Water Colors Envelope Art

I felt like a real artist. 

I don't normally call or categorize myself as any type of artist.  I just play is all.

 

But while I worked on this piece of envelope art, I actually felt like an artist.  Maybe that is only because I was recreating an artist's paint tin.

 

I am going to say it out loud.  I'm pretty pleased with myself.  This is SO not me.  And although there are several things about this envelope that I would change, I'm surprised I got this far with it.

 

I saw some altered paint tins in the magazine, Artists' Café, made by Connie Govea Stuart.  I LOVE them!  And I thought I could maybe make an envelope art.  I started with just dividing the envelope in half.  Then I drew lines and rounded corners.  The lines are not precise.  Shocking for me!

 

Anyway, the paint pats are too big, the words are too high and I'd like to find a paintbrush ephemera or clip art to add to it, but other than that, I'm so surprised I did this!

 

I want to mail this envelope, but not for awhile.  I have to enjoy it, as I still don't feel like I made it.  I'd like to try another, but I'm not very good at making some things more than once, and the second usually doesn't turn out better.

 

Thanks for indulging me with this post and sharing my moment with me.

 

xoxoxo

Annie

 



  

Art Journal 2014 - February

February 2014

Art Journal

 

February is already gone by the wayside and we're well into March.  I considered not posting these anymore, but I think posting them will help me find the creative direction I'm chasing with this project.  Hidden secrets always seem to show up in photos where we see them more clearly than we can in real.

 

 

As was the case previously in January, I started the month with an artfully created journal page by chrisg62.  To that side I added loads of little hearts in various sizes and styles and I created that cute little tracing paper house.  I'm very lacking so far with the pages I've done trying to compliment Chris' artwork. 

 

At the end of the month, I wanted to continue the page with March.  But nothing I could come up with seemed to fit.  So I really junked it up with a bunch of stamping at the bottom to fill in the space.

 

The only good thing about the bottom of that second page is that I get another chance at it with March.....AND every month following that.  LOL 

 

Eventually I will find my direction.  Trial and error always gets me where I'm going.

 

xoxoxo

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



Art Journal 2014 - January

January 2014

Art Journal

 

I didn't get to start off the year journaling as creatively as I had hoped.  But the important thing is that I did the journaling.  I'm taking a free form approach this year.  That way I can switch directions on any given day.

 

Wait a minute...don't ooh aah that second page design yet.  I did not make that wonderfully artistic looking page.

 

   chrisg62 created it.  NOW you may ooh and aah it.  By clicking on Chris' name, you'll go to her flickr photostream where you can gaze upon all her artistic creations.  She has so generously given me  permission to print and journal on her fun creations. 

 

I know not why artistic-paged journals like Chris' pages are not sold retail!  I don't want to create the pages.  I just want to journal them.  I would so buy a ready-made journal if one had these kind of pages in it.....hint hint to all you talented journal page makers!

 

If you don't read what I wrote, you won't know how boring my life is.  But if you just glance at my journal pages, it looks like I have a really fun life, doesn't it!  hahaha

 

Moving along with February now........

xxx

Annie

 



Note to Marsha...you are a noreply blogger.  I can't mail you a postcard if I can't contact you for your mailing info.

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

 

 

 

 

 

Art Journal Calendar 2013

December is complete.

 

I'm keeping the pages in a scrapbook album that is expandable.

As the album gets fuller, the page spreads will come together.

This is the cover page I've been working on.  Plenty of room to add years, but I'll see how many when the album won't hold any more pages.

I'm continuing this project into 2014, but with a different layout style.  With this change, it's more of a journal as you go, so the month layouts are not made ahead.  Much of the way through 2013, there were days when I felt like I wanted to be a bit more chatty sometimes, but the daily blocks limited that.  When a new page spread is complete, I'll show my progress.

 

"This moment is the most important thing happening right now."  Rodney White (?)

 

xoxo

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

 



Altered Dictionary - I and X

This is it, the last two letters of the alphabet for the

Altered Dictionary Challenge.

 

I and X

 

With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we've been given the last two letters together.

 

 I couldn't resist a delicious ice cream cone for the word(s) ice cream.

 

Not many X choices, so I chose X-ray

 

Then just for fun I went back to the beginning of the book where I left off under A and altered the page with the word absurd.

 

Many of you dear followers have put up with me and this challenge from start to finish.  Thank you.  I doubt that I will join the new alpha challenge in 2014, but I'll continue to alter pages in this dictionary and bore you with them a few at a time now and again.

 

It's pretty cool to thumb through this book and happen across the variety of bits of art and altered illustrations.  Although it was rather difficult to take the first step to alter this dictionary, I've not been sorry I did.  This long forgotten book has an amazingly fun new life.

 

xxx

Annie