How To Make A Calendar Envelope

Re-Purposing Calendars into Mail!

I was in Dollar Tree today and I happened to see the boxes of calendars for sale.  I like making envelopes from calendars so I took a closer look.  try to find pictures that have a small to repeating design, so that it will be able to be used on an envelope. Florals usually work well, and I have made some with landscapes.  The problem with land scape calendars is that they are hard to get the center of the picture where you want it. I I liked what I saw so I picked up two.

My smaller template for envelope making has been missing for some time, so I decided to make an envelope template out of this thin sheet of cardboard.  I took an envelope size that I thought would work with the size of my calendar sheets, then opened it up to trace around the envelope.

Here is the finished template.

Don't forget to make the folding guide piece for your envelope. This is the template that is the size of the finished envelope.   It will help you to make the folds where they need to be.

You can use a creasing tool to make sharper folds.

Then a little glue to glue the flaps in place.

First batch of envelopes are just about finished!

Since the envelopes are so flimsy, I decided to add a liner to the envelopes.  Just use any paper that compliments the envelope's primary color.   A.C. Moore carries the sturdier , thicker paper calendars for a dollar , but I haven't seen them out yet...check that store after the New Year.

Here is the second batch of calendar envelopes.  I really like how this one turned out, a very nicely centered yellow rose!

All done!  24 envelopes made in just one sitting!

I thought I was done, until I noticed the back of the calendar pack.  I thought maybe I could do something with the mini pictures of the calendar pages...

I'm rather undecided as what to do with them...book marks?  Tags?  What would you do with them?

Hope this gets you interested in making your own calendar envelopes.

Happy Snail Mailing,

Pam

*Available In The Shop*

Sunshine Mini 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

See Inside My Mail...Literally!

More Outgoing!

Here is some Velum mail going out to a super creative new friend.  I hope she liked it, she sends me amazing mail...

I love sending out retro mail.  Here is a recent one with some vintage postage.

I found this Royal Post decor at my JoAnn's at the beginning of the summer and couldn't resist.  I attached it to my front door wreath, and I think it looks right at home on my 1920's Virginia farmhouse, what do you think?

Happy Snail Mailing,

Pam

*Available In The Shop*

Retro Themed Letter Writing 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!

Elvis Was Here Snail Mail

A Little Elvis Fun 

When these stamps came out earlier this year, I knew I HAD TO HAVE THEM!  You see, I have a family connection to Elvis through my grandmother.  My grandmother actually got to meet Elvis in a flower shop that she was managing on a Christmas Eve.  The story is BIG in our family history.  But I like the presentation of these stamps as well...black , white, and gold... totally speaks "Classy" to me.

I like to base quite a bit of my mail art on my stamps and this stamp is no exception.

I grabbed my black envelope/card set,  white calligraphy ink, black and white washi tapes, stickers, and got to work.  This is what I came up with.

An Instagram "buddy" of mine introduced me to Dr. Ph Martin's Pen White ink for calligraphy.  This is the second white ink I have tried.  The first ink was too watery and translucent.  I wanted a more opaque ink, and one that sat on top of the paper.  At one point I had to add a drop of water to the ink because it started to become too thick.  I don't know all of the technical terms that ink reviewers use when doing their thing...that is the best that I can do for you!  But if you do use this ink, don't be in a hurry.  It takes several hours (overnight?) to dry completely.  You will see on my envelope that I have a few smudges and splatters.  I'm not the best one to take my own medicine.

 The ink writes very smoothly, I appreciated that.  The nib I am using is a new Brause nib, which also worked nicely.

Here is a bit closer shot of the card with dimensional sticker, a home made black tag, and envelope.  All together, I think it turned out some what classy, minus the smudges and splatters.

Ah.  Let us take a closer look at these smudges and splatters!  I thought the use of the sticker in the return address area gave it an area of interest.  Over all, it was a fun Elvis project that I think my sister will enjoy.  It gave me an opportunity to try out this ink, and now I am anxious to use it some more!

Let me know what you have been doing in your snail mail corner!

The craftier the better,
Happy Snail Mailing,

Pam

Out-Going...and sand mail

Oh...the Ocean is Calling ME!!!

These pictures were taken last year at the beach.  I had so much fun taking my mobile letter writing kit to the  beach and put my time to good use.  I love my Kokeshi doll stamp.

This was taken...just before the letter blew away!  I got up real quick to grab it!
Do you ever send sand mail?

Write Letters,
Write Often.

Lady Pamela

Let's Send Some Music Mail!

Music Mail

Do you love music?  I do.  I also like to "make" music ... on the piano and fiddle.  But I found that I also enjoy "making" music mail.   I found this adorable wrapping paper with musical scores and made quite a few envelopes from it.  I can't remember where I got the washi tape, but I special ordered it online some where because I have not seen anything like it any where else.  I wish I could remember where I found it.  Does anyone recognize it?

I stamped a tag with my music stamps...and wrapped up a bit of wahi tape as a sample.  I know who I am sending this to.  She loves music!

How about you?  Do you know of anyone that would like to receive some "Music Mail"?

Write Letters,
Write Often.

