage-to-nanski.html ), so I tried to do an Autumn theme for Maggie.

I actually "messed up" a bit as I forgot to do the center column in script weaver writing (like I did on Jean's), then I'd be able to add caps writing in-between the R column letters, but oh well. Plus, I like having it plain. I hope Maggie likes too!

I tried masking out a leaf shape, but it bled a bit, so it's rather hard to see. (waaaa. 😒) I wanted to add the 3d leaf (that i used to mask) to the right at the top by the columns, but it looked too cluttered or out of place (and like a football!)

I then "messed up" her name a bit (not my fault though! I'm blaming the darn paper.) I used metallic ink and it feathered (grrrr. 😠😞), so I tried to go over with a gel glaze pen, but it doesn't look as dainty. (Sigh.)

For the left column, I wrote "welcome" with a Posca, then used pastels for the autumnal colors. The middle column is caps written with gel glaze pens and walnut ink wash, then I tried adding some drop in colors (which worked!) For the Right col, i lettered "autumn" with an old Crayola brush tip marker, then added color pencil.

For the back, i did a cut-out book leaf which "matches" the insert  i sent (one of my black out poems!)

I love this as it just feels like fall.

Book leaves to Jessica (Sept PTEx)

In wanting to do fall themes for this month, I decided to continue on with my book leaf art. This one was fairly "easy" as I wanted to match the insert a bit (see below)

name in Wink of Stella brush pen

with stamp

close ups

Used her J for the tail 

Back side (continuing on from the front)

close up (looks like a fish!)

 Insert:

This was a project from the 5 day "Simplest Things" challenge last month (in which I didn't post on here, as it wasn't as fun for me). The prompt was "Squiggles" so I did a squiggly line for a "floating, falling" leaf.

close up

"There is magic in the falling leaves of autumn."

(I love this quote!)

Miro to Nele

Nele speaks several languages, and sometimes sends me pieces lettered in other languages, so this time, I thought I'd do the same (or try!)

I used the Joan Miro quote, "A simple line painted with the brush can lead to freedom and happiness." I then translated (via Google) to Spanish, and lettered with a B-6 nib, incorporating some of the shapes from his work (as well as an alphabet, inspired by the artist -- which I used for Nele's name too).

matching set.

back side

I wanted to do a whole artist theme for Nele, sending her mini env.'s based on the Calder paintings from my DC trip last year ( https://snailmailingmadness.blogspot.com/2024/09/more-dc-art.html ), but nothing was turning out, plus it would require more postage. So, I just sent this Rothko piece instead (which did not turn out. -- waaa.)

Hard to letter on watercolor. Sigh. 😖😞

Vday surprise (First Graders)

Saw a post on Jean's blog (from Mary S.) so thought I'd partake! It was from this teacher, asking for Valentines from all 50 states. Hoping mine arrives in time and that they're able to meet their goal!

I wanted to do more than just this card, but I'm glad I was able to do this.

Close up of card. I actually started this years ago, and the 2 bigger ones are actually bleach. I had it set aside in my Vday folder, so I thought I'd finish this year. I added a little decorative gold heart, and other embellishments as well as the hello.

Inside:

You can see the bleach that soaked through. I wish I had written the text in print vs. cursive. Wasn't thinking to do that so the kiddos could read it. Hope the teacher shares the sentiment!

Before pic of env.

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.