elevated envelope

Last summer, I participated in a super fun snail mail exchange hosted by Ephemera Press called the Elevated Envelope.  Ya, know how much I love handmade envelopes.  This project couldn't be more up my alley!

 I made the envelopes from vellum building schematics purchased from my fave reuse store, SCRAP.

The contents: paper ephemera (sheet music, chinese burning papers, card catalog cards, etc), a glassine envelope containing a great blue heron feather, My Heart Postcard, and a notecard from my Memoir Art Card line.

 I made stickers with self adhesive label scraps, pens and punches.  Fun and easy!

I embellished the envelopes with my handmade stickers and japanese masking tape.  

 I received a bunch of adorable envelopes/letters in return.  I'll share them in a future post.

By the way, happy new year!

send something good: show and tell

As some of you know, last month I took part in a secret mail exchange called Send Something Good.  You can read about the project in this previous post.  I wrapped my package in hand painted paper and sent it off to Texas.  About a week later, a parcel arrived from St. Louis.

Now it's time for show and tell!

I was given Alisha as my secret blogger pal.  I enjoyed perusing her blog to get a sense of her style and personality.  I felt like a detective.  Her outfit posts served as color inspiration for a scarf and friendship bracelets.

The package also contained little notebooks, Memoir Art cards, buttons, a sand dollar and tiny feather found in my yard.

It's was great getting to know you, Alisha!

I was so excited when a parcel arrived from Katie of Sheridan in the City.  It was like Christmas morning!  As soon as I opened the box, the heavenly scent of lavender came wafting out.

Each item was packaged with an adorable little tag.

Contents: Original painting, Katie's favorite book, flower magnets, gold earrings, buttons from her collection, recipes, bouquet of lavender, pretty papers, notebook, pom-pom garland and a lovely handwritten note

You can find Katie's paintings and handmade goods in her Etsy shop.

 Thanks so much, Katie!  You really hit the nail on the head.  I love it all!

A big thank you to Gentri, Kaitlyn and Kristy for hosting this project!  It was a lot of fun.

Scroll down check out what other participants sent and received.

send something good link up

Send Something Good is a snail mail project hosted by bloggers Kaitlyn, Gentri and Kristy.  Many people (including myself) signed up to participate.  We were each given the name of a fellow participant/blogger.  You peruse their blog to see what they are into.  Then you send them box of goodies.  The best part is it's all kept hush hush.  I can't wait to receive a package from my secret blogger pal!  

Here's a list of my favorite things:

Lavender | The Ocean | Walks in the Woods | Feathers

Keys | Stamps | Found Photos | Piano Rolls

Stickers | Japanese Masking Tape | Stationery (obviously) | Pens

playing the cards you're dealt, part 2

Liz Cohn is a mixed media artist based in Portland, Oregon.  Her latest project, Playing With A Full Deck, involves over 1500 playing cards passed around to various artists.  As some of you may know, I contributed a couple pieces to Liz Cohn's show in February at Cannon Beach Art Gallery.  You can read about it here.  I fell in love with this collaborative mail art project.  My mom and I signed up to participate.  Liz mailed us each four cards that she had started.  My cards are pictured above.

The entire collection of cards will be on display at 12 x 16 Gallery in Portland May 3-27.  The opening reception is Sunday, May 6th from 2-5 pm.  Hope to see you there!

Exciting News!!! This morning I received an email from Liz.  She self published a book about Playing with a Full Deck via Blurb.  My Mom and I each have a card featured in the book!  My Mom's card* is on page 39.  Mine* is on page 43.  Thanks for including us, Liz!

 *My contributions: little girl cut-out, paper doily and feather.

My contributions: I tore this card into three pieces and sewed it back together by hand.  I attached the photo slide and a few strips of mt tape.

 My contributions: photo slide, hand sewn embellishments, gold and gray mt tape.

My contributions: photo slide frame, silver chinese burning paper and hand sewn border.

~~~~~~

My Mom's cards are so beautiful!  I love the textures and humor.

My Mom's contributions: The cut-out of the couple and the text.  Hilarious!

 My Mom's contributions: red tulle tulle, palm trees (look familiar?), mulberry paper.

 My Mom's contributions: sewing patterns, text, and Carol.

*My Mom's contributions: strips of yellow paper, the devil, and the text.

"may no soldier go unloved"

Lately, I've been spending my spare time writing letters to soldiers overseas.  I joined the Soldiers' Angels organization in an effort to support troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Twice a week I receive names and addresses.  I make cards of encouragement and mail them off.  I also "adopted" a soldier named Juana two weeks ago.  I send her a letter each week.  Tomorrow I will be putting together a care package for her.  Soldiers' Angels does amazing things for troops, veterans and their families.  Check out this page of touching testimonials.