ABC's of Autumn...

This is an old (OLD) practice sheet where i just lettered the alphabet (i think I used my Horizon nib). Wish I knew how long ago I did it but I can tell it's old by the shape of some of my letters. (and, of course, i forgot to take a before pic!)

Anyway, i decided to convert into an env. as now, i finally figured out a way to create space for the address! (without using a sticker and chancing it falling off)

Wish I had cut out a bigger hole, but i think this will do, as I'm sure the contrasting color helps. Not enough room for the name but that's ok as I like how it fits nicely under the "h-i" ("hi Jean")!  😊

I added words in pp lettering (metallic ink) to coordinate with each letter (most of them) -- "football, fall, gourds, hayrides (used the i for the i in 'rides'), kindness, leaves, maize, November, October, raking, tricks, treats". I also added some fall-like colors then a 3d leaf, which actually blends in so well, you can barely tell unless pointed out! 😏

And then, just for fun, I added pieces of book pages to fill in other empty areas (and to go with the Erasure poetry insert). I just hope they stay on!

Close ups:

The "hi JEAN"

the 3d leaf

I thought I had a pic before adding the stamps (so you could see the "full effect") and will post if I can find as the stamps almost blend in too.

Back side with another 3d leaf.

More words: "autumn, apples, bonfires, crisp, everything". I left xyz plain (couldn't think of any words) and bummed I didn't think to do "cider donuts" for c & d as I couldn't come up with a d word. (delicate? as in delicate leaves? Dainty? Delicious -- apples?) drats, darn, dang it.

This is a "before" pic without the stamps and book art. Also forgot to take a full pic of the alpha page before converting. I feel like the leaf stamps were a bad choice, as they seem to get lost in the design (or maybe that's a good thing? 😄)

Sunflowers to Lina

 

Forgot to take before pics (drats!)

This was a magazine pic and I thought it not only perfect for fall, but that I also have a stamp to match!

I messed up the address (just the state part, NC), but not bad. I love finding near perfect pages like this that work with the address AND stamp!  ;)

"Collage" to Jean (July PTEx)

This env. is inspired by my Laurie Doctor class, "Speak to Me...", as I love this collage "technique".

I loved matching the colors to the stamp, as that made the design easier. (I also added "Have" to the stamp so it would read, "Have Fun". Then below that , "Keep Creating!")

Back side

with flap opened.

Before pic. You can see where i penned, "Creativity" on the left, then filled in with watercolor. In the middle column, I used metallic ink and wrote some quotes about art and creating, and colored over with teal. Then for the Right Column, I wrote out "art attack" in brush lettering and added more words in-between the letters.

I had fun with it and love how it turned out. I also did another one similar to this that i'll post later!

Bird Stamp

Another calendar page, and how perfect for a hummingbird stamp!

These are so fun for summer.

One i ended up using.

Back side

Clear to Nava (Seahorse)

 

This is another calendar page (and this one had to go in the clear env.), but I'm not sure how well it was for addressing, as I had to go over it to make it darker.

I used my white Callipen marker for her name (our name!😁) and perm. pen for addressing.

Fun seahorse!

Clear env.

backside

Before stamps

calendar page to Jean

i have no idea what kind of sea life this is (although I could look it up, and it probably says somewhere on the env., but I forgot to look and take note.

However, how perfect does the stamp match?? 💛

My oldest got this calendar in the mail (for donating -- cannot remember what org), and it's perfect for making env.'s (although slick paper!)

Some will probably go in clear env.'s but this one was ok for addressing.

inside where you can see the calendar!

 

Harry Love (to Meg)

Meg and I were exchanging messages on IG re: our Love of Mr. Styles, so I decided to send her an env., (as part of another Paper Source challenge) earlier this year.

It didn't turn out quite like i planned, but I decided to send to her anyway. (Would have been better had my printer worked.)

Anyway... I lettered some of my fave songs of his in a rainbow, then added pastels and a pic of him from his 2021 Grammy performance. (story below)

I also included this insert.

I cannot remember if I've ever shared this story, so I will do so again (maybe it's on my fp blog?) -- 

I had heard of Harry Styles, but wasn’t quite sure who he was, other than some goofy teen in a silly boy band. Oh boy… was I wrong!

My family and I went to the movie, Dunkirk. In Harry’s first scene, I turned to my hubby, surprised, and said, “Hey! I think that guy is from that one boy band!” I wasn’t sure of his name, but I recognized him.

I’d heard of One Direction, but had no idea just how popular they were. I had no idea their names either. And I even had a few songs of theirs in my itunes workout playlist! (But didn't know it. I just liked the songs; didn't know who sang them.)  I couldn’t tell you anything about them.

Fast forward to March 2021 and the Grammys. I didn’t watch the Grammys that year (because I never watch the Grammys), but the next day, on my Instagram search feed, I was seeing all these memes and posts about Harry’s Grammy performance. “Huh,” I thought. “Why is this guy performing at the Grammys, and what’s the big deal?” Intrigued, I look him up on YouTube.

