A little Christmas Holiday Cheer!

Christmassy Outgoing Postcards....

Hi EVERYONE!!!!!  Just sharing a little bit of what I just sent out to all of my local yokel friends and family (stateside, not international!)  I normally send postcards out to my international  postcrossing community...but instead I sent locally...why not?  So, in addition to the  "real" Christmas mail...my token family picture card...I thought I'd send out some fun stuff!  YAY for me!  :-)

I thought I'd do a flat lay , so you could see the different stamps I used.  Some of them are such cute vintage ones...that I hated saying goodbye to them.   But, I do hope they bring a bit of a smile on the receiver's face! Some of the stamps are not Christmas stamps (like the West Virginia and Alabama. state stamps, and the traffic light!) , but have a prominent red and or green.   

Hoping your Holidays are

Bright and Cheery

Love to you

Always,

Pam

Pen Pal Kit

Merry Christmas...and look at these cards!

Merry Christmas 2018!!

I recently attended a wonderful card making workshop.  This was open to all ages at my church and we had some that were as young as 3 and 4.  I was stationed at this particular styled card.  The more "advanced" card making was at a different table.  We had so much fun, and the children did an amazing job!  The cards were destined to be delivered to a local nursing home.

We signed each card...

I just adore the work that Rachel (6) did on her Christmas trees...and her older sister Lydia decided she wanted to do a different tree altogether.  So creative!

One thing I wanted to share with you is the dual tip brush pen I found at the Dollar Tree which  I saw  on my last trip.  They had a good supply with various colors but  I only purchased one so I could "test it" and not waste money.  I was hugely surprised!  These are  made from a Japanese company

"Marvy"...and let me tell you...they are MARVELOUS!  They have a nice firm tip and are "juicy" so they allow for different levels of color. The marker tip is very fine and works well too.  When I was at the check out, the cashier was gushing about the pen.  He said he did calligraphy and they were great. I should have run back and swiped all of them, but I didn't.  

Here is a closer look...

Needless to say, I went back and bought several more in various colors of what was left.  Evidently the word got out about this product...I hope they get more in!  Moral of the story...trust your Dollar Tree cashier...they know what they are talking about!

Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas

and a Happy New

Year!

Pam

Pen Pal Kit

Summer Sale!

Hurry on over to my store to catch the Summer Sale!  Check out new listings and all the Letter Writing Kits available.  This is a great time to stock up for Birthday gifts or other events!

Flipping Out With Flip Books!

This is a good way to flip out....

I guess this is my signature flip book style.  I like it because it is a nice simple project...not overly involved, and something that I can approach without  hesitation.  I usually set aside time to make the skeleton's  and then they are ready to decorate  when I am ready or when inspiration strikes!

Here is what it looks like when unfolded.  I make them all different, none of them are the same.

Ha, ha, I love this rubber stamp!  I know.  Random.   Do you have a collection of stationery, note cards?  I am a huge stationery fan, and miss the days of wandering through the Japanese stationery shops in my youth.  They were so interesting, fascinating and just a wonderland!  This summer , I plan to make a few discovery ventures to the local stationery shops in my region.  What summer plans do you have?  

One last thing!  I am having my BIG , all-store , SALE!  This starts today at 10:00 !  So head on over  to the sale!  Etsy: LostArtRevived 

Happy snail mailing!

Pam

Philately Love ...

Literally, all over the place!

Here is some outgoing to Global Pen Pal (You can follow her on Instagram:  Global Pen Pal--that is if you are already following me:  Lostart_revived ;-)  ha, ha. ).  I think the stamps amounted  to $3.02.  I always wonder what the mail system does with this type of mail...Do they manually count up all the postage?  I forgot to show you what I enclosed (besides the letter).  The die cut of the globe, was actually a package of paper globes-- 20 or so in a package. So I included a package of paper globes.   I thought she might find some interesting uses for them.  I also found a nice blank note book (think traveler's notebook size) with a vintage map cover.   

