I've Got The Blues: Snail Mail Flipbook

This is one of my small, simple to make flip books ....you can find more examples of this style of flip book here.  Need some more inspirations?  Try this link...  

Just a few things I put inside my flip book...actually I should probably call them "fold overs"...what do you think they should be called?

Happy Snail Mail Inspiration!

Pam

*Available In My Shop*

Pen Pal Kit

Outgoing And Incoming Mail.....

A little of this and that....

A couple of outgoing Flip Books....I make sure to enclose them in a cello bag so that they will not get damaged along the postal route.

Some fun out going postal philately!  

I absolutely adore Yapping Cat Studios!  Cindy is an artist , using acrylics and water colors.  Her work is amazing, and I am  an undying fan!  She recently posted this tiny acrylic book on her instagram feed:  yappingcatstudio. (you won't regret following her for a daily does of inspiration!) I wanted it so badly...and you know....she actually sent it to me!  Pinch me!  Anyway, she of course wrapped it in a beautiful way and I just adore it.  I have placed it on the top of my desk for inspiration!  Thank you again, Cindy!

I can't help myself!!!  When sales happen, I just can't resist!  Look at these beauties!  I can't wait to start putting these to use!  Washi tape just adds that certain little touch to any envelope  or plain piece of paper.  So if you are in a hurry and don't have time to make a flip book, or anything else.  Get your Washi tape stash out and put it to good use!

Happy Snail Mailing

Creative Ideas YOU  Can Use!

Pam

*Available In The Shop*

Complete Children's Letter Writing Kit

Incoming Snail Mail, and Louvre Art

Mail Art in Progress...

I've had some lovely incoming mail lately!  It was time to get working on some return mail!

Here is some Mona Lisa mail that I sent out to Patti.  I used some collage techniques on this envelope.

Kim is getting this letter from me.  It is another piece I cut out of my Louvre book of art.  I don't remember who the artist is...but I do like this painting.   I tried to pick up on the pale pink of the bow in the stamps.  

Still a lot more outgoing to get working on!  What are you working on?  Let me know!

Happy Snail Mailing!

Pam

Some Clearly Good Snail Mail...

Here is just a sampling of some recent outgoing...and yes there is some Jane Austen mail in this batch!

I am hoping that this letter made it to it's recipient !  You know, sometimes we just have to push the limits ;-)  I did put extra postage on this one after the photo to pay for hand canceling, however, that doesn't save it from going through the sorting machines.  This was a cello bag with confetti and a few other items of interest, sort of a "shaker" letter!  If it didn't make it, I will  write again!

Have you sent out any "fun mail" lately?  

Send some great mail today,

Pam

A Holiday Revisit To An American Gem

Post Office Pride

Boo!  It was closed the first time I visited.

About a year and a half ago I happened across this little , and I mean quite literally, little post office in Red Wood, Virginia.  I was on my way home from a retreat in the region.  I fell in love with the quaint post office even though I couldn't go in because it was closed .  You can read about it here in a previous post .    Well, lo and behold, that post was read by the Redwood, Virginia  Postal Clerk, Ben C.  This postal clerk  has  great pride in his little post office and sent me a message recently  informing me of the post office  hours , and inviting me to visit again--especially because this darling post office was decorated for the holidays!  Events occurred that necessitated a trip to the area (3 hour drive for me) to visit my daughter.  When I was leaving my daughter's home she said,  "Mom, are you going to try to go by that cute post office?  If so, would you take my cards?"  And so another trip to the cutest post office ever!  

Entering the tiny post office was just as I thought it would be, quaint and charming, a definite "Americana" experience.  The Christmas greenery and twinkling lights were a perfect touch for the holidays.  And behind the counter was a  postal clerk with a warm, genuine smile, welcoming me to the post office.  This was the savvy, social media  postal clerk who knew how to track down a blogger through her Etsy store!  Haha, thats pretty good!  I asked if he was indeed , "Ben" and shook his hand and told him who I was.  You know, I have never been "invited" to visit a post office...but hey, I think more postal clerks should!  These gems are part of the American fabric of everyday life and need to be celebrated.