OH….MY….  W-O-W. What a performance. That Monday night, sitting in our living room on my tablet, I viewed that video, that awesome performance of Watermelon Sugar, at least 50 times. Maybe 100. I don’t know. I couldn’t get enough.

Not only was that song fun (and just a tad risqué!), but that version of it was right up my alley! To me, it was cool, smooth, funky, jazzy. And the performance itself….So simple. Nothing too flashy, No trying too hard with extra props, etc. Just matching leather outfits and a green boa. (And some bright lights at times.) LOVE.

The way he sang it. The way he danced. Who WAS this guy???

I looked up the song and the album. Wait…what??? This is his SECOND album??? HOW did I not know this? I listened to top 40. I knew about Billie Eilish, why did I not know about Harry? After listening to the first album, I realized I recognized a few songs. I must’ve just not been paying attention. (or was probably listening to my alt music instead.)

Although a lot of the songs on his first album were good, his Fine Line album had me hooked. Man, this guy is talented! One song after another would have me mesmerized. And for a good week straight, I watched and re-watched that amazing, electrifying Grammy performance…every…single…night. 50+ times. I was addicted.

I went down the Harry rabbit hole...

After getting a good listen to his first album (I wanted to soak up each and every song), I then moved on to his first. How, HOW did I not about this???

I cry at Sweet Creature. I'm surprised with Kiwi, but love it. Again, I'm obsessed, getting my fill of each track.

After fully immersing myself  with both albums, I then went down the One Direction rabbit hole. (thus, realizing I knew -- AND liked! --some of their songs too!) I was consumed with the band; consumed with Harry.

(Then, in 2022, when Harry's House came out, once again, i was hooked from the very first song. 💖💖💖)

To this day, no matter where I'm at -- be it the grocery store or a football game, even at home -- when Harry comes on, I stop in my tracks to listen. (Cue the golden aura, star-struck expression...)

#lovemesomeharry

Ocean theme to Tara

My idea for this was to make a calligram that resembled ocean waves. However, when I showed my hubby, asking for his thoughts, he said it looked like a flower. (see b4 pic below)

Took a poll on IG, and although some felt the same, the ocean waves won.  😏😃

Words are a mix of quotes about the ocean.

Back is a whale's tale with the quote: "If size truly mattered, the shark, not the whale, would rule the waters."

Before pic

enclosures.

I was so bummed, as I have a calendar with sea life, and I was going to make mini env.'s to send to the other participants, but I forgot. Luckily, I remembered for Tara!

Back flap

i love this quote, and I lettered on a piece of practice paper (you can see a blackletter i), that I tried to cover up with flowing lines, to help resemble water. This was my interpretation of water flowing, but obstacles/barriers that get in the way (which, in turn, applies to the quote!)

Bday to Jessica

This is the last of my Midori envelopes I got from P&I a few years ago:

https://www.paperinkarts.com/86763006.html

I was going to do a circle print insert to match the env., but decided to just go with the lettering.

B-nib to match her name.

I sent her a 2nd one, just to spoil her! Very plain, but another "treat" inside (forgot to take pic, but just a b-day card).

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.

Dec. Caps to Nadya

 The last of my Pretty Mail Tribe swap.

Although I love how my lettered caps turned out, the name is too crowded. When using bigger env.s, I always feel pressure to fill the whole thing, as there's so much space! (I think 5x7's are the perfect size for me.) So, I obviously didn't plan this out very well.

Back side. Just a tiny tree!

Close up.

Inserts. The tree on the left is an experiment from a few years ago (didn't like), so I added script lettering to it -- not bad! Then, the one on the right is new -- xtra fine pt Posca.

(I love her name on the note! Brush marker)

Flip side of mini tree, with handmade minilope!

Close up of Posca tree

Flip side of minilope.

And with another insert.

Gingerbread House!

I saw a drawn one online last year ( https://snailmailingmadness.blogspot.com/2023/12/so-jealous-idea-for-next-year.html ) and made a note to do one of my own for this holiday season!

Although it's not perfect, I'm very proud of it!

Used 3d paint for the icing (roof, window, door) and drew the rest. 

Love the gum drops. Candy canes are a bit of a fail. But overall, I like!

And here's a mini one:

And a few more:

So mad it smeared on the right roof. BUT candy canes are better!

And this one got a bit funky with the roof. Plus, her name is hard to see with the metallic ink. Thought I'd mix it up by putting the door in the middle, so more room for the address.

Feel so clever using the Santa stamp with chimney on the roof!  😃

Maybe one day I'll create one that's absolute perfection! (then I'll have a hard time parting with it...haha.)

Design-wise: Maybe if I do the door on the right (original), then enough space under the window for the address? (If the address is small enough, it fits perfect in the door.

Will update!  😄😉