I want to show you a card that deserves mention. No, it's not a belated Valentine's Day card, it's just a belated post. Remember the mystery sender who occasionally sends postcards with no name? Well, this sweet thought comes from the same hand. Thank you, Valentine. I would write back but you never include your address! Maybe one day? I smile when I see it because I can hear the Pillsbury Doughboy laugh. Do you remember this commercial? I do. Listen for the giggle at the end. Next up is envelopes within envelopes from Patty. This is brilliant. She tells me she didn't think of it herself but I know she's responsible for the cuteness of it. The back provides instructions. This is two envelopes joined by the glued flap to create a sort of folder. Tucked inside are smaller envelopes. She's given me a set of ten. If you receive a letter from me in a Halmark envelope you'll know you're in possession of one of Mrs. Duffy's exclusive envelopes. I just know there's something I can do with this envelope idea to pay it forward...but what? It'll come to me in a flash of inspiration...soon I hope. And finally, from one of my most avid snailers, COMICS! Now who wouldn't delighted to find funnies in the mailbox? I feel one of my story book envelopes is in order. I may not post pictures of everything I receive but. I enjoy every letter and card. Now go write a letter and brighten someone's day!
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As promised earlier, envelopes of note with dash of commentary: You may remember my daughter's exhortation to me to make envelopes instead of using only "boring, blue envelopes." Well, I did make envelopes and afterward realized I had made them all in blue...plain, boring blue. I felt this was a bit self-defeating but I thought of a remedy. Out came the craft scissors and more colored paper. Using the envelope template as a guide I made envelope liners of differing colors. I thought the craft scissors provided more visual interest than a straight edge. The result is below. Unfortunately, trusty Elmer's tends to be too wet for this project and crinkles the paper somewhat. I do hope envelope recipients will forgive crinkling. As a final touch, I used the same craft scissors to make a pattern on the top of the letter sheet. I used Clairfontaine Triomphe paper for this. It is oh so smooth and loves fountain pens. I hope recipients will find this stationery as enjoyable to receive as it has been to make.
The featured letter of this post comes from Melissa of Epistles - Minor and Major by M. Howard. This letter is exceptionally creative and I love its personal tone; we've begun what is bound to wonderful conversation and hopefully a long one. I feel I am learning much about the art of conversation from my correspondents, limping along though I may be. The concern of this post, however, is the creative use of paper so I will post some pictures and begin the tour. ![]() Another handmade envelope with a Lord of the Rings Theme. I love the book and came to love the movie when I forgave Peter Jackson for what he did to the story. ![]() Here you can see that letters have been cut out and pieced together. I appreciate the time Melissa spent on the envelope alone. You'll hardly believe what she's done with the contents. You can't enjoy it as much as I did but I think you'll appreciate the work and creativity put into it. The letter is sectioned into two parts, each numbered. You can see the maps which serve as the canvas for this work of art. Now for the goodies. The letter itself is written on a variety of things, note cards, recipe cards and even small envelopes and bags which have notes tucked into them. I thought the envelopes and bags were especially fun and gave a treasure hunt feel to reading the letter. This is recycling in the old-fashioned sense at its letter writing best. Once upon a time before we expected that every thing ought to be disposable, people reused things and sometimes turned them into other things. Melissa's letter is a good example of this and shows that any kind of paper can be used for stationery and used well. When all the bits and pieces of otherwise unimpressive paper are united in a letter collage the results are impressive. The truly impressive thing, though, that I want to draw your attention to is Melissa's imagination. This letter started a good, creative idea and makes me wish to be more imaginative myself. Thank you, Melissa for a truly delightful letter.
Well friends, it is the last day of AD 2011 and also the seventh day of Christmas. The first day of Christmas was full of rest, a snippet of peace on earth. I haven't posted regularly of late so I have some catching up to do and have a couple things to show you. First, I received a card from the Anonymous Sender and have learned his identity. He's SANTA!! Oh my goodness, I had no idea. I also had no idea that Santa lived in Canada, but then, that makes more sense than for him to live with all those elves and their toy factory on an ice block in the Arctic. Thank you, Santa, you made my day! Please excuse the cocoa smudge. Below is the enclosed card. I immediately liked it for the colors and the style of painting but on closer inspection I liked it all the more when I noticed the cowboy holding a teddy bear. That's an unexpected twist to a rustic American theme. I've also received a few notable envelopes lately. I enjoy making my own envelopes and I especially enjoy receiving handmade envelopes from others. Here is the front and back of an envelope made by our Limner. The shape is unique. With Limner's permission I'll brag about the content. It's quite impressive and can enjoy it's own post. Love the stamps! And finally, a two in one picture below. The envelope on the left is from Marian whom you've met here before. She made this envelope from a magazine page. Why don't I think of these things? On the right is an envelope from my penpal Julie. She makes envelopes from children's story books. Inspired by her I actually found an excellent book at the thrift store to cut apart and make envelopes from but I couldn't bring myself to cut up the pages. I've thought of looking for an old atlas at the thrift shop but I might not be able to cut that up either. Next time I'm at the office supply store I will buy myself some labels so I can use any paper whatsoever and not worry about the visibility of the address. That's all for now. I have a couple letters to write before I'm off to the New Years Eve party and I also may just pull out the scissors and glue and satisfy the itch I now feel to make envelopes. Play time is surely a good way to end the year. :o)
Blessings to you all and a happy new year too! Many letter writing blogs are oriented more toward the adornment of a letter rather than the writing of a letter. Mail art seems to be a growing hobby and much of mail artists' work is very creative. I enjoy visiting such blogs and seeing what people are creating. A couple mail art blogs you may enjoy if you haven't discovered them already are The Missive Maven and Piccadilly Post. I wonder if those people who write letters just happen to be the same set of people who like creating things. If not all letter writers are creative, then surely most of them are. A letter is a creation after all and a well written letter (as well as a nicely adorned letter or envelope) can be a work of art. ![]() And so I want to show off an envelope I got this week. Marian likes mail art and she sent me a letter in this handmade envelope which needed no extra adornment. I appreciate this envelope because I occasionally make envelopes myself and know both the time and pleasure involved. This envelope makes me happy to look at and I think i will leave it out as decoration. Perhaps it will even inspire me to make more envelopes of my own. Now that I'm thinking of it, envelope making is a behind the scenes part of letter writing I miss and would like to get back to. Let the quest for paper begin! |
Letter Matters
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