pushing the envelopes
decorated envelopes, mail art, lettering ideas
Thursday, July 17, 2025
June from Christy and Liz
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
June from Sue and Cindy
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
June from Amy and Kristine
Monday, July 14, 2025
June from Irene
Irene was inspired by Jen Sweeney on her envelope as well as the very pretty bookmark. She wrote that she did random flowers on a piece of card stock and then turned it over and cut the strips to make the bookmarks. She adhered them to a second piece of card stock and added a grommet and ribbon. Irene wondered if people still read books and I know a few people who have not warmed up to reading on screens. I still read books and my grandkids read actual books. Since their screen time is *metered* - they have to read books. I'm wondering at what point that will change.
Sunday, July 13, 2025
June from Mary and Troy
I'm only 9 days ahead on my posts, so the next few days will be almost real time comments.
Saturday, July 12, 2025
Birthday card idea
This is an idea that I've used for many years. I thoroughly enjoy finding examples to fill in a Top Ten list - with the person who has a birthday being No. 1. The idea is to find the person's name used in as many categories as possible. There are the obvious ones: actor, musician, athlete, politician, historical figure, artist and then 4 more that might be a stretch - like a town, lake, mountain - or a cartoon character - or in this case - a product. I just thought of another one - Andrews Air Force Base. I'm not sure where it is - but something like that is always fun if the birthday person would relate to it in some way.
Friday, July 11, 2025
June to Amy, Sydney and Sharen
Here are the rest of the June envelopes. I feel like I added more to them - and then didn't photograph them again - maybe not. Sydney's is from the stack of old watercolor ideas - and Sharen's is me trying to figure out how to work with alcohol markers.
Thursday, July 10, 2025
June to Grace and Rachael
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
June to Christy and Susan
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
June to Nanski and Patty
Here are the improved versions - shadows and rectangles on Patty's and windows on Nanski's
I wrote the words *unresolved space* above Nanski's stamp. Hopefully the cancel looked good up there.
Monday, July 7, 2025
June to Mary, Riley and Jessica
Sunday, July 6, 2025
Ofrenda update - today's regular post is right below
A couple people have asked how the ofrenda project is going. The first post about the project was HERE (click to see it). April 24 seemed like a long way off from October 30th - the day to set it up at the museum. That would have been 6 months. Here I am - writing this in mid-June -- and it's amazing how long it takes to get everything coordinated.
I need to get the skull put together - as it is the *crown* of the while ofrenda. I had to come up with a scale model - without spending more than a half hour - and did this. The three layers will be plywood - each one approximately 30 inches tall -
June to Irene and Kate
Saturday, July 5, 2025
June to Juliana - spelling the letters of the alphabet
When I was complaining about 1 and I and l looking too much alike and causing confusion (number 1, lower case l and capital I) - I had to look up how to spell the names we have for the letters - eye and el.
I always enjoy seeing that list because of aitch.
1 - I - l On my laptop, the first and third (one and el-lowercase) look so similar. I think 1 (one) is shorter.
Here is a LINK to how to spell the letters of the alphabet
Did anyone think it was weird that I spelled out *I* as eye? The list does not include the vowels. Apparently - the way you *spell* a vowel is to just let it be itself.
I would spell them out - ay, ee, eye, oh, you - but I would be out there on another tiny tip of a bell curve.
Friday, July 4, 2025
June to Rachael, Riley and NancyH
Thursday, July 3, 2025
June - Layout ideas for Nora (2)
The borders could overlap - that would be fun. The borders could all run off the edge - that would be fun.
The third idea is the closest to the original to show that one rectangle and two roundish shapes would be fine. The only thing I couldn't *fix* was that original shape that was flat on the bottom and left side - but wonky on the top and right side. This example was posted yesterday
If everyone wants me to get off this tutorial binge and go back to surfing - just let me know. Although, I have several examples lined up, so, you'll have to put up with them.
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
June - Tutorials instead of surfing - "Nora's" sunburst & oval borders
Back in May, I thought I should cut back on surfing and provide more ideas on the blog. Lots of you know how to collect ideas. Some of you have a multitude of skills and talents but are new to envelope art.
The top envelope arrived in my mailbox from someone who lives within walking distance from me. I did not ask her if it was OK for me to use her envelopes for tutorials so if she doesn't like this idea I'll take it down. I also renamed her *Nora* - since I have not asked her if this is OK with her.
It was the back of her envelope that gave me the impression that she would be fine with me offering some tips.
The shapes around the address and return address combine straight lines and curves - which suggests indecision. Anything works - it's when you start combining things that it can get complicated.