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

Lost Art Revived GIVE AWAY!

Lost Art Revived 

Autumn 

Giveaway!

Hello  Blog friends!  I am ashamed to admit that I have never had a GIVEAWAY on my blog before! So let's remedy that situation right now.  Here is how you can win the prize package (see last photo of this post!).  First, this blog post is a DIY on how to make a little "Autumn Treasure Matchbox" for you to send to a pen pal.  I  garnered my inspiration from a walk around my house over the weekend. I was so struck by the beauty all around me, that I started picking up bits and pieces on my walk.  When I got into the house, I  decided to create an "Autumn Matchbox" to tuck away one of my treasures.  So here is a brief tutorial on how to make your own autumn matchbox.  

To enter the giveaway, I ask that you : 1. Send me an Autumn Matchbox that you created, and by doing so you give me permission for me to post a picture of your creation.  I want this blog to be an inspiration for others!  2.  Follow my blog.  It's that simple.  

Lost Art Revived's address is: 21861 Genito Rd. Amelia VA 23002

You can find so much inspiration on Pinterest for your matchbox.  Let's begin this little tutorial.  

You can pick up the small boxes of matchboxes in nearly any grocery store.  They come in a package of 8, I believe.   Any scrap of paper will do!

I measured off the box and cut my paper.  I couldn't find my bone folder, so I just used a ruler to make my creases.  

I decided to make a belly band with a smaller piece of paper.

This isn't a very good photo, but  here I am tracing around the box to make a liner for the bottom of my box.  

I selected my little treasure  after lining the box.

I wrote a little on the belly band, project complete!

Here is the prize for the most imaginative, cute matchbox, I hope you like it.  If I get a good response (come on people! )  ;-)  then I will have a second and third place winner!  

Again to enter this little giveaway:  1.  Send my your matchbox creation 2.  Follow my blog!

Hope to hear from you!

Put a smile on some one's face today,

Happy Snailmailing,

Pam

File Folder Letters

Here's how you can make your own!

Has the change in weather, frosty mornings, scarves and sweaters put you into a letter writing mood?  I have enjoyed reaching for my autumn themed letter supplies and thought I would share this most recent project.

Last month in September, I was admiring all of the gorgeous yellow flowers.  I 'm sorry to report that I have not identified this specimen in my wild flower book  yet. They were EVERYWHERE in central Virginia. I thought they would be good to press for some mail art.  I had to pass by the beautiful cone flowers that were plentiful as well because the centers were a bit too bulky to press.

Here is my "official" flower press machine.  Perfect use for the Janson and Janson that just lays on the shelf.

I was afraid that it might be too early for these flowers, but I was pleasantly surprised when  I opened Janson and Janson.  They were perfectly pressed.

  

This picture is just a bit of a close up.  I love the flower.  So simple, but so beautiful.

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I have had this cheap label maker for ages and never used it.  But for this project, it was worth getting out.  I think the black labels on the craft file folder look great.

Here is the front of the file folder project.

Autumn.  I love you!

I hope you will give the file folder snail mail project a try.  The possibilities are endless, just use your imagination.  It's a fun way to send a letter to someone and share some memorabilia along with it.  Share  your love of autumn with someone too.

The Craftier the better,

Happy Snail Mailing,

Pam