Ben probably didn't think I would treat him with such celebrity status (as I am snapping away with photos) , but he was obliging.   Look how nice and neat his tiny space is!  I particularly like the "Charlie Brown Christmas tree " behind his shoulder!  Hey, I want to nominate him for something in the USPS!!!  Postal Clerk of the Year???? After I left yesterday , I noticed I had  a message thanking me for the visit.  Let me share his own words:

"...This little post office is kind of a throwback to times that have passed in much of today's world, where as postman I get a chance to really know and share in the lives of the people who come here, and be part of the community--which is what I love so much about working here. Since it's a half-day post office, I work some afternoons in larger offices; but my heart is really here...

Thanks Ben!  I'm glad I got to share in the life of a tiny little post office.  

So, as you are sending out your cards this year, don't forget to thank these wonderful postal clerks who are the first to actually handle these pieces of correspondence that you are mailing...the first human to touch your letters and send them on their way to their final destinations.  

Have a lovely holiday....Merry Christmas to all of my readers!

And drive safely...we don't want any delays to  our mail!

Have a blessed Christmas,

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

More Out Going Snail Mail!

Dear Elaine....

Some long over due Elaine mail... Do you have a long time pen pal?  I have a few.  They are great! 

This was a little flip book with an autumn theme.  Some people say that I have an "illustrative" style of letter writing.  I fill the boarders with little tidbits.  Just a "side note" :) but the pen pictured is a rather nice black gel pen from the Dollar Tree.  I'll try them out...seriously, you can't go too wrong if you are just paying a dollar.  This pen wrote decently.  

Map themed envelope for Miss Ella.  This was made from a sheet of scrapbooking paper. I hope she enjoyed some of the older stamps.  Oh, and another plug for the Dollar Tree store:  the middle washi tape roll was purchased there.  So cute.

Happy Snail Mailing!

Pam

*Available In The Shop*

Pen Pals Letter Writing Kit

Banner mail...calendar mail

Colorful Flags waving in the air...

I was the happy recipient of the Flow magazine banners.  Thank you Limner!  So it was time for me to send my "endless banner mail" on.  There are no letters in these envelopes yet...Just working on the envelopes which takes time.

Here's a little fun with some of the vintage stamps in my collection.

 And have you noticed that AC Moore had their 2016 Calendars on sale for $1 each?  They are those thick , thick textured paper too! So I snatched up several and made some envelopes from  these as well.  

Now that the envelopes are crafted, it's time to write some letters to PUT inside these envelopes.  That's the next step.

Happy Snail Mailing!

Pam

When The Unexpected Happens...

July 1, 2016

The day began like any other  lazy, summer day.  I was sipping my hot tea, reading my Bible, just enjoying life.  Within minutes, my life was turned upside down!  The text message from my daughter- in- law...there had been an accident, a fall, 4 skull fractures, cerebral hemorrhage ...my oldest son was being rushed into life saving surgery...a craniotomy no less...and prayers, prayers, prayers.  All I can say is a miracle took place and after only 6 days...he is home!  He has to let his brain/ and body rest and heal...for at least 2 more months, but we  are so thankful!  Please see my offer on my "Greatest Love Letter 'Page for a free booklet.  My family and I  had peace within the storm of life, and  I want to make sure you  have it too.  By the way, you meet some of the kindest people in surgical and ICU waiting rooms!  The family of the man (whose surgery got delayed by 5 hours because of my son's surgery) were so sweet.  We all became family in those waiting rooms, talking and praying together.

I had many letters to attend to when I arrived home!  I was able to do some letter writing while out of town, but I had  2 little munchkins with high energy needing attention on the home front.  So the letter writing had to be done in small batches of time.

This lovely parcel was awaiting my return home, about a week after the accident.    Look at all of this gorgeousness!  The  amazing pen and ink art work, and the beautiful patriotic stamps!  Thank you Sharon!  I just mailed off a letter to you today!

Look at all the goodies that she packed into the parcel...not to mention a wonderfully LONG , newsy , chatty letter.  I loved all of the paper ephemera, vintage theme, and the super cool patriotic tag!  She is a gifted card maker, if you are interested in hand made cards, you can visit her Etsy Store here. 