* I met up with Global Pen Pal over the weekend in DC and she told me that there was not a single cancelation on any of the stamps when it arrived !  Do you think they were respecting my work of art?

  I believe Global Pen Pal's mission is to write someone from every part of the globe...  I keep pestering her with mail from Virginia!  I remember the first time I wrote her  (I think I made a blog post about it, but I couldn't find it.)  that I wanted to be SURE that she knew that my letter was from Virginia and that VIRGINIA was accounted for in her mission.

The top photo was the cover of the shaped letter.  You could do this for any state or country you live in.   I basically just downloaded a map of the state of Virginia and glued it to some card stock paper, and then cut it out, along with a few sheets of writing paper.  

Here is a another picture of the letter. And  oh, the envelope, that I MADE SURE had some map pictures of Virginia. Sheesh...  Do you think that she got the message that Virginia had responded to her mission?  Silly me.  

Snail Mail can be FUN, so think about it, and send out some really fun mail!

Happy Snail Mailing,

Pam

Simple Snail Mail Happy Mail Project!

Get down and Get Messy!

Here I am on the floor, making my usual mess.  When I find the desk can not contain my messes, I move to the floor.

These are little folder mailers,  I'm not really sure of a proper term.  But it is a relative of the flip book, just a bit simpler.  I usually have 1-2 pockets to hold some items for the recipient.

If the letter is not too long then I fold it up with some tea, then enclose it in a small lip and tuck cello bag.  This is a 3X4  (inch) cello bag.  

I love these cute , vintage sticker labels.  Aren't they adorable?  I find that I am using them quite a bit lately.  Ha.  You might see them on your letter from me!

Here is the completed project with a cute pink elephant charm and some pink and blue stamps.  All sealed up in a cello bag.   Happy travels!

Hoping this can be of some encouragement to those of you doing the April "Write_on!" challenge!

Happy Snail Mailing!

Pam

Incoming Snail Mail: Cute Pink Flip Book

Here is a recent batch of incoming mail.  Isn't it lovely?  I love each and every letter.  I am still behind on replies, but I am working on them, steady, steady  (wins the race)!

 

This delightful letter came with some beautiful stamps, in a clear cello envelope.  Next was the pretty gold foil envelope-- it was like unwrapping a gift under the tree!

What a lovely pink flip book!

Here is the first page flipped open.  Filled with all sorts of goodness and such a pretty pastel palate.

Opening the nest flap  revealed more goodness.

Ah.  The letter.  The "cherry on top"!

Stickers, flower punches, my, my!  I'll have to double check to make sure I have not missed a thing!

 

I will make use of all these cute enclosures.  They are such fun to use or pass on!

All opened up!

Here is a look at the back of this pretty in pink flip book.  A nice assortment of tags tucked away. 

Thank you for such adorable "happy mail"!  I will definitely be working on some happy mail to send your way as well.  And I hope that everyone reading this has had a lovely day of mail as well.

Don't forget, as Pamela at cappuccinoandartjournal reminds us:  "To GET good mail, you need to SEND good mail. "

So go ahead, send out some "good mail" today!

Pam

Customize It ...Please!

My mission...on a rubber stamp!

Hello everyone.  This post is  not related too much to snail mail, but in some ways it is.  So hang in there while I explain! I live in Virginia where nearly every car has a customized license plate, usually telling the world something about themselves.  I can relate to this, especially in the snail mail realm.  I wanted to have a customized rubber stamp that would state my mission and so I purchased this some time ago, to use on most of my Etsy packaging , but I also use it on some of my mail.  I love the special touch it adds to mail going out.

Here is mine--it's  self -inking!  Whoo Hoo!  I believe I got this particular rubber stamp off of Groupon  a year or so ago.  There are so many companies that offer customized rubber stamps...a quick look at ETSY will bring up a good number.  But all that to say, I use this little tool nearly everyday.  

Do you have a mission?  A passion?  Why not put it into words and share it with others?

Write  a letter today,

Pam