folders and booklets and mail -- oh my!

OUTGOING MAIL
I have been busy. Sometimes too busy to even photograph my mail and projects before they go out into the world....playin' a little catch up here..

OUTGOING
This isn't snail mail -- it's squirrel mail!

OUTGOING MAIL

OUTGOING

OUTGOING MAIL
I love using air mail envelopes, don't you?

You guys know how I am -- I can't leave things alone --I had to play with my outgoing air mail envelopes a little bit....

OUTGOING MINI FOLDER
I have been making and sending lots of these little folders -- with surprises tucked inside, of course.

Like this......

...and, like this......

I made the folders, tucked in the treats and decorated some coin envelopes to tuck everything inside...and then put in another mailing envelope...

Here's another...

After all that, I got busy making coin envelope books...they are really easy to make and fun...
Here's how you do it
I do wish I could take credit but I can't. And, not only that, my mail art pal
Andria
is the person who, not only directed me to the tutorial but also sent me that cool coin booklet she shows in her post.

I made one with a vintage photo theme for my photographer pal Monica and put it inside an old negative order form sleeve...
You only need five coin envelopes to make a booklet -- but hey -- you could use seven if you felt like it...and the tutorial suggests using the small size but I've been finding you can use ANY size...
no rules!

Cut up an old film developing manual and added a vintage photo which includes my mom!
She always liked to be a part of my art.

This coin envelope booklet went out to my pal Dori.....another vintage theme inside...

The cool things is, the booklets have pages plus you can put tags and surprises inside each page too...a little treasure hunt. I am having so much fun making them I had to order a box of coin envelopes online...

More coin booklets -- these are the smaller (#1) size and really fun to make and fill up. I put tags in the sleeves of the pages like the red Mr Zip tag above.
Now get busy and make some yourself!
Anyone want to make me one? I need cheering up -- no mail days yesterday and today and someone stole a box a friend mailed to me right off my front porch.
I am kinda cranky.

Tan Tan Ramen lunch -- I had to eat to keep up the energy to make all these things, right?
And to cheer up after getting no mail for two days and having my stuff stolen....

SEND GOOD MAIL -- GET GOOD MAIL
(at least that's the way it's supposed to work...)

making me some atc's

I'm making ATC's and I can't stop! But I don't really want to anyway so all is good....
and, in case, someone wonders, ATC stands for
Artist Trading Cards.

I got the idea of cutting up some of my vintage French postcards for making ATC's. They make a terrific background and the backs often have writing or stamps that are cool. Win-Win!
The two on the bottom here have a theme a la francais...

Then you've got your air mail theme....

I love using my paper ephemera for making these....air mail stickers, old stamps, vintage post cards....anything paper and postally related is fair game.

Here's a Russian theme ATC. I love Russian postage stamps and when I was in Russia I picked up A LOT of postal forms at a beautiful post office in St. Petersburg. I'm planning a whole series of travel/postal ATC's from the countries I've visited....

Another old French postacrd as background....I can get two ATC's from each postage. The perfect size.

Some French and Russian themed ATC's...

Here is another clever idea...if I do say so myself...I see these pre-paid postcards all over and often for less than face value. The postage is good but of course you have to add to to get up to current prices...I got a whole, wrapped set of these for $3..but what to do with them?

How about this? I made two ATC's on each one to mail off to mail art pals....when the postcard arrives, they can just cit along the center lines and have two Postal themed ATC's that went throught the postal system...

Don't you think this is a clever idea?

I made them with on up-side-down to make them easier to cut....

Anybody want one? I will randomly pick one person who comments and send you an ATC postcard through the mail....
and I wouldn't mind if you send me one back..
In the meantime, I'm going to keep on making ATC's...
I just can't stop.

Cappuccino Break

Whew--I need a break. Cappuccino time!  I have so much more to show you (I've been busy) --
coin envelope booklets and little folders filled with surprises and outgoing envelopes...but i think there are enough photos here to keep you happy for a while.
The fabulous and fantastic Vintage Paper Fair is coming up this weekend in SF. If you need me, you'll know where I'll be!
Let's hear what you think -- and somebody will get a fun surprise in the mail.

SEND GOOD MAIL -- GET GOOD MAIL

Enveloped Opening and You're Invited to Come with Me!

ENVELOPED
A charming and delightful show opened last Friday night at SF Center for the Book --
ENVELOPED
You're going to want to go see it. The show is up till October 4 so if you live in the Bay Area or you are coming for a visit, you're in luck!
But -- I know some of you reading my blog aren't going to be able to make it here so here is a little show-and-tell for you guys so you don't feel too left out.

A Make and Take Table for folding and decorating envelopes...

There was a good turn out for opening night! Lots of postal lovers out there.

The mail art group I'm in was invited to help out at the envelope folding table....and we did!

Lots of paper was supplied! And rubber stamps, washi tape, glue -- bring your own imagination.

The crowd had no trouble with that....everybody was on board and that was one popular table..

Even though I was "on duty" I managed to play a little bit myself..

By the time the first hour was up and I got to look around all the food was gone! Don't you feel sorry for me?

I had to feast on eye candy instead -- and there was plenty of it!

Some wonderful postal goodness -- vintage stamps relating to mail.

I especially loved these French stamps with a postal theme...

And, who wouldn't love looking at a vintage envelope in a glassine sleeve?

Ar mail stripes? I am a sucker for them -- and don't they look lovely displayed like that?

Right up t the minute, this display included the new From Me to You stamps.

Time to go -- but here is a little bedtime story for you......

Delightful show. Girl reporter on the job for you. Hope you enjoyed opening night with me.
And if this isn't enough, you can contact SFCB and order a copy of the "bookazine" as they call it that accompanies the show.

Let me know how you liked it!