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

Kraft Happy Mail

We Have A Winner!

Why yes.  We do have a winner!

All the goodies (small items above packaged separately!) for our winner...Sheryl can now share the love with someone else!

This week's winner of "Show and Mail" is Sheryl who  hails from the state of Massachusetts!  Brrrrr....!  Her sweet letter arrived this week, and lo and behold...look how she decorated it!!  You would almost believe that she followed by stationery tutorial (see previous post).  But really , her letter arrived BEFORE I posted that .  I so love  her original art work.  Beautiful!  She also included  a tea bag...always appreciated!  Sheryl and I have been pen pals for 12 years now.  She had many questions for me from my last letter.  I love how we share our joy of the fiber arts...she is an amazing knitter...and I hang out in the crochet world.  We also share our trials and joys of homeschooling, often sharing tips of what works...and well...what doesn't!  To top it off, Sheryl has 11 children and STILL has time to write letters!  Thanks for your letter Sheryl...hope you enjoy the goodies!

I can't wait to see what is in my mail box this coming week!  Don't delay...next week's giveaway for "Show and Mail" will be just as great!  Write me a letter!

And don't forget...a Letter is ALWAYS better!

Write Letters.

Write Often!

Lady Pamela

The "Ooooohhhh" Factor!

What EXACTLY is a Tuck-in? or an Enclosure?

My daughter's friend, who lives down the lane has a mother who is struggling with cancer.  She is on her second year of chemo...and it really knocks her out.  She has 4 young daughters...the youngest is 4. :(
But my daughter and her friend have gotten together to start a Cancer Awareness Club.  They make little things to sell to give to the cancer center where her mom gets her treatments.  It is so sweet.  Here they have made origami cancer ribbons...aren't they beautiful???  I just love origami and  the different textures, colors, etc.  So bright and cheerful!  And do you know what I am doing with these?  I am using them as tuck- ins  for my letters!

It has been awhile since I last had a post on Tuck-ins...in fact I think it is listed as enclosures... here is a link to  the previous page. Tuck ins  give your letters the  "ooohhhh" factor.  A little like the surprise in the Cracker Jack box....(oh dear, I am seriously dating myself here!)  Lets take a  look at enclosures...tuck ins...whatever name you want to give them, to see how YOU can add the "Oooohhhh!"  factor!

I like lists...short and sweet....so here we go with Tuck-in Ideas for your letter writing!

• a simple sketch or drawing
• a message written in code
• a meaningful poem
• post office stamps
• a local leaf (pressed flat)
• a favorite stick of gum
• a bookmark
• a favorite written quote
• a cartoon or comic
• a swatch of ink sample
• a popsicle stick of washi tape samples
• an extreme close up picture of an everyday object.  The other person would try to guess what it is.
• a sample card of a favorite perfume or cologne
• a portion of sheet music of a favorite song or music
• a small origami item
• a hand made coupon
• an inexpensive gift card
• a photo copy of a line or paragraph from your favorite book
• status cards
• mood cards
• journal cards with  favorite quote
• photos
• newspaper clippings
• pressed flowers
• pressed four leaf clovers
• a swatch of fabric that you are using with a sewing or craft project
• Your Turn!!!  Please leave me a comment with your favorite tuck-in that I have missed!

Write Letters.
Write Often!

Lady Pamela

Messages in Bottles... DIY Bottle Mail

Letters in bottles.... 

Twin  Adventures....

DIY Messages in Bottles

As 12 year old girls...we just knew our messages would reach some distant shore...we would receive a letter in some foreign, tongue, necessitating a  trip to some exotic foreign embassy to have  it translated...oh the romance of letters being  cast upon the unknown deep of the mysterious Pacific ocean!

Yes.  Hold on to your seats, it really is another Twin Adventure from the Twins Forever book...documenting  all of those special events.   This is one of them.  We really did hoist over our corked wine bottles, into the churning waters of the Pacific Ocean  ,  along with the enclosed notes  imploring the recipients to  reciprocate .  Time passed...lots of it.  But there  was never a response....sniff, sniff.

Where did these twins get their corked wine bottles?  I will now  turn to page 64 of the Twins Forever Book.... (not a primary source, more like a copy, of a copy, of a copy...)

There we are, the twins flanking our beautiful, ever stylish and patient mother.  We are on the SS George Washington .  This was day one or two of our cruise...and we are enjoying our  flotation drill We were on the ship for 2 weeks from Yokohama , Japan to Sunny California.  

My  twin sister and I,  immediately went to work on our "Messages in bottles" project. For  days, we staked out  the lounges, begging for empty wine bottles to have for our "messages in bottles " project.  Our acquaintances acquiesced, and we got our bottles,complete with corks.  I don't remember how many we threw overboard, but we had a ball doing so . Just a note to interject here, today it is not PC to throw bottles overboard...as it may kill wild life.   But instead, why not throw a bottled message into the sea of the USPS? 

So let's begin with our DIY tutorial for "Messages in Bottles"!

I am all about using the most frugal tools.  These were purchased at JoAnns.  The bottles are plastic.  The Corks, (I had my fingers crossed on this one) fit perfectly!

I cut a small piece of stationery in half,  for it to fit inside the bottle.

Wrote my "sista" mail...dredging up up old memories for her to enjoy...

Next, using a pencil or something of that nature, coil  your papers around to make it tight and snug.

My intention was to tie it with twine.

I had to use a bit of washi tape to hold the paper in place so that it remained tightly rolled, then tied it with a small piece of twine.

I then corked the bottle and put an address label on it.  Technically, it was ready to go...just needs some postage.But if you are not a minimalist, you might want to get out your stash of  tiny things and brighten up your bottle...

I am not a minimalist..more is always better!

After completing the project...I decided that the bottle might be a bit too small to cast "as is" into the sea of USPS...so I decided to take an extra precaution, and not to try the patience of the ever gracious USPS... I went ahead and placed the bottle into a large clear envelope.  Did you know that there is a "Message in a Bottle Society"?   There really is.  I just formed one--care to join?

Bring back enchanting, old memories! Go ahead and write a letter and send it in a bottle!

Write Letters,

Write Often.

Lady Pamela