DIY Happy Mail Makings!

Don't you just love to receive happy mail, mail decorated to make you smile and look forward to opening the "gift" inside?  While I'll admit I don't always spend alot of time preparing and decorating my envelopes with mail art I do like to use decorative paper, stickers (of all kinds), and the occasional glued down washi tape.  Glued down because washi tape can curl apart from the envelope and cause havoc in the postal machines.

Last month Jeff and I taught a happy mail workshop.  This was the secone one in a series of two.  This time around we focused alot on handmade postcards, decorated envelopes, and even made a simple pop up card.  We had eight people in attendance.  Jeff and I brought enough supplies to teach an army! LOL!  Here's a sampling of what the participants made.  You might even want to try these things yourself!

Handmade collaged masterboard postcards

Collage one side of a large piece of 140 lb watercolor paper.  

Collage in layers using either matte gel medium or mod podge

Once you have enough layers (2-4) let dry.

Once dry, turn to back side of collage, measure paper into postcard size pieces

 and cut with ametal ruler and Xacto knife.

Draw back of postcard to look like a regular postcard.  Write message on 

left side, recipients address.  Affix appropriate postcard postage.  

Easy and fun to make pop up cards.

"Ransom" postcard and acrylic painted envelope

Ransom postcard:  Cut a 4" x 6" piece of 140 lb watercolor paper

Watercolor the paper and let dry.  In the meantime, 

decide on a message you'd like to send recipient.

Find and cut out a variety of different letters from magazines 

to use for your message.  Using mod podge or gel medium, adhere

letters/message onto postcard.  Let dry then write message and recipients

address on back.  Affix appropriate postcard postage and mail!

Acrylic painted envelope.;  Tear a piece of glossy magazine paper from a large sized magzine. 

Cut an envelope template from a used envelope using sturdy cardstock or paper to make the template.

Use envelope template to cut magazine paper envelope.

Lay magazine envelope on table, right side up and paint with a variety of acrylic paints.  Be sure

layers of paint are thin to allow for minimal drying time.

Once painted envelope is dry score flaps of envelopes, fold and glue bottom and sides together.

Leave top open to insert your mailing.

Make mailing label from plain paper or an adhesive label.

Here's some samples of other happy mail projects we made.  

Email us for directions if you like, paperowlartists@gmail.com

One pocket fold up

3-envelope foldup

 Happy "happy mailing"!

Stampfest Fun!

We're back from Stampfest , in Lakeland, Florida, and what fun we both had!  Jeff and I each took a workshop class on Friday, shopped our heads and pocketbooks off and Saturday, and had an adventure filled drive home afterwards.

The vendor fair today was VERY busy.  Many booths and many shoppers.  I made a few make-and-takes, watched some demos, and spent far too much money.

Believe it or not, Tim Holtz had a huge booth at the show AND was there IN PERSON demo'ing his many different products and techniques.

Jeff took a card making class Friday but hasn't taken photos yet of the 8 cards he made so you're stuck seeing only bits and pieces of what I started making in the mail art class I took.  Linda Crofton taught the class.  She's a fabulously talented artist and all around lively and friendly person and teacher.  While she was giving her introduction she mentioned she swaps mail art on Swap-Bot.com .  As soon as she mentioned her swap name I realized she'd been a partner of mine in a swap!  What fun it was to learn this.  I couldn't wait to get back home and find the envelope she'd sent me.

So here are a few of my works in progress ....

                                      One stamp using multi colored inks, overstamped with
                                                         black circles and phrases.

Envelope front .... address will go in center blank space

Return address will be written next to the little bird

Envelope back in progress.

We also made some altered, collaged, stamped postcards.  The postcards were cut from used cardboard cereal boxes.  So easy to make! m I still have to color the dress on the altered little girl and maybe add some sponged inking around the edges.

Mail art is so easy and fun to do.  It's so much fun that's it's worth it to start paying my bills by regular mail again!  Actually, I've been doing mail art in one form or fashion for years, decorating envelopes of the letters I write to my 25+ penpals.  I even make my own decorated stationery when I have the time.

Tomorrow (or Monday), I'll post pictures of the cards Jeff made.  Later this week, too, I'll post pics of some of the things we bought as well as our "walking" adventure home Saturday afternoon!  In the meantime, thanks for reading!

Summer Stampfest 2015

Road trip!  Road trip!  Jeff and I will be attending Summer Stampfest 2015 in Lakeland, Florida.  I am VERY excited!  I'll be taking a mail art class

as well as spending time at the exhibits, hopefully not spending too much money.

We'll be staying at the local LaQuinta, just a few miles from the event venue.  Thanks to my AAA discount, the room rate is more than reasonable.

It's been a year since we went on a road trip, let alone an art related one.  Last year we traveled to Sarasota, Florida to take a journal making workshop.  It, too, was a lot of fun.  Next post, I'll share with you details of the journaling workshop I took a few weeks ago at the Jaffe Center for Book Arts at Florida Atlantic University.  I'll be taking a gelli plate printing class there next month as well.  All good things starting to happen again as we get our creative mojo back in motion!