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

Incoming Snail Mail!!!

YEEEHAAAAAhhhhh!!!

Can y'all tell that I am getting ready to go to TEXAS?  That means working on all my TEXAS lingo. And I am ready and rarin' to go!  Hmmmm....that gets me thinking!  I should get some penpals in the general area so I can do a penpal meet up with my Texan snailmail lovin' community! I am able to wrangle out a few letters from kinfolk...,but bless their hearts, its like they get fixin to write...but lose heart.  Anyway...if any of you kind hearted Texan folk want to write me, leave a comment.  Especially if you live in the Dallas, or Sherman area....I'd like that more than you could shake a stick at!

Oh, but back to my blog post.  Above is my recent  postcrossing incoming.  Two are not shown...they got left on a counter somehow.  I love the stamps, and all the nice little notes.   It really does make a sad mailbox happy to get all of these.  So now, it is time for me to go on and get my next batch of addresses. I think I will be doing about 10 or 20 a month.  The above picture gives you a hint of where I live!  This was a  record snowfall that we received here in the "gateway to the south"!  It was great fun getting snowed in...drinking hot chocolate by the gallon, sitting by the fireplace...

And admiring my incoming mail on my nice cleaned up desk.  

Hope you are enjoying this day

where ever you may be

Go and make /send 

some good mail

today!

Pam

Pen Pal Kit

Well...hello, it's been awhile...

 

It's been almost a year ago that my "life event" occurred.  My dear husband of 34 years passed away from an illness, and my life took a sudden turn.  My charmed life of a wife, mother to 10 beautiful children and grandmother, now looked different. I was physically alone and making all the decisions.  Facing challenges, duties, and mundane items that I never had to bother with prior to this event. Notice, I said "physically".  I thank God that I serve a Lord that has promised to never leave me or forsake me.(Hebrews 13:5) But still...it has been a year of adjustments...change...and just struggle.  But, slowly one learns what one must do and as Elisabeth Elliot used to say  just "Do the next thing..."!  This simple advice has carried me through the long year and for that I am grateful.  

So many of you have sent cards and letters of love and precious thoughts.....I have so appreciated this.  I tried countless times to answer them...I did manage a few attempts, but I still have several letters that I wrote...never sent.  Finally I submitted to my relegated season of life  and focused my attention on the immediate, the necessary...life.  

I still face new challenges (who doesn't?).  I now use  youtube , not just for pleasure, but how to fix items around the house, and if that fails...I call a professional! But the sun still comes up, and I find myself falling peacefully into bed each night.  Thank you Lord!

All this to say...I hope to get started with letter writing again.  So, first things first...my desk!  This is where it all happens, so I want my supplies at my finger tips...and whatever inspiration I can find.  (More on that later-- it's still a work in progress) .  So here is a picture  (sorry it was taken at night) of my desk as it stands right now.  Leave a comment below if you have any questions about my set up.  Also, if you love your desk and find it to be a happy place for you, tell me why in a comment!

Check back later this week to see my outgoing snail mail!

Happy Snail Mailing.

Pam

Pen Pal Kit

Incoming Stationery Haul....

Parcels are so much fun to receive, right?  

This nice big envelope arrived in the mail from Global Pen Pal.  (And I have NO idea why her cute envelope is upside down in each picture!) She was so thoughtful to send me her nice de-stash of stationery.  

For those of you not familiar...this stationery comes from the Victorian Trading Post.

I try to send "global" themed mail to Global Pen pal whenever I can.

And of course...a letter also!  Speaking of which...If you have written me, I am attacking my pile as quickly as possible.  More posts coming on YOUR beautiful snail mail!

Happy Snail Mailing!

Pam

*Available in My Esty Store*

Pen Pal Letter Set Kit

Birthday Mail and Parcels!

 My Pen Pal Spoils Me...

I had a birthday this summer, and she sent me a large box filled with...

All sorts of goodies all wrapped up, so charmingly!

Look at all of this goodness!  The English Tea Shop Tea was on my amazon wish list...how did she know?  I love the Yankee candles, and her gorgeous photography that she makes into cards is just amazing.  Thank you dear Sheryl!  My birthdays are always so much better when something comes through the mail.  

Make someone's day bright,

Send them a letter written by you!

Pam

Snail Mail Outgoing...Collage, Flip Books, and More!

A Peek Into My Outgoing Mail...

An envelope using a bit of collage technique, vintage style.

Flip book, bi fold going out....hmmm....what label looks good here?  I wish craft manufacture would produce more VINTAGE items like these.  Does anyone have a favorite craft store for vintage items, online , perhaps?

These are simple to make and just a fun way to use all those pretty papers and die cuts that you want to put to good use, right?  I have folded the letter and put it into a cello bag.  Why?  I'm not sure.  Just another little something to open up I suppose.  Don't we like little packages?  The possibilities are endless.  I try to imagine the recipient  and what joy it can bring to them, so I just try to make whatever I send  out cheerful and fun.  A gift.

A recent letter I sent out.  The envelope is made and lined with scrapbooking paper.  I love the chintz print.

