Make Things

Tri-Fold Folder
(Just take a piece of paper you like -- double sided is nice -- and make the three folds).

I made a tri-fold folder and glued some stamp holders on it (I don't know what you actually call them). Gave them a bit of color with watercolors.....

And filled them up with air mail stamps for an air mail loving birthday girl I know....

Here's the cover of the folder -- yup, I've got an airmail thing going on there -- and an air mail envelope I slid it into....

Hope she liked it! (Happy Birthday, Monica!)
Now you can make one too.....

It 's been fun whipping out these tiny little folders lately.....I use 8x8 paper squares and paint the other side with watercolors and stamp them with rubber stamps...

The fun part is decorating theme with themes...I love themes...

8x8 paper makes tiny ones and you use 12x12 paper for larger ones.
Just fold them in half and then fold up the bottom to make a pocket -- and you're done!

You saw the Valentine tiny accordion book (last post) and here is a Postal Love accordion book....

A little peek inside...

And here's another.....I tried to match the postage stamps to the rubber stamps...

So, there you go -- that's what I've been doing. What have you been doing?
I like to make things. I bet, if you're reading this, you do too.

I got those nice, paper sleeve pages for stamps in the mail with some old stamps I ordered online.
What do they call them? Any stamp collectors out there who know? 
They are pages for three ring bingers and you add your stamps. I can think of fun things to do with them.
I have never seen them made with that heavy plain craft paper before.
I know someone out there will know.

My mail art kit is packed. My travel journal is prepped. I have my wool coat and gloves.
See you all soon!

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Making Stuff

Oh yes, I've been busy. Besides exploring my friend's studios and going a little crazy at the Vintage Paper Fair, I am always making stuff.
These tri-fold pockets were inspired by one my mail art pal Dori Singh made for me.
They are so fun to make (and to receive). I like to fill them up with little surprises or letters.

Thank-you folder for j

Here is the folder opened up and filled with small surprises.....

....easy to do -- just either use double-sided paper or put two sheets together -- and do a tri-fold.
Then, fold up the bottom part way to make a pocket.
You can either sew the pocket closed or (as I do) use some double stick tape
and punch a hole on the front, thread some ribbon through and
fill 'er up!
Thanks for the inspiration, Dori.

Outgoing to the UK -- vellum envelope with airmail folder tucked inside.
This one did NOT make it to Alex in the UK.
I wonder what happened to it. I took it to the PO to be sure the correct postage was on it and had it hand cancelled.Very frustrating.

Little rubber stamped zine -- an edition of only six! 

But -- you can all take a look inside!

I spent one chilly, foggy SF summer day making loads of envelopes -- very fun!
The kangaroo is for Vizma in Australia (of course). I bet she's seen a real kangaroo or two.
Now she'll get a mail art one.

Support Your Local Cow -- do I have to say any more?
(to KSP)

Some summer farmers market inspired envelopes -- the giant tomato goes to
Miss Millicent.
The only thing about making loads of decorated envelopes is that you've got to actually FILL them up.
I'm working on it.

I got out the watercolors and started splashing and dripping and dabbing (and then stamping) on papers......that was fun. A lot of fun!
But waiting for everything to dry is hard on an Aries...

Allan Bealy/Pamela Gerard
Took a little time out to collaborate with AB on a collage postcard. 

Remember the postcards I was working on in the Collage post? Well, here they are all finished and going out to Jon Foster and Stan Askew....

A couple more envelopes ready to be finished up, filled and sent off into the world....
This week was all about farmers markets, summer produce and vintage kid's books...

An Empire State of Mind -- outgoing to SW

Playing with paint...
I have been having so much fun just fooling around with paints, inks and rubber stamps.
Getting your hands dirty is really fun.
And my motto is
Why Send It Plain when You Can Send It Fancy?
These sheets of lined paper just needed a little something...

It was quite entertaining to flick paint around and dribble and stamp some distress ink and generally make a (beautiful) mess. I am really getting into this...

After the paint comes the rubber stamping -- now I'm ready to write some letters to fill up all those envelopes I've been making!

A couple more envelopes....coffee inspired....

And some postcards.......Avocado cards and  a postcard I made while fooling around with paints and stencils...

Now I'm just sitting around waiting for different paints to dry.....gathering up my nerves after a 3:32AM wake-up call in the form of a 6. earthquake.
I really can live without those suckers.
We are fine here in SF except for jangled nerves but I really feel for those folks up there in Napa who really took the hit.
I guess earthquakes are the price we pay for living in one of the most wonderful places in the world.

I am happy today to be safe and work in my studio. Thanks to all of you who contacted me to ask if I was OK. Such a lovely, international mail art community.

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So, what are all of you working on this week? Envelopes? Collages?Letters?
Do tell.