I have more posts coming!  I have been busy with all of my letter writing and crafting away!  But , I just wanted to remind you.  Slow down.  Smell the roses or in this case, the wild flowers that have been somehow thriving in my  absence  all summer long.

  I'm glad  I decided to go with wild flowers this year, because I knew I was going to be on the road most of the summer, and as you can see they are thriving even without me lifting a finger.  (Yes, yes, I see the weeds too!).  I have much to be thankful for, like these little flowers, I was well taken care of when one of life's  storms hit.  (Matthew 6:25-34).   

I will  be on the road for another two weeks, but I hope to have posts up and running in my absence.  Happy letter writing everyone!

You can get that pile of letters down by...

Writing one letter at at time!

Pam

Mish Mash of EVERYTHING Snail Mail!

 Sister Mail, Lords and Ladies, Philately, Watercolor boo- boos, and a Camper friend!

Here are a few of my outgoing of lately.  The Map Envelope is on its way to the Netherlands to a Lord and Lady couple; the Watercolor is Sister mail; and the kawaii Hello Kitty is to a trusty pen pal.

These beauties came from Global Pen Pal.  She is an antique hound, so she keeps an eye out for vintage postage.    I love that I had need seen one of them...the Lacemaking USA stamp.  

A recent outgoing to Global PenPal couldn't just have a Forever stamp.  I had a red and blue color scheme going on this envelope, so I looked for some cool blue stamps.  I think they fit the bill!

When you have a  collage going on with your envelope, don't forget to put a little extra postage, or in this case , I also put the envelope in a clear cello bag envelope, then I placed the stamps on the cello bag so they could be cancelled.

This arrived from Amelia.  Doesn't she have some nice art work  on this envelope?  She also included a quill feather.  She is a entrepreneur...and quite young.  She has an  Etsy Store and is such a "go-getter",  wonderfully talented and hard working.

I love the stamp...one of the new florals that are out.  I think it looks like it BELONGS there.

See the glaring mistakes?  Why did I feel the need to outline the rock?  Haha.  Ok, this picture is going to stay on the small scale...not extra large.  

Some more watercolor, with some really atrocious errors (notice the thumb placement?  I'm covering a big mistake there), but it was my first attempt at this study.  My oldest daughter and her family just recently moved to a very rural area with a lovely stream.  I tried to capture that as best I could.  In reality it is a much more shaded, darker area than I have depicted  here.  I sent it, mistakes and all to my sister, who will soon be here on a visit.  My sister and I have started a water color exchange project.  She has wanted to experiment with watercolors and I have too, so it makes a nice challenge. 

** See below comments.  If you mail a letter portrait instead of  landscape you would need to add extra postage.  I forgot to do this as you can see, but thankfully, the letter made it just fine.  I did send out a previous water color envelope (portrait) that was held up at the post office until the receiver went and paid the extra postage.  Talk about embarrassment!

Isn't this charming?  I love the vibrant colors and peaceful scene.  Thanks, sis!

Happy Snail Mailing!

Pam

Chicken Mail

It All Started With Washi Tape....

It may have actually started with my rooster rubber stamp, now that I think of it.  But regardless, I ordered this adorable chicken washi tape off of Etsy...and I was definitely inspired.  Then I had to get some chicken stamps, and that was quickly solved by  my friend , Patrick at EdelweissPost and scored big time with a nice selection of stamps.

This went out to Sharon, who is a new pen pal, but she might not be too happy with my very tardy response. She discovered my blog and I am tickled that she is a fan.   However, she and I do possess quite a few similar interest, and one of those is watercolor, so I thought she might enjoy this.  Sharon, let me know if this arrived or not.  (Leave a comment??)

Oh, and in case you don't think I know, I do.  I recently viewed a video on Pinterest entitled : "5 Mistakes that Water Color Beginners Make", and yes, I have made all 5 and maybe many, many more.   (Where did all the white go?)    ;-) Hmmm...but it was a very well executed and I learned so much!  I hope to start paying attention to those "rules" or suggestions the next time I pick up my brush.   But the important thing here is to have fun, try new things, and send some mail, hopefully more quickly than I have been lately.

Cluck, cluck....

Send some good mail today!

Happy Snail Mailing,

Pam

*Available In The Shop*

Pen Pal Letter Writing Kit