Here's another little flip book , bi fold that I recently sent out... Spread a little sunshine today!  Send out some pretty mail,  write a letter!  I know you can do it!

Happy Snail Mailing!

Pam

Letters That Make IT THROUGH The USPS!!!

Our Wonderful Postal System!!

I have been MIA for the last several weeks....I spent two weeks in the Blue Ridge Mountains as a camp counselor,  and before that, company, travel,and more company!  But it is back to "business" now, that is the business of letter writing.  Here what was awaiting my arrival home! 

Yes...fuzzy slippers can make it through the USPS!

This lovely parcel from Herefordshire, England also was delivered.  You can discover all about it and its amazing contents here:  Jane Austen Letter Writing Society .

Look at these cute pink themed embellishments that made it through the postal journey... completely intact!

Virginia put a "non-machineable surcharge" stamp on her letter.  This is used for mail that requires sorting by hand, and is also good to use for letters weighing up to 2 oz.    Additionally, the USPS web site states that it can be used for:  

Greeting card envelopes printed with the silhouette of a butterfly in the upper right corner need additional postage--or the use of this butterfly stamp. Any non-machineable envelope like oddly-shaped or vertical envelopes, as well as lumpy envelopes, rigid envelopes, or mail with clasps, ribbons, or buttons, may use this stamp.

Another butterfly stamp!  This one from Belgium...Brussels, I believe.    The tiny country of Belgium is very active in letter writing!  They rank 18th (in countries) in sending postcards through Postcrossing, alone. 

This adorable letter came from my young friend, Amelia.  She is so clever with her envelopes.  She did not use the above stamp, but put additional postage on her letter.  

It arrived in perfect condition, and waits to be answered. I plan to do that today, as it is raining outside.

If you are awaiting a response to a letter, please accept my apologies for tardiness.  I plan to begin TODAY with my responses .  I also have a letter to write in French.  Hmmm....has anyone tried  on line translations?  That is what a writer did for me, she had it translated into English, and it worked rather well.  How do you write someone who is of another language than yours?  

Time for me to get busy,

Happy Snail Mailing!

Pam

Sunshine Mail...Flip Book

 Let's Bring Some Sunshine into some one's life!

Here is  another Flip Book that I sent out to Cathy in Sunny California.  You have probably done some version of this in the past, in one shape or another.  I made this flip book in the  dead of winter...so my mind naturally longed for sunny days.  Currently,  central Virginia is under a deluge!  We are "in the running for"  one of the wettest May's in recorded history.  We need sunshine here.  But, making some snail mail sunshine is the next best thing.   There are many youtube videos on how to put together Flip Books of all shapes and sizes if you are interested in more information and tutorials.

 This book has 6 pages, but I have also made Flip Books that are just 2 pages, more like folders.

I had to cut the yellow card stock to be sure they would fit in my cello bags which I will use for an envelope.  

Once you have used washi tape to secure the pages in the book, then you are ready to go as far as decorating each page.  Here is the first page layout.  

Page 3 and 4 Layout.

Pages 5 and 6 layout.  

Here are some of the contents of the pockets, tea, tags,  Sunflower washi sample--isn't it cute? Sticker embellishments, and a Sunflower mail tag card.  

I posted this earlier  on a Paint Chip idea post, but thought I would include it here as it was sent with this Flip Book.

The back side is covered with yellow paper and then stamped.

After making your cute Flip Book....don't forget the LETTER!  I enjoy crafty things too....but the letter is the heart and soul of  your mail.  So have fun, and send some sunshine today!

Oh, and here it is going into the mail slot at the Amelia Court House  USPS...with some colorful postage.  Isn't it amazing that this little packet is making a transcontinental trip?  I can't make a trip to California, but the following quote says it all:

To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart.  ~Phyllis Theroux

Happy Snail Mailing!

Pam

Snail Mail Flip Books....Hello Friend!

Well, Hello Friend!  Thanks for stopping by for a minute of ,hopefully , inspiration for your Snail Mailing journey.  Here is another  Folder book, that could turn into a flip book if I added an additional page.   For now, here is what it looks like.

Inside page, left.

Inside page, right.  

Opened , with both sides showing.

Here are some of the goodies that will be stuffed into this Folder Snail Mail Book.

What have you been up to lately?  Don't forget, you can write me a letter and you will get an answer. My address is on the sidebar .  If you write me, I may feature it on my blog.  If I spotlight your letter in my Show and Mail posts you will receive a snail mail surprise package  from me.  So do not hesitate, get busy writing  and sending your letter!

Happy Snail Mailing,

Pam

Snail Mail Flip Book: You Make Me Happy

You Make Me Happy...really , you do.  Thanks for visiting my little blog here where we can get some SNAIL MAIL inspiration, in the crafty vein.  I love sharing what you have sent me, and I try to keep projects going here as well.    This is a Snail Mail Flip book, or  maybe more of a  Folder book.  This was made with the Creative Memories Short Story blank cards.

Here is the first side with a flap pocket.

The other side with a pocket to hold some goodies.

I may add another page which can be done simply by adding a piece of scrap book paper to the middle section by washi tape.  We shall see.

That's it for now.

Happy Snail Mailing!

Pam