2nd env. to Nele (red)

I sent Nele a 2nd env. shortly after the last one (Miro), as I have a few items to give her, and didn't want to wait. She's into collaging, so i sent her some ephermera I knew I'd never use.

Used my gold Callipen and navy brush pen to try and match the env.

Some inserts: a small handmade env. with the items, and another simple mini-book.

Vday to Laura (Austria -- extra Penpalentine)

For this exchange, they send all addresses and groups in one big email, and add that you can send to any additional people, if you wish. I did this last year, as I looked through the group to 1) see if there were any other Iowans on the list, and 2) see if there are any fun int'l. countries to send to!

I came upon Laura's, and since my family and I visited Germany and Austria in 2013, thought I'd send to her, in hopes of getting a new penpal from Vienna!

I loved how hers turned out (except for the name... grrr.) 

I'll explain the other lettering below, but for the name, I used a white calligraphy marker. However, it wasn't very opaque, and not crisp either, so i had to outline with pp and India ink. I actually like this "technique", but hate the mess of the name. Hoping I disguised it well! (added her last name in pp at the end in pink metallic ink. And I like the "A")

for the other lettering, i lettered variations of "hello" in diff. languages, using metallic inks. It's a bit hard to see, but I was so happy with it. 

Better view of the silver.

Diff. view

I enclosed this handmade heart card I made last year. This would also be a fun idea for a mini book. 

Can't remember if I made the abstract design specifically for the card or if it was a failed wc piece.

I then lettered a little note to her (about the card) using a tiny pp nib I rarely utilize. As someone who had difficulty slowing down to pen a letter or note using a pp (and as someone with terrible handwriting), I was extremely pleased with how this turned out!)

"hello" with a Posca on the left side.

So much detail on this card -- I'm sure it was time consuming for me. Hope she likes!

(and hope to hear back from her!)

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

July 4th Throwbacks

Transferring over some old envies from previous blog, and came upon these:

Not sure the date on this one but b/4 2000. Callig marker for name and stamp for stars.

One to myself, using Architectural Lettering. (neuland variant)

Sun to Nele

I created this last year for Nele, and decided to send to her in April b/c of the Solar Eclipse!

I only messed up her name just a bit, as I didn't like how I lettered it over the address (it was in pp). So, I redid, and pasted over it (hope it stayed on!) I painted in gold and used my paint shaper tool to do her name in semi-Neuland.

It went on a bit crooked though. 😒

For the name "rays", I used various tools and gouache:

italic, uncial, foundational, b-nib, pp, script, neuland, etc.

Close up of name -- had to touch up a bit.

Plus, I had to add more lines around it, as part of the old name was showing under. (THAT I don't like.)

With insert.

For the insert, I again used gouache, and my tiny italic nib. Then, for the sun part, I used pastels.

The rays are songs with Sun in the title:

Here Comes the Sun, the Beatles

You are my Sunshine, various

Let the Sunshine in, Hair musical

Good Day Sunshine, Beatles

Pocketful of Sunshine, Natasha Betingfield

Seasons in the Sun*

Walking on Sunshine, Katrina and the Waves

*So for this song, I went to look up who sang it (I know the Terry Jacks version) and when doing so, I came upon this:  

"Seasons in the Sun" is an English-language adaptation of the 1961 Belgian song "Le Moribond" ("The Dying Man") by singer-songwriter Jacques Brel^[2] with lyrics rewritten in 1963 by singer-poet Rod McKuen^[3] portraying a dying man's farewell to his loved ones. It became a worldwide hit in 1974 for singer Terry Jacks and became a Christmas number one in the UK in 1999 for Westlife.

I just found that a kinda fun fact (Belgian song) since Nele is in Belgium! 😊

Cmas to Karen Ness

See post about Julie's env. -- explains env to Karen:

https://snailmailingmadness.blogspot.com/2023/12/ummmday-made-julie-w.html

Did her name in a tree shape, adding on her last name at the end. (messed up my pp uncial though. Grrrr.) Also messed up the N a bit. But it also looks like it was done on purpose, to emphasize the last name!

With insert. (again, tree shape attempt -- Merry & Bright!)

 

Volunteer Work

These are mock-up env.'s for donor thank you's. Since I love lettering, i offered to do these for the DMPA, as there are less than 10 that go out each month. (if there were more, then I'd want to get paid -- maybe!)  ;D  (Can this be one of the ways I "give back"?)

The fun is in the freedom I have! This was just to give them an idea of how I would possibly address . I really like the idea of the "musical" looking one (with my split nib automatic pen -- "music nib", Lower Right). It will depend on the person's name.

Below are close-ups:

I could do the name in red too, but not sure if that would be too "blood" looking. We'll see!

Can't wait to post actual ones!

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.