Think Pink and Other Mail Art Fun

I decided to take a day off from working in the garden and spent the morning playing at my art desk. It has been a very long time since I have been able to even think about mail art, it sure felt good! Some time ago I purchased some damaged children's books from Goodwill as well as an interesting 33 r.p.m. album cover. I have been planning to make post cards with them and today I finally got the chance.

 Here are some of the postcards I made from the children's book.

 The dragon looks so much like the Chinese New Year dragon stamp that I couldn't resist getting the book so I could make these postcards!

 The hummingbird is from a rubber cut I made last year. The little steam punk bird is from a rubber cut that a friend of mine made for me.

  The flamingo postcards were made from an album cover that I found at Goodwill.

I thought it would be fun to do a little add and pass.I have sent out 4 postcards with an invitation to add something to the front of the card, either something pink, or flamingo themed. Then cover the existing address with a new address label, add the appropriate postage, (trying not to cover the old postage completely if possible), and send it on to someone else. The hope is that the card will travel around to a few people, being decorated along the way and then when the card has no more room for postage, it will be sent back to me and I will scan them and put them up on the blog for everyone to enjoy.

I would also like to invite anyone who wants to play along to send me a pink or flamingo themed postcard and I will scan them and put them up on the blog. If you would like for me to send it on to others I will be glad to do so after I scan it. Just put your instructions on the back and I will add to it scan it and send it on to someone else.

Well it was fun while it lasted, but my day off is over... ,  tomorrow I will be planting squash and potatoes, cutting lettuce to encourage a second flush of tender leaves before it is too hot and they bolt, juicing bunches of green leafies from the garden and planting more seeds in flats. If you are interested in seeing what I have been up to and would like to take a look at our little homestead, please come and visit my other blog www.aviewfromthecottage.blogspot.com The particular post I am linking you to is "A Day in the Life" and a tour of the gardens at Heart's Ease Cottage, but there are many more posts, recipes and lots of tutorials on the site so look around! Why don't you come for a visit and please be sure to leave me an comment saying "HI". I always reply to comments made on the blog and follow back to your blog if you have one, to leave you a comment. Until next time, I will see you in the mail!

Incoming Mail

Well, I think I have survived the illness that kept me down for almost a month! I am now back to the business of writing letters and getting caught up on blog posts. So here are some of the things I have received and not posted.

This card with a special cancellation was sent to me by Kimi in California

Post cards and note cards from Ellie VG in the UK, Kimi in Ca., Tom in Mo., and Eunice in Wales

Limner in Texas has been very creative and generous to me with mail. She made sure there was mail in my POB waiting for me upon my return from Costa Rica. Thanks Limner!

Wanda in British Columbia sent me this letter packed with good news and stories!

Monique in Ontario sent me snowy mail to brighten my day.

Pen Thief in Ohio sent a nice, newsy letter and a splash of color.

Linda in Virginia sent me a great letter and some wonderful ephemera. I adore S&H Green Stamps!

Super Hero sent me an invitation to participate in a couple of different mail projects and a really cool post card!

While I was in Costa Rica I received mail from two new pen friends, James in the Philippines and Impeccable=M in California

Ahmet in Turkey sent me one of his lovely and unique Puzzle Letters.

Ahmet also sent me several sheets of my artistamps that he reproduced for his mail art project Puzzleposta. Thank you so much Ahmet they are awesome!! What a generous gift and such a surprise!

Then last but certainly not least, Ahmet sent me this wonderful 2012 calendar featuring one of his many beautiful puzzle letters. 

It never ceases to amaze me how blessed I am to have such generous, interesting and talented pen friends. My life is much richer for all of you! Thanks so much!

Incoming Mail

I have received some wonderful mail so far in the month of August. I am constantly amazed by the talent and generosity of my pen friends. Thank you all for lifting my heart and blessing me with joy in my mailbox!



A beautiful puzzle letter from Ahmet in Turkey. Ahmet has done many of these incredible puzzle letters and I am happy to say I possess several of them!





A letter stuffed with goodies, including another kind of puzzle, from Bev in California



Monique in Canada sent me this wonderful postal themed artwork by the artist Will Van Veen. I just love it, thank you so much!
What a novel idea and so cleverly done! I can see why you really like his work Monique!



A colorful and intricate post card from Chandlerguera in Arizona.

Wanda in British Columbia, sent me a charming letter, post card, a panoramic view some of her countryside, and some Bleeding Heart seeds. I adore Bleeding Hearts, I will start the seeds and set the seedlings out in my little frog pond garden. It is nice and shady and moist there. 



Super Hero sent me an invitation to a Zombie mailart call, along with some of his Zombie artworks, as well as a mail art call for "The Internet" What kind of role does the internet play in your life. Anyone interested in participating in his Mail Art Calls? If so, e-mail  me and I'll give you info.





Misty in Ohio sent me this envie with a letter and some lovely oriental post cards

Valentine in France sent me this fun take on royalty.





Letters from Angelia in Illinois and James in South Carolina



A Mutant Banana postcard from Cara in New Jersey. Cara is a member of  IUOMA
 (Internation Union of Mail Artists). If you have never been to the IUOMA site, you have a treat in store! There are many, many mail artists from all over the world, who post there and are willing to send mail to other postal enthusiasts. Check them out at: iuoma-network.ning.com/

 


Wanda sent me a note with and envie full of butterflies to cheer my day.



Limner in Texas, sent me this beautiful photo note card of one of her original photographs. It is so delicate and colorful, it really brightens my day just to look at it!

A a cheerful and newsy letter from Kimi in California. Below is a virtual gallery of lovely postcards from her summer adventures.



Well, I believe that I am now caught up on my backlog of Incoming mail photos! I hope that you enjoyed them, I know I sure have! Until next time, I'll see you in the mail!  Oh... and By the way... Don't forget about the Summer fun Mail Art Call! If you have questions  please comment me and I will get right back with you.

One Very Happy Mailbox_ Incoming Mail

I have had some wonderful mail days recently! I have gotten mail from many of my regular pen friends and have had some new pen friends write as well. What a blessing! I have been working my way through the pile of letters to writing returns, and as usual, I mailed a bunch out without photographing them. Sigh... But I did get some photos of the last round of letters I wrote. I will post them after I post the incoming mail. So here we go!

Post cards from Susanna, Pamela, Super Hero, Bev, Sharon, Patty, Post Muse, Mim



The front of a very intricate and fun card that Limner sent me.

The back of Limner's card. There was a teabag attached as well, but I used it! Thanks Limner! I love tea!

A really cool envie made from a nautical map (nautical map made of Tyvek, what a wonderful idea...waterproof and virtually indestructable!). Linda is a new penfriend and finding her letter in my mailbox was a very pleasant surprise. She also enclosed a packet of goodies to use on my mailart!

A post card from Genevieve, a letter from Angelia, the letter from Kimi has vintage postage on it.

I recieved a letter and this postcard from Pen Thief. The post card was quilted by her mother... it was very nice of her to share her mother's talents with me... Thanks to both of you!



Wanda sent a lovely letter and some of her photographs. Isn't the hummingbird photo awesome!



A nice note from Bev and a vintage seal and send from my new pen friend Eunice.





 

A card from my new pen friend Chris. The photgraph is by Chris, isn't it beautiful?





 This letter full of mailart goodness is from my pen friend in Finland. She and I are both fans of Marjolien Bastin, she sent me two great MB cards to add to my collection. I adore the pink gingham check on the inside of the envie!


Sirpa's letter was charming as usual, but this one was especially so since she decorated it with watercolor paintings of her new kitten Sissi. She is very talented!

Sirpa also shared her garedn with me through a really fun garden journal.

There were many pages of colorful photos and descriptions of her gardens... It sounds so beautiful! I wish I could see it in person!

  Wow, I am just amazed by all the wonderful mail I've gotten! I was going to post it all in this post but I think I will post the rest in my next blog entry since this one is getting kind of long.

  It is really great to be connected with so many lovely and generous people. I am constantly amazed by the interesting and creative people I have come to know through the mail. Thanks to all for making my mail box a happy place to visit! Until next time I'll see you in the mail!  Elle

 




 





Early March Outgoing Mail

Coffee Bag Envie to Angelia

Dr.Suess post card to Garci

Back of postcard to Garci

Dr. Suess envie to Misty

Back of Dr. Suess envie

Joss Paper post card to MIM

Back of post card to MIM

Watercolor collage post card to Pamela

Back of card to Pamela

There were other things that I mailed out as well, but I absent-mindedly dropped them in the box before I took pictures of them. Hope all is well and that everyone is having a good mail day!