April Showers...May Flowers (to Jean)

So, this one didn't turn out quite as envisioned, but I hope Jean appreciates the idea!

I wanted to do "April" in various hands, raining down, then spell out May with my letter flowers, but I don't like the "aprils". However, i LOVE the colors (env.) and stamp!

And for my letter, did another word border, "happy spring!" in marker.

VDay to Jessica (tea swap, SMC)

Time for V-Day envies!

I swapped with Jessica earlier in Jan. via the SMC (tea swap) and she sent me such a lovely note, I decided to write back.

This is from an idea i had a few years ago ( https://snailmailingmadness.blogspot.com/2022/02/v-day-envs-marker-designs.html ) -- I did the name sideways, making it look like a design instead.

For this one, i used a broad edge callig marker, but it wasn't opaque enough, so I outlined in white India ink, then added colors to match the stamp.

Here is it sideways.

Not sure what I sent as an insert, or maybe it was just a note?

Anyway....first of the V-Day batch this month!

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.

Bday to Kate Riley (June)

Another border envelope!

This one was a mess-up, as I didn't like how the name turned out in pp uncial, so I redid over in tall pp uncial (which I DID like, AND wish I had done that way in the first place). I plan to do a whole alpha this way.

Some close-ups

 

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.

Flower Hearts to Karen (PenPalentine 2, IG)

2nd PenPalentine

Had fun with this one too! Hope she can see her name clearly, as I know some people can get "critical" of expressive lettering (i.e., "can't read it!")

Did an insert to match (or rather, did her name to match the insert). Used my slant tip Parallel.

Proud of this one!

 

Salvaged Cmas env.! (This one worked!) :D

I was trying to make this one similar to the one I did for Jean a few years ago (see attempt below): https://snailmailingmadness.blogspot.com/search/label/black%20env?updated-max=2021-07-25T07:15:00-07:00&max-results=20&start=34&by-date=false

but it wasn't turning out (new ink wasn't working -- grrrr.)

So, I just painted over the lettering!

Glad I was able to salvage it, as I didn't want to toss my black envie.

 

Teal name on Pink to Maggie

I forgot to sign up for the PTEx in August, so I decided to send one to Maggie, as it's been a while since I've exchanged with her.

Don't like my stamp placement (didn't gauge out the lettering very well). I should have placed it lower under the e. (grrrr.)

Matches so pretty though!

I always find her name challenging to do (with the double g's), so I tried to dupe this practice piece:

I like the practice piece better.  😕

Used my Hiro poster nib.

"hello" on letter was tricky with my white Ziller ink.

again, practice sheet much better. (walnut ink)

Care Cards

(*I didn't know where to post these...here or on my fp blog. I chose here, since they go better with snail mail.)

I did a batch of these in Dec. 2018 for Cmas. I've wanted to do more, but I'm not good at making cards (mostly b/c I lack patience with the assembly process).

But recently on IG, I saw a post from Cards for Kindness, requesting inspiration/motivational ones, so I started making some (as they gave ideas for what to letter), then my creativity took over!

Did 17 in total. Hoping to make more, as I had so much fun.

Layered uncial with pp on top. Have done this layout previously.

This was a big card (5.5 x 8.5)

Used my big homemade "Luthis" folded pen. (walnut ink and drop-in colors)

I LOVE how this turned out (except my lettering above got too tight -- the "being").

Was pleased with this one too.

This one's ok. Looks too celebratory. Wish I had kept off the exclamation.

I love this simple one.

I like this one, but not the ink for "amazing". Wish I had used blue for all the letters.

I like this one (fun!), but I messed up the design. (grrrr.)

I messed up "inspiring", but it's not bad!

I had fun with these designs on the colored paper (color pencil and puff paint).

I'm so mad as I messed up this one, in 2 places. First, the r in "your" and then the R in Courage. (Got the idea for the flourish after lettering.) So, I tried fixing. I decided to send anyway.

I could add splatters, but that might be too much.

THEN, I started doing collages! So pretty and fun.

They look much in-person.

This is so pretty (b/c colors match so well), but I don't like how I added the lettering on separate sheets. However, I had to, as the handmade paper is WAY too porous.

There's a better sample below.

Love this one too, but the more I look at the word, the more I think I spelled it wrong. Prob. b/c of the ligature.

Happy with this one, but just wish I could letter directly on the card.

*Also, I got the idea to adhere plain white paper inside the card, to make it easier to write on!

(so proud of myself!)

Last one. Again, so much prettier in-person.

3d puff paint. So easy -- def. gonna make more of this style.