Lady Pamela

Snail Mail HELPS

How about logging your letter writing?

A good friend of mine sent me her customized page for keeping track of her incoming and outgoing letters and other snail mail projects.  It is very streamlined and appealing to the eyes...not too cluttered.  I like that.  She also has a swapbot business sized card which I think is so clever.  It has a place to include the name of the swap and a little reminder to rate her !

Here it is up close.  Great Job!

Let's keep it organized, right?

Write Letters,

Write Often.

Lady Pamela

More Outgoing Snail Mail!

How is everyone doing with their summer schedules?  I hope it includes some crafty snailmail! Here is a few that I sent out recently.  My schedule changes so much in the summer from my school year schedule that I sometimes think I'm not nearly productive as the fall, winter and spring.  Ha, ha.  Routine is good!  But, I'm going to try to  turn that around for this summer.  What about you?

Write Letters,
Write Often.

Lady Pamela

The Pressed Flower Project

Pressed flowers to add to your letter writing

 

I was shocked to see how paper thin the Hydrangeas became...so delicate and the color was retained so vibrantly.  I hope I can do more of these this year.

Bachelor Buttons are my absolute favorite wild flower...especially the pink ones.  Out here in the country we mainly have the blue ones.    I'm not sure what the little white flowers are, but they are so sweet!

Daffodil, crocus  

I usually place my pressed flowers inside the letter folded up, but I have tried this arrangement and rather like it.

This turned out nice with the gold doily and the gold wax seal,,,with a purple crocus.  It is so sweetly old fashioned, and just nostalgic.  I love the effect.

Write Letters,

Write Often.

Lady Pamela

Outgoing Austen Mail

Uses for paper bags...

This is a paper bag envelope.  This particular print really lends itself to "Austen Mail", don't you think?  Lace, silhouettes, and vintage prints all seem to beckon to a by gone day.  Except, we can make it a daily part of our lives with just a few supplies and  inspiration!  And while you are at it, try to include a few of your favorite  Austen Quotes

This  envelope is a vintage print bag I purchased off of Etsy.  I used my scallop punch and made the folded edge pretty.

You know me by now...I just have to finish off a letter, particularly Austen Mail...with a wax seal.With the doily, red velvet ribbon and wax seal I had to enclose this envelope in a cello bag envelope.  I'm sorry I do not have a picture of it in  its cello bag.  I also had to remove this stamp and place it on the outside of cello bag.  The Postal Clerk was so sweet.  She looked at this work of art and I guess felt that a metered postage stamp would mar the appearance , so she figured out how many stamps would need to be affixed....AND she asked me if I was interested in purchasing any other stamps....(oh yes, I always do!) so she let me look through the giant 3-ring binder...mind you there was a line of folks behind me.  I love the USPS!!!!!

Write Letters,

Write Often.

Lady Pamela

A Pocket Letter Response!

Pink And Kraft Vintage...

Pocket Letter

I received my first Pocket Letter from a dear friend, Elaine.  If you need to know details about Pocket Letters, check out Janette Lane's Blog at:  Blog

If you want to see Elaine's beautiful, cheerful Pocket Letter that she sent me, you can see it  here  

It took me one crafty session to knock this out.  I think I had to mentally get into the gear of this project, but I could see that you could do some of the steps  separately before hand.  For instance.  You could definitely cut your "background" papers  in a separate session.  That would eliminate quite a bit of time with that one step.  Arrrgghh. I'm a terrible cutter.  But it is rather simple, cutting 2 1/2 X 3 1/2 inch rectangles.   Elaine sent me a cute little "cover" card----where did you get this cute thing , Elaine?  I had some large tags which were about the same size, so I just used one of these.  I used the pink bling factor...

This is the front of my Pocket Letter...my theme (because my, oh my, you MUST have a theme for these Pocket Letters!)"Faith , Hope and Love" in the style of  Vintage, or shabby chic.

 This is the BACK of my Pocket Letter.  Hmmm....looks a bit bare, doesn't it. ?

I went ahead and added some items that were not glued down so that she could use them  in future projects.  Elaine is the "Queen of Crafts" so I know she will know exactly what to do with these items!

This little pocket holds a folded up letter for Elaine.

All tucked away nicely in a business-sized envelope...but has to be sent as a parcel when you have lots of goodies in it.    But still, it is not too expensive and I think rather worth it , don't you?  

To carry  the  vintage style through I had to get madam Victorian boot wax stamp out and finish the job. 

OK...your turn.  Have you  joined the Pocket Letter Craze?  Give it a try! You just might get hooked.  

Write Letters,

Write Often.

Lady Pamela

Frugal Finds...Fabric Washi Tape!

Dollar Tree finds...

Have you seen these lovelies?  They are fabric decorative tape.  I found these at the Dollar Tree among their washi tape display.

Have you ever used the fabric tape?  I have not used these yet and could use a few tips.  Does it work just like  washi tape?  Can you move it about, or is it more unforgiving?  .  If you have used these before , could you please leave me a comment on how to best use? 

Make beautiful Mail.

Write Letters,

Write Often.

Lady Pamela