Skeleton Mail Art and Tutorial

Two mail art envelopes.  One addressed to each of a couple. 

 

 

I saw this idea on flickr, here, as postcards.  But I wanted envelopes, and here is how I did this.

 

I first stamped my skeleton head on paper.  I then put the stamped paper in my copier and enlarged the image to the size I wanted for the two envelopes.

  

The image copied beautifully.  The crinkle in the paper is because I retrieved the paper from the trash when I decided to make a tutorial of my process.

I then taped, with blue painters tape, my envelopes side by side over the top of the enlarged imaged so that the image will print on the envelope where I want them.

 

 

  I then inserted the envelope sheet into my copier paper tray and photocopied the image onto the envelopes.

 

The darkness at the bottom is shadow while taking the photos.
 

I removed the tape and proceeded to color with ink the design.  I stamped Happy Halloween on tracing paper and cut out the letters in blocks.  They are spray glued to the envelopes.

 

 

 

I added a stamped cat image on one envelope and bats on the other.  I also stamped the verse.

 

The envelopes were addressed and postage added on the backsides.

 

I mailed the envelopes together but later hoped they would arrive on different days just to add a bit of mystery.  They arrived together.

 

This was a fun little project.

 

Happy Haunting!

xxx

Annie

 

Recent Envelope Art

There's been a sad lull in the department of mailing envelope art.  That HAD to change!  The withdrawals are not a pretty sight.

 

Envelope Front

 

I sent it across the globe.  That's definitely NOT instant gratification.  More like hand wringing and worries if your baby will make the trip ok alone.

 

A bit dramatic you say?  Well, yes, but it's really a small piece of my being that I put on paper as a tangible connection to me that I trust the postal system to keep safe and deliver to my friends.

Envelope Back

 

The extremely few times that my mail art goes astray, I hope only that it finds it's way to a kindred spirit or just a kindly being who will enjoy it.

 

A good mail day to you,

xxx

Annie



follow your dream

A new envelope has traveled through our kindly postal system, and safely arrived in the UK.

 

 

I very much can see my own progress with my mail art and am surprised and thrilled that it is going in a direction that I'm very much enjoying the process of.

 

When I have success with these envelopes where I swipe ink onto the envelope with a plastic card, it is pure luck.   l love the effect of this inking technique, but I have thrown away more than I save.   Throwing the envelopes away doesn't make me a very happy mail artists.  I think I'm going to have to leave this technique behind and work on other ways to get more successes than failures.  Always a good plan...right?

 

 

Happy Mail Day!

xx

Annie



New Mail Art

But is it fun or a slam?

 

I got this new Renaissance Girl stamp.  After stamping her a quick glance told me she looked bored.  (Probably because she lives in my boring life now. lol)  And since she was on an envelope, the phrase quickly came to mind.

 

I thought of several people I could mail this envelope to and began to decide which one.  Then it hit me that they might not see it as funny.  It could be taken as an insult to their life or where they live. 

 

So here it sits languishing among the envelopes I couldn't part with.  I love how it turned out and don't at all mind having it around.  Personally I would have died laughing finding it in my mail from someone.  But I've been reprimanded too many times for trying to be lighthearted and silly.  So here it sits because I just don't want to chance the possibility of insulting someone.

This next envelope, however, with no questionable wording, has gone on about its business of being mail art.

 

Tina was curious about this torn tracing paper technique, so I sent her a real life envelope altered that way.
 

A Good Mail Day to you!

xxx

Annie



Envelope Art and Journaling

Another torn tracing paper envelope that I can't part with.  But I did make another one to send out into the world. (Sending photocopies has left me feeling like a cheesy schmuck.  No more photocopied mail art!)

 

 

 

I tried to make the layout exact, (so that I wouldn't have to admit that I couldn't part with this one) but if the first stamping doesn't land in the right place, exact can't happen.  So it turned out to be a slight variation of this original.

 

And here are my most recent journal pages with bits of stamping art added to break up the boringness of my life.

 

 

Creative time is at a minimum around here.  But that's better than nil and I will take what I can get.

 

xxx

Annie

 



Mail Art

While every envelope begins as mail art with every intention of mailing it to someone, I sometimes can't let it go.  That only happens when I completely surprise myself with some art that I really love how it turns out.  I have to keep the piece around awhile to convince myself "I did that".

 

This is one of those times.

 

A couple of background stamps stamped on the envelope behind the man image.  A collage photocopied to tracing paper then torn in strips that are sized and spray glued to the envelope.  Ranger distress ink daubed over the design and framing where the address would go.

 

I can't part with this original right now, but I did make a photocopy to send to a stamping artist who is very inspiring for me.  She also appreciates the "men" stamps.

 

While I don't know if that particular original envelope will ever become real "mail" art, this next one did get mailed. 

 

 

This envelope was mailed to and inspired by a piece of mail art done by Miss Iowa.  I love so much of her art.  I hope she found it worthy.  You've already seen this butterfly lady on some other pieces of mine.  Those other pieces came about after this envelope was done.  I'm big on getting mileage out of an idea that I like. 

 

And, I've made only one Post-It pad cover between envelopes.  I really like this crazy collage stamp.  I imagine it will by creepy looking to some, but not to me.

 

 Have a wonderfully artsy craftsy time!

xx

Annie



Still Life Postcard

The challenge theme for Sunday Postcard Art (SPA) is

 

Still Life

 

 

I wanted to use this bottle stamp and I wanted to use postage as the bottle labels.  Marei has shared with me generously some stamps from her collection.  Among them were these awful bug stamps.  I don't like bugs on anything.  With the exception of cute artsy bugs like dragonflies and butterflies.  I wanted to remove them from the pile...without actually throwing them away.  Bug Juice came to mind.  Which made working with them more humorous than creepy.

 

Now I need to make this bug infested postcard go away.  Let me know if your are a bug lover and would like to find it in your mailbox?

 

Hugs,

Annie



Mail Art

Sissy Travels the World.....

 

I tell you, this girl is so much the adventurer!  She takes more scenic routes than any sightseer could ever imagine.  Twenty-eight days to her most recent destination!

 

 I've seen this face in rubber stamps with so many different names, I've decided to call them all Sissy.

 

She did have a long way to go and 10 to 14 days would have been a reasonable amount of travel time.  I wish I could so easily travel and see the world as Sissy does. 

 

A few specially made postcards also reaching their "intended" destinations...

 

 

I keep telling myself to get started on my next quilt but I keep getting these small art inspirations.  They work into my wee amounts of crafty time better than a large project.

 

Happy mail day!

xxx

Annie



One More Postcard

All the postcards in my previous post have all found wonderful new homes.  This makes me SO happy!  You are all so generously kind with your comments for my beloved postcards.  Thank you so, so much!

 

But, oops, I've got one more!

Smile (paper)
Do you want to find this postcard in your mail?

 

If you haven't been chosen to receive a postcard from me, please don't give up.  I create them as fast as I can when inspiration strikes.  New ones are always on the way.  And, if you've already received a postcard but would enjoy more, please don't hesitate to speak up.

 

I'll crawl into a hole and wither up if I ever run out of postcard requests....please don't let that happen!  lol

 

Mail Art Love to you all,

xoxoxo

Annie

 



Mail Art

You know I love making postcard mail art.  But it doesn't become real "mail art" unless it actually gets sent through the mail.  I have a few postcards looking for good homes.  If you see one you like, let me know.  I'd love to turn these into "real mail art".

 

Bird's-eye View (paper)

 

No Postage Necessary (paper)

 

A Song in Your Soul (paper)

 

2wenty Thr3e (fabric)

(I'm finally ready to part with this one)

 

 I've agreed to a couple of Valentine card swaps and got a bit carried away with ideas, so I have these Valentine theme postcards to send out if you'd like to receive a Valentine.

 

Sissy with Red Flowers (fabric)

 

Valentine Collage (paper)

 

Valentine Flourish (fabric)

 

Sometimes I get brave and just send a postcard as a surprise, but I really prefer sending a card when I know the recipient wants it and already likes it.  Many people say they'd love to have "any" of my cards, but I don't really believe that.  They couldn't possibly like everything I make.  Heck, I don't even like everything I make!  So, hint: your best chance of getting mail is to be specific about which card(s) you like best.

 

I don't usually share on my blog anymore the postcards that are made specifically for someone.  To see all my postcards, they are posted in my flickr photostream and in my flickr postcard sets.

 

I can't wait to drop these cards in the mail for some 

good mail days!  Thank you all so much for your continued encouragement and mostly for your support in enabling me to continue making mail art.

 

xoxoxo

Annie

 

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

to you all

 

 

May both your Christmas and New Year

be merry and bright!

 

xxx

Annie



Sissy Envelope Art

Once again I am inspired by so many envelope artists and I just can't resist playing too.  I'm always drawn to collage art, so I tried that first with this envelope.

 

This is shamefully a very cheap envelope.  **GASP**  But it bothers me not at all.  With my luck, if it were an expensive quality envelope, it would have ended up in the trash.

 



That was fun, and I wanted to decorate another envelope. I wanted to get some more use out of those largish face stamps I bought.  I thought this one would be a struggle since it's just the facial features and it's been collecting dust because of that.  However, I got inspired and this is the result.

 

This one is a little better quality paper.

 



Scanning does nothing for the bling I added to this envelope.  Extra ounce postage leaves a lot to be desired too.  George Washington is it.  We sure could use some variety in the 20cent stamp category...or even in the 66cent category.  Again, one choice...butterfly.

 

I like how she went and wanted to have another go at her in that style.  This is that result...back to the cheap envies.  It turns out I love them.  I even like how the inside security design works into the outside design.

 

 

I just can't seem to get enough.  This one came next.

 

It seems I'm kinda hung up on these colors for now.  I must branch out.  And sometimes I get the envie a little too wet and they dry a tad lumpy.  I see it as a beauty of the beast.  **GASP**

 

The square envelope has been mailed out.  Now I just need to figure out where I can mail the others to.  Any ideas?

 

Wishing everyone a Good Mail Day!

Annie

 



Mail Art Storage

I thought I'd done quite well when I found and bought a small trunk style box for storing my received mail art.  And I had.  Until Carol's envelopes started getting larger.

 

And larger. 

 

 

So back I went to purchase the next size up just for mail art from Carol.

 

 

All better now and plenty of room for more!

 

 

 

Good mail day!

xxx

Annie

 

Sissy Envelope Art

Sissy

the world traveler

 

.....more envelope art.....

 

Renee has never received her original Sissy envelope, so I wanted to give her mail route another chance.  Hooray, this Sissy arrived in a whole weeks time!

 

9" X 12" envelope

 

I'm thinking Renee's mail thief only wanted one Sissy envelope for his/her collection of stolen mail.  While making this envelope I kept thinking of the phrase "Your number's up".  A bit of a play on the phrase in more than one way.

 

I seem to like creating two Sissys at a time.

 

  Carol loved her Sissy Letter so there absolutely needed to be another. 

 

9" X 12" envelope

 

I try to be a little more whimsical in the design when it comes to Carol.  And it's pretty fun writing these make believe letters.  And I really love creating these Sissy envelopes!

 

A good mail day to you all,

Annie

 

 

 



Meet Emily and Renee

There was a day when I would never have braved working with a large face stamp.  But I'm older now and have less sense..........  Or maybe just fewer inhibitions.  I've recently discovered Renee's blog, Bolton House where I find lots of inspiration.  Namely and most prominently are these two envelopes designed by Renee.

Renee's Envelope

Another of Renee's Envelopes

Which have inspired me to try my hand at large face stamps.

6" X 9" envelope turned sideways

I was pretty impressed with myself for creating this little bit of artsy work here.  I knew immediately what I would use this for (as the gift wrap for a hospitality thank you I will need in July), but I also knew I didn't really want to part with it.  So, when that happens, when I get an idea or design I like, I like to get more mileage out of it by using it up and wearing it out.

So I created another version for my journal where I collect blogger and flickr friends and their mail info and add a bit of artsy stuff on a page here and there.

And then another version on an envelope for Carol.

That was so satisfying!  Renee helped me find the very large half face she worked with, so I'm pretty excited now to see what I can create with it myself.

In the meantime, the idea for Carol's name on the envelope above  was so fun that I had to use up and wear out that idea too.

And THAT was really fun to create!  I'll be using this style on everyone I know.  LOL  The little yellow squares look a bit funny because they are done with a glitter pen and are reflecting the lighting.   Sadly, the photo doesn't show how awesome the glittery ink looks.

 To see all the fun envelopes that Carol has sent to me, click HERE to go to her flickr photostream....where you'll see all her fabulous artwork.

 

I try very hard to get some sewing in between envelopes, but every time I go to my work space, it seems another envelope insists on being designed.  But, that's how I roll... crafting what most interests me at the time.  And right now, what interests me most is sending fun snail mail to unsuspecting characters in my life.

 

Wishing you a Good Mail Day!

Annie

 

Mail Bombed

I've been getting

Mail Bombed

single handedly by my friend, Carol 

 

We have both been bitten by the mail art bug and specifically decorative envelopes. 

While Carol has been bombing my mailbox with fun envelopes, I've only managed to get one envelope to her.

Carol has been really busy creating cool envelope art. 

 

This one was to kick off my birthday month.  I love starting early and this birdie envie got things going.  Carol took ballet at one point in her life, so she knows what a ballerina looks like!  Adorable, huh.

 

Isn't this one fun!  It's Spring!





This one's patriotic.

These next two have been written with some kind of pen that leaves the ink looking shiny after it's dry.  And a slight puffy look to it also.

The shiny confetti is absolute fun!  I know the shiny can't be seen here, but it really is shiny.

And then this dear friend of mine (Carol) got Jean Wilson, Pushing the Envelope to send me an envelope created by her.  What a beauty!

 

And inside this beauty was a bonus envelope...

 

On the back of this bonus envelope, Jean wrote that she hadn't enough time to finish it.  It seems her intent was to fill in more spaces with color.

 

How I've been loving going out to my mailbox lately!  Thank you so much Carol and Jean!

 

A Good Mail Day is hard to beat. 

Ask me how I know that!  LOL
 

xxx